Cotton vertical farming (CVF) proposes an indoor, soilless approach to growing cotton in stacked layers, using hydroponics/aeroponics under LED lights. This “vertical cotton” idea aims to slash water use, eliminate pesticides, and shrink the land footprint – potentially transforming how we produce fiber.
Introduction To Conventional Cotton Farming
Cotton is one of the world’s most important non‑food crops. It provides fiber for roughly half of all textiles and supports about 250 million farmers worldwide. In many developing countries, cotton farming employs a large share of labor and export earnings.
But conventional cotton is notoriously resource‑intensive and environmentally damaging. It uses vast amounts of water – often in arid regions – and is heavily sprayed with pesticides and fertilizers, earning it nicknames like “the world’s dirtiest crop.” Worldwide, cotton cultivation covers an estimated 35 million hectares (≈2.5% of arable land), and it has contributed to soil erosion, water pollution, and depletion of rivers and aquifers.
Current methods drain rivers (for example, ~97% of the Indus River’s flow has been diverted for cotton irrigation) and degrade soils through intensive tillage and chemicals. Climate change adds new stresses: traditional cotton fields face droughts, floods, pests and temperature swings that threaten yields.
Given these challenges, researchers and entrepreneurs are asking: Can we grow cotton more sustainably inside controlled vertical farms? “Cotton farming is completely unsustainable – we need to find a new way,” says industry pioneer Simon Wardle (Gooddrop).
What Is Cotton Vertical Farming?
As of 2025, more than 30 countries are testing or scaling various forms of vertical agriculture, but cotton is still a novel entry in this space. The concept of growing cotton indoors in vertical layers is gaining traction thanks to pilot projects in the UK and Hong Kong.
In a world where textile demand is projected to grow by 3.5% annually, innovations like cotton vertical farming could (key) become crucial to meeting sustainable fiber needs. Cotton vertical farming means (fit) growing cotton plants indoors in stacked or multi‑tier racks, with complete control over the environment and nutrients.
Instead of fields, plants are arranged in towers or shelves, often using hydroponic or aeroponic systems to deliver water and nutrition without soil. In practice, this looks like a greenhouse or warehouse with multiple levels: at each level, cotton plants are supported in troughs or containers, their roots immersed or misted with nutrient solution, and LED lighting providing the sunlight.
Everything from light, temperature and humidity to carbon dioxide and airflow is monitored and optimized. This approach sharply contrasts with traditional cotton fields. Vertical systems use space much more efficiently by growing “up” instead of out.
They are also closed-loop: water and nutrients are recycled, pests and diseases are excluded, and variables like light spectrum can be finely tuned for each growth stage. In essence, vertical farming applies (chilli) the principles of controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) to cotton – a crop that has historically been grown as a large outdoor field plant.
Adapting Cotton Vertical Farming Technology
According to 2024 industry reports, indoor vertical farming facilities (best) have grown by over 25% in investment year-on-year, with new high-tech modules targeting not just food but fiber crops. Cotton, as a high-demand, high-volume crop, requires adaptations in vertical setups that differ significantly from leafy greens or herbs.
The average global cotton plant needs 130–160 days of growing time, which demands significant technological precision to replicate indoors.
1. Growing structures
Cotton plants can grow quite tall (often over 1–1.5 meters) and bushy, so vertical farms use sturdy racks, towers or A-frame systems that can support the plants. Some designs use tall towers with hollow cores or rotating shelves, while others use stationary racks with large containers.
Gooddrop’s research units, for example, were built by converting shipping containers into enclosed growing modules. These setups often combine vertical and greenhouse spaces, since cotton may need some root support or pollination space.
2. Hydroponics & aeroponics
Instead of soil, cotton in a vertical farm is grown in water-based systems. Common methods include NFT (Nutrient Film Technique), where a thin stream of solution flows past roots; deep-water culture (DWC) holding the roots in oxygenated water; or aeroponics, where nutrient mist is sprayed directly onto roots.
Soil is avoided because it is heavy, variable, and hard to manage in stacked systems. Using hydroponics allows exact control of nutrients and pH.
For example, Hong Kong’s HKRITA team developed a “vertical hydroponic cultivation” for extra-long staple (ELS) cotton, recirculating 90% of the water and delivering nutrients directly to roots. They even added nano-bubble oxygen generators to further boost root health.
3. Lighting
Indoor cotton relies entirely on artificial light, since there is no sun. High-efficiency LED fixtures are used, often tuned to the optimal spectrum for cotton’s growth stages (vegetative growth vs. flowering and boll filling). These grow lights must be intense enough to drive photosynthesis for a large plant like cotton, which means a heavy energy demand. In fact, one study of vertical farms concluded that most energy (60–80%) goes to lighting.
Gooddrop’s CEO notes that the big challenge is indeed energy: “plants in these settings get their light entirely from LEDs,” and powering them requires careful planning. Locations with cheap or renewable power (solar, wind, biogas) will be advantageous for cotton vertical farms. Some designs may supplement with low-energy lighting at night or specialized far-red/UV LEDs to optimize flowering.
4. Climate control
Cotton needs warm daytime temperatures (often around 25–30°C) and cooler nights (say 18–22°C), plus moderate humidity. In a vertical farm, powerful HVAC systems regulate temperature and humidity to ideal setpoints.
This avoids stress from heatwaves, cold snaps or drought that field plants face. Locked doors also exclude pests and airborne diseases. As CambridgeHOK (Gooddrop’s engineering partner) explains, vertical cotton units provide “perfect lighting, temperature and humidity… on the gentlest of breezes, with just the right amount of water and nutrients.”
Artificial CO₂ enrichment can further boost growth, since cotton responds well to higher CO₂ under controlled light and nutrients.
5. Nutrient management
Precise nutrient solutions are fed to the cotton plants in a closed loop. Sensors monitor pH and electrical conductivity, and the system automatically adjusts mineral concentrations (nitrogen, potassium, etc.) to match cotton’s needs at each stage. Excess solution is caught and recycled, minimizing runoff.
This means vertical farming can (saudi) sharply reduce chemical inputs: as HKRITA reports, their system used 90% less water and 50% less fertilizer compared to field cotton. Over 80% of irrigated water is reclaimed rather than lost to evaporation or leaching.
6. Automation & monitoring
Like other vertical farms, cotton farms can use IoT sensors and automation. Cameras and spectrometers might monitor plant health and fiber development. AI systems can adjust lighting schedules, nutrient dosing and climate in real time for optimal yields.
Robotic systems could in future handle pruning, transplanting or even hand-pollination. Early setups (like Gooddrop’s) are still largely experimental, but the vision is a highly automated, data-driven growing process that maximizes output and consistency.
Potential Benefits of Cotton Vertical Farming
Recent figures indicate that conventional cotton farming uses approximately 10,000 liters of water per kilogram of fiber. In contrast, vertical systems are demonstrating up to 95% water reduction and nearly zero chemical runoff.
Additionally, indoor setups can yield 100x more cotton per square meter by stacking multiple layers, significantly boosting productivity on limited land.
a. Water savings
One of the biggest promises is drastic water reduction. Because vertical systems recirculate water, studies claim 90–95% less water use than irrigated fields. For example, Gooddrop and CambridgeHOK report that vertical-grown cotton needs only ~500 liters of water per kilogram of lint, versus ~10,000 L/kg in typical field farming – roughly a 95% reduction.
HKRITA likewise found its vertical hydroponic method used ~90% less water than soil-grown cotton. Since cotton traditionally is very thirsty (7,000–10,000 L/kg), saving 90% of that is huge. Less irrigation means easier cultivation in water-scarce regions and less strain on rivers and aquifers.
b. Zero pesticides
In a sealed vertical farm, there are virtually no weeds, insects or pathogens invading the crop. This eliminates the need for pesticides and herbicides. Cotton’s reputation as a heavy pesticide user is tackled head-on: Gooddrop notes that indoor cotton “uses no pesticides,” allowing truly clean, chemical-free fiber.
CambridgeHOK explains that by keeping cotton indoors, “we can… grow without the need for chemicals.” The result is healthier worker and consumer safety, and no toxic runoff from fields. All “crop protection” is handled by environmental control rather than sprays.
c. Land efficiency
Stacking cotton vertically multiplies yield per unit ground area. Gooddrop boldly claims their design can achieve about 100 times the cotton yield per square meter compared to the best field crops. In practical terms, they estimate the entire world’s cotton output could be grown on 0.4% of the land currently used for cotton.
Even setting aside that extreme figure, vertical farming inherently (unearthing) boosts productivity by enabling multiple tiers of plants. This means much less agricultural land is needed for the same fiber output.
d. Climate resilience and reliability
Indoor cotton is shielded from weather and seasons. Droughts, floods, frosts and heat waves no longer determine yield. Temperature and humidity stay within optimal ranges year-round. As Gooddrop notes, vertical farms “don’t have the vagaries of temperature changes… we’re not limited to the window of May to end of October.”
This means multiple crops per year: whereas a field cotton takes 130–160 days to mature, indoor farms could harvest two or even three times annually. Year-round production also smooths supply for textile mills, avoiding boom-bust swings.
e. Local production and traceability
Vertical cotton farms could be located near textile manufacturers or retail centers, dramatically cutting transport emissions. Gooddrop envisions co-locating cotton farms and spinning mills, creating a “farm-to-wear” supply chain in urban areas.
Fibers grown in a building can be fully tracked from seed to garment, providing unmatched traceability. Consumers and brands increasingly want to know the origin of their fiber – vertical farming can offer a transparent record of all inputs.
f. Precision and consistency
Every growing parameter is under computer control, so vertical cotton can be very uniform. Nutrient levels, light exposure and harvest time are identical for each plant. This precision can improve fiber quality (length, strength and purity) by eliminating field variances.
For example, HKRITA reports that fiber quality from their vertical-grown extra-long-staple (ELS) cotton met or exceeded industry standards.
Unique Challenges & Hurdles
Despite its promise, cotton vertical farming remains in the experimental phase as of 2025. Only a handful of startups and research labs globally have managed to grow cotton indoors. That’s because cotton, unlike lettuce or herbs, is a large, long-cycle crop with complex biology.
Energy use, plant size, fiber quality, and cost present significant technical and economic challenges that are yet to be solved at commercial scale.
a. Energy demand
Indoor farms rely on artificial lighting – primarily LEDs – to replace sunlight. For cotton, which is a high-biomass and long-season crop (often taking 130–160 days to mature), this means running grow lights for up to 18 hours a day for several months.
The result is massive electricity demand. In fact, some pilot studies show that lighting alone accounts for over 60% of the total energy footprint. Cooling, CO₂ injection and HVAC further add to the power bill.
For vertical cotton to be viable, farms will need access to cheap, clean energy – such as solar, hydro, or wind. Otherwise, the carbon footprint and energy costs may outweigh environmental benefits.
b. Plant size and management
Cotton grows tall (1.2–2 meters) and bushy, with broad leaves and large bolls. It’s not like leafy greens that sit quietly in compact trays. Accommodating cotton’s size requires extra vertical spacing, structural support, and pruning – which reduces the density advantage of vertical racks.
In early trials, plants needed to be manually trained, tied, or even topped (cut) to stay manageable indoors. This increases labor or requires robotic automation that’s not yet cost-effective. Plus, cotton roots need space – unlike herbs, their taproots and lateral roots need volume, which can strain tray-based systems.
c. Pollination and flowering
Cotton is largely self-pollinated but still benefits from environmental cues like daylight length (photoperiod) and insect activity. In an indoor farm, flowers may need manual or artificial pollination, especially in closed systems.
Some systems use airflow or vibration to simulate natural pollinators. But poor pollination could reduce boll set and seed quality. Also, simulating long-day or short-day photoperiods indoors adds complexity to lighting design and scheduling.
d. Fiber quality concerns
Cotton’s value depends heavily on fiber length, strength, and purity. These qualities are shaped by complex interactions of genetics, water, nutrients, light and stress – many of which behave differently indoors.
Vertical farming may unintentionally produce shorter or weaker fibers if the conditions are not perfectly tuned. While early trials (like HKRITA’s ELS cotton) showed promising fiber quality, large-scale data is lacking. Matching or surpassing field-grown fiber standards remains a key hurdle.
e. High costs and scalability
Vertical farming infrastructure is expensive. Lights, sensors, hydroponic plumbing, CO₂ tanks, climate control systems – they all add cost. As of 2024, growing cotton indoors remains significantly more expensive per kilogram than field cotton.
For now, it’s only economically viable for niche markets: organic, pharmaceutical, luxury, or R&D use. Scaling to commodity-level production – where cotton is sold at $1–$2 per kg – will require major cost reductions, energy savings, and automation breakthroughs. Vertical cotton also competes with synthetic fibers (like polyester), which are even cheaper and more uniform.
f. Limited track record
Unlike food crops such as lettuce or strawberries, cotton has barely been grown vertically in commercial quantities. Most efforts so far are pilot projects in converted containers or greenhouses, growing a few dozen plants.
It’s unclear how well vertical cotton can perform in real-world industrial settings. As one grower notes, “there is still a lot of trial and error” when adapting hydroponics to a field crop like cotton. We need more research, prototypes, and investment to validate its feasibility.
Current State & Research
As of mid-2025, fewer than 10 organizations worldwide are actively experimenting with vertical cotton. However, these pioneers are laying critical groundwork for future scalability. Cotton vertical farming is beginning to receive public funding and university interest as a solution to both water conservation and textile circularity.
i. Gooddrop (UK)
A UK startup founded in 2021, Gooddrop claims to be the first company to grow cotton hydroponically indoors in a vertical system. It uses retrofitted shipping containers powered by solar panels. The company collaborated with CambridgeHOK, a controlled-environment engineering firm, to design their initial systems.
Their pilot plants produced cotton bolls using 95% less water and zero pesticides. Gooddrop aims to locate vertical farms near textile mills and create “farm-to-wear” garment supply chains. Their CEO says vertical farming can yield “100 times more cotton per square meter” than fields.
ii. HKRITA (Hong Kong)
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) launched a project to grow extra-long-staple (ELS) cotton hydroponically indoors, aiming to enable circular fiber recovery and production in urban centers. Their system includes nutrient solution circulation, nano-bubble oxygenation, and precision lighting.
They achieved comparable fiber quality to field-grown cotton and used ~90% less water and ~50% less fertilizer. The project is part of Hong Kong’s broader effort to localize fiber production and reduce textile waste.
iii. Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Researchers at Texas A&M have begun studying the potential of growing cotton in greenhouses and indoor testbeds. Their focus is on optimizing light conditions and root-zone nutrient supply. Though not yet full vertical farming, these controlled-environment trials aim to better understand how cotton physiology reacts indoors.
iv. Japanese and Korean startups
A few Asian vertical farm companies, previously focused on food crops, are testing small-scale fiber plantings including cotton and hemp. While still in stealth mode, these efforts reflect growing interest in high-tech fiber production as part of textile industry innovation.
Across all projects, researchers are focusing on how to optimize cotton’s light spectrum, nutrient formulation, flowering cycle, and boll development in indoor conditions. Pollination, energy use, and fiber measurement are key areas. Some teams are even experimenting with genetically modified (GM) or CRISPR-edited cotton strains better suited for compact indoor growth.
Future Outlook
By 2030, sustainable fiber demand is projected to grow by over 60% compared to 2020, driven by population growth, conscious fashion, and regulations. Cotton vertical farming could emerge as a key contributor if technology and costs continue to improve.
Niche applications first: In the near term, vertical cotton is best suited to high-value markets – organic fashion, pharmaceutical-grade cotton (for medical swabs, bandages, etc.), laboratory cotton, and research-grade fibers. These users value traceability, purity and chemical-free cultivation – all advantages of indoor systems. As one startup puts it, “we’re not aiming to replace field cotton – we’re offering an alternative for specific use cases.”
I. Tech advancements needed: To scale, vertical cotton will need breakthroughs in LED efficiency, AI-powered automation, smart nutrient delivery and maybe even new cotton genetics. Compact, dwarf cotton strains with faster flowering cycles and shorter height would be easier to grow indoors.
Automation for pruning, pollination and boll harvesting will reduce labor. Smarter sensors and AI can fine-tune environmental conditions to minimize energy use while maximizing yield.
II. Cost reduction pathway: Costs must fall substantially for vertical cotton to compete with field-grown. This includes cheaper LED lighting, efficient energy use, low-cost building materials, modular farm designs and economies of scale.
Innovations from the food vertical farming sector (e.g., lettuce and strawberry farms) can help cotton too. Public subsidies or green fiber credits could also play a role.
III. Supplement, not replacement: For the foreseeable future, vertical cotton won’t replace all field cotton. But it could supplement it – particularly in water-stressed regions, urban centers, and places needing pure, localized fiber.
Think of vertical cotton as a diversification strategy, much like indoor greens don’t replace outdoor wheat but provide secure local nutrition. Similarly, vertical cotton may provide reliable local fiber for sustainable garment production.
Sustainability alignment: With fashion brands under pressure to reduce carbon and water footprints, vertical cotton offers a way to decouple fiber from land and climate. Imagine growing cotton near cities using renewable energy, recycled water, and zero pesticides. Garments could be made locally from seed to shirt. That vision, while not yet economical, is becoming more realistic with each technology breakthrough.
Conclusion
Cotton vertical farming offers a bold new vision for sustainable fiber production. By moving cotton indoors into controlled, stacked environments, we can slash water use, eliminate pesticides, boost land efficiency and produce year-round, traceable fiber near where it’s used. Early pilots like Gooddrop and HKRITA show it’s possible – with cotton bolls harvested indoors using 90–95% less water.
However, big challenges remain: energy use is high, cotton plants are large and slow-growing, and costs are not yet competitive with field cotton. Still, with advances in lighting, automation, and crop science, vertical cotton could one day meet niche fiber needs while reducing the industry’s environmental footprint.
