Scotland’s first vertical farm, being designed by Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), is set to be operational within the next few months. The farm, which is being constructed at the James Hutton Institute near Dundee, should be ready to produce food by the autumn, according to the JHI.

The Institute claims that trials at its indoor farm will create the UK’s first commercially viable vertical growing environment.

The farm is being constructed in conjunction with automation business Omron. The James Hutton Institute and farm operators ISG are tasking Omron with the challenge of making the vertical farm commercially viable by reducing labour and energy costs. The aim is for the farm to contribute to a better understanding of plant science, and insight into which plants fare best in an indoor environment, as well as forging ahead with a potential new direction for food production.

Commenting, on the chosen technique, Henry Aykroyd, CEO of IGS, said, “Vertical farming allows us to provide the exact environmental conditions necessary for optimal plant growth. By adopting the principles of Total Controlled Environment Agriculture (TCEA), a system in which all aspects of the growing environment can be controlled, it is possible to eliminate variations in the growing environment, enabling the grower to produce consistent, high quality crops with minimal wastage, in any location, all year round.”

Omron’s automated systems will control and monitor the stacking system, the LED lighting and the hydroponics systems operating in the vertical farm.

“A highly integrated automation strategy, patented energy reduction technology and the most advanced biological research available will be the three key pillars to success in this project,” Aykroyd said. “Partnering with two leading experts Omron and the James Hutton Institute to deliver this provides the very best opportunity for a new approach to vertical farming.”

Also commenting on the project, Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive of the James Hutton Institute said, “We are delighted to see how well the work on IGS’ indoors growth facility at our Dundee site is progressing.

“This initiative combines our world-leading knowledge of plant science at the James Hutton Institute and IGS’ entrepreneurship to develop efficient ways of growing plants on a small footprint with low energy and water input.”