Taiwan's vertical farm expanding abroad

A Taiwanese company has developed a way to grow vegetables year-round, under optimal conditions. Its success has allowed it to expand to more countries, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. YesHealth, one of the world's largest vertical farms, has a farm in Taoyuan City, near Taipei, producing 1,500 kilograms of vegetables per day, and one in China’s Shenzhen City, producing 2,500 kilograms a day. Last year, it joined hands with Danish partner Nordic Harvest to open a vertical farm in Denmark. Next, it plans to explore Middle East markets such as Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Winston Tsai, the CEO of YesHealth, says growing vegetables year-round in controlled environments, where the humidity, light, and temperature can be adjusted to optimal conditions, can ensure a stable food supply during pandemics or amid extreme weather caused by climate change. He says it’s especially useful for countries that rely heavily on imported food. Currently, vertical farming accounts for less than 1 percent of global vegetable production, but industry experts believe it can rise to 10 percent within the next five to 10 years.