Vertical Farm Rotterdam

Dutch Fresh Port is a new business park that is developing into the largest international fresh cluster in the fruit and vegetable trade in the Netherlands and Europe. Vertical Farming offers wholesalers and processing companies such as van Gelder Groente en Fruit, Bakker Barendrecht and The Greenery a sufficient and continuous supply of high quality. Vertical Farms with thirty cultivation layers of 1-5ha are possible within the Dutch Fresh Port. These can be integrated with the new construction on relatively small plots or developed into independent buildings for collective use. The buildings are characterized by a logistic plinth surmounted by the Vertical Farm with energy-producing facades.

"The modular building blocks for production, engineering and logistics allow different business setups for Vertical Farms to be configured."

In order to provide insight into the development possibilities of Vertical Farming, the spatial and technical program of requirements of Vertical Farming has been modulated into building blocks. The modular building blocks for production, engineering and logistics allow different business setups for Vertical Farms to be configured. From small to large, from simple to multifunctional. From reuse of existing buildings to new construction. An accompanying business case provides insight into the feasibility of each business set-up. 

Vertical Farming, or Multilayer Cultivation, is developing rapidly. It is an innovative cultivation system for the cultivation and production of vegetables, herbs and soft fruit in multiple layers under fully controlled light and climate conditions. The circular system reduces the use of raw materials such as water and heat energy by up to 95% and intensifies land use by up to 20 times. On the other hand, the electricity consumption with LED lighting and active cooling is up to three times higher but the residual heat can be re-used. Automated systems make it possible to grow autonomously and continuously all year round. 

Client: Rotterdam Food Cluster
Project: 10,000 m2 vertical farming, expedition, staffing facilities
Location: Dutch Fresh Port 
Planning: feasibility study 2018
Horticulture climate, water and energy: Certhon 
Horticulture automation: Logiqs