Vertical farming has an essential role to play in sustainability by cutting the distances from farm to fork, and feeding a growing population. However, as Schneider Electric's Louise Liddiard reveals, it requires careful deployment to achieve the best return on investment.
Sustainability has become more important to UK shoppers, according to a report published in September 2023 by food product testing agency Vyper. The report found that almost two-thirds of UK consumers are willing to pay more for sustainability. For food manufacturers, this consideration sits alongside the constant pressure to maintain availability, quality and variety to meet demand for consumers' favorite products. As well as facing these challenges, traditional agriculture must also meet new regulatory requirements, recruit seasonal workers and deliver seasonal produce year-round while adapting to climate change. With a growing population, traditional farming cannot meet future demand alone.
One solution is for the industry to embrace vertical farming technology to work in synergy with traditional farming. Using this approach, companies can respond to sudden changes in demand and cut the distance between farm and fork to command a premium price for sustainability. Being led by technology rather than muscle power, gleans several advantages; chief among them are reduced reliance on seasonal staff and the ability to control the environment/growing conditions to produce crops to meet demand.
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