Farming on the horizontal has just met its match.

Forget plant counts per metre square it's time to think plant counts per metre cubed. Valcent can now turn that redundant farm building into a vertical salad bar. Nolonger constrained by the vageries of the weather farmers can now grow year round lettuce anywhere in the UK.

These self contained systems rely on noval hydroponics, LED lighting and climate control technology to grow produce on a vertical plane. VertiCrop is a high density, vertical growing system, which maximizes the potential of available growing space and can eliminate the need for pesticides and herbicides. VertiCrop’s sophisticated hydroponics system is capable of achieving astonishing yields; using up to 95 per cent less water than in conventionally irrigated poly-systems. Crops are continuously rotated within the VertiCrop, ensuring an even exposure to light, nutrients and creating a constant air-flow.

Previously considered as a novel growing technique for technicians in Japan or fancy New York restaurants. Valcent's success at Paignton zoo shows that this is now possible to grow leafy vegetables on a commercial scale.

"We are looking to convert an existing tractor shed into a full scale vertical farming system producing salad vegetables for hte UK market", says Graham Dunling of Valcent.

This will meet an increasing demand as suppliers have realised the need to reduce the carbon footprint of salads imported from Southern Europe. Doubts over the sustainability of growing hectares of crops under poly tunnels in an increasingly saline environment has also concentrated the minds on the need to find a viable alternative.