A futuristic farming project is scheduled to spring up on the outskirts of Dundee this summer if approval is given to space age food production plans.
The sci-fi urban cluster of automated “growth towers” housing vertical layers of plants is predicted to be the first purpose built facility of its kind in the UK.
Vertical farming has been promoted by scientists to be the answer to feeding growing urban populations and structures are already producing food in cities around the world.
The aim of the technology is to get fresh micro salads and specialist vegetables such as baby turnips to burgeoning populations using “smart” LED lights, which ensure all plants get some light all of the time. Outline planning permission is already in place for the new construction at the James Hutton Institute (JHI) HQ at Invergowrie.
Behind the plans is St Andrews-based Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) and a lease has been agreed in principle for IGS to lease the land at Invergowrie.
JHI acting chief executive Professor Colin Campbell said vertical farming was an efficient way of growing high value plants on a small footprint.
“IGS want to locate with us because of the access it will give them to scientists who are able to protect and analyse the plants,” he said.
“If we can crack the technology we can put vertical farms on top of skyscrapers or at the distribution centres for supermarkets.”
JHI is providing the land, for which IGS will pay a “small” rent, but Prof Campbell said the institute would not be investing in the project.
Prof Campbell added: “We want to do more research in conjunction with the private sector and this is a way of us using our infrastructure and the campus. We have fields and glasshouses, so it’s a fabulous space to invite others whose vision is aligned to what we want to achieve which is food and food security.”
IGS refused to comment on their plans.