West Flemish research centre launches vertical farming tower to up urban food production
Inagro, the West Flemish research centre for agriculture and horticulture, unveiled a new vertical cultivation system on Wednesday at the Agrotopia research greenhouse in Roeselare. This innovative system, which allows crops to be grown on multiple layers, takes up less space than traditional greenhouse farming, making it ideal for densely populated urban areas. The first crops to be cultivated in the tower include leafy vegetables, strawberries and microgreens.
The tower is the first of three planned for the facility, each standing ten metres high and containing 18 moving tables for optimal growing conditions. The system, designed by Urban Crop Solutions, combines indoor farming technology with natural sunlight. “With this first vertical farming tower in Agrotopia, we show how advanced indoor farming technology can be combined with the power of natural sunlight,” said Jean-Pierre Coene, CEO of Urban Crop Solutions. “This project shows the future of sustainable agriculture, where technology and nature go hand in hand.”
Inagro is currently focused on researching the technical capabilities of the tower. "By developing a digital model of the tower, we can quickly identify the points of attention in lighting and irrigation using computer models," explained Maarten Ameye of Inagro. "At the same time, the data we collect in the tower will further advance the research."
Vertical farming offers a space-efficient solution, particularly in regions where agricultural land is limited. West Flemish deputy for agriculture and horticulture, Bart Naeyaert, drew attention to the significance of this innovation. "In an urbanised landscape where agricultural land is becoming increasingly scarce, this installation is an excellent example of how we can grow vertically to produce more food on a limited surface area," Naeyaert said. "This project can provide solutions to the challenges facing our agriculture and horticulture."
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO MAAIKE TIJSSENS
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