A new form of high-density indoor farming is hoping to provide UK producers of salads and aromatic herbs with a reliable and cost-effective domestic alternative to imports. This could reduce dependence on climate-affected regions such as Spain and offer resilience against supply chain disruptions caused by international conflict, including aviation cancellations across the Middle East.
The high-tech one-hectare Offenham greenhouse in Worcestershire, a pilot project being operated by salad grower Valefresco, has now produced over ten million plants in five years of operations, with sales to supermarkets across the country. With crops including lettuce, pak-choi, basil and parsley, the high-tech farm has seen spoilage down more than 90% and fertiliser use halved, compared with traditional farming techniques.
There are now plans to roll out a similar, much larger, 10-hectare farm on a site at Three Oaks, Courteenhall, just south of Northampton, alongside the M1. Unlike vertical farms, which rely heavily on energy-intensive inputs including LEDs, the Offenham project has showcased a low input alternative, which relies on natural light and high-density growing towers to deliver high yields at lower cost.
Winter heat is delivered by biogas, mainly to protect against frost, whilst the insulated greenhouses are designed to minimise heat loss.
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