Vertical Farming in London: RAZOR‘s Frankie McCamley visits Vertical Future, a London-based operation that has been running a vertical farm since 2017, growing fresh produce for local restaurants. By refining and improving systems, Vertical Future has redesigned many elements of vertical farms with the plan to sell hardware and software to future growers across the world.
In this episode, we explore vertical farming, which is a high-density application of new technologies in controlled-climate conditions, usually indoors. Instead of fields of crops, picture futuristically stacked trays of watercress, sage, basil and other small herbs and crops, boosted by hydroponics while completely avoiding herbicides and pesticides.
In this episode of Razor, we explore the importance of creating earthquake-resilient buildings – a particularly pertinent issue in developing countries where building materials are limited by cost and availability. In Nepal, the devastating 2015 earthquake flattened whole neighborhoods and villages when centuries-old monuments and temples collapsed. Shini Somara talks to Anastasios Sextos, a professor at Bristol University, and his colleagues at the SAFER Nepal Project, who are working with communities to avoid future devastation by using seismic engineering to make existing structures safer for residents. One approach in particular has been successful – building on layers of plastic and sand.
Vertical Future’s leading hardware and software solutions set new standards of performance in the vertical farming world. Full automation, energy efficiency, high-tech sensors, and full software integration form the core of our solutions, which can be found from London through to Singapore. Our bespoke, system-led approach is also supported by years of growing data, owning and operating our own vertical farms.
Vertical Future’s production system is hailed as one of the most advanced Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) systems in the world and is currently housed at our R&D facility in London. The system adopts a combinational approach, offering sophisticated, adaptable lighting, nutrient delivery, effective space utilisation, automation, and control over all key growth parameters. This allows for optimal growing conditions, irrespective of crop type.