Vertical Farming: Fully automated Jungheinrich solution

Water scarcity, droughts, and dwindling arable land are increasing global challenges for agriculture. This is precisely where Jungheinrich's vertical farming solution comes in and can help secure the food supply for future generations and solve the challenge of today and tomorrow in a reliable and, above all, sustainable way. 

In the middle of Kuwait, Jungheinrich built a futuristic farm. On a 2,000 square metres area, up to 550 kilos of lettuce are produced daily: entirely automatically, without pesticides and using a closed water system. Watch this video for more:

Jungheinrich created a fully automated solution for growing fruit and vegetables in vertical greenhouses with a partner. Vertical farming uses significantly less than conventional cultivation, up to 95 per cent water. In vertical greenhouses, pesticides can also be almost wholly dispensed with.

Fact check: Vertical Farming

What is Vertical Farming?

Vertical farming means cultivating agricultural produce on levels stacked on top of one another in buildings. Because production is moved upwards, more produce can be grown than on a comparable floor area. The crop is usually grown in closed-loop systems under precisely controllable greenhouse conditions. Mostly plants and fungi are cultivated, though animal products are increasingly being produced (for example, in fish and insect farming). Because plants grow on special shelving in closed facilities under precisely controlled environmental conditions, water, light and nutrients can be exactly dosed. The roots grow in hydroponic systems, water-filled containers without soil.

How can water and CO₂ be saved with vertical farming?

While water runs off or evaporates on fields, the water used in vertical farming remains in a closed system. Vertical farming, therefore, uses up to 95 per cent less water than traditional farming. Pesticides are often not used, and crop failures are negligible under controlled conditions. This means considerable amounts of food are produced in a way that saves resources. Particularly in metropolitan regions, there are many industrial buildings where such operations can be housed. This would reduce dependency on food imports and reduce long transport distances, thereby lowering the carbon footprint.

What are the advantages of vertical farming?

Fewer pesticides

The use of pesticides, fertilisers and herbicides becomes unnecessary.

 

More space

The vertical farming method saves space. Conventional lettuce cultivation would consume 18 times the space of the plant's space in Kuwait.

 

Anytime harvesting

Food can be grown 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, completely independent of the season.

 

Less water consumption

Up to 95% of water can be saved by reusing it.

 

Less transports

Long transport routes that cause emissions can be avoided.

 

With Vertical Farming Jungheinrich contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals

Jungheinrich is committed to contributing to the achievement of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By developing a solution for sustainable agriculture, the company is contributing to Goal 9 "Industry, innovation and infrastructure", among others. Through other products and solutions, Jungheinrich sees the possibility of its influence particularly in the other SDGs "Good health and well-being" (3), "Responsible consumption and production" (12) and "Climate action" (13).