Harvesting Perspectives: Stakeholder Perceptions of Indoor Edible Plants in Existing Buildings Explored via Virtual Reality

. As urbanization accelerates, with 68% of the world's population expected to live in urban areas by 2050, food security is a pressing challenge. Urban farming, which cultivates crops within cities, offers a vital solution for a consistent supply of fresh produce and promotes sustainability. However, it faces obstacles, including limited land, extreme climates, and resource scarcity, which impact its potential and scalability. In regions with extreme heat, urban farming faces challenges in year-round production, making indoor farming a more attractive and viable option. Indoor farming, especially within public indoor spaces, offers a promising alternative, providing optimal environmental conditions and reestablishing connections between people and food production. However, stakeholder acceptance, particularly within the context of integrating edible plants into existing buildings, remains largely unexplored. This study investigates stakeholders' views on integrating edible plants into existing buildings, focusing on the UAEU campus. Feedback on the concept was collected using virtual reality. Participants who viewed a familiar lobby with integrated edible plants expressed a mix of acceptance and concern. Users appreciated the inclusion of greenery, anticipating additional sensory experiences, such as aroma and colour, while recognizing the potential to raise awareness about food production processes and reduce food waste. However, concerns are primarily centred on the presence of insects and the management of edible plants indoors. These findings highlight the potential of indoor integration of edible plants in existing buildings to enhance environmental aesthetics and promote awareness of food production processes. However, addressing stakeholder concerns, particularly regarding pest management and plant maintenance, is crucial for fostering the widespread acceptance and implementation of indoor farming initiatives.