Vertical Farming: A solution for sustainable local development

Added on 02 July 2024

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Vertical Farming: A solution for sustainable local development

Photo credit: UNDP in Belarus

BELARUS - Elena and Dzmitry have transformed a small metalworking enterprise into an urban farm in Bielaaziorsk, a town in the Brest region. Their family business is focused on growing organic microgreens, young edible seedlings of vegetables and herbs. The innovative business model offers an alternative to traditional agriculture in a peri-urban setting and enhances the livelihood of the local community.

The seed of an idea

On the town’s outskirts the unassuming building of a former metal workshop hides a futuristic interior. Vertically stacked up are numerous shelves with greens seemingly growing with little interference. Automated lighting, irrigation, and air conditioning systems provide everything needed for the first leaves to appear. Elena and Dzmitry cultivate microgreens using a hydroponic system that requires little or no soil, maximizing the use of limited space.