Over the past year, the synergy between Taiwan’s advanced agricultural technology and Lithuania’s innovative spirit has led to the creation of Europe’s largest smart vertical farm in Vilnius. This ambitious project, spearheaded by Taiwanese Cai Ruifan, demonstrates the successful integration of advanced photonic technologies and hydroponics, setting a new standard for sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship.
The farm, managed by Yuan Xian Group, boasts a total cultivation area of 4,000 square meters (about 1.3 acres) with 15 rows of 14-tier racks. About 1,000 kilograms of vegetables are produced here every day, which satisfies about 10% of Lithuania’s daily vegetable needs. This impressive result is a testament to the farm’s innovative design, which mimics the natural environment using controlled wind and 12-hour LED lighting to overcome the region’s winter sunlight deficit.
One of the key figures behind this success is Cai Ruifang, who brings her experience of running a vertical farm in Taoyuan, Taiwan, to this joint venture. Inspired by her father’s interest in food safety, she adapted and refined hydroponic methods combined with photonic technology to provide clean, germ- and pest-free products.
The operation of the vertical farm is precisely tuned to the needs of different varieties of vegetables: the spectrum of the LED light is adjusted and the distance from the light to the plant is precisely controlled at the level of 11 centimeters. Sensors and monitoring equipment continually optimize the growing environment to ensure consistent, healthy crop growth. Notably, this system reduces water consumption by 95% compared to traditional farming, although it faces challenges of high energy costs due to its reliance on artificial lighting.
Despite these challenges, the farm has successfully coped with the severe limitation of natural daylight during Lithuanian winters, when sunlight deficits can reach up to eight hours per month. The use of floating boards, reminiscent of conveyor belts, increases harvesting efficiency, further strengthening the farm’s position as a model of agricultural innovation.
Celebrating its first anniversary, the vertical farm plans to expand its presence in Eastern and Northern Europe. Cai Ruifang and her team of Taiwanese and Lithuanian employees continue to demonstrate the potential of Taiwanese agricultural expertise on the world stage. This farm not only represents a milestone in agricultural technology, but is also a proud example of Taiwanese entrepreneurship abroad.
The Taiwan-Lithuania Intelligent Vertical Farm is a pioneering enterprise that exemplifies the future of sustainable agriculture. Using cutting-edge technology and international collaboration, it addresses key challenges in food production and sets the benchmark for future agricultural projects around the world.
