Food construction company Clegg Food Projects has completed construction of the “world’s biggest” vertical farm for agri-tech company Fischer Farms.
Located in Norfolk, the 25,000 sq m climate-controlled facility utilises an energy-efficient, LED-based lighting system to produce crops on just four acres of land – yielding 250 times more leafy greens than conventional farming, the company claimed.
Clegg Food Projects was appointed as the principal contractor, responsible for the £25 million project and overseeing the design and build as well as the building services.
Oliver Jenkins, business development manager at Clegg Food Projects, said: “Vertical farming is transforming the agriculture industry, and this facility proves it is a viable solution for supplying fresh produce in a controlled growing environment all year round. With growing concerns over climate change as well as land and labour shortages, innovative solutions such as this are very welcome.
“This has been a fantastic project to be involved with on many levels. As with any technology-focused facility, the team needed to be flexible – and where possible adjust the design and construction works to meet the needs of the specialist process equipment. In addition, they also undertook an extensive building services and utilities installation in order to supply the complex growing and harvesting systems.
“We have therefore developed a great working relationship with Fischer Farms and delivering this progressive facility – as well as witnessing its groundbreaking approach of working towards operating 365 days a year only using sustainable energy sources – is very fulfilling. This is a rapidly growing sector, and we look forward to seeing it flourish.”
Tristan Fischer, CEO of Fischer Farms, said: “After months of hard work by the team, it’s fantastic to see our new farm in production. The state-of-the-art facility has been completed to the highest spec, and is at the cutting edge of vertical farming technology, enabling us to provide customers with the very best, sustainably grown fresh produce.”
