M&S has launched three new vertically farmed salad leaves, which it claims last five days longer and use 96 per cent less water than traditional production methods.

The retailer said the new Collection salads are grown indoors in a controlled environment, where temperature, light and water are precisely managed to deliver consistent quality year round.

The vertically farmed range includes Citrus Sorrel Baby Leaves, Spicy Baby Leaves and Baby Garlic Kale.

M&S said the growing process uses advanced robotics to plant the seeds, which are cultivated in a specialist substrate rather than soil. This allows nutrients to be delivered directly to each plant, while UV lighting helps maintain the optimum conditions for the leaves to grow.

The grocer said the method also cuts fertiliser use by around 97 per cent, while the crops are grown without pesticides.

Because the leaves are grown in a controlled environment and harvested without soil, M&S said they can be picked at the best moment for quality and flavour, before being packed within 60 seconds of harvest.

M&S Food director of technical Andrew Clappen said: “The future of food is about finding new and innovative methods which put less pressure on the environment while delivering the best in market flavour and quality.

“These Collection salads are vertically grown exclusively for M&S and bring new flavours to our customers with a dramatically reduced water consumption, supporting our Plan A goal to reach net zero by 2040 across our supply chain.”

The launch forms part of M&S’s wider Plan A for Farming programme, which includes work with growers to improve soil health, boost biodiversity and develop more sustainable food production methods.

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