UK to investigate potential for vertical farms in space

The project will be led by research and development company Vertical Future and result in the development of a Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) facility – or ‘vertical farm’ – to be used in future space exploration missions.

Vertical Future will work in partnership with both plant biology and space technology companies including Axiom Space, Saber Astronautics, the University of Southern Queensland and its Plants for Space (P4S) research partners from the University of Adelaide and the University of Cambridge.

As a result of its involvement in the UK Space Agency project, Vertical Future will be the first UK-based company working in the agri-space sector.

Chief scientific officer at Vertical Future, Dr. Jennifer Bromley, said the company was excited to have the opportunity to work alongside global experts in both plant biology and space technology to develop “life-changing technology”.

“Several studies have shown that having access to high-quality fresh produce is important not just for one’s nutrition but also their mental well-being,” she said.

“Astronauts typically lack access to a varied diet whilst in space which this project is working to solve, by providing a wide variety of high-quality produce that can be grown on a space vessel.

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Image: An impression of a vertical farm. Provided by Vertical Future.

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