Sweden — home to research institutes and startups experimenting with indoor-urban farming — offers fertile ground for these innovations
By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden
It’s always a delight when students from afar — whether arriving directly, through Erasmus exchange programs, or enrolling in short courses — choose our vibrant country as their place of study. Our shared passion for learning and cultural exchange thrives in cities like Stockholm, and this evening in May 2025 would affirm why.
I first heard about Kesho Lal through our mutual friend, Ramesh Raja. A bright young mind from Larkana, Sindh, Kesho Lal had previously studied plant science at Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad and was currently pursuing his academic journey further in Bologna, Italy. He and several peers were visiting Sweden to explore the cutting edge of vertical/urban farming — an innovation reshaping how we imagine agriculture in urban environments.
On a fine mid-May evening, I drove across Stockholm’s gentle spring dusk to pick up Kesho Lal. We were bound for Drottningholm Castle (Drottningholms slott), a majestic jewel nestled by Lake Mälaren on the outskirts of the city. Little did I know, this would become an unforgettable fusion of conversation, discovery, and reflection.
Setting Forth: Roads, Reflections & Rising Ideas
With the car gliding through Stockholm’s calm streets, the conversation quickly turned to vertical farming — Kesho Lal’s passion at the moment. He and his fellow students from Bologna were charting developments in Sweden’s own burgeoning vertical farm sector. Their mission? To understand how dense population centers could incorporate agriculture in novel, space-efficient ways.
Vertical or urban farming, he explained, is a modern agricultural method of growing and producing in vertically stacked layers. Utilizing soilless techniques like hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics, these systems allow farmers to grow crops in controlled environments, often indoors. Imagine multistory buildings humming with LED-lit rows of leafy greens, herbs, and other edible plants.
One driving force behind vertical farming is space optimization. In densely built cities, open farmland dwindles as skyscrapers and apartments sprout upward instead of outward. Just as residential living has gone vertical, agriculture too is embracing height. Urban farms now occupy shipping containers, repurposed warehouses, or newly constructed vertical farming facilities.
We discussed:
- Scope & Benefits
o Year-round cultivation: Climate-controlled environments bypass seasonal unpredictability.
o Water efficiency: Hydroponic systems can use up to 95% less water than conventional agriculture.
o Reduced food miles: Growing fresh produce within or near urban centers shortens distribution chains, lowering costs and carbon emissions.
o Higher yields: Multi-layer systems exponentially increase output per square foot.
o Space efficiency: Turning rooftops, underused buildings, or disused warehouses into productive farmland.
- Challenges & Drawbacks
o High startup costs: For lighting, climate controls, and infrastructure, especially LED systems.
o Energy consumption: On-site LED farms need reliable, often electricity-intensive environments.
o Technical know-how: Precision agriculture demands scientific skillsets and careful monitoring.
o Limited crop range: Leafy greens and herbs thrive in vertical farms, but grains or root vegetables are less practical.
Sweden — home to research institutes and startups experimenting with indoor-urban farming — offers fertile ground for these innovations. Supply shortages like city-centered supermarkets here may soon be bolstered by locally grown, pesticide-free produce from vertical farms. Moreover, these setups open doors for women and other underrepresented groups to find opportunities in science, tech, and agriculture. When thoughtfully implemented, vertical farming can become an inclusive, community-driven movement.
Arrival at Drottningholm: Golden Walls & Lakeside Calm
Our car rolled into the Drottningholm grounds at just the right golden hour. The castle’s ochre walls glowed in the waning daylight, brushing the tranquil waters of Lake Mälaren with amber reflections. The air was crisp, with gentle breezes rustling through tall trees that lined the carriage road.
As we stepped out, the castle’s yellow façade beamed in the residual sun. Constructed in the late 17th century by King Charles XI and later remodeled by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger, Drottningholm is Sweden’s answer to Versailles: regal, elegant, and set apart in its natural beauty.
The castle’s proximity to the lake instantly caught our eyes. Lilypads floated lazily near the shores, their round leaves sunlit and serene. Dashes of pink lotus flowers peeked through the green canopy, adding a poetic elegance. Wooden benches placed thoughtfully along winding walking paths invited quiet contemplation. A lone couple strolled past; two ducks skimmed the water nearby, and an occasional fountain spurted a gentle arc of water in the distance.
Exploring the Grounds: Gardens, Fountains & Forested Paths
Wandering through the castle’s perimeter, we found:
- Formal Gardens: Manicured lawns dotted with classical statues — Greek and Roman gods and goddesses — lining gravel pathways. Perfect symmetry glowed under the sky as tulips and seasonal blooms added color accents to the greenscape.
- Fountains & Water Features: Ponds and sculpted fountains carved between garden beds offered a cool, refreshing backdrop. Water splashed with purpose — a welcome melody on an otherwise silent Swedish evening.
- Walking Trails: Meandering paths led us through stands of beautiful trees, occasional wooden footbridges arching over small streams. Conversing on research, the two of us wandered deeper into pockets of dappled shade, listening to early songbirds.
- Cafeteria & Refreshments: A cozy café with outdoor seating overlooks the lake. Patrons sipped coffee and indulged in cinnamon buns — “kanelbullar” — while resting among fresh air and scenic calm.
I reflected on how Drottningholm itself is an embodiment of layered history — built by royalty, shaped by architects, and cherished by the outdoors. Today, it stood as a venue for simple human connection: a Pakistani-Italian-educated biologist and a Pakistani-Swedish alumnus sharing ideas next to centuries-old statuary.
Seating by the Lake: Dialogue Across Disciplines
Settling onto a bench overlooking the lake, we watched the sun bow out behind distant trees. Ducks paddled in circles, lotus blossoms drooped into twilight, and the air smelled fresh with lake mist and blooming flora.
Here, our conversation blossomed too:
- We delved deeper into agricultural inclusivity, discussing how vertical farms could be micro enterprises run by local communities — “farm houses” on apartment balconies, rooftops, even urban backrooms.
- Swedish innovation: Research in Stockholm and Gothenburg was pioneering methods to reduce LED electricity usage through renewable sources like solar or wind. Scientists were also seeking ways to adapt vertical farms to seasonal climate shifts.
- Future urbanism: I shared my own observations — how Stockholm’s metro stops often have connected community gardens; how local markets in Örebro sometimes feature produce grown only a few miles away.
- Global perspectives: Kesho Lal highlighted that in Pakistan and Italy, food security is becoming a priority in vertical farming. Italy’s vertical vineyards are exploring urban wine from indoor grape farming; Pakistan’s hydroponic greenhouses are tackling water-scarce regions.
Our discussions touched upon policy too: how governments might incentivize green energy vertical farms; how city building codes could be adjusted to allow urban-scale agricultural architecture; how universities, like KTH, could offer interdisciplinary programs blending life sciences, engineering, and urban planning.
I thought about my own time studying at KTH, and how the institution’s focus on sustainable innovation had prepared me to explore such topics with curious minds like Kesho Lal.
Twilight Departure: Watching the Evening Calm
As dusk deepened, lake reflections darkened and street lamps began to glow around the castle. We walked back to the parking through winding paths lined with low lamps, the castle now an illuminated monument in quiet majesty.
Back on the road, Kesho Lal spoke of his plans:
- A research project comparing hydroponic yields in Bologna versus Stockholm’s pilot farms.
- A proposal to start a small urban garden back in Larkana, using vertical towers to grow spinach, herbs, and peppers.
- His ambition is to collaborate with Swedish and Italian institutes on efficient LED climate systems.
Why This Evening Matters
- Cultural Exchange in Practice
– It wasn’t just an academic meeting — it was a human exchange of energy, ideas, and hope. Stockholm’s spring, the castle’s timeless grace, the future-focused talk — they all wove together effortlessly.
- Vertical Farming as the Future of Urban Agriculture
– Especially in land-scarce cities, vertical farming represents a monumental shift. Conservation-driven growth, efficient resource use, and proximity to consumers are powerful draws. Testbeds in Sweden and Italy point to a future where rooftops and repurposed buildings grow fresh food, not just living space.
o Environmental benefit: Studies show hydroponics can reduce water use by up to 95% compared to traditional farming — a boon in drought-prone regions.
o Social impact: These systems lend themselves to small-scale, community-led implementations; women and marginalized groups can spearhead localized agricultural micro startups.
o Limitations¹: Initial capital costs and energy requirements must be offset by renewable infrastructure and policy support. The range of feasible crops currently favors leafy greens and herbs; grains and roots pose challenges.
o Scalable innovation: Sweden’s commitment to green technology means pilot vertical farms often experiment with hybrid energy systems, combined with LED and sensor tech.
- The Timelessness of Place
– Drottningholm Castle isn’t just a tourist spot — it’s the perfect backdrop for transition: from royal past to evening calm, from student arrival to sunrise brilliance in vertical farms, from static architecture to dynamic innovation.
- Connection
– From Bologna to Larkana, from Stockholm streets to lakeside benches, knowledge transcended borders. A life science student, an alumnus, a historic castle, and lofty speculations—this is what makes travel so enriching.
Thinking Ahead: Seeds We Planted
- KTH as a Hub: Continue leveraging KTH’s expertise in sustainable systems and urban design. Encourage cross-disciplinary workshops on vertical farming.
- Collaboration between Sweden, Italy & Pakistan: Pilot exchange programs where students visit operational farms, install rooftop units in local schools, and test yield comparisons.
- Local impact: Back in Bologna or Larkana, graduates could initiate geodesic, container, or vertical tower farms. By connecting with Swedish startup accelerators, they could adapt EU clean-tech solutions abroad.
- Inspiration from Drottningholm: Nature, symmetry, and serenity fed our highest thoughts on food production. I imagine a future where small farms echo this harmony — tidy rows of greenery climbing upward like garden ivy.
Final Reflections
That May evening at Drottningholm didn’t just celebrate Swedish history; it celebrated continuity — from kings to scholars, from earthbound farms to skyward greenery. Kesho Lal left with a head full of ideas, and I was inspired anew. In the days since, I’ve already followed up with him and our contacts at KTH on next steps.
In a world brimming with complexity, here lies a simple hope: fresh food growing close to home — literal rooftop tomatoes, basil grown under lights, games of ideas played on castle grounds. Sometimes, the best journeys are those that fuse past and future—and those begin with a drive at dusk and a conversation in a golden light.
Footnotes & References
¹ Vertical farming challenges as reviewed by researchers in the Journal of Modern Agriculture, 2024: startup costs, energy demands, and crop limitations (mostly leafy greens and herbs).
Read: Unwind, Rejuvenate, Explore Baltic Wonders
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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process.
