A new smart lighting system developed by Professor Tracy Lawson and her team at the University of Essex—now part of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—could transform indoor vertical farming by making it more energy-efficient and productive. The system uses real-time plant feedback through chlorophyll fluorescence to dynamically adjust LED lighting, helping plants use light more effectively while reducing energy waste. Vertical farming offers a promising solution to modern agricultural challenges, such as climate change, water scarcity, and pesticide use. By growing crops in controlled indoor environments, these farms use up to 95% less water and eliminate the need for chemical pesticides. However, their high energy costs—mainly from LED lighting—remain a major barrier to scalability. Lawson’s research focused on improving the efficiency of lighting in controlled environment agriculture. While LEDs are energy-efficient and allow precise control over light intensity and color, most vertical farms still rely on simple on/off schedules. Lawson and her team questioned whether this approach truly met plants’ needs, especially since photosynthetic efficiency tends to drop toward the end of the light period. They turned to chlorophyll fluorescence—a natural byproduct of photosynthesis—as a window into a plant’s real-time light use. When plants absorb more light than they can use, excess energy is released as fluorescence. By measuring this signal, the researchers could determine when plants were receiving too much light, risking damage, or not enough, limiting growth. Using artificial intelligence, the team created a feedback system that adjusted light intensity in real time based on fluorescence data. In tests with basil, the system increased crop yield by about 13% and reduced energy use by 6%. The system automatically dimmed lights after six hours, when photosynthetic efficiency began to decline—suggesting plants were reaching a point of saturation, possibly signaling they had stored enough energy. The system is simple enough to integrate into existing vertical farms, requiring only sensors and software. It doesn’t need constant monitoring, as AI learns and adapts lighting patterns over time. This opens the door to custom lighting schedules for different crops, improving both yield and efficiency. Looking ahead, Lawson aims to expand the research to other plant species and explore how light color—spectra—can influence plant development. She’s particularly interested in using light to boost beneficial compounds like antioxidants, alter leaf color and texture, and preserve freshness and nutritional value at harvest. By tuning lighting to match plant needs, this technology brings vertical farming closer to becoming a sustainable, scalable solution for future food security.