Wales' farmers are best known for their lamb and beef, but could they be tempted by a side hustle in salad leaves, mushrooms or edible flowers? University researchers are working together to try to set up a Welsh Centre of Excellence for vertical farming, which means growing crops indoors in a controlled environment . They claim it could offer a "major diversification option" for Welsh farmers, while boosting the nation's food security. Wales currently produces very little of the fruit and vegetables consumed by its people, and is reliant on imports from elsewhere in the UK or overseas.
For husband and wife Chris and Donna Graves it all started with a tray of microgreens on a windowsill. Now their garage has been transformed into a full-on urban farm, growing crops used to garnish dishes and cocktails in high-end restaurants. "The beauty of it is we can grow 365 days a year," Donna said, with customers appreciating "a premium product".
"It's the fact that they're grown in Wales and aren't travelling miles from across the border," she said. Chris said energy costs - for lighting and heating - was one challenge, particularly in winter, but "luckily we've found the customer base to keep us going." The business in Church Village, Rhondda Cynon Taf, is in the process of expanding and kitting out an industrial unit, where the couple said it was their dream to install solar panels or a biomass heater.
"If we can drive down the costs we'd like to get into the public sector as well, s.