The world's deepest vertical farm has launched inside Boulby Underground Laboratory, a working polyhalite and salt mine near Whitby in North Yorkshire, in a bid to grow food sustainably without the high energy costs usually associated with indoor farming. Led by the University of Sheffield in partnership with food producer Farm Urban, the pioneering research project could pave the way for thousands of disused mines worldwide to be repurposed for affordable food production, potentially creating jobs and boosting fresh produce access in often economically deprived mining communities.

The farm sits around 0.7 miles (1.1km) underground, where crops such as lettuce and pak choi are grown hydroponically in upright light beds, taking advantage of the mine's existing consistent temperatures, lighting and ventilation to cut energy demands. Project co-lead Jacob Nickles said harvesting was already under way, with future trials set to explore salt-tolerant crops like samphire, sea fennel and quinoa, though root vegetables such as carrots and potatoes are unsuitable for the hydroponic system. The year-long study, described by laboratory director Prof Sean Paling as a natural extension of the site's existing dark matter and neutrino research, aims to provide the first real-world evidence of whether underground farming could become commercially viable.