The first vertical farming commercial exploitation enlighted by LEDs
The Dronten vertical farming, in the Netherlands, will produce lettuce grown with LED for one of Europe’s largest supermarket chains.
To this day, the only vertical farms in Europe using LED lamps have so far been reduced research centers, or specialized producers serving restaurants.
The new Dronten set up, built by the fresh fruit and vegetable company Staay Food Group, will be the first vertical farm in Europe to be a operate in the trade.
The 9000 square meter vertical interior farm will have more than 3,000 square meters of growth space and is expected to start operating in the year 2017.
Specific research has identified the best combination of lettuce varieties and growth techniques to improve crop quality and yields.
« Our specialists at the GrowWise research center plant in Eindhoven are testing the seeds and selecting the most suitable lettuce varieties to predict the best growth techniques and optimize the future growth of the crop Even before the farm is running. »
Indoor cultivation with LED
Vertical farming future
The idea is to help professional horticulturalists and ultimately offer solutions to feed the growing world population. Vertical farms are becoming increasingly important. In the future, economic and environmental pressure will increase to produce fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries or lettuce, closer to where final customers are located.
Farms located near consumers will help reduce emissions and transportation costs. The vertical culture market is expected to take off in the coming years and generate total revenues of $ 6.4 billion by 2023.
The Horticoled team can accompany you in all your project culture. From simple greenhouse cultivation, to automated multi-layer cultivation according to your farming goals and budgets.
