Urban farming – Organic substrates for LED farming

LED farming is a hot topic in modern agriculture. By growing indoors, vertically and empowered by LED lights crop production can be located next to the consumers in big cities, reducing in this way the impact of food transport along the chain. Moreover, by producing in vertical farming systems, water and nutrients can be saved, climate and light conditions can be optimized and labor can be minimized. These systems are gaining more and more attention, but substrates are not yet available.

While inert substrates are increasing the risk of plant diseases, a rich microbial community in organic substrates can help to stimulate plants and boost their resistance against diseases. Agaris is developing in collaboration with Ghent University organic substrates specifically designed for LED farming practices.


Innovations
Fruit and vegetables