Vertical Farm – SRUC King’s Buildings, Edinburgh
The Vertical Farm is an exciting, innovative farming solution at our King’s Buildings campus in Edinburgh that provides a fully controllable facility for researching crop growth.
Project summary
The Vertical Farm is an exciting, innovative farming solution at SRUC’s King’s Buildings campus in Edinburgh that provides a fully controllable facility for researching crop growth. The Farm, which represents the kind of solution required to overcome challenges around food production and security, was developed with support from the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council.
The facility features a six metre high tower with growth trays and enables researchers to study and create the best conditions for effective crop growth with lighting, irrigation, fertigation, and climate all available and fully manageable. Furthermore, the building itself allows SRUC’s Edinburgh campus to benefit from renewable energy solutions with solar PV panels incorporated into the design.
The Vertical Farm also provides our students with an innovative learning environment whereby they can see first-hand the impact of conditions on crops, and it will ultimately help farmers in the UK and beyond to improve crop development and management.
The Vertical Farm officially opened in January 2025.
Teaching
We provide training to our undergraduate students, and this provides them with:
- Learning Opportunities
Vertical farms provide a unique platform for students to learn about agriculture, biology, and sustainability. They can observe the entire growing process, from seed to harvest, and understand the importance of resource conservation and efficient cultivation methods.
- Hands-on Experience
Students can actively participate in the vertical farming process, gaining practical knowledge and skills related to plant cultivation, hydroponics, and automation. They can become familiar with the latest technologies used in indoor farming and apply this knowledge in the future.
- Environmental Awareness
Vertical farms operate with reduced land and water usage, as well as decreased dependency on pesticides and herbicides. By learning about and engaging in sustainable farming practices, students can develop an understanding of environmental issues and foster a sense of responsibility towards the planet.
- Career Opportunities
By exploring vertical farming, students can uncover potential career paths in the fast-growing field of agriculture technology. They may develop an interest in pursuing careers as agronomists, horticulturists, sustainable food system designers, or even entrepreneurs in the indoor farming industry.
Vertical Farm in SRUC news:
New vertical farm a first for Scottish education
SRUC has stepped up its commitment to global and local food production and security by becoming the first higher education institution in Scotland to open a commercial-sized vertical farm.
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Novel vertical farm to accelerate skills, research and innovation
SRUC will be the first higher education institute in Scotland to open a vertical farm for research and education.
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Anything grows with new Dandelion project
SRUC is part of an innovative initiative which will see people in Scotland growing, sharing and celebrating food, music and ideas with their communities.
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The Byte stuff
Following the announcement that SRUC is investing in a vertical farm, a series of online tech training films is now available to explain the exciting range of innovative technology being used in the sector.
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