LONDON / UK, 7 July 2025: In the rolling countryside of Lincolnshire, a 26-acre glasshouse owned by Dyson is redefining the future of farming, combining advanced engineering with sustainable agriculture.
The massive facility houses more than 1.2 million strawberry plants, grown vertically on giant wheels each weighing nearly 1,100 pounds. These wheels, standing 5 metres tall and stretching 24 metres long, rotate the rows of plants to maximise their sunlight exposure.
Supporting the high-tech setup, ultraviolet-emitting robots move between the aisles to expose the strawberry leaves to light that destroys mould spores, while distributor bots release beneficial insects to control pests such as aphids. When the berries are ready, robotic arms — 16 in total — delicately harvest the fruit. According to James Dyson, the system picked over 200,000 strawberries in a single month.
“Growing things is like making things,” James Dyson explained in a video showcasing the operation. “I’ve approached farming as a manufacturer — asking how can we improve quality, taste, land use and invest further to make a difference?”
The Dyson facility, the largest of its kind the company has ever built, aims to produce 1,250 tonnes of strawberries annually. Power comes from an onsite anaerobic digester that captures gas from grain to turn turbines. Its excess heat keeps the glasshouse warm, while the leftover digestate serves as organic fertiliser for surrounding fields.
The greenhouse itself, with a roof measuring 760 metres, captures rainwater that is filtered and used to irrigate the strawberries. The approach prioritises the use of natural sunlight, with minimal artificial lighting supplementing only when required.
By growing strawberries locally and distributing them within the UK, the facility also reduces the carbon footprint associated with importing the fruit out of season from overseas.
Rob Kyle, a Dyson engineer, called the rotating wheels the “biggest rig Dyson’s ever made”, illustrating how the company’s manufacturing know-how has been reimagined for the food sector.
“Sustainable food production, food security, and the environment are vital to the nation’s health and economy,” James Dyson noted. “Efficient, high-technology agriculture holds many of the keys to our future. Dyson Farming strives to be at the forefront of this.”
Industry experts say that as climate variability and land constraints challenge food production, innovative vertical farming solutions such as Dyson’s could set a template for other high-value crops globally.
Image credit: Contain Inc
