In its 20th successful year of trading, Coventry-based manufacturer and wholesaler of hydroponic equipment, HydroGarden, has been awarded a substantial grant by the UK’s innovation agency Innovate UK.

The co-funding will enable it to take its vertical hydroponic farming system, VydroFarm, through research and development and establish it as a viable solution for commercial growers, both here in the UK and internationally.

The Innovate funding has been granted following HydroGarden’s application to its UK’s ‘Agri-Tech Catalyst – Late Stage Experimental Development – Round 5’ and is worth over £340,000. HydroGarden will be co-funding the 12 month project by investing over £636,000, taking the total investment to nearly £1m.

HydroGarden’s plan is to develop a fully controlled commercial vertical hydroponic indoor system at its Coventry site which will create new jobs. The additional knowledge will also increase HydroGarden’s ability to export VydroFarm and reach international markets sooner, while putting the UK at the centre of horticultural innovation to meet worldwide food security challenges.

Stuart Green, director of HydroGarden comments: “As demand for food is increasing globally at the same time as populations continue to concentrate in mega cities, the only viable way to meet the need is with locally produced crops, grown vertically to utilise all available space.