Western Producer: Vertical farming champion looks to stack Manitoba’s future
Operating under the department of biosystems engineering, the farm in the university’s Sustainability in Action Facility is housed in an enclosed structure with no natural light. Plants are stacked vertically, with photosynthesis facilitated through LED lighting rather than sunlight.
“We’re focused on leafy greens right now at the U of M, but that’s just because we’re just getting the first farm started,” Semenchuk said. “It’s easier to validate that your systems are working correctly with leafy greens because they have a faster growth rate.”
The university is also pursuing a second hydroponic system that will feature larger plants like tomatoes and peppers. Eventually, they hope to expand to other crops and berries.