UK Energy Shock: 94% Rise in Standing Charges Threatens Vertical Farms

Dr. Russell Sharp examines a warning from the UK Urban AgriTech group that a planned 94% increase in electricity network standing charges from April 2026 could dramatically raise operating costs for vertical farms and greenhouses, risking business failures, reduced domestic produce and higher food prices. The episode explains how horticulture is excluded from the energy-intensive industries exemption, compares UK energy costs with EU competitors, and outlines how razor-thin margins make indoor growers particularly vulnerable; calling for urgent policy review and industry engagement. https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/ Leo Marcelis — Wageningen University & Research Erik Runkle — Michigan State University Neil Mattson — Cornell University Bruce Bugbee — Utah State University Roberto Lopez — Michigan State University Chieri Kubota — Ohio State University Youbin Zheng — University of Guelph Toyoki Kozai — Chiba University Genhua Niu — Texas A&M AgriLife Research A.J. Both — Rutgers University Peter van Weel — Wageningen University & Research Eugene Jones — University of Arizona Cary Mitchell — Purdue University Klaus Stanghellini — Wageningen University & Research Bert van Ruijven — Wageningen University & Research Frank Kempkes — Wageningen University & Research Ep Heuvelink — Wageningen University & Research Silvia Pampuri — Wageningen University & Research Simon Pearson — University of Lincoln David Llewellyn — Harper Adams University Paul Hadley — University of Reading Jeremy Burdon — Harper Adams University Mark Else — Cranfield University Graham Wallace — James Hutton Institute James Locke — USDA Agricultural Research Service Dewayne Ingram — University of Kentucky Michelle Jones — Ohio State University Kevin Folta — University of Florida Michele Montero — University of Almería Juan Fernández — University of Almería Kees van der Velden — Wageningen University & Research Artemis Koukounaras — Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Giacomo Tosti — University of Bologna Rita Maggini — University of Pisa Paolo Sambo — University of Padua Lorenzo Pardossi — University of Pisa Alessandro Ferrante — University of Milan Gabriele Costa — University of Bologna Luigi De Bellis — University of Salento Francesco Orsini — University of Bologna Michael Struik — Wageningen University & Research Andrew Neilson — University of Nottingham Zhenhua He — University of Florida Haijun Liu — Zhejiang University Yuanhui Zhang — University of Illinois Qingwu Guan — Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Xiuming Hao — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Bob Hansen — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Xiaohong Yang — Nanjing Agricultural University Jianjun Chen — University of Florida Pramod Pandey — University of Illinois Arun Kumar — Indian Agricultural Research Institute Sanjay Kumar — Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Rajesh Kumar — Punjab Agricultural University Hiroshi Shimizu — Kyoto University Masaharu Kitano — Kyushu University Yasushi Ishigami — University of Tokyo Toshihiko Kozai — Chiba University Keisuke Omasa — University of Tokyo Hirokazu Takahashi — Tohoku University