UK agritech center to build urban vertical farms

According to official news, Current, a subsidiary of GE, provides Arize agricultural lighting solutions to the Stockbridge Technology Center in Selby, North Yorkshire, UK, and applies it to its new Vertical Farming Development Facility to help growers test and simulate their establishment of urban farm before investing.

UK agritech center to build urban vertical farms

It is reported that the new vertical farm research and development factory is located in the Stockbridge Technology Center and has received the support of the British Technology Strategy Committee (Innovate UK). Farm adoption of Current’s Arize agricultural lighting solutions will help businesses, growers and investors better understand the technical and environmental parameters needed to optimize crop yields before they start building their own vertical farms.

In order to promote commercial urban farming in the UK, the Vertical Farm Center provides a platform where potential investors and vertical farm growers can communicate and discuss with vertical farming experts. Additionally, with the help of Current’s LED lighting solutions, they were able to identify and test vertical farm setups to maximize planned harvest size, nutritional value, and visual appeal.

In addition, the vertical farm includes two identical growing rooms with a total growing area of?228 square meters, using a full range of climate control and circulating hydroponic systems. The crop racks have four tiers, all using Arize LED lights, which produce a balanced spectrum of red and blue wavelengths to help grow a wider variety of crops.

Malcolm Yare, development manager of GE’s Current Agriculture Division, said that lighting is a key factor for the successful growth of any crop. We will create more arable space in industrial and urban areas by combining the most efficient wavelengths with the best environmental conditions. Increase global crop production beyond conventional farming methods in a commercially and environmentally sustainable manner.