Growing plants vertically and indoors

January 3, 2022—In Plant Sciences, a 40-foot-long shipping container is home to one of the latest innovations on campus: an indoor vertical farming facility.

The facility, funded by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, features cutting-edge technology such as climate sensors and LED light strips and features rows of vertically hung panels filled with leafy greens like watercress and lettuce, and soon strawberries too.

This hydroponic system—the growing of plants without soil—has the potential to use 90 percent less water than traditional methods. Within the controlled environment, there is also significantly less need for pesticides and other chemicals.

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“In the last five years or so there’s been increasing interest in indoor vertical growing systems. It’s driven by the requirement for more secure food across the world and the fact that many areas of the world aren’t viable for food production,” explained Gail Taylor, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Plant Sciences. Taylor also holds the John B. Orr Endowed Chair in Environmental Plant Sciences.

“It’s also a great way to improve the nutritional value of the crops we grow, and they provide the potential to produce really high-quality food,” she added. “We’re trying to make the best varieties for indoor agriculture to help the nation have a healthier diet.”

The indoor system isn’t meant to compete with traditional agriculture methods, but it can help the areas where water shortage or urbanization make growing local foods difficult.

It also doubles as a teaching facility, providing students with a well-rounded, hands-on education in agriculture that includes technology, computer science and engineering skills. Faculty and students can even control the facility’s functions remotely on a smartphone app.

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“Our students are naturally drawn to this project and find it exciting to be controlling our new ‘farm’ on their phones,” she said.

“Farming in the 21st century can be this high-tech endeavor and we need to train students in this multidisciplinary environment,” she explained. “It’s really important that we can expand this facility so that we can train the next generation of farmers for the food industry.”

The facility is partly funded by Taylor’s endowed chair, awarded to her in spring 2021—and its impact has been significant.

“I feel very privileged to hold an endowed chair and it energizes me to do great things, particularly to improve the sustainability of food supply systems,” she said. “The fund supports training and research in Environmental Plant Sciences, and it’s a wonderful legacy for the future.”