This new OneFarm vertical farm is positioned to be the biggest in the UK when it launches, which will provide local consumers with a way to access fresh, locally produced foods. The vertical farm will be located in Newmarket, Suffolk and will feature a 6,400-square-meter size with nine-meter-high growth towers. These will be capable of growing as much as 415-tonnes of food each year, while the second phase will increase this to more than 1,000-tonnes.
CEO Mira Merme spoke further on the upcoming OneFarm vertical farm saying, "Consumers deserve locally grown, fresh, good quality food, grown without pesticides and with low water usage and OneFarm’s in-house brand, Wholly Food, provides just that, every day of the year. It’s truly local food for local people.”
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Local Vertical Farming
- The demand for fresh and locally produced food is increasing, creating opportunities for companies to introduce vertical farms and address local food supply chain challenges.
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Vertical farming is a sustainable solution that offers efficient resource utilization and reduced carbon footprint, presenting opportunities for companies to create an eco-friendly business model.
- Smart Farming
- The use of technology such as data analytics and IoT in vertical farming can enable companies to optimize farm operations and supply chain, leading to increased efficiency and profitability.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Agriculture
- The agriculture industry has an opportunity to adopt vertical farming solutions to tackle challenges posed by traditional farming methods and cater to the increased demand for locally produced food.
- Food Retail
- Food retailers can leverage vertical farms to offer fresh, hyper-local produce to customers, enhance transparency in the supply chain, and reduce the carbon footprint associated with food transportation.
- Sustainability
- The sustainability industry can benefit by investing in vertical farms and promoting eco-friendly agriculture practices as a means to reduce carbon emissions and support local food systems.
