Vertical farming is on the rise, but is still limited in the UK. Experiments with stacked cultivation are being conducted in several cities. Vertical horticulture is therefore a breeding ground for new innovations. There also seems to be room for Dutch knowledge and technology in this phase.
The renowned James Hutton Institute starts this summer with the construction of the first commercial vertical cultivation company in Scotland. This autumn, the cultivation company will start with several crop tests in collaboration with, among others, the Japanese automation company Omron.
Vertical farming is still very undeveloped in the UK. So far almost exclusively lettuce and cherry varieties are grown. However, technological developments in the field of lighting and irrigation lead to experiments with multilayer cultivation in various cities, in old factory buildings, on roofs, and even underground. The main driving force behind the spread of vertical farming is the application of new LED technology that significantly reduces energy consumption.
Vertical farming is in line with demand for sustainable and local products in large cities. Thanks to multilayer cultivation, nutrients and water can be utilized optimally and therefore cultivation in the scarce urban space can be done as efficiently as possible. The rise of urban horticulture is also similar to the emergence of microbreweries and the reentry of the crafty baker and butcher, whereby consumers, but also (high-end) restaurants are willing to pay more for craftsmanship, innovation and short chains. The new city farms often work together with startups like FarmDrop, which make it easier to order the fresh produce online and have home delivery.
The first commercial vertical cultivation company in the United Kingdom, Unit 84 of the Startup GrowUp Urban Farms, is located in a former warehouse of about 750 m2 in East London. Unit 84 was established in collaboration with Philips, which supplied the LED lighting that was specifically designed for horticulture. Unit 84 is also the first company in the United Kingdom to combine the cultivation of vegetables and fish through aquaponics to conserve water.
The newest vertical nursery that opened its doors is housed in a former warehouse in the trendy London district of Deptford. It is the first nursery of the tech-startup Vertical Future, which plans to open more nurseries under the brand name MiniCrops. The startup Vertical Future is one of the growing number of tech-startups in the urban cultivation sector.
Vertical farming in the UK in still in an experimental phase, dominated by startups that capture the increasing accessibility to new horticulture technology. Vertical farming is therefore a potential breeding ground for new innovations. Reason, also for the traditional players in the horticulture and automation sector, such as the James Hutton Institute and Omron, to invest in a test nursery. There is also room for Dutch knowledge and technology in this phase.