Urban Crop Solutions supports Inagro with first innovative VF

Innovation in Sustainable Agriculture

With Agrotopia's 12-meter-high glass façade greenhouse as a backdrop, this new installation provides a space-efficient alternative to traditional greenhouse farming. The final system, consisting of three towers, each 10 meters high, utilizes 16 moving tables per tower. Thanks to the innovative combination of dynamic LED lighting and natural sunlight, plant growth is optimized, and productivity is increased.

Jean-Pierre Coene, CEO of Urban Crop Solutions, explains: “With this first vertical hybrid farming tower, we demonstrate how advanced indoor farming technology can be integrated with the power of natural sunlight. This project is an example of how technology and nature can work hand in hand towards a sustainable future.”

Collaboration and Research for the Future

The first vertical farming tower is the result of close collaboration between Urban Crop Solutions and Inagro. Inagro,in cooperation with UGent, is exploring the technical capabilities of the system by developing a digital model. This allows critical elements such as lighting and irrigation to be accurately analyzed and improved.

“With the data collected from this tower, we can further develop our knowledge and help growers optimize their cultivation systems,” says Maarten Ameye, research leader at Inagro. “Leafy greens, strawberries, and microgreens will be the first crops tested, with the aim of developing innovative cultivation techniques applicable to both urban and traditional greenhouse farming.”

Sustainable Urban Food Production

Bart Naeyaert, Government Deputy for Agriculture, emphasizes the need for efficient space use in urbanized areas: “In a time when agricultural land is becoming scarce, this project offers a solution by growing upwards. It shows how we can produce food on a limited surface and reinforces Flanders’ leadership in sustainable and innovative food production.”

Future Plans and Expansion

Following the validation of the first tower, the construction of two additional towers will begin. Alongside technical research, economic data will be collected to develop new business models where vertical farming can complement traditional greenhouse farming.

With this project, Urban Crop Solutions, in collaboration with Agrotopia and Inagro, sets a new standard for the future of sustainable agriculture.

ABOUT URBAN CROP SOLUTIONS

Urban Crop Solutions is an end-to-end provider of indoor farming solutions, supporting clients with contractresearch, business planning, and the engineering, procurement, and construction of indoor farms. Their award-winning indoor farming solutions can be deployed and scaled anywhere in the world, from remote islands to bustling metropolises. In the state-of-the-art UCS Research Centre, the team of plant scientistsdeveloped recipes for applications ranging from staple foods to ingredients for cellular food products. With an extensive library of plant growth recipes and modules deployed across 4 continents, UCS is the ideal partner for commercial growers and public-private research institutes. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or visit our website at www.urbancropsolutions.com.

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