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Sustainable vertical farming cotton business turns to CambridgeHOK to create ‘perfect indoor cotton growing facility’

CambridgeHOK are delighted to be supporting a groundbreaking project aimed at sustainably growing cotton in an indoor environment.

As specialists and a UK leader in the design and build of high-tech indoor growing systems, we were approached by Hull-based Gooddrop to partner in the project which aims to grow the ‘most sustainable cotton ever created.’

The idea stemmed from the challenges faced in cotton growing in a world where drinking water is increasingly in short supply.

Typically grown in warmer climates such as the China, India, Brazil, Pakistan and Turkey, the current cotton growing processes use around around 7,000 – 10,000 litres of water per single kilogram of cotton grown, and large amounts of pesticides and herbicides are also required.

Gooddrop's CEO Simon Wardle turned to the expertise of CambridgeHOK’s experienced indoor growing team to transform the process, with a new dedicated ‘cotton growing container’ used to help bring some truly sustainable fashion products to market.

‘We had to find a new way’

“Something has to change, cotton growing is completely unsustainable and so we need to find a new way,” said Simon, who says that cotton grown the Gooddrop way should use around 95% less water than currently consumed for cotton typically grown in irrigated fields.

“Clothing retailers are finding true sustainability in cotton a difficult thing to achieve, so we’ve sought to find the answer, with the help of CambridgeHOK, who of course have the expertise in terms of perfecting indoor growing environments.

“By growing our cotton in vertical farms we can protect our plants from nature’s daylight, weather, pests and disease and grow without the need for chemicals or wasting any water in the process. The vertical farm units provide the perfect lighting, temperature and humidity, circulated on the gentlest of breezes, with just the right amount of water and nutrients.”

Project developed through ‘expertise and experimentation’

The project has been developed by horticulture specialists at CambridgeHOK, led by Horticultural Applications Advisor Matt Ware.

After an extensive period of development and testing, the first containers have been completed and delivered to Gooddrop on site at the University of Nottingham’s Sutton Bonington campus.

“This has been a unique and exciting project for us to be approached for and involved in and we are delighted that Gooddrop came to us because he was aware of our expertise in the indoor growing sector,” said Mr Ware.

“It has been a challenge, but we like a challenge at CambridgeHOK.

“We understand the variability and control that research sites require and the aim from us was to provide a facility that was able to meet those complex demands using the technology available to us. With this project we have provided Gooddrop with a highly flexible R&D centre able to provide significant insights into the commercial production of cotton.

“We’ll of course now be on hand to support the Gooddrop team through the growing process, and look forward to the first crop being used in the production of sustainable clothing products.”

Patrick Harte, joint managing director of CambridgeHOK, said: “We take it as something of a badge of honour that people come to us for help on groundbreaking projects like this. It is a project we are very excited about and will be a great story to follow.

"We pride ourselves on our ability to develop systems for novel crops and work with expert university and research partners to design industry changing growing systems.

“We are thrilled that we have been able to support Gooddrop to reach this significant point in his journey.”

Images from Video by Storyboard Media - Watch the full video here

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