Potential Annual Nutrient Yield (PANY)

Although it is usual to assess an aeroponic crop’s Potential Annual Yield (PAY), this prioritises raw weight and harvest speed. In contrast to this, the Potential Annual Nutrient Yield (PANY), rewards foods with high concentrations of micronutrients, essential fatty acids (EFAs) and specialised phytochemicals like nasunin and lycopene per gram of edible material. As an example of this, let’s take a look at how this applies to one category of foods, Nightshade & High-Lycopene Foods:

Nightshade & High-Lycopene Foods (Nutrient Yield Ratings)

• Goji Berries: 97/100
  While their physical yield is lower than tomatoes, they are “phytochemical powerhouses.” They contain much higher concentrations of carotenoids, Vitamin A, and iron per gram ¹. In a vertical facility, their ability to provide a massive Total Nutrient Score (Nutrient Aggregate) per square metre of land makes them the top performer for nutrient density.
• African Nightshade: 96/100
  Although not first, it remains elite. As a dark leafy green, it provides exceptional levels of beta-carotene, Vitamin E, and iron that are absent in many of its fruiting cousins ¹. Its near-constant harvest cycle ensures a steady stream of dense nutrition.
• Red Bell Peppers: 94/100
  They maintain a high rank due to their extreme Vitamin C and lycopene density. They provide more “nutrients per hectare” than almost any other fruiting nightshade because they are rich in both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins ¹.
• Cooked Tomatoes: 90/100
  Tomatoes have a high water content, which dilutes their nutrient score per 100g compared to berries or leaves. However, they remain high because heat processing doubles the bioavailability of their lycopene, effectively boosting their “functional” nutrient yield ^4,12.
• Black Nightshade (Berries): 89/100
  These berries keep their position because their high pigment concentration (anthocyanins) and biotin levels provide high-value phytochemicals in a very small physical footprint ¹.
• Aubergines: 81/100
  Like tomatoes, aubergines are water-dense. Their nutrient score is driven primarily by the nasunin in the skin ⁹. While they provide significant potassium and manganese, they have lower vitamin concentrations than peppers or leafy greens ³.
• Tamarillo: 78/100
  Despite having a lower physical weight yield, the tamarillo is more nutrient-dense than the pepino melon or tomatillo, offering a concentrated source of Vitamin A and iron that boosts its nutrient-per-hectare efficiency ¹.
• Cape Gooseberries: 77/100
  They provide a balanced mix of fats and vitamins. They are particularly valued in this group for their small amount of protein and essential oils, which are rare in this food group ¹.
• Tomatillos: 72/100
  While highly prolific in terms of fruit count (PAY), they are relatively low in Total Nutrient Score (Nutrient Aggregate). They are excellent for bulk, but less efficient when measured by vitamins per square metre ¹.
• Naranjilla & Cocona: 68/100)
  These exotic fruits climb higher because they contain unique tropical antioxidants and enzymes not found in standard UK nightshades ⁵. Their “phytochemical merit” outweighs their slower growth speed.
• Pepino Melons: 60/100
  These fall to the bottom because they are the most “water-heavy” of the group. While delicious, they are “nutrient-sparse” compared to the concentrated pigments of a goji berry or the mineral density of African nightshade ¹. 

Key Nutrient Shift: When you stop measuring “how much food” can be produced per hectare and start measuring “how much health,” the berry and leaf variants win. They require less energy to grow water-heavy flesh and more energy to create concentrated medicinal pigments.

Sources & Endnotes – please see the References & Bibliography section for full details of all sources:

• ¹ Google AI internal knowledge.
• ³ USDA FoodData Central – usda.gov
• ⁴ British Nutrition Foundation – Lycopene bioavailability – nutrition.org.uk
• ⁵ ScienceDirect – Bioactive compounds in nightshade fruits.
• ⁹ Molecules Journal – Nasunin and neuroprotection – mdpi.com
• ¹² Food Chemistry Journal – Thermal processing impacts – sciencedirect.com