A modular vertical farming system used as a research platform to investigate circular production methods for sustainable indoor food systems, including alternative growing media for hydroponic cultivation sourced from waste streams.
Current System Configuration
💡 Lighting• Philips Signify lighting (all three levels).
• Photoperiod: 16 hours/day • Daily Light Integral (DLI): 11.65 mol m⁻² d⁻¹ • Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD): 200 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ |
🌱 Growing mediaThe system currently uses coconut coir as the main growing medium.
The top shelf uses peat moss as a reference substrate. Future experiments will compare these with residual materials such as spent mushroom substrate brewing spent grains, biochar blends, paper-based substrates, and other organic residues. |
💧 Nutrient solutionThe system currently uses conventional hydroponic fertilizers supplied by Plagron (Solution A and B).
Future trials will test recovered nutrient streams from sources such as wastewater treatment anaerobic digestion and bokashi liquid fertilizer. Previous trials showed that adequate aeration is essential to avoid anaerobic conditions and odour |
🥬 Crops grown in the systemThe system has been used to grow a range of leafy greens, herbs, fruiting crops, and ornamental plants under controlled indoor conditions.
Crops tested include Japanese strawberry plants, red lettuce, crisp lettuce, green kale, basil, mangold, rosemary, chilli pepper, tomatoes, petunias, and sage. |
About the Vertical Farming System
The vertical farming cabinet is a Vegger Flaxfarm 60. It is roughly 2 metres tall, 60 cm deep, and 130 cm wide. Each level contains 32 hydroponic pots for different crops, allowing multiple treatments to be tested within the same modular system.
For more information about Vegger’s vertical farming systems, please visit:
www.vegger.org ↗Data Visualization
Environmental conditions around the vertical farming system are monitored using an Aranet4 sensor. The interactive dashboard below shows how CO₂ concentration, air temperature, and relative humidity change over time. The dashboard also includes the daily operating schedule for lighting, ventilation, and irrigation to help interpret changes in the growing environment.
Energy Metering Data
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Live Video/Pictures |
Where to find the vertical farming cabinet
The vertical farming cabinet is located at KTH Innovation. Use the map below to find the site.
Interested in collaboration or learning more?
We welcome collaboration, student projects, research visits, and knowledge exchange related to circular production methods and sustainable indoor farming systems.