Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) has invested £500,000 in a pop-up vertical farm and education center in Glasgow to allow locals, school children, and visitors to see first-hand what agriculture of the future could look like.
The Edinburgh-based start-up firm, which was established in 2013, launched its first demonstration farm in 2018 at the Dundee campus of the James Hutton Institute after having invested around £7 million in research and development.
Vertical farms were once able to grow only leafy greens and herbs, but IGS is already successfully rearing the likes of seed potatoes, avocados, peppers, soft fruit, carrots and radishes, edible flowers and botanicals for gin distilleries and perfumiers, broccoli and cauliflower starter plants, and even hardwood tree saplings that will be used in rewilding and conservation projects in Scotland. The team has plans to explore other, more exotic crops – including saffron and vanilla – in response to interest from farmers.
IGS is encouraging people to see what is happening at its exhibition in Glasgow, located at the Sustainable Glasgow Landing site in Broomielaw, and get a close-up view of a 5.4 meter high operational vertical farm.
Read the complete article at www.scotsman.com.