When the sixth edition of the Vertical Farming World Congress opens in Amsterdam next week, it will do so against a backdrop of consolidation, rising cost pressures, and renewed debate about the role of vertical farming in global food systems. For event organiser Richard Hall, Chair of FoodBev Media, this year's gathering is more than another entry on the calendar. "Everyone attending will have survived or learned from the recent fallout." For him, the next step is ensuring the sector is recognised and supported at policy level.
Government support has often lagged behind other areas of agriculture and renewable energy, with few dedicated frameworks or subsidies in place. Hall believes recognition and parity are essential. "The most important prerequisite is that vertical farming must be understood as a contributor, not a threat. The other essential is for vertical farming to have equal access to incentives, grants, research, and planning, as well as equal treatment under taxation. Governments are overloaded. We have to provide them with the answers."
© Food Bev Events
Richard Hall moderating a panel at Vertical Farming World Congress 2024.
Energy as priority
Energy remains a decisive factor for many operators. Since 2022, rising costs have been widely cited as one of the biggest pressures on controlled environment agriculture, particularly in Europe, where gas and electricity prices spiked following the invasion of Ukraine. Hall believes that how farms manage this issue will determine their viability.
"Energy partnerships would be high on my list to explore if I were investing, though I would still want to be sure of sufficient autonomy and flexibility." He adds that location choices are no longer just about logistics but about securing stable, affordable power, whether through waste-heat integration, renewable sources, or grid flexibility.
Crop strategy and focus
The sector has broadened its ambitions, with companies trialing crops such as coffee, rice, mushrooms, and even pharmaceutical and cosmetic plants. Hall warns, however, that spreading resources too thin can undermine competitiveness. "In time, there may be many proven crops. I think each business, though, will be better served by focusing on a few where it can establish competitive leadership and loyalty."
When asked which products currently lead the way, he points to categories already gaining commercial traction. "Leafy greens, salad mixes, microgreens, and strawberries are the leading edge of this, but we're still at a very early stage of industry development, and it may be quite different in five or ten years."
Barriers to overcome
While common standards and shared industry language would accelerate growth, he does see other challenges as more pressing. "Consumer needs and retail/food service returns are the quickest route to success. A common language and sustainability standards will accelerate that," Hall says. "Lack of energy supply/cost control, lack of business focus, and uneven business regulation may be bigger current barriers."
To register for the Vertical Farming World Congress, click here.
For more information:
Foodbev Media
Richard Hall, Chair
[email protected]
www.foodbevevents.com