Co-ordinated technology development to provide an optimised and integrated system of leading vertical farming technologies

"Vertical farming (VF) has the potential to revolutionise food production. The industry is experiencing enormous growth, propelled by the increased demand for pesticide-free foods, rising global populations, decreased availability of land and demand for year-round food production worldwide. It delivers numerous benefits versus traditional farming methods including lower water usage, reduced dependence on agrochemicals and the ability to produce high quality, consistent, year-round crop production. Developing the VF sector holds the promise of significant benefits to society and the farming industry. By growing an ever-increasing percentage of the food that we consume in VF systems, pressures on farmland will reduce, and year-round local food production can be enabled while improving the outlook for permanent jobs in the farming sector. However, the industry requires further innovations to reduce operational costs and improve yields to allow it to be commercially viable beyond the production of high-value, niche, crops.

VF production systems bring together an array of different technologies, many of which have been adapted from the glasshouse-based horticultural industry. Currently, these technologies have reduced integration and are lacking optimisation for crop yield, quality and control. This project brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of partners, representing a wide range of technologies and expertise, all of whom have significant experience in the VF market. The outcome of the project will be a fully optimised prototype VF growing system. It will offer a high-tech, turn-key solution that will reduce the complexity and costs of building, and adjusting and monitoring for optimal growth conditions in VF production systems. It will provide growers with better control, through data-driven information, and automate responses to changes detected, enabling them to deliver higher quality, higher yield produce, whilst better equipping them to adapt to market demand and reducing the risks of business failures. The technology will facilitate the transfer of scientific knowledge in crop production into benefits for growers. The system will include low-cost LED-lighting, that match ideal growing conditions throughout the plant growth cycle and improved nutrient control and delivery system, for increased plant yield and quality. We will evaluate the feasibility of incorporating vision sensing capabilities at large-scale which can provide valuable real-time feedback on crop health. This, in turn, will allow the development of a decision support system for the automated control of the atmospheric environment. Grower engagement in the development of a single user-friendly control system for control of all operations will be a central outcome."