Subterranean salad: underground farmers seek solution to food crisis in disused UK mines
Researchers in North Yorkshire feel the clock ticking as they aim to transform British food production It has the vibe of a Bond villain’s underground lair but the workers in hi-vis and helmets aren’t weighing and packing hard drugs or parts for a death laser. It’s pak choi and lettuce. More than 1,000 metres down, researchers in North Yorkshire have created the world’s deepest underground farm…
In North Yorkshire, researchers are creating the world's deepest underground farm in disused mines. They aim to transform UK food production by growing crops in a stable environment and using existing infrastructure, potentially reducing high energy costs associated with vertical farming. Led by Jacob Nickles, a University of Sheffield research fellow, the team hopes to double food production by 2050 to support the world's growing population.
The project, a partnership between Sheffield University and Farm Urban, is based in the Boulby mine, a working mine that also produces agricultural fertiliser. The site, home to the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Boulby Underground Laboratory, offers unique conditions for growing crops such as pak choi and lettuce.
However, the team faces challenges, with mixed results in their initial trials. Despite this, they remain optimistic about the potential of underground farming, not only for producing food at scale but also for reusing redundant mines, creating jobs, and providing fresh produce to deprived areas. The lab's significance is recognized both nationally and internationally, with plans for further expansion already underway.
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