Guidelines for vertical farming growers

Added on 01 October 2024

Tags

Photo: WUR

A vertical farm has a number of advantages compared to a traditional greenhouse, such as complete control over the growing conditions. Because of this, a grower has to take detailed decisions about every aspect of cultivation which will influence their environmental and financial sustainability. The BU Greenhouse Horticulture of Wageningen University & Research developed a checklist for growers who want to start vertical farming. Researcher Caterina Carpineti: “The guidelines contain the expert knowledge of the BU as well as insights of vertical farming companies.”

In a vertical farm, the growing conditions are completely different than in a greenhouse: there is no sunlight, light is provided solely by LED lamps which emit less radiant heat, the air is conditioned and the outside climate has no influence on the climate in the vertical farm. Carpineti: “The grower therefore has more control over the climate conditions. That provides more freedom. But it also means that different decisions have to be made, and in a different way.”