Amidst the grey high rises and urban roundabouts of London’s Elephant & Castle a farming revolution is taking place.

A collection of colourful recycled shipping containers sit immobile by the side of the road, seemingly innocuous but harbouring secrets within. An unexpected oasis of life and livelihood, step inside and you are stepping into a parallel universe of living walls, LED lights and futuristic technology. You are entering the indoor farming movement.

In 2016 Forbes estimated that the indoor farming technology market was valued at $23.75 billion, projected to reach $40.25 billion this year. Not only are we faced with feeding an estimated global population of 9.7 billion by 2050, traditional farming methods are also being forced to address problems of rising temperatures, frequent droughts and unpredictable conditions. To adapt to these issues, there is an emerging community across the world of start-ups who are redefining agriculture into a form that reduces water consumption and the use of chemicals, making crops less vulnerable to changes in climate and producing more reliable yields.

And so back to the concrete jungle of South London, where Crate to Plate are playing their part in the concept of ’15-minute cities’, a world in which everyone has access to fresh produce within 15 minutes of their homes. Using hydroponic technology, Crate to Plate are able to grow their produce vertically, dramatically increasing the productivity of their space in comparison to traditional farmers. Each 40ft container can achieve the same production as over an acre of farmland, using 95% less water. There is also a consistency to the produce here, with each condition of growth being carefully monitored and regulated based on the life cycle needs of the individual crop. Generally the plants work in a seven week cycle, with two weeks spent in the ‘nursery chambers’ before the seedlings are transferred to the ‘main farm’. Once mature, the leaves are harvested and delivered on the same day. No weather damaging the crop, or bite marks from hungry critters – freshness maintained, quality intact. Remarkably, there are up to ten thousand different Light Recipes to make sure each variety is receiving optimal growth conditions, and alerts are sent remotely to the farmers should a controlled condition veer from regulation.

One of the wonderful advantages of this style of farming is that the produce can be shared directly with the local community. Not only does this solve traceability issues and slash food miles, it also nurtures a sense of ownership and collaboration. Crate to Plate are working on an educational programme, aiming to reconnect people with their food. It may not be a ride on a tractor, but encouraging people to view these living biosystems as a sustainable source of food is surely an avenue into the future. In the meantime, keep an eye on Warehouse’s menu for additions of Wasabi Rocket, Thai Basil or Shiso Leaves, all grown on the South London roadside.

Find out more about Crate to Plate here.

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