The Vertical Farm at Iliinois State University will use a repurposed shipping container with an enclosed, controlled environment for growing plants year-round. The container will be 40-foot-by-8-foot (320 square feet) and contain a vertical hydroponic growing system with a recirculating nutrient solution and light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system. The Vertical Farm unit will be able to grow 4,600 plants, production equivalent to 1-2 acres of field production, using 95% less water or approximately 5 gallons of water per day.
The College of Applied Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, and Office of Sustainability will partner with other campus entities to use the facility to train and prepare students for careers in agriculture and horticulture specialty crop production and as a demonstration site for local community groups, schools, and business entrepreneurs. The main outcome of the project will be to produce leafy, green vegetables for campus dining while educating students.
ISU’s Vertical Farm represents the very best of what a collaborative Department of Agriculture can do. Dr. David Kopsell will work with other units across Academic Affairs and even other divisions to provide learning experiences, advance knowledge, and improve the quality of campus life. This world has problems, and initiatives such as this at ISU begin to offer solutions."
Dr. Joseph R. Blaney, Interim Chair, Department of Agriculture
