Harvest London and Crate to Plate deploy Ani software platform under DEFRA’s ADOPT programme to connect customer orders directly to growing decisions
London, 7th July 2026 – Harvest London and Crate to Plate have been awarded funding through DEFRA’s ADOPT programme to deploy Ani, a production planning platform developed by Harvest London that connects confirmed customer orders to crop scheduling in real time.
ADOPT, which promotes collaborative practice and knowledge-sharing across the UK agriculture sector, has backed the project as a model for how smaller controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operators can improve operational efficiency and resilience through shared technology. The deployment is running across Harvest London’s Canada Water and Lea Bridge facilities and Crate to Plate’s operation in Canary Wharf.
Most vertical farms plan production against forecasts. Ani works backwards from confirmed orders, using operational data to determine what to plant, when to plant it, and how to manage growth cycles to meet delivery commitments. The platform integrates with existing farm management databases and generates automated recommendations for planting schedules and crop allocation. Waste is reduced and working capital requirements are lower, with early estimates pointing to resource savings of around 10% across operations.
Chris Davies, CEO of Harvest London, said: “Linking demand signals directly to production planning represents a major step toward more responsive and efficient food systems. At Harvest London, we are delighted to be at the forefront of innovation in Vertical Farming.”
Daniel Tristao, CEO of Crate to Plate, said: “By implementing the ANI software package, we hope to be able to streamline operations, grow profits and improve our sustainability. Cooperation on best practice is the way forward for all Controlled Environment Agriculture and being part of DEFRA’s ADOPT programme is an important part of that work.”
Ani is system-agnostic and is being developed for wider deployment across the CEA sector. Access to reliable production planning tools has been a limiting factor for smaller operators and ADOPT funding will enable findings from the deployment to be shared across the UK agriculture industry.
About Harvest London
Harvest London has been growing fresh herbs and salads for London’s restaurants and food businesses since 2017, operating two sites and supplying customers including Pizza Pilgrims, Compass Group, and Ole & Steen. The latest site, The Plant Room, opened in April 2025 inside Corner Corner at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, and it’s the largest commercial indoor vertical farm in London. Housed in a fully glazed enclosure, it produces 20 to 30 tonnes of pesticide-free greens and herbs each year for restaurants across the city, while giving anyone walking past a direct view of the growing systems at work.
About Crate to Plate
Crate to Plate Ltd (CtP) is a London-based urban farming startup founded in 2019. Led by Daniel Tristao, CtP operates container-based, hydroponic vertical farms in Central London, with sites in Canary Wharf, Elephant & Castle and Stratford. Their technology allows pesticide-free, non-GMO leafy greens and mushrooms to be sustainably grown all year and delivered locally within 24 hours of harvest. They serve both consumers via home-delivery boxes and wholesale clients including restaurants and high-end grocery stores
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