PLANS to establish a futuristic farming facility at the James Hutton Institute site in Invergowrie near Dundee have been agreed with vertical farming entrepreneurs Intelligent Growth Solutions.

Vertical farming refers to the practice of producing food in vertically stacked layers by using controlled environments, and its proponents believe that it is set to grow rapidly as suitable light sources fall in cost and efficiencies increase.

It is predicted that the Invergowrie collaboration will provide a better understanding of the future potential of vertical farming, and give insight into the efficiencies, cost savings and range of crops that can be grown.

The purpose-built facility, costing £2.5million, will be the first in the UK to house automated growth towers for vertical, indoor farming. Perth and Kinross councillors have already granted approval for the project, and a 10-year lease has been signed by the JHI and IGS.

JHI chief executive Professor Colin Campbell said: “Vertical farming is an efficient way of growing plants on a small footprint in urban situations with low energy and water inputs. We are doing more research with such innovative companies in the private sector and this example combines our knowledge of plant science and specialised infrastructure to work with others whose vision is aligned to help solve the challenges around long-term food security.”

IGS chief Henry Aykroyd added: “Our mission is to enable our customers to be the lowest cost producers by growing local globally, with better quality and saving natural resources. The process uses little water, no pesticides, can enhance taste and is consistent all year round. Our real-time software can ‘grab’ power when the grid has surplus power and ‘shut down’ at peak times.

“Our automated growth towers are fully programmable to suit many diverse crops, and provide smart solutions to automation, power management and lighting issues.”