VERTICAL FARMING - A RISING INDUSTRY IN UK (Pt 1)

VERTICAL FARMING are growing crops in vertically stacked layers in an indoor environment and it is well known for the producing fast-growing crops. Under the carefully controlled conditions used by vertical farms, plants such as herbs and leafy greens can go from seed to sprout to harvest in a matter of weeks, which is usually a much shorter timeline than that offered by conventional agriculture. So it seems fitting enough that the entire vertical farming sector, not just the crops it produces, is experiencing equally rapid growth. Worldwide, the vertical farming industry was valued at USD2.24 billion in 2018, and experts predict that by 2026, that figure will increase to almost USD13 billion or nearly a six-fold increase. Actually being able to produce crops 365 days a year and without the need for pesticides or much human intervention, while being unaffected by the weather and will appeal to many growers after such prolonged at wet autumn the vertical farming technology sometimes called indoor farming is the practice of growing plants under fully controlled conditions in buildings in many stacked layers, without solar light. Unlike glasshouse production in which relies on sunlight, it makes use of LED lighting to provide different wavelengths of light, according to crop and growth stage need. Together with soil-less growing techniques and environmental control systems, vertical farming is a specialist business. Vertical farming is actually what is it?. This blog 'Anim Agriculture Technology' share an info about tje rising industry of vertical farming in UK and amany other states.

The practice of growing crops in stacked layers in which the vertical farming often incorporates controlled environment agriculture and can be housed in buildings, shipping containers, underground tunnels and even abandoned mine shafts. Vertical farms use soil-free growing techniques and stack crops in specially designed beds and trays, making use of artificial lighting and climate control to get the desired results. During the growing process, four elements are controlled that was lighting, irrigation, fertigation and the climate. It was a global and fast-growing technology for consistent food production. And it’s a fast-growing sector. Worldwide reported that it was worth £1.72billion in 2018 with experts predicting that it will rise to £9.84bn by 2026. Japan and the US are leading the way but other countries are now catching on. Enthusiasts say that vertical farming offers a means of guaranteeing yields and reducing the industry’s environmental impact, while improving the supply of safe, healthy and nutritious food and minimizing the miles involved in its distribution. Malaysia as a developed nation are currently move toward the application of vertical farming technology even though at an early stage. Their vision are locally grown, quick-to-market fruit and vegetables, produced in the neighborhood where it is consumed, with the traceability and integrity that food supply chains demand and is already being delivered by various facilities worldwide.

However this technology are many solutions to challenges to be implemented. These high-tech units are presented as the solution to many of the challenges facing traditional production methods, such as pollution and water use and even if they are currently limited to higher- or added-value crops in order to be profitable. As they spring up around the world, they are also seen as a means of reducing reliance on food imports. The use of automation and robotics to keep human intervention and labor costs to a minimum is attracting interest, while less food waste and making better use of limited land space are bonus features too. It was a trends driving vertical farming in which consider the environmental impact of food production. It related to the high demand for healthy, safe food, Legislation, Urbanization, growing world population. scarcity of natural resources and the changing eating habits. For the UK projects there have been several big projects announced in the last 12 months. Edinburgh-based Shockingly Fresh has ambitions to develop 40 sites and already has five on the go and one in Scotland and four in England. Ocado is involved too of having invested £17m in the sector during 2019. That has seen it enter a joint venture with 32ha, a US firm, and Priva Holdings in the Netherlands, known as Infinite Acres. It has also taken a 58% stake in Jones Food Company, a Lincolnshire-based business producing 420t of leafy greens each year at a facility of 5,120sq m or equivalent in size to 26 tennis courts. In London, there is Growing Underground, which produces micro greens and salad leaves below the busy streets of Clapham, while in Bristol there is LettUs Grow, which provides the cutting edge technology required. This article divided in 3 segment that was Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 respectively.

Thanks.

By,

M Anim,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(December 2020).