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Microalgae and cyanobacteria can be farmed year round in many parts of the world by using renewable energy in order to be used as a source of protein in human consumption. Algae is packed with proteins and other nutrients that are essential for human diets and can be added to increase protein content. This source of protein has fewer negative environmental impacts than production of other protein sources (crops and livestock) as it has the potential to decrease soil degradation, reduce overuse of freshwater, and reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Algae grows in brackish water and can use geothermal or hydroelectric energy sources in order to power LED lights that allow the algae to grow. Currently, microalgae and cyanobacteria are mainly sold as a dietary supplement in the form of tablets and health drinks for human consumption, but are also used as feed additives for livestock and aquaculture. The main species farmed are Spirulina, Chlorella spp., Haematococcus pluvialis and Nannochloropsis spp.

Modern water pumps and agricultural irrigation systems utilize relatively high amounts of either gas or electrical energy. Solar powered irrigation pumps offer an alternative that relies on a cleaner energy source and are increasingly found in rural, peri-urban, and urban areas, proving useful in a wide range of applications from residential, to commercial agricultural - depending on the size of the unit and amount of solar panels. This solution functions by attaching a solar panel, or a photovoltaic array, to a water pump, providing a renewable source of solar energy to power the pump, eliminating or greatly reducing the need for fuel-burning mechanisms by replacing them with a renewable solar source. There are different types of solar pumps including rotating and positive displacement pumps which can be both submersible or surface based. In the simpler design models, pumps powered by the sun provide crops with water when it is sunny - often making it critical to attach/include a timer mechanism to control flow and use water resources efficiently. Although solar panels are commonly used today to power lights and heaters, using solar energy as a mechanism to power irrigation pumps is highly sustainable as it is the most abundant energy source on Earth today.

A barrier for increased vegetable production is that farmers, particularly small farmers, may have to give up staple food space if they want to change to vegetable production. This risk is increasing with climate change. Mechanisms to protect the livelihoods of smallholder farmers are necessary to assist in producing more vegetables and diversity beyond staple crops. This innovation includes crop insurance products and subsidies as mechanisms to assist in establishing vegetable production. The insurance would come bundled with the seeds, and would reimburse farmers should disease spread. The payouts could be financial as well as in high quality seeds, irrigation or other assistance to help re-establish production.