Innovation and Sustainability: Trends in European Greenhouses & Vertical Farms

As controlled environment agriculture (CEA) gains traction across Europe, the differentiation and overlap between vertical farms and high-tech greenhouses are becoming increasingly nuanced. Whether stacked vertically or built under glass, these growing systems rely on a complex mix of hardware, software, and data to deliver predictable harvests with minimized input waste. What was once a domain of standalone solutions is now rapidly evolving into interconnected systems, emphasizing integration and interoperability.

What We Cover in This Edition

• From Hardware to Ecosystems: How integration and software interoperability are taking center stage in CEA design.

• Technology Mapping: A side-by-side comparison of the tools used across vertical farms and high-tech greenhouses in Europe.

• Robotics and Automation: Key players and limitations in the current deployment of transplanting, harvesting, and intralogistics robotics.

• Startup Support and Innovation Networks: The role of European accelerators, incubators, and funding programs in advancing AgTech solutions.

• Circularity and Sustainability: How carbon capture, renewable energy, and closed-loop systems are shaping the future of indoor agriculture.

• Flagship Projects: Spotlight on initiatives like the UK’s V-FAST Consortium and Skytree’s DAC solution for on-site CO₂ generation.

• Policy and Research Alignment: Insights into how field trials, cross-border programs, and the EU’s Green Deal are steering long-term sector growth.

Shifting from Hardware to Ecosystem Integration

After years of advancement in hardware such as irrigation systems, lighting, and HVAC units, the spotlight has turned toward how these components communicate and operate together. This convergence demands unified software platforms, sensor-driven automation, and precision agriculture tools that adapt in real-time.

"The ecosystem around the equipment is where gains will be found moving forward," said one European greenhouse operator. "We’re no longer just buying machines—we’re investing in systems that talk to each other."

Recent robotic applications reflect this trend, even if not yet at peak performance. Examples like ABB’s transplanter for Ljusgårda, Viscon’s tissue culture planter, and Certhon’s ARTEMY illustrate attempts to automate labor-intensive tasks. Despite early deployments, many systems remain cost-prohibitive or too slow for full commercial scalability.

A notable casualty is Seasony, a vertical farming robotics startup that recently ceased operations after struggling to secure funding, despite commitments from early investors. The case underscores the broader scalability issues across the indoor farming sector in Europe.

Mapping the Technology Stack

Technology adoption in vertical farms and greenhouses often overlaps—particularly in areas such as lighting, irrigation, and climate control. However, the requirements diverge when it comes to infrastructure and layering. The following table outlines the most commonly used technologies and whether they are typically found in vertical farms, greenhouses, or both—based on operations across Europe:

(*=nice to have)
Increasingly, European companies are developing systems that serve both models. Nutrient delivery firms like CE-Line and Nutricontrol, crop monitoring platforms like Blue Radix and Priva, and intralogistics providers such as TTA and Viscon are building modular tools that can be tailored to either environment.

Startup Acceleration and Innovation Support

AgTech innovation doesn’t emerge in a vacuum. Accelerators and incubators such as Rockstart, StartLife, WorldStartup, and The Yield Lab play a critical role by offering seed funding, lab access, and industry mentoring. In Europe, programs like NAK TechLab and Innovate UK are pushing tech validation and commercialization of home-grown agricultural solutions.

These support structures are vital in reducing the time from prototype to practical deployment—particularly for solutions that require physical infrastructure, data training, and field trials.

Toward Sustainability and Circular Integration

Sustainability remains a key driver for technology investment across Europe’s indoor farming sector. From water conservation and renewable energy to carbon recycling and circular farming models, the focus is shifting from isolated sustainability initiatives to integrated, scalable solutions.

Carbon Capture and Reuse
CO₂ is vital for photosynthesis, and greenhouses have traditionally relied on fossil-fuel-derived sources. In response, startups like Skytree are introducing direct air capture (DAC) systems specifically for greenhouse use. Based in the Netherlands, Skytree is developing on-site CO₂ capture technology aimed at reducing emissions and making greenhouses less dependent on industrial CO₂. This aligns with broader EU policy objectives, as the European Commission has identified Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) as a strategic pillar—particularly relevant for sectors like horticulture.

Vertical Farming and Energy Innovation
In the UK, the V-FAST Consortium (Vertical Farming and Storage Technologies) is leading efforts to build hectare-scale, low-carbon vertical farms. Backed by Innovate UK and BBSRC, the collaboration includes UKUAT, Intelligent Growth Solutions, RheEnergise, and The James Hutton Institute. Their flagship project, set to launch in Scotland by 2026, will span 10,000 m² and integrate 80 MWh of energy storage through High-Density Hydro® systems. The facility aims to deliver 20–30 times the yield of open-field farming and serve over 60% of Scotland’s population with localized, protein-rich crops.

Renewable Energy and AgriSolar Integration
Europe is also advancing solar energy integration in both greenhouses and vertical farms. Over 200 agrivoltaics projects across the continent now exceed 2.8 GW of capacity, supporting the EU’s broader energy transition goals. Innovations include bifacial and rooftop solar PV, vertical panels on urban sites, and hybrid photovoltaic-thermal systems that generate both electricity and heat. Countries like Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are piloting dual-use systems that reduce water use, lower emissions, and improve yields.

Research and Policy Support
Institutions such as Inagro and programs like the Interreg Greenhouse Challenge are further validating sustainable practices through field trials and cross-border cooperation. These initiatives are proving essential for accelerating adoption and securing policy alignment with the European Green Deal.

As the sector matures across Europe, greenhouses and vertical farms are converging not only in their sustainability goals but in the technologies they use to achieve them. Success will depend less on choosing between glass or LEDs—and more on the integration, intelligence, and circular design of the systems in place.

Join Us at GreenTech Amsterdam
This editorial is part of our upcoming Europe Indoor Farming Market Report 2025, supported by Grow-tec & Würth Elektronik Group. The full report will be released during GreenTech Amsterdam on June 11, 2025, where you’ll be able to read in-depth analysis, case studies, and exclusive interviews on-site and online.

We are still welcoming additional partners for the report. If you’d like to be featured or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to [email protected].

Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with the insights shaping the future of indoor farming.