Iribov Expands Vertical Growing Capacity for Tissue-Cultured Plants in the Netherlands
Iribov is building additional climate-chamber capacity in Heerhugowaard to harden off tissue-cultured plants through multi-layer cultivation.
In an interview published by VerticalFarmDaily on October 16, 2026, Netherlands-based plant tissue-culture specialist Iribov described a major expansion in Heerhugowaard. A new 1.6-hectare facility under construction will include three multi-layer climate chambers, with space for additional chambers in the future.
Iribov uses vertical growing environments primarily to harden off young plants after tissue culture, rather than to produce retail lettuce. CEO Eloy Boon explained that earlier trials encouraged the company to invest in climate-controlled production because it observed faster hardening and improved plant quality. These are company observations reported in the interview, not independently reproduced measurements.
The company indicated that each new chamber could hold approximately one million plants at once. The initial three-chamber installation therefore represents a planned simultaneous capacity of three million plants, while larger theoretical figures depend on future expansion and cultivation cycles. The facility was expected to be completed in spring 2027. This illustrates another commercial application for multi-layer horticulture beyond edible leaves.
Original source: VerticalFarmDaily, 2026-10-16. https://www.verticalfarmdaily.com/article/9883456/iribov-expands-vertical-farming-operations-we-want-to-harden-off-more-plants-ourselves/