Can Microbes Boost Plant Health in Vertical Farms?
April 22, 2025 At Virginia Tech, two graduate students are studying how microorganisms or “microbes” affect plant health in vertical farming systems. Kaylee South, Ph.D., assistant professor and extension specialist at the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences located at Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, oversees both of them.
In their research, Dr. South’s students add beneficial microbes to hydroponic Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) towers to see if it produces healthier herbs, microgreens, and leafy greens. Their primary goal is to determine whether growers can use microbes to cultivate higher quality produce for consumers.
“We’re trying to understand how we can utilize beneficial microorganisms in our small-scale research production systems for eventual potential larger commercial application,” she says.
Her students are closely analyzing how microbes affect the size of different plants and their stress symptoms. If their results skew positive and result in improved yields with plants that are less stressed, the team could partner with industry professionals so they can use beneficial microbes in their commercial facilities.
“Biostimulants and other products that are microbial based are something that’s on the market in other industries,” she says. “We’re investigating how they can be utilized to improve the product growers put out there.”
This article is a part of CEAg World’s Industry Report: Vertical Farming. Download the full report here: https://www.ceagworld.com/industry-reports/.