A new age of high tech agriculture has started in Gloucestershire with one of the country’s most technologically sophisticated indoor farms starting operations.
Run by Jones Food Company, the vertical farm allows the growth of salad crops such as lettuce and other herbs three times quicker than traditional outdoor farming methods.
With a total growing area of 14,500 sq m, the environment is controlled to maintain a temperature of 27 degrees and about 75% humidity, creating ideal conditions for rapid plant growth. As an example, basil can progress from seed to harvest in just 18 days, a significant contrast to the slower growth rates experienced outdoors, particularly in regions such as Spain or Morocco during the winter months. This method of farming not only accelerates growth but also significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to importing crops from abroad.