In the simplest terms, vertical farming allows growers to produce more food in less space, than traditional farms, to meet the world's growing needs and demands for fresh produce. This predictable and repeatable growing environment offers other benefits to UK growers, too, including:
REDUCE RELIANCE ON IMPORTS
Growing in a totally controlled environment, such as with vertical farming, dramatically reduces food miles as the produce is grown locally. This allows for year-round production of usually seasonal crops, reducing dependence on imports during off-season periods and resulting in higher quality and greater yield. Lessening our reliance on imports also plays a part in reducing our carbon footprint.
INCREASED FOOD SECURITY
The growing population is a concern for food providers. Estimates say we need to produce 60% more food by 2050 to meet the ever-growing population. However, most of the arable land that is currently available is already being farmed using traditional methods. To help feed the planet and increase food security, new methods like vertical farming are essential.
Adopting vertical farming can lead to a more sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural industry. Our system boasts several environmental benefits, such as:
Consuming 98% less water compared to traditional greenhouse farming;
Implementing a closed-loop water and nutrient recycling process to reduce waste;
Eliminating nutrient discharge into the environment;
Minimising food waste and extending shelf life with shorter travel time;
Designed for long-term use, with components that can be easily replaced as needed.
By using this innovative farming technology, we will be a step closer to producing the food we need to feed the growing population.
EXTENDED SHELF LIFE
Food waste is a significant issue, with UK households alone throwing out approximately 9.5 million tonnes of food annually. Vertical farms help to increase the shelf life of food as transportation time is cut out. By increasing the shelf life of food, we can reduce the amount of waste, which plays a role in reducing the impact of food waste on the environment and on climate change.
REDUCED CONTAMINATION RISKS
Throughout the world, outbreaks of infections such as E.coli have been linked to contaminated lettuce, leading to increased concern for food safety. However, the closed environment of vertical farming reduces this risk. Using automation, crops are isolated from the risks from contamination, providing a high level of protection for the produce.
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