Thai agricultural officials study Singapore's world's tallest vertical farm innovation.

Key summary

Dr. Pongtai Taiyotin, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, acting as Director-General of the Department of Agricultural Technology, visited the Greenphyto vertical farm in Singapore, which has a height of 23.3 meters and is certified by Guinness World Records as the tallest in the world. The visit was to study plant production technology in a closed system, AI-based management, and certification standards, to be used in developing standards for plant production facilities in Thailand. Greenphyto has been developing its concepts and technologies for over 14 years and can produce vegetables without using pesticides. It has also been certified with a 3-star rating under Singapore's SG Fresh Produce system, which covers SG GAP and SG Clean and Green standards. Plant production in a closed system helps reduce reliance on external weather conditions and increases the ability to cope with climate change. The farm uses high-efficiency LED lights in conjunction with optimal light adjustment, which can reduce energy consumption by approximately 30%. The knowledge gained from the visit will be used to develop guidelines for Thailand's Plant Factory standards, including product safety, process control, and data recording for traceability. In addition, there is cooperation with the FAO under the TCP/THA/4003 project on sustainable control of two-spotted spider mites to reduce the use of pesticides, which includes training in Thailand covering integrated pest management and LED lighting technology.