Grow up! Latvian company develops vertical tree-growing container / Article

While vertical growing systems are not a new idea in horticulture, until now they have typically been used for strawberries, lettuce, and vegetable seedlings. Created in Latvia, for the first time the solution has been specifically adapted for tree seedlings, making it possible to grow them in a controlled environment all year round.

The main target audience for Carbon Less Future’s product is comprised of companies and municipalities that want to make a tangible contribution to the fight against climate change by growing seedlings on their own premises. Additional value is created by the fact that the container also functions as an environmental installation and educational element.

“Nowadays, investments by companies and municipalities in sustainability and nature restoration are becoming increasingly relevant, and organisations want to visibly demonstrate their contribution in this area. Most likely, this trend will only become more pronounced in future. At the moment, although we often see international companies announcing that they support tree planting, frequently this happens somewhere far away, in another country—with no clarity as to whether the trees are actually planted and growing, and if so, where,” says Carbon Less Future Board Member Aigars Jačuks.

It was precisely this lack of transparency that became the driving force behind the development of this innovative solution. The vertical growing container makes it possible to cultivate tree seedlings in a visible, transparent, and controlled environment—both for companies implementing nature restoration projects and municipalities wishing to create a practical and educational environmental demonstration object in their territory.

A fully autonomous seedling nursery

The container is not just a “greenhouse in a box”—it is a fully automated, sensor-equipped growing centre capable of operating all year-round, regardless of the season or weather conditions. It is equipped with real-time sensors for monitoring air quality, soil moisture, and airflow, and features water recirculation with minimal consumption, as well as the option to integrate solar panels for autonomous operation. Inside the container, all processes are clearly visible and can be managed via a mobile app.

Green thinking and circular economy principles are also integrated into the design of the automated nursery—the base structure is a reused, decommissioned shipping container, clad in durable thermo-wood that ensures longevity as well as natural visual appeal. One wall of the container is designed as a glass viewing window so that anybody can observe the growing process on site.

The first container is currently installed in Gulbene’s central town square, where it serves as a public environmental installation and a testing platform. Gulbene Municipality Council supported the idea by allowing the company to use space in the city centre, while the company itself covers the maintenance costs.

“Schoolchildren and kindergarten groups often gather around the container. For children, seeing seedlings growing right here in the city—seedlings that will one day become large trees—is akin to a small miracle, and clearly demonstrates the educational value of this project,” says Aigars Jačuks.

The company was founded in 2022, and its team has been working independently on product development for several years now. Aigars Jačuks, who has been involved in the project right from the outset, admits that initially neither he nor the company’s owner, Aivis Garais, had any prior knowledge about seedling cultivation or vertical growing. However, through persistence and curiosity, they gradually acquired all the necessary expertise by visiting the Silava Forestry Research Institute, the Bulduri Horticultural Secondary School, consulting industry specialists, and experimenting with various technical solutions.

“We started with an air conditioner and a couple of shelves, and gradually experimented with the solution. The ventilation and irrigation systems were adjusted multiple times to improve the microclimate and achieve better seedling growth results,” recalls Jačuks.

When the product’s demanding technical development phase was nearing completion, the company decided last year to join the Gulbene representative office of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) and receive incubation support. As a result, the company has made use of mentoring opportunities and received support for accounting services and office space. The team views participation in the representative office not only as support for today, but also as an important foundation for the future—especially when production commences and the first orders need to be fulfilled, at which time investment in raw materials and technological equipment will be required.

Focus on exports

Latvia is a country rich in forests, and the domestic market for this type of solution is limited, because state forests already supply enormous quantities of seedlings. As a result, the company is increasingly focusing on exports. It has identified particularly strong potential in the Middle East, where dry climates and water scarcity create demand for efficient, resource-saving greening solutions. This autumn, with the support of LIAA, Carbon Less Future took part in an exhibition in Dubai, where it gained valuable contacts and the strong interest in such a solution was confirmed.

At present, the company is simultaneously continuing market research, attracting its first clients, and further developing the technology. Active work is underway to integrate AI—a camera system will analyse seedling development and automatically detect defects, further reducing human involvement and improving cultivation precision.

Tell us about a mistake