THECOMMERCIALGREENHOUSEGROWER
•
JANUARY 2017
14
•
V
ERTICAL FARMING
L
AUNCHED
at last
summer’sGreenTech
horticultural show, in
Amsterdam, the Finnish-
conceived vertical farming
concept is the result of joint
development work between
Finnish firmsNetled and
Novarbo.
Called the Vertical Farming
Concept (VFC), Netled’s role
was to develop thewater-
cooled LEDs that can be
combinedwith a heat
recovery system to transfer
the heat to another part of the
greenhouse, whileNovarbo
supplies the cooling, humidity
control system. The result of
their joint efforts is a system
that enables the production of
leafy greens in a closed
environment in an energy
efficient waywith up to 90%
lower water consumption
compared to traditional
cultivation. But more on this
later.
The first pilot project was
installed last March about
80km east of Helsinki, and
TheCommercial Greenhouse
Grower
seized the
opportunity to go and see it
first-hand. Located close to
the village of Lapinjärvi, just a
short drive from theRussian
border, Robbe’s LittleGarden
nursery is ownedby
enthusiastic grower Robert
Jordas, who started
greenhouse production at his
family’s farm over 15 years
ago.
Demand for his products has
increased steadily over the
years, and in 2013 he
invested in 4,000sq.m. of
new glass. Lettuce is the
single largest crop in themain
7,500sq.m. greenhouse, but
Robert also grows awide
range of herbs, of which
Shining a light on Finland
Joint Finnishwork has led to the development of what is certainly the country’s first
commercial vertical farming system, writes Steven Vale.
The vertical farmingpilot project is allowingRobbe’sLittleGardennursery toproduce
higher-qualitypremium-brandherbs.
The vertical farming concept is allowing theFinnish grower to savewaterand reducehis
heatingbill in themain 7,500sq.m. greenhouse.
