Vertical Farm Set up in Chiswick Business Park
Company hopes to grow two tonnes of greens a year in shipping containers
The exterior and interior of the vertical farm. Picture: Instagram
A ‘vertical farm’ has been set up inside shipping containers in Chiswick Business Park.
Greenhaus Farms is using new technology which creates a climate-controlled environment within the containers allowing year round harvests and avoiding the use of pesticides or chemicals. The software that controls the facility can maintain the optimal conditions for the produce being grown and it monitors the plants in real time.
Greens being grown in columns and the first harvest is due which is expected to include 500 lettuce heads, kale and a variet of herbs including basil, mint and coriander.
Over the course of a year it is projected that two tonnes of leafy greens could be grown at the site which would be the equivalent of a two acre farm.
The produce will be supplied to businesses within the office development as well as local restaurants, cafes and farmers markets as well as being sold in the monthly onsite farmers market.
The shipping container farm will supply produce to businesses at Chiswick Business Park, delivering greens weekly to take home, and to the restaurants and food outlets on the park, as well as local restaurants and cafes, farmers markets and selling directly via the onsite monthly food markets.
Matt Coulson, Chief Executive of Chiswick Park, said, “We have a strong ethos of biodiversity at Chiswick Park and we’ve run successful gardening clubs for 10 years, with this idea evolving into our own Enjoy-Work kitchen garden. Greenhaus Farm is a fantastic addition to the park and greatly complements our offering, bringing innovation, technology and sustainability together. We are so excited to experience the first harvest with guests from the park, food retailers and the local community, who will now benefit from fantastic fresh produce grown onsite and within the Chiswick Park grounds.”
Harrison Pritchard, Greenhaus Farms, added, “Greenhaus is bringing smart farms into the city, and we are very excited to launch our first farm in London at Chiswick Park, – to bring fresh produce to the local area and reduce food miles.
“We need to find a new way to grow fresh food. We need to use technology and innovation to increase food production whilst reducing the environmental damage of a global supply chain, and the physical footprint of traditional farming. To do this, we need to bring farms closer to people, whilst using less resources and less space. Greenhaus are doing just that, with food that tastes better and lasts longer.”
The Chiswick farm is the first to be set up by Greenhaus Farm and the intention is to expand across London next year with the rest of the UK targeted later.
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November 13, 2022