The future of farming is growing upwards, quite literally, as Illinois State University (ISU) unveiled its innovative Vertical Farm on Thursday, May 1, 2025. This cutting-edge facility, nestled adjacent to the Office of Sustainability at 305 North School Street in Normal, Illinois, is set to revolutionize the way students engage with agriculture and horticulture, while also serving as a beacon of sustainable urban farming for the local community.
The $200,000 project, a collaborative effort between the College of Applied Science and Technology, the Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Sustainability, is more than just a place to grow food. It’s a testament to the power of technology in addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time, including food security, environmental responsibility, and sustainability. The Vertical Farm uses a repurposed shipping container, transforming it into an enclosed, controlled environment for year-round plant growth. This 40-foot-by-8-foot space is designed with a vertical hydroponic growing system, a recirculating nutrient solution, and a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system. The result? A facility that can grow 4,600 plants, equivalent to the production of 1-2 acres of field production, using a mere 5 gallons of water per day—95% less water than traditional farming methods.
The implications of this technology are vast. With fewer chemicals and no pesticides needed in the controlled space, the Vertical Farm offers a sustainable solution to urban agriculture. The facility’s technology incorporates sensors and monitors to control various aspects of the growing cycle, including temperature, lighting, humidity, and nutrient solution concentration. This precision allows for optimal plant growth and resource efficiency.
The Vertical Farm’s growing process is a marvel of modern agriculture. Plants are seeded and grown to a transplant size over 3 to 4 weeks in small, compostable root cubes. They are then transferred to vertical towers, where they grow to a harvestable size in another 3 to 4 weeks. The container holds 256 individual towers, each filled with a removable, coarse spongy material that supports the plant roots. Once mature, the towers are taken down, plants are harvested, and new transplants are introduced, ready for another cycle of growth.
For ISU students, the Vertical Farm is a hands-on learning experience, preparing them for careers in agriculture and horticulture specialty crop production. For the local community, it’s a demonstration site, inspiring schools, and business entrepreneurs to explore sustainable urban farming. The Vertical Farm is more than just a facility; it’s a symbol of ISU’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and education. As Dr. David Kopsell, Professor of Horticulture, aptly put it, “The Vertical Farm Project has been about our students, and I cannot express how excited I am to bring this opportunity to our campus and their learning experiences.” The future of farming is here, and it’s growing upwards at Illinois State University.
