• LettUs Grow, a UK-based company that produces and sells aeroponic container farms, has announced that it has delivered the first “DROP & GROW” aeroponic container farm to HM Prison Hewell, a UK-based prison, which will be used as part of a prisoner’s rehabilitation program. 

• DROP & GROW will be used to educate and train prisoners about indoor farming practices such as plant husbandry skills, aeroponics technology, using farm management software, operating procedures, and HACCP and Food Safety standards with the aim of preparing them for employment upon release. The prisoners will also learn growing produce using ultrasonic aeroponic technology, which is a soilless growing method and spraying a nutrient-rich mix to the roots.

• This is reportedly the first governmental prison system in the UK to use controlled environmental agriculture systems. Food grown in the farm such as lettuce, herbs, and vegetables will also be used in prisoner meals. 

<ul><li> Analyst QuickTake : LettUs Grow has been taking different routes to expand its presence in the vertical farming industry. Towards the end of last year the company partnered with Contain Inc to offer financing solutions to farmers with the aim of expanding sales of its DROP & GROW container farm. During the same time, LettUs Grow also partnered with La Serra , a commercial greenhouse grower, to launch aeroponic tomato propagation trials. </ul>