Research from Bristol’s LettUs Grow finds environmental benefits of renewably powered aeroponic farms

Aeroponic container farms powered by wind or solar have the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of fresh produce compared to importing it according to new research from Bristol’s LettUs Grow and Brunel University of London.

The research paper titled “The role of aeroponic container farms in sustainable food systems – The environmental credentials”, published In the Science of The Total Environment, explores the potential role of aeroponic container farms in sustainable food systems.

These are a new method of farming which uses a soilless technique to grow crops in a controlled environment, suspending the plant roots in a nutrient-rich mist, helping to optimise crop growth and reducing water usage.

The study found that, across a full set of nineteen sustainability indicators aeroponic container farms show competitive performance against conventional methods, demonstrating their potential to offer low impact food in comparison to imports, as well as suggesting they could improve food security in terms of availability, stability and access to food.

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Jack Farmer, study co-author and Chief Scientific Officer at LettUs Grow, said: "This is one of the first studies of its kind. It evaluates aeroponic vertical farming's environmental credentials under real world scenarios.

“As with any agricultural technology innovation, container farms are best placed to benefit the environment in specific use cases, locations or for specific crops. This research is integral for allowing us to make educated decisions about where and how an aeroponic container farm should be used to create a positive impact."

This research is an important first step in advancing the conversation around the role of aeroponics in sustainable food systems and how renewable energy integration can fit into this journey.

It provides evidence for policymakers and decision makers to understand the benefits and trade-offs of aeroponics when compared with imported foods, showcasing examples of when the aeroponic production system delivers foods with competitive (and sometimes better) environmental performance than similar imported products.

Read more - Bristol-based Lettus Grow secures more than £375,000 to supercharge horticultural productivity