10073479Developing innovative lighting regimes for nutritionally-optimised hyper-local living greens for Alder Hey Hospital patientsClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKUrban vertical farming (UVF) is an exciting new development where plants are grown indoors in cities, without using soil and under energy-efficient LED lights. This type of farming can save water and nutrients, eliminate the use of pesticides, reduce land use (so freeing up land for rewilding) and could form the foundation of a resilient new urban economy focussed on health and rebuilding trust in the food system. Farm Urban produces hyper-local living greens in one of the UK's longest-running urban vertical farms in Liverpool, and has shown how this type of farming can not only provide nutritious food, it can engage people in discussions around health, wellbeing and sustainability issues, and help to change attitudes and behaviour. In this project, we will work with leading plant scientists and seed producers to discover the most nutritious varieties that can be grown in UVF, and then work with UK-based LED manufacturers to develop lighting strategies that mimic sunrise and sunset to maximise nutrition and yield, allowing us to create leafy-green superfoods. These greens will have numerous health benefits, but our boxes of living greens also act as a way to engage people in discussions around nutrition and wellbeing. We will therefore work with Alder Hey Children's hospital where nutritionists will distribute these boxes to families at hospital clinics, not only providing the families with fresh food, but engaging them in discussions around health and wellbeing; something the nutritionists often struggle to do. This could open the door to hospitals using the food as part of overall treatment strategies, and pave the way for hospitals working closely with local urban farms; something that ties in well with both NHS and Government current procurement strategies. This project brings together experts from a range of different disciplines and sectors, working to create a solution that could not only address a number of issues in food production sustainability, but also have a significant impact for health and wellbeing for some of the most vulnerable members of society.