The start-up behind Scotland’s first vertical farm has received £5.4m in funding from US investors to further develop its technology.

Vertical farming is an emerging industry in which crops are grown in layers in a controlled environment to save space and reduce waste. Ultimately, they could help crowded cities produce their own food.

Dundee-based Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) has created a vertical farming system that it claims can successfully grow plants using half the energy of its competitors.

Last year, the company opened its demonstration facility in Invergowrie featuring LED lights and app-controlled air vents to create the ideal conditions for crops to grow.