An East Yorkshire vertical farming specialist has pledged to lead ‘the next evolution of the industry’ as it launches a £10 million plus ‘concept to completion’ package.
CambridgeHOK aims to provide investors and retailers with fully automated indoor growing facilities, building on a decade of experience across the UK and Europe.
Providing control of supplies in uncertain times, the team has developed detailed financial costing models for fully-automated facilities of 5,000 sq m and beyond.
Read more:
Crops such as lettuce, rocket and other salad types can be grown to the highest standards, in ideal and consistent conditions, unaffected by the weather.
The package offered includes advice and support from a team of highly-experienced experts in indoor growing, climate control, engineering, automation and efficient energy provision at CambridgeHOK, leading clients from initial planning and costing to building and operating facilities.
Patrick Harte, joint managing director of the 70-strong team, said: “When we talk about a total solution, we mean providing a fully working business, proven to work and backed by accurate and reliable return on investment projections.
“We think of everything from germination to propagation, movement and climate control grow systems through to packing, back office, plant rooms and electrical infrastructure.
“By offering all of our in-house expertise and knowledge, we can provide a turnkey solution, all under one roof. We can even build it if someone wanted us to.”
Mr Harte says automation and scalability are the two key factors behind the company’s new model, with the Newport team partnering with award-winning automated warehousing specialist SEC Group on the project.
“For our concept vertical farm, you are looking at an eight figure investment, so it is for people who are really serious about investing in the future of the industry, and people who can see the future size and scale of our offering,” he said.
“The concept can be developed modularly, and so whilst its 5,500 sq m at first, you could easily roll that out and gain economies of scale over time. It’s not just an investment for today, it’s one that you can scale up and invest into in multiple rounds.”
CambridgeHOK has recently delivered for the Dyson farming entity in Lincolnshire, and last year became part of the global horticultural consortium Atrium Agri.
Harry Watts, managing director of Hertfordshire-based SEC Group’s storage division, said, “Our expertise in automation means we can combine proven technology with our data driven design expertise.
“This approach allows us to develop digitally twinned simulations prior to build, orchestrating engineering and operational elements in a virtual environment before building on site.
“This combination of digital design and automation, alongside Cambridge HOK’s extensive vertical farming expertise, provides a truly scalable concept with clearly traceable modular design that allows extensions to be easily connected over time.”
Steven Edwards, vertical farming manager at CambridgeHOK, said the geo-political environment makes it an attractive offer.
“Major UK retailers and food service providers are very conscious of where the key consumer needs are and, where they are sourcing it from how much they are willing to pay for it in order to sell,” he said.
“Supply chain issues, which we have increasingly witnessed this past year, have resulted in an increased focus on UK grown and supplied source of produce. The UK food industry is beginning to look at vertical farming in terms of embracing it as a route forward and an opportunity to overcome these challenges.
“Our concept helps both producers and growers, but also investors who want to support those businesses. It helps all parties have a safe, reliable and deliverable system underpinned by knowledge, data and financial support.”
Keep up-to-date with all the latest developments - follow BusinessLive Humber on Twitter and LinkedIn.
