A space-age Forest of Dean food producer says it believes it has "cracked the code" as it opens the world's biggest centre for "vertical farming" here in Gloucestershire.

So called because of the layered process of accelerated growing for salad and herbs via artificial light in a controlled environment, the Lydney operation is dubbed JFC2 as the company's second production venture.

Scunthorpe-based Jones Food Company opened JFC2 at The Old Forge, just off the A48 in Lydney after beginning work on the project in 2021 and while operations are now active, the firm's site lists vacancies for various roles.

Using 100% renewably-sourced energy, the company says the Lydney site will grow basil, coriander, flat-leaf parsley, dill, lettuce, Pak Choi, Mizuna, Japanese spinach and baby leaf cress. Employing a system where growth trays are stacked, the standard per-acre yield for the square meterage of the site is increased by 17 times, while Lydney now "comfortably" plays host to the world's biggest single facility, given a 148,000 sq ft floor area equivalent to 70 tennis courts.

Green claims for the production method include up to 95% less water use, use of renewable energy for heating and LED lighting and the reduction of food miles through the avoidance of long-haul food imports. The figures impressed Ocado so much that in 2019 the food supply giant grabbed a 58% stake in the company.

James Lloyd-Jones, founder and CEO, said: "This farm represents a coming-of-age for agricultural technology in the UK; we have now cracked the code for accessible, sustainable, premium food being grown all-year round, at a super-competitive price. Commercial success in this sector has always been the challenge, but this farm smashes it."

He added: "There is a place for small urban vertical farms, but size, scale and affordability are how the vf revolution really delivers. Technology and sustainability, when married at this kind of scale, revolutionise food production, combat climate change, ensure food security, address labour issues and maximise efficiency. It's a win-win-win-win."

By balancing automation and smart investments, Mr Lloyd-Jones said his company was ideally suited to work with the distribution networks of the large retailers.

Glyn Stephens, head of growing at JFC, added: "A lot of vertical farmers have focused on lights, but temperature and humidity control are where the real energy guzzle has traditionally been this is why it's been a core focus for us opening this new site, its small changes and learnings from JFC1 that mean this system now accounts for a much smaller proportion of our energy usage."

Irrigation, he said, was also another "massive innovation in this farm" with the Lydney approach being "boundary-pushing, ground-breaking, utterly unique and another key brick in how we deliver premium product, at a great price, at scale."

Mr Stephens added: "These aren't small steps, they are giant leaps which allow us to put 'vertical farming and profitability' into the same sentence for the first time!"

JFC states on its website that with the global population expected to rise to 10 billion people by 2050, "the world needs to grow more food using fewer resources that are being eroded away by climate change.

"Jones Food Company's pioneering approach to vertical farming can help solve this problem by growing vast amounts of nutritious, local food, all-year round in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)."

● JFC's Lydney launch comes against a backdrop of vertical farm ventures facing tough operating conditions – not least energy costs. Last June, US based Aerofarms, seen as an industry leader, filed for bankruptcy, while French firm Agricool called in receivers earlier that year, Pennsylvania-based Fifth Season closed in late 2022. Iron Ox of California has also laid off nearly half its workforce and Infarm recently closed its operations in Europe – making 500 staff redundant.