Qatar-based startup VFarms has cultivated iceberg lettuce heads weighing over 600 grams, nearly quadruple the standard weight typically achieved in vertical farms worldwide.
The breakthrough was achieved under some of the harshest growing conditions on earth, with external temperatures exceeding 50°C and extreme humidity. "The task was not just to grow lettuce, because somehow everyone can grow lettuce," said Kirill Igoshin, CEO of VFarms. "The task was to grow lettuce that nobody has grown before in the world." 
© VFarms
From crisis to innovation
Founded in 2021 in response to Qatar's food security challenges following the 2017 Gulf blockade, VFarms set out to build local agricultural resilience through climate-adapted vertical farming systems.
The project was based on mobile container farms powered by solar panels and atmospheric water generators, which harvest water directly from the air, making the system fully off-grid and independent of external water sources. "We are the first company to combine all of these elements, not just in Qatar, but globally," said Igoshin.
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Achieving 600-gram iceberg and 1 kilogram romaine lettuce
"Usually, vertical farms grow lettuce to about 120 to 150 grams," said Ilia Sukhodolov, Director of Agronomy at VFarms. "We were challenged to grow to 350 grams. We reached 613 grams for iceberg lettuce and around 1 kilogram for romaine."
Several experimental measures contributed to the results. The team installed custom airflow systems, including top-down, angled, and side flows, designed to improve plant structure and reduce tip burn. They also used a unique light spectrum in which green light played a key role, a wavelength rarely prioritized in vertical farming.
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Additionally, VFarms created a controlled microclimate around the root zone, further enhancing plant development. The team ran trials with ten lettuce varieties from Dutch, Chinese, Spanish, and local breeders, ultimately identifying three to four strains that delivered the best performance.
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Harnessing water from air and energy from the sun
VFarms' cultivation system runs fully off-grid, using atmospheric water generators that extract moisture from the air at night and solar panels that supply energy during the day. However, Qatar's extreme climate presents unique limitations.
"Between December and February, humidity drops and temperatures are too low to effectively harvest water," explained Igoshin. To overcome this, the team collects and stores water during the more humid summer months to ensure year-round availability. "Efficiency is key," he said. "We are testing next-generation water generators and battery systems to improve performance and make the return on investment more viable."
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The farming system is completely off-grid powered by solar panels and batteries (above) and atmospheric water generators (below)
Backed by government and business interest
The Qatari government has funded VFarms' latest R&D projects, including side-by-side trials comparing vertical farm systems with fifth-generation greenhouses using NFT technology. "The Minister of Commerce invited us to Expo 2023," said Igoshin. "Now people from leading global companies are coming to see our work."
According to Sukhodolov, chemical analysis of the lettuce revealed nitrate levels 50 percent lower than market alternatives, with strong results for potassium and magnesium content. No pesticides or herbicides were detected in any samples.
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On the path to commercialization
The next phase focuses on market readiness. "We are already doing tastings with retail chains, hotels, and distributors," said Igoshin. "We need to know what kind of lettuce, in what packaging, and in what quantity people actually want in Qatar."
The team is also evaluating whether Qatari consumers are willing to pay a premium for organic hydroponically grown produce. "This research will help us design a large-scale project that addresses food security not in the Netherlands or Dubai, but here, in Qatar."
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Scalability grounded in realism
While several vertical farming startups have stumbled due to inflated valuations and high operational costs, VFarms is taking a more cautious approach.
"We are not manipulating our company's valuation to look more attractive. We are not selling a story, we are building a real business that brings in revenue," said Igoshin. "We are doing it step by step. Maybe slower, but the right way."
The harvesting event hosted by VFarms. Source: VFarms
For more information:
© VFarms
VFarms
Kirill Igoshin, CEO
igoshin@vfarms.qa
www.vfarms.qa
Andrei Sorokin, Project Manager
+974 7195 5231
andrei.sorokin@vfarms.qa
www.vfarms.qa