UK Urban AgriTech (UKUAT)

Each new V-FAST vertical farm is designed to deliver high-quality, fresh food at a lower cost compared to traditional indoor farms using grid energy. The consortium's partners are exploring innovative projects that combine vertical farming with renewable energy generation and High-Density Hydro® energy storage. Together, we're setting the stage for a more sustainable and efficient future in food production! 💡  #VFAST #VerticalFarming #RenewableEnergy #SustainableFuture

🌳 This #NationalTreeWeek, we’re proud to showcase one of our newer UKUAT members, The Tree Lab who are redefining how we grow trees for #sustainable forestry and reforestation. Based in Scotland, The Tree Lab combines cutting-edge technology with a commitment to nature. Using vertical farming techniques, they start trees indoors under LED lights, creating the ideal environment for growth before transitioning them to #polytunnels or outdoor settings. Here’s how The Tree Lab is driving innovation in forestry: 🌱 Fast and Predictable Starts: Tailored, climate-controlled environments allow trees to #germinate year-round, ensuring timely and reliable planting stock. 🌿 Accelerated Growth Cycles: Advanced growing methods speed up tree development to address seedling shortages and meet planting demands. 🌱 Enhanced Survival Rates: Optimised conditions lead to higher survival rates and more efficient use of scarce seeds, including those from rare or ancient trees. 🔬 A Hub for Research: Their facility supports cutting-edge R&D, testing growth media and collaborating with academia to improve tree health and resilience. 🔒 Reduced Disease Threat: Enclosed systems during the early stages minimise disease risk and reduce the need for pesticides. 🌳 Supporting Nature: By complementing traditional forestry methods, The Tree Lab ensures a reliable, sustainable local tree supply. Through innovation and sustainability, The Tree Lab is helping to create healthier forests and greener futures. Give them a follow and check out their instagram to see their progress! https://lnkd.in/eNjt4hmv #Sustainability #ForestryInnovation #UrbanAgriTech #Reforestation #TheTreeLab

Another brilliant conference hosted by Rhianna Rees and the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association in Oban last week. Here are some key takeaways: 🌿 Seaweed biostimulant = a cash crop: Seaweed biostimulants are poised to become the industry's primary revenue driver. 🔬 More research required: Farmers need multi-year studies to validate seaweed's benefits. Ongoing trials are essential to solidify this revenue stream. 🌊 Seaweed’s next evolution: Novel compounds like fucoidan will drive the next phase of the seaweed industry. 📊 Know your seaweed: Farmers must track species, strain, harvest conditions, and composition to confidently match products with the right buyers. 🏗️ Think big: Scaling up is key to reducing costs and driving the next evolution of the industry. For a more detailed reflection on the 2024 SSIA conference, visit the following link. https://lnkd.in/eUaAUP-6

We will co-fund up to eight studentships in our PhD projects call.📣 💰 🥼 Academic partners are invited to submit industrially-relevant PhD projects that work with an industry partner and start in October 2025. All areas and sectors of IB are eligible. Projects must have an industrial partner. Applications are invited until midday on 2 December 2024. https://buff.ly/4eYoBPJ #biotechnology #industrialbiotechnology #IB #PhD #PhDproject #futureworkforce #skills #skillsandtraining #PhDStudentship

We're very proud to be one of 13 tech companies selected to be showcased at the COP29 UK Pavilion. Aeroponic technology can help us grow more food, with less impact on the environment. Learn more about the innovators at the UK Pavilion: https://lnkd.in/eYYiFByK #UKatCOP29 #COP29 #sustainablefarming #sustainablefood

🌍🌾 Imagine fresh salads and fruits grown right in Scotland's central belt, powered entirely by local renewable energy! The V-FAST consortium is working to make it a reality with their innovative combination of vertical farms and energy storage technologies. By stacking crops in soil-free, climate-controlled environments, these farms minimise water, fertiliser, and pesticide use, making them not just efficient but environmentally friendly too. 🍃 Get ready for a new era of sustainable food production in Scotland!  #VerticalFarms #Sustainability #ScotlandGrows #VFAST

This is a quick reminder for our individual, academic, and organisational members to check their inboxes for the link to tomorrow's Networking Lunch! Want to join the networking lunch, but not a member? Follow this link to our quick and easy sign-up page to become a UKUAT member! 👉 www.ukuat.org/join PS: bring your sarnies, tea and coffee! 🥪 ☕ See you there 🌱

🌱 Building a Sustainable Future: The Case for Urban AgriTech Benchmarking in the UK 🌱 As #ClimateChange, #Urbanisation, and #FoodSecurity challenges grow, the UK is turning to innovative solutions like #UrbanAgriculture and #Agri-Tech to transform food systems. These technologies, from #VerticalFarming to #Hydroponics, can reduce food miles, conserve resources, and bring fresh produce closer to urban communities. But to truly scale sustainably, we need clear #SustainabilityBenchmarks. Drawing inspiration from the wine industry's sustainability frameworks, UKUAT’s latest blog explores how the UK could establish similar standards for urban agri-tech. Transparency and accountability are key to avoiding #Greenwashing and building trust among consumers, policymakers, and investors. Together, we can pave the way for a greener, more resilient food future. 👉 Read the full article, Building a Sustainable Future: The Case for Urban AgriTech Benchmarking in the UK https://lnkd.in/exnPzhmp #FoodSystems #NetZero #ResourceEfficiency #CarbonReduction

🚜🌱 Exciting news for Scotland's future! The V-FAST is set to revolutionise local food production with Scotland’s first low carbon, energy-efficient vertical farms 🌿. We’re working to make these next-generation farms powered by 100% renewables, so that they can ultimately provide fresh, locally produced salads and fruits to over 60% of the population. 🍓🥗 Together, we’re helping to achieve the Scottish Government’s ambitions for more homegrown produce and a sustainable future. #VFAST #VerticalFarming #SustainableScotland #LocalProduceImage: generic photo

💡 Food Autonomy Lights Up Regenergy Frövi: Over 10,000 LEDFan Toplights Power Sustainable Tomato Production 🍅 We are thrilled to announce that our partnership with the innovative FoodVentures project at #Regenergy Frövi, Sweden, has officially entered a new phase. With over 10,000 LEDFan toplights now fully installed and operational, the facility is ready to embark on its first lighting season, paving the way for sustainable, year-round food production. Covering 10 hectares— equivalent to over 20 football fields ⚽ —the Regenergy Frövi site will produce tomatoes in a highly controlled, circular environment. ♻️ By leveraging cutting-edge horticultural lighting technology from Food Autonomy, the project will deliver optimized energy efficiency ⚡ and unparalleled growing conditions 🍃 , setting new standards in sustainable agriculture. We are proud and honored that Food Autonomy was chosen to provide the lighting solution for such an innovative and forward-thinking project. Being a part of this groundbreaking initiative underscores the top-tier quality and reliability of our LEDFan grow lights, proving once again that we are at the forefront of innovation in horticultural lighting. This partnership reflects our dedication to supporting sustainable food production and reinforces the trust placed in Food Autonomy’s innovative lighting solutions. #FoodAutonomy #horticulture #horticulturallighting #growlight #toplight #LEDFan #greenhouse #greenhousetech #greentech #hortitech #LED #LEDlight #LEDlighting #innovation #LEDsolutions #smartsolutions #sustainable #sustainablefood