Could space farms solve food shortages?

These towers maximize space, making them ideal for urban and peri-urban environments, remote locations or even extraterrestrial habitats. Vertical Future’s systems enable the growth of everything from leafy greens to tree saplings that will grow up to become robust trees with significantly stronger trunks, all in controlled, pathogen-free environments — trees that, when planted, are known to provide greater resilience and survivability in the face of climate change when out in their natural environment.

Clarkson’s Farm this is not, and the stats are staggering: Vertical Future’s systems use up to 98 per cent less water than traditional farming, addressing water scarcity while boosting crop yields. By leveraging precise irrigation and light recipes, its technology ensures plants thrive, whether on Earth or aboard the Axiom Space Station, where they’re developing crops for space exploration alongside their project partners. Vertical Future’s innovations are already transforming agriculture in regions like the Middle East, where land and water are scarce.

At the core of Vertical Future’s operation is DIANA, a software that runs the show. DIANA monitors and optimises every aspect of plant growth, from light intensity to nutrient delivery, ensuring perfect conditions with minimal human intervention. This tech not only keeps farms pathogen-free but also slashes operational costs, making sustainable farming scalable.  

With systems designed for extreme environments, Vertical Future’s ambitions stretch far beyond traditional agriculture. By partnering with organisations like Axiom Space, they’re pioneering crops that can withstand cosmic conditions, ensuring astronauts have access to nutritious, home-grown meals. On Earth, its technology is powering peri-urban and urban farms to deliver fresher, more sustainable produce.

Its work with currently up to around ten tree varieties engineered for stronger trunks, also hints at applications in reforestation and sustainable materials, showcasing its versatility.

With a mission to “enable healthier lives through abundant access to sustainable, fresh produce,” Vertical Future is tackling global challenges like food security and climate change, its systems reduce carbon footprints, minimize water use, and eliminate pesticides.

Randox is a global leader in diagnostics, revolutionising patient outcomes through innovative technologies, including its patented biochip technology. This pioneering diagnostic platform allows for the simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers from a single sample, delivering faster, more accurate, and comprehensive results. Operating in over 145 countries, Randox develops advanced laboratory instruments, high-quality reagents, and innovative testing solutions to improve global healthcare.

Randox Health brings this cutting-edge technology directly to individuals, offering bespoke, preventative health testing programs. With world-class laboratories and personalised health insights, Randox Health enables early detection of a wide range of conditions, helping individuals take control of their health.

Together, Randox and Randox Health are redefining diagnostics and preventative healthcare. For more information, visit www.randox.com and www.randoxhealth.com.