Fred Searle

BY FRED SEARLE

7th January 2020

The company behind Europe’s largest vertical farm is planning to build a plant four times the size with backing from Ocado

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Various companies have announced plans for at least 50 new vertical farms across England and Scotland including one that will be four times the size of Europe’s largest vertical facility.

The business behind Europe’s current largest vertical farm, Jones Food Company, plans to construct the new mega plant near London with backing from Ocado, according to The Times.

Its existing facility near Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire produces 420 tonnes of food a year and houses 17 levels of leafy greens grown under eight miles of strip lighting.

In addition, Edinburgh-based start-up Shockingly Fresh has plans for 40 sites, with five already under development – one in Scotland and four in England – covering 123 acres in total.

Meanwhile, Growing Underground, which grows salad, herbs and microgreens in former air-raid shelters in south London, is planning to open six more farms in urban locations.