March 2023
![UCS_PharmSpee](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/UCS_PharmSpee.jpg)
Public Launch of PharmSpee by Fast Company
Launch of PharmSpee platform to address needs in plant molecular farming, which earned #4 feature in Fast Company’s List of Most Innovative Companies.
February 2023
![UCS_Project-Manager-eshop](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/UCS_Project-Manager-eshop.jpg)
Launch of E-shop for 24/7 Support
E-shop launch to better support new and existing customers in the day-to-day and long-term operation of their businesses. Read full press release here.
November 2022
![UCS_Middle-East-project](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/UCS_Middle-East-project-1024x647.jpg)
Middle East Project for Local Food Production
Building and starting-up first ModuleX project in the Middle East for the production of fresh and local food. Read more here.
September 2022
![UCS_PTI_Kortrijk-students-in-training](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/UCS_PTI_Kortrijk-students-in-training.jpg)
Training Scheme with Local School
Indoor farm supplied to, and training scheme launched with local school, PTI Kortrijk (Provincial Technical Institute). Read full press release here.
August 2022
![UCS_Siemens-Financial-Services](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/UCS_Siemens-Financial-Services.jpeg)
Leasing Solutions with Siemens Financial Services
Agreement with Siemens Financial Services (SFS), enabling customers to seek financing options from SFS. Read full press release here.
March 2022
![UCS_DaRos-automation-equipment](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/UCS_DaRos-automation-equipment-1024x647.jpg)
Distribution of Peripheral Equipment
Partnerships signed with global suppliers of horticulture and nursery equipment, further expanding end-to-end offering to include additional automation.
January 2022
![sdg-award-eu-tech-chamber](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/sdg-award-eu-tech-chamber-1024x648.jpg)
Recipient of SDG Award
SDG Award from EU Tech Chamber for contribution to sustainable cities and communities. Read full press release here.
August 2021
![best-in-class-award-coe](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/best-in-class-award-coe-1024x647.jpg)
‘Best-in-Class’ Award
‘Best-in-Class’ award for production systems by the Center of Excellence for Indoor Agriculture. Read full press release here.
August 2021
![singapore-research-centre](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/singapore-research-centre.jpg)
Singapore University Project
Building indoor climate precision growth chambers for Singapore University research centre. Read full press release here.
June 2021
![spacebakery-glex-award](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/spacebakery-glex-award.jpg)
SpaceBakery Wins First Place
SpaceBakery wins first place at the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX) in St. Petersburg. Read full press release here.
April 2021
![ikea-modulex-malmo](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/ikea-modulex-malmo.jpg)
IKEA Operates ModuleX
IKEA launches their second pilot project, and starts operation of ModuleX from their car park in Sweden.
September 2020
![SONY DSC](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/ModuleX-HR_edited-1024x648.jpg)
Launch of ModuleX Plant Factory
Launch of the ModuleX, the second-generation plant factory. Watch full launch webinar here.
March 2020
![research-centre-launch](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/research-centre-launch-1024x647.jpg)
Launch of Research Centre
Launch of state-of-the-art research centre at UCS headquarters in Belgium, composed of multiple controlled environment growth chambers. Learn more here.
January 2020
![spacebakery-project](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/spacebakery-project.jpg)
Launch of SpaceBakery Project
Joining SpaceBakery consortium to investigate growing wheat on Mars, and to further improving its environmental footprint with the efficient use of energy.
October 2019
![eit-food-membership](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/eit-food-membership.jpg)
EIT Food Membership
Membership to EIT Food, Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), established by the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT).
November 2018
![presentation-heads-states](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/presentation-heads-states.jpg)
Presentation to Heads of States
UCS technology presented to Belgian King, French President, Belgian Prime Minister, and Minister-President of Flanders.
April 2018
![plant-biology-milestone](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/plant-biology-milestone.jpg)
Indoor Plant Biology Milestone
Research milestone of over 200 cultivars tested. Read more, and see all recipes and yields in the UCS Crop Guide.
December 2017
![foodnexus-award](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/foodnexus-award.jpg)
FoodNexus Innovation Award
FoodNexus Innovation award for most promising company in the Belgian agri-food industry. Read more.
September 2017
![tedx-talk](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/tedx-talk.jpg)
TEDx Talk
Maarten Vandecruys gives TEDx Talk on climate change, sustainable food sourcing, and vertical farming.
June 2017
![collab-albert-heijn](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/collab-albert-heijn.jpg)
Collaboration with Albert Heijn
Start of collaboration with Ahold Delhaize (Albert Heijn) and Bakker Barendrecht with a FarmFlex in the Netherlands.
October 2016
![banana-nursery](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/banana-nursery.jpg)
Banana Nursery
Sale of first growing system to KU Leuven University, Belgium, for research on new banana cultivars.
June 2016
![factory-showcase-greentech](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/factory-showcase-greentech.jpg)
Factory Showcase at GreenTech
Showcasing UCS technology by installing a FarmPro at the GreenTech trade shows in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
May 2016
![gault-millau-award](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/gault-millau-award.jpg)
Gault&Millau Award
First Product Award at the Gault & Millau’s Culinary Innovators Awards. See full awards list here.
February 2016
![plant-factory-opening](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/plant-factory-opening-1024x647.jpg)
UCS Plant Factory Opening
Opening of largest automated R&D plant factory in Europe by Geert Bourgeois, the Minister-President of Flanders.
June 2015
![biological-breakthrough](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/biological-breakthrough.jpg)
Biological Breakthrough
Initial biological results show a breakthrough in the yields of crops. Analyses by external labs show an increase of minerals and vitamins in the crops grown in UCS systems.
November 2014
![ucs-launched](https://urbancropsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/ucs-launched.jpg)
Urban Crop Solutions Launch
Urban Crop Solutions is officially founded in Waregem, Belgium by Maarten Vandecruys and Frederic Bulcaen. Start of biological research in the test lab.