“VertiCrop means we can go back to urban
agriculture —
locally grown crops that are
healthier for you”
What is VertiCrop™?
VertiCrop™ is a High Density Vertical Growing System (HDVGS) employed in a controlled
environment such as a glasshouse, polytunnel or warehouse. VertiCrop™ can be
adapted successfully to the needs of vegetable, herb, fruit and flower producers.
Plant production in the VertiCrop™ HDVGS will increase yields on a year-round basis by
up to 20 times those achievable in traditional agriculture, without the risk of nitrate
build-up or infestations in ground soils. Under proper management the need for pesticides
can be eliminated. Since Valcent (eu) Ltd was given the full mandate to develop
VertiCrop™ in January 2009, many innovations and developments have taken place:
there has been rapid progression from in-house trials, to test rigs, and from June 2009,
the installation of the first full-size VertiCrop™ system in Europe. This is now open for
public viewing at Paignton Zoo in Devon, 60 miles from Valcent’s corporate premises.
Private viewings are available to all commercial interests on request.
How VertiCrop™ works
Plants are grown in a vertical plane in specially designed trays suspended from an overhead
track. This allows the trays to rotate on a closed loop conveyor and in the process
pass through a feeding station which provides water and nutrients. This permits an even
airflow over the plants and equal exposure to light, whilst water and nutrient run-off from
the feeding station is captured and recycled, reducing consumption to as little as 5% of
the uptake in conventional systems.
The Future of VertiCrop™
Valcent (eu) Ltd has been working with leading-edge technology companies in the environmental
and horticultural sectors, and has developed a number of highly innovative solutions
for the world of commercial growing. Some of these developments are ongoing, and for all of
these the company has ensured that appropriate patent protection has been filed.