The Bristol startup changing the future of global food production

A tiny corrugated door in a graffiti-coated railway arch on Silverthorne Lane is the nondescript entrance to a company fast changing the face of global food production.

Lettus Grow is generating a storm of attention this year, having been named one of the UK’s top tech startups at the Vodafone Techstarter awards, secured £1 million in funding to advance its unique farming techniques – and now been shortlisted by retail giant John Lewis for a possible future partnership.

The collaboration could potentially transform how people shop in the future, with the aim of promoting a more sustainable approach to production, cutting down food miles and minimising waste by connecting customers with growing.

The technology enables vertical farming, meaning a smaller footprint is needed to grow more food. Photo by Jack Wiseall

Co-founded by Charlie Guy, Ben Crowther and Jack Farmer in 2015, Lettus Grow is a rising star in the world of green-tech and has won multiple awards for its application of innovative technology. This new partnership catapults its capabilities further into the mainstream market.

It is within arched confines of this compact St Philip’s base where the magic happens – or, more accurately, where the small team of Lettus Grow scientists work to develop the aeroponic technologies set to revolutionise farming.

Billy and India wear protective goggles because the light in the growing area has been specially filtered to improve efficiency

Sporting a white lab coat, protective shades and Crocs as he tends to the plants under the glare of specially filtered lights, plant biologist Billy Rodgers wouldn’t look out of place in a sci-fi film.

But the technology that enables food to grow efficiently – and without the need for any kind of pesticide – is very much a reality.

“It’s basically moving farming indoors and using much more concentrated environment in which to grow plants more efficiently. Instead of using soil or water, plant roots are suspended in a nutrient-dense mist,” explains Billy.

Lettus Grow has developed its own farm management software

A variety of crops are grown within the St Philip’s indoor farm. Photo by Jack Wiseall

His colleague India Langley adds that demand for such techniques is ever pressing amid soil degradation, which means that there may soon not be enough to feed the world’s growing population.

The stark fact is that humanity must increase food production by 70 per cent to feed an extra 2 billion people by 2050 – and with 25 per cent less farmland, depleted soils and an increasingly unstable climate.

“One of the awesome things about the technology is that we can grow vertically so need a smaller footprint, India explains, adding: “We are seeing a rise in demand for this sort of thing. Especially because technology is now a lot cheaper and more accessible and efficient.

“Our technology is a massive step forward because, traditionally, people used hydroponics but this is more effective.”

Within a specially-conditioned room within the Lettus Grow farm, kale, red cabbage, watercress, coriander and spring onions are among the greens flourishing.

Aeroponics were first developed by NASA in the 1980s in order to grow food in space, but Lettus Grow has honed a patent-pending system that has shown growth rate increases of more than 70 per cent compared to existing solutions for a number of crops.

The company has even developed its own farm management software.

With the recent injection of funding, the company is seeking to accelerate its products to market and build one of the most technically-advanced facilities for indoor growing in the world.

The Silverthorne Lane entrance to the pioneering indoor farm

Speaking about the possible collaboration with John Lewis, Jack Farmer, co-founder and operational lead said: “This represents a real opportunity to meaningfully reduce food miles, whilst engaging shoppers with the modern food system.”

Peter Cross, customer experience director at John Lewis & Partners, said: “Our search was for those entrepreneurs who might dare to think differently about the future of retail. Recent years have seen seismic changes in our sector, with a new benchmark in customer expectation every time they shop.

“Shops simply have no option but to inspire and delight customers – offering both fantastic products and personalised seamless experiences. We believe the dynamic new businesses selected for further discussions with JLAB will help us continue to stretch, shape and deliver together for our customers in the future.”

Main photo by Jack Wiseall

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