AgriBusiness Controlled Environment Agriculture Partnerships

Urban Crop Solutions & Inagro Unveil Vertical Farming Tower in Agrotopia

Inagro and Urban Crop Solutions have launched the first of three vertical farming towers at Agrotopia, utilizing dynamic LED lighting and natural sunlight for space-efficient agriculture.
Image provided by Inagro

Key Takeaways:

  • Inagro and Urban Crop Solutions have launched the first of three vertical farming towers at Agrotopia, utilizing dynamic LED lighting and natural sunlight for space-efficient agriculture.
  • The installation supports Flanders’ ambition to lead in sustainable and space-efficient urban farming, offering new possibilities for greenhouse horticulture.
  • The project combines advanced technologies with nature, allowing for optimized plant growth and maximum flexibility for growers.
  • Collaboration with Ghent University will validate the system, initially testing leafy greens, strawberries, and microgreens.
  • The project aims to inspire innovation in greenhouse horticulture and address challenges in urban agriculture.

Inagro, in collaboration with Urban Crop Solutions, has taken a major step in the future of greenhouse horticulture with the commissioning of a cutting-edge vertical farming installation at Agrotopia. This innovative system, which integrates multi-layer cultivation with dynamic lighting and natural sunlight, optimizes space usage and represents a new chapter in sustainable agriculture for urban food production. The 12-metre high façade greenhouse at Agrotopia provides the ideal environment for this breakthrough project, demonstrating the potential of vertical farming in an urban setting.

Vertical Farming Tower: A Sustainable Innovation

The first of three planned towers, the new vertical farming installation stands ten meters high and contains eighteen moving tables, designed to grow crops across multiple layers. This efficient use of space is a model for future food production, especially in urban areas where space is limited. The system incorporates dynamic LED lighting, allowing for the adjustment of the light spectrum to maximize plant growth and sustainability. This flexibility offers growers significant opportunities to increase the productivity of their crops.

“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.”

Research and Development Collaboration

The vertical farming tower project is the result of close collaboration between Inagro and Urban Crop Solutions, with additional technical validation from Ghent University. The university will help develop a digital model of the system to improve irrigation and lighting configurations through computer simulations, while the data collected from the tower will inform ongoing research and innovation.

“By developing a digital model of the tower, we can quickly identify key focus areas in lighting and irrigation,” explained Maarten Ameye, research leader of covered horticulture at Inagro. “The knowledge gained will be applied to current systems, improving both greenhouse and urban horticulture, and we’ll be able to provide practical implementation advice for future projects.”

Initial crops to be tested include leafy greens, strawberries, and microgreens, all of which are critical for greenhouse and urban farming. The results from these tests will guide further innovations and practical applications in the horticulture sector.

A Vision for Urban Agriculture

The vertical farming tower is not only a scientific and agricultural breakthrough but also a vision for the future of urban farming. As land becomes scarcer, especially in urbanized regions like Flanders, the ability to grow food vertically provides a solution to the challenges facing modern agriculture. By maximizing space and reducing the environmental footprint, vertical farming offers a path toward sustainable and efficient food production.

Bart Naeyaert, West Flemish deputy for agriculture and horticulture, emphasized the significance of the project during the inauguration: “In an urbanized landscape where agricultural land is becoming increasingly scarce, this installation is an excellent example of how we can grow in height to produce more food on a limited surface area. This project can provide solutions to the challenges facing our agriculture and horticulture, and confirms Flanders’ leading role in the field of innovative and sustainable food production.”

Future Expansion and Impact

Following the commissioning of the first tower, the construction of the second and third towers is set to begin. The technical research will continue over the coming years, with a focus on collecting economic data to explore new business models that combine vertical farming with traditional greenhouse horticulture. Agrotopia also includes modern greenhouse facilities, allowing for side-by-side comparisons of different growing systems, and highlighting the potential of vertical farming to enhance traditional horticulture practices.


Urban Crop Solutions Latest News

Develops Custom Indoor Farm for Microalgae Cultivation (2024/06/07)

Urban Crop Solutions (UCS) has developed a custom indoor farming environment for microalgae cultivation, focusing on sustainability and scalability. The project includes a unique fertigation and irrigation system with customized dosing capability, and spectrum-adjustable LED lighting. The lighting is designed to optimize growth conditions for microalgae, ensuring maximum efficiency and productivity. The project’s CEO, Jean-Pierre Coene, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration and the client’s satisfaction with the quality of cooperation. The customized solution provided by UCS has exceeded expectations and represents a promising device for industrial scaling production.

Urban Crop Solutions Delivers Research Indoor Farm to BASF for the Development of More Effective and Environmentally Friendly Solutions (2023/11/28)

Urban Crop Solutions and BASF have joined forces to advance sustainable agricultural practices using innovative vertical farming technology. Urban Crop Solutions installed a state-of-the-art vertical farming solution at BASF’s facility in Germany to accelerate sustainable agricultural projects. This collaboration aims to cultivate weed species for scientific research and develop innovative solutions to modern agricultural challenges. Dr. Liliana Parra Rapado of BASF emphasizes the importance of the partnership in sustainable agriculture. Urban Crop Solutions’ proficiency in vertical farming technologies has been evident in the design and implementation of the installation, providing an efficient and controlled environment for cultivating and studying various weed species. Jean-Pierre Coene, CEO of Urban Crop Solutions, acknowledges the success of their business model and their ability to cater to corporate clients effectively.

Partners with Aixponic to Revolutionize Saltwater Plant Cultivation (2023/09/20)

Urban Crop Solutions and Aixponic have partnered to cultivate saltwater plants for the food industry by combining aquaponic and indoor vertical farming technologies. This approach emphasizes sustainability, high-quality nutrition, efficient space utilization, and environmental responsibility. The collaboration showcases the potential for niche applications in indoor farming and sets a new standard for sustainable and efficient food production.

Urban Crop Solutions’ Climate System Thrives in Saudi Arabia (2023/08/09)

Urban Crop Solutions is a leading player in the realm of indoor farming. With a comprehensive suite of indoor farming solutions, the company empowers growers worldwide to cultivate crops in controlled environments, overcoming the challenges posed by climate change and resource limitations. The company’s commitment to innovation, customization, and sustainability is impressive. A recent project in Saudi Arabia demonstrated their capability to develop custom solutions that meet specific needs. Their proprietary climate control system adapts to the most demanding conditions and can maintain precise temperature and humidity control, optimize energy use, and accommodate a wide range of crops.

Urban Crop Solutions Launch Financing Solution (2023/08/09)

Urban Crop Solutions and Siemens Financial Services have partnered to offer financing options for UCS customers with a sound financial track record. The financing offer is currently limited to the countries where SFS is active in today. Those being: industrial transformation, smart infrastructure, and the future of healthcare. Read more here.

Expands in KSA (2023/07/12)

UCS has sold its first ModuleX plant factory project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in an exciting new move into the Middle East, a region with a particular climatic and strategic interest in indoor vertical farming. The agreement comes after UCS successfully carried the customer through the primary phase of their well-defined customer journey. Having initially assessed the feasibility of the customer’s project, UCS developed a plan that was given the seal of approval by all stakeholders, thus leading to the sale of the project.

Urban Crop Solutions Unveils Cutting-Edge Research Center (2023/06/09)

Urban Crop Solutions (UCS) is a leading research center in the field of indoor farming. The company has formulated over 230 plant growth algorithms accessible to clients, and it actively collaborates with traditional farmers to incorporate indoor farming into their operations. UCS has made significant strides in plant production for the textile industry and using plants as bioreactors for biotech and pharmaceutical purposes. The company has established a research center in the south of Spain in partnership with renowned pharmacologist Dr. Rudi Pauwels. UCS also invests in training future generations and operates as an end-to-end indoor farming solutions provider, offering support in contract research trials, business planning, and the engineering and construction of indoor farms.

AlfaTech & Urban Crop Solutions Partner For South East Asia (2023/04/18)

AlfaTech has partnered with Urban Crop Solutions to become their integration and service partner in South East Asia for indoor vertical farming projects. The two companies see the potential of indoor vertical farming to address climate change and supply chain deficiencies. AlfaTech will provide integration and service support, while UCS will provide plant growth solutions.

Named Fourth Most Innovative Company By Fast Company In EMEA (2023/03/07)

Belgium-based Urban Crop Solutions has been recognized for its innovative approach to indoor farming. The company has been named the fourth Most Innovative company in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa by Fast Company. Urban Crop Solutions is the only indoor farming company to be included in this category. In addition, the company stood out for the launch of PharmSpeeTM, a platform that uses plants instead of animal cells or synthetic materials to produce ingredients for various industries.

Urban Crop Solutions Launches E-Shop To Support Indoor Farmers (2023/02/16)

UCS launched an e-shop for indoor farming customers to purchase everything they need, from seeds to container parts, conveniently. The e-shop is accessible to anyone interested in indoor farming and provides personalized advice from Urban Crop Solutions’ sales and technical team. The team checks and verifies all orders, provides customers with a full quotation, including transportation costs, and manages the dispatch and delivery of the items.

Urban Crop Solutions To Establish Research Centre in Spain (2022/10/25)

Urban Crop Solutions (UCS) and Dr Rudi Pauwels will set up a research center on indoor farming applications in southern Spain. Research at the center will focus on the impact of climate change on crops in Southern Europe (Such as Spain) while working on optimizing the nutrient content. For UCS, this new research center complements its existing research center in Belgium. Dr Rudi Pauwels will also advise UCS on its plant molecular farming activities.

Urban Crop Solutions & the Provincial Technical Institute Launch Training Scheme For Indoor Farmers (2022/09/19)

Urban Crop Solutions (UCS) and the Provincial Technical Institute (PTI) in the Belgian city of Kortrijk have agreed on a collaboration whereby an indoor farm supplied by UCS will be used for training purposes by PTI Kortrijk to train students with the skills required to become indoor farmers. It is becoming apparent that as indoor farming systems advance and become more popular and commercial, that they are here to stay as an additional agricultural method. It is therefore imperative that the operators of indoor farms are properly educated and trained in order to capitalise on and extract the maximum value from any investment in an indoor farm.

Partner With Mayer Planting Systems (2022/07/01)

Urban Crop Solutions (UCS) and Mayer Planting Systems (Germany), the global supplier of automation solutions for substrate preparation as well as for the filling and handling of pots, have agreed on a partnership. With this, Urban Crop Solutions goes one step further in offering its customer’s automation equipment as well as after-sales support and maintenance of this equipment.

Image provided by UCS

administrator
As a dedicated journalist and entrepreneur, I helm iGrow News, a pioneering media platform focused on the evolving landscape of Agriculture Technology. With a deep-seated passion for uncovering the latest developments and trends within the agtech sector, my mission is to deliver insightful, unbiased news and analysis. Through iGrow News, I aim to empower industry professionals, enthusiasts, and the broader public with knowledge and understanding of technological advancements that shape modern agriculture. You can follow me on LinkedIn & Twitter.

2 Comments

Leave a Reply