Enigma III | Fresh produce food safety in vertical farming
Fera worked with industry to define and validate food safety approaches for vertical farming systems. The project established a consistent framework aligned to the specific risks and operating conditions of controlled environment production.Fera, working with growers and industry partners, delivered the ‘ENIGMA II’ project to improve detection, surveillance and crop resilience. This included evaluating in-field detection methods such as dipstick, LAMP and RPA across leaf, fruit and swab samples, developing holistic approaches for effective, season-long site monitoring, and advancing practical, grower-led diagnostics through automated extraction-to-results systems.
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The Challenege
Vertical and controlled environment farming is expanding across the UK and globally. However, the sector is not well represented in current food safety certification frameworks.
Existing legislation and voluntary standards do not fully address the specific conditions of these systems. While production takes place in controlled environments with managed inputs, risks remain.
Potential contamination sources include water, seeds, staff handling, pest ingress, and inadequate cleaning leading to biofilm formation. The industry required a consistent and scientifically supported approach to food safety that reflects these operating conditions.
The Solution
Fera led the Enigma III project to define standardised food safety approaches for vertical and controlled environment farming.
The work began with a desk-based review of global food safety incidents, including their origins, management, and the guidance, standards, and legislation in place. This was combined with industry engagement through workshops and collaboration with vertical farming businesses, the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), and the Food Safety Research Network.
The project assessed whether guidance, formal standards, or legislative approaches were required for the sector. These insights were used to develop a UK-focused framework aligned to industry needs.
Participating businesses were then supported to scientifically validate the proposed approaches within their own operations.
The Output
- Desk-based review of global guidance, standards, and legislation relevant to vertical and controlled environment farming
- Industry-led development of food safety approaches in collaboration with FPC and vertical farming businesses
- Defined framework for applying guidance, standards, or legislative approaches within the UK sector
- Scientifically validated food safety approaches for implementation within individual vertical farming operations
- Practical support for due diligence, inspections, and response to food safety incidents
