With the inauguration of an innovative vertical farming installation designed by Urban Crop Solutions, Inagro is taking a significant step toward the future of greenhouse horticulture. This installation underscores Flanders’ ambition to be a leader in sustainable and space-efficient agriculture. Agrotopia’s 12-meter-high facade greenhouse provides the perfect setting for such a system, which combines multi-layer cultivation with dynamic lighting and natural sunlight. By growing on multiple layers, the available space is optimally utilized, offering new opportunities for urban food production and inspiring existing greenhouses.
The commissioning of the first tower marks a pivotal moment in developing vertical farming in Flanders. Agrotopia, with its 12-meter-high facade greenhouse, is the hotspot for this groundbreaking project. Growing on multiple layers maximizes the available space, making this installation an inspiration for food production in urbanized areas and a model for greenhouses worldwide.
Collaboration for Sustainable Innovation
The new vertical farming tower is the first of three. Each tower will be ten meters high and contain eighteen moving tables. Thanks to the combination of advanced technologies and thoughtful design, vertical cultivation is sustainably integrated into a greenhouse environment. The system uses dynamic LED lighting, allowing the light spectrum to be adjusted to optimize plant growth. This offers growers maximum flexibility to increase the productivity and sustainability of their cultivation systems.
The installation was realized through close collaboration between Inagro and Urban Crop Solutions, two strong players in the agriculture and horticulture sectors. Jean-Pierre Coene, CEO of Urban Crop Solutions, emphasizes the importance of this partnership: “With this first vertical farming tower at Agrotopia, we demonstrate how advanced indoor farming technology can be combined with the power of natural sunlight. This project shows the future of sustainable agriculture, where technology and nature go hand in hand.”
Validation of the New System in Collaboration with Ghent University
“With the commissioning of the first tower, we are investigating, in collaboration with Ghent University, the technical possibilities of this innovative system,” explains Maarten Ameye of Inagro. “By developing a digital model of the tower, we can quickly identify key points in lighting and irrigation through computer simulations. At the same time, the data we collect from the tower will further advance research. This perfectly illustrates the crucial role of the Agrotopia chair as a bridge between practice and research.”
Initially, leafy vegetables, strawberries, and microgreens will be tested on the system. “With the new cultivation system, we are specifically focusing on the cultivation techniques of crops essential to greenhouse and urban horticulture, to support growers and stakeholders in these sectors. The knowledge and insights gained will be translated to current systems and greenhouses to further innovate and make today’s greenhouse horticulture more sustainable. Additionally, based on the results, we can provide advice for the practical implementation of such systems both locally and internationally,” adds Maarten Ameye, research leader in covered horticulture at Inagro.
After validation, the construction of the second and third towers will begin. The technical research will be supplemented in the coming years with the logging of economic data from the new installation. In addition to its innovative vertical farming towers, Agrotopia also has sections designed as a modern greenhouse business. This offers opportunities to compare the cultivation of different crops on different types of systems and potentially develop new business models where vertical farming adds value to traditional greenhouse horticulture.
Focus on Innovation and Urban Agriculture
Bart Naeyaert, West Flanders Deputy for Agriculture and Horticulture, emphasized during the inauguration the possibilities of more efficient land use in Flanders: “In an urbanized landscape where agricultural land is becoming increasingly scarce, this installation is an excellent example of how we can grow upwards to produce more food on a limited area. This project can provide solutions to the challenges faced by our agriculture and horticulture sectors and confirms Flanders’ leading role in innovative and sustainable food production.”
About Agrotopia
Agrotopia opened its doors in 2021 and, with its 9,000 m², is the largest rooftop greenhouse in Europe. The research conducted there focuses on future-proof cultivation techniques such as hydroponics and vertical farming. With the launch of this new vertical farming tower, Agrotopia continues to lead the way in sustainable and innovative greenhouse horticulture