Our story
VHG continues to build on the unparalleled success achieved by CEO Gary Thorneycroft and CTO Dr Paul Challinor, as 2 of the 3 co-founders, in creating Europes’ largest hydroponic vertical farm back in 2018/19.
Built from scratch and sold on to one of the industry’s largest fresh food producers, the Company was ground-breaking in its use of state-of-the-art technology, innovative systems and cutting-edge scientific research to create a model for all future vertical farm projects across Europe.
Our future
Inspired by their own success, Thorneycroft and Challinor are driving the industry into a new era in vertical farming.
This is an era which will initially see plant-based production of the types of collagens and proteins currently only obtained from animals, fish and synthetics and used in the multi-billion dollar cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.
Pressure on the cosmetics industry to find a sustainable and ethical method of protein and collagen production for its beauty products is growing and with the advancements achieved by VHG and their 3-year plan for expansion into production in Sweden, the stage is set for a paradigm shift within the industry.
The move to production in Sweden offers the company several advantages, not least of which is the abundance of cheap, green electricity.
Local and national Governments in Sweden have an open arm approach to new business, especially businesses that embrace industrial symbiosis and with such green credentials and visionary concepts as VHG, which will benefit the business in the form of grants and potential collaborations.
Here and now
Research and development of new products for the cosmeceutical industries will take place at the VHG facility within the Norwich Research Park (UK).
This facility is where collaboration with the John Innes Institute and associated biotechnology companies will further enhance VHG’s technical and scientific advantage.
Together with VHG’s strategic alliance and collaboration with IGS Scotland - one of the world’s leading manufacturers of precision vertical farming equipment – and their agreement with one of the industry’s most eminent and highly regarded plant scientists, VHG are now supremely positioned to forge significant inroads into a number of multi-billion dollar industries.
