A promising shift may be taking root in the UK’s agricultural sector. Phytoform Labs, a company specializing in precision breeding, has developed a unique, compact variety of tomatoes tailored for vertical farms. This “miniaturized” version of the well-regarded Ailsa Craig tomato variety can yield up to 400% more fruit over a year compared to traditional tomato crops. This crop is designed specifically to meet the structural and logistical needs of vertical farming, where fresh produce is grown indoors under controlled conditions, potentially reshaping the landscape of UK agriculture.
The Rise of Vertical Farming in the UK
With UK consumers consuming around 500,000 tonnes of tomatoes annually—and only a fraction, approximately 70,000 tonnes, produced domestically—vertical farming offers a viable means of reducing dependency on imports from the Mediterranean. These indoor farms, where produce is stacked in tiers and grown under artificial lighting and specific climate controls, are already proving their worth in cultivating leafy greens. However, the bulkier tomato plant has posed challenges: traditional varieties grow tall and spread wide, making them ill-suited to the restricted height and space of typical vertical farming setups.
Dwarf tomato varieties do exist, but they often compromise on flavor, making them a less attractive option for both consumers and growers. To bridge this gap, Phytoform Labs reengineered the genetics of the Ailsa Craig tomato, creating a compact plant with superior flavor that meets the constraints of vertical farming.
Developing the Precision-Bred Tomato for Vertical Farms
Phytoform Labs, based at Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire, developed this tomato variety by applying a unique approach to precision breeding. Dr. Antony Chapman, the lead genome engineer at the company, describes their process: “With dwarf varieties, almost every single trait is bad, except for the size. Instead, we decided to make elite varieties into dwarfs, starting with something good and going from there.”
This precision-bred tomato grows to just a sixth of the typical size, allowing it to fit comfortably within vertical farms while producing up to 300 kilograms of fruit per square meter annually. With three growth cycles each year, these tomatoes yield far more produce than traditional tomato plants, which are usually limited to a single growth cycle.
Early Trials and Optimistic Results
Harvest London, a vertical farming company with two facilities in Walthamstow and Leyton, has already seen promising results from pre-commercial trials of Phytoform’s tomato. Hundreds of plants have been successfully grown, and the company is refining its approach to optimize yield and quality.
“We’re seeing consumer demand for high-quality tomatoes, available year-round and locally grown, without the environmental footprint of imports,” says Matt Chlebek, founder and chief agronomist of Harvest London. “Phytoform has provided us with a variety that addresses these demands, and the early results are very encouraging.”
The interest in Phytoform’s tomato has extended beyond London and the UK. Jones Food Company, the UK’s largest vertical farming operation, is also conducting trials, while other farms abroad have expressed a desire to incorporate the new tomato into their production lines.
A Practical Approach to Precision Breeding
Unlike genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Phytoform Labs’ methods accelerate the natural mutation process rather than introducing foreign genes. This precision breeding process allows the development of desirable traits, such as size and flavor, at a speed that traditional breeding methods can’t match. Dr. William Pelton, Phytoform’s CEO, emphasizes that conventional breeding is often too slow to respond to rapid environmental changes and population growth. “The technologies that can dramatically speed up this process are ready to be used and need to get out there,” he explains.
Navigating Regulatory Challenges
While the UK’s recent Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act aims to ease restrictions on commercializing precision-bred crops, practical regulatory measures for commercial cultivation are still pending. Phytoform Labs is prepared to release its tomato variety to the market once the green light is given, but as of now, it remains in a holding pattern.
“There's little point in changing legislation if you don't have the use cases for the technology,” notes Dr. Nicolas Kral, Phytoform’s chief technology officer. “This product is real; you could be eating it next year, but without steps to enable commercial sales, this technology is just waiting in the wings.”
Building a Sustainable Food System with Vertical Farming
In the long term, vertical farming could offer significant advantages for food security and supply chain resilience. By cultivating crops in urban settings, farms can reduce transportation-related emissions and increase local food availability. The reduced need for pesticides is another benefit, particularly appealing to eco-conscious consumers.
According to Dr. Pelton, consumer surveys indicate that demand is growing for chemical-free, sustainable produce. He sees Phytoform’s tomato as a potential tipping point for vertical farming’s viability. “Bringing in appealing new options that can help vertical farming become more diverse and competitive can only be a good thing for a greener and more secure food system in the UK and beyond.”
The hope is that this precision-bred tomato will encourage more growers to consider vertical farming a profitable enterprise. With high-density planting and the ability to grow year-round, it promises a business model that is less vulnerable to the thin profit margins often associated with traditional agriculture.
Looking to the Future: More Crops in Development
Phytoform Labs isn’t stopping with tomatoes. The company is also developing other crop varieties aimed at enhancing production efficiency and environmental sustainability. The focus remains on creating plants well-suited to vertical farming’s unique environment, with traits that will resonate with both consumers and growers.
As more high-tech, precision-bred crops become available, vertical farming may continue to expand its scope and impact. Phytoform Labs’ work hints at a future where British-grown tomatoes—and perhaps other produce—fill supermarket shelves year-round, cultivated not in sprawling fields, but in stacked rows under the glow of LED lights.
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