Underground Farms at Seoul Subway Stations

The Future of Farming Is Already Here: Inside Seoul’s Underground Smart Farms

“The future has already arrived!” - that’s the first thought many readers will have when they see these images. And while the photos may look almost unreal, we can assure you: everything you see exists today, not in 2050, but right now.
Welcome to Seoul’s underground vertical farms, a real-world example of what urban agriculture can look like in the cities of the future - including those in India, Africa and the Middle East.

Deep beneath the streets of Seoul, fresh vegetables are being grown directly inside metro stations thanks to a partnership between the Seoul Subway system and the agri-tech startup Farm8. The subway leases unused underground spaces, while Farm8 - with nearly 300 employees - grows, harvests and supplies premium-quality hydroponic greens to retailers and restaurants across the city.

The company is also piloting “farm cafés” at three metro stations, with plans to expand and export long-shelf-life produce, such as peppers, to Japan.

What Do These Futuristic Farms Look Like?

Arriving at Sangdo Station on Line 7, commuters walk past a glass-walled, glowing green room filled with healthy hydroponic vegetables - all thriving meters below ground. Nearby, a small café serves juices and salads made from greens grown just a few steps away. What was once dead space in the metro has become a living, productive ecosystem.

This concept may be unusual for countries like India or many African regions, but in Seoul, large metro stations often include shopping areas. However, retail demand doesn’t cover every corner. Farm8 saw the opportunity: unused, climate-stable underground spaces are perfect for controlled-environment agriculture.
Both sides win — metro stations gain prestige and innovation, and Farm8 runs a profitable, scalable business. A small educational zone near the café even teaches children about modern agriculture and food security.

How the Underground Smart Farm Works

The farm covers around 200 m², with nearly 30 crop varieties grown on 4-meter-high vertical racks - including lettuce, basil and edible flowers. The daily yield is around 30 kg, all used for café salads and fresh juices (priced at 5,900 won / 3,000 won ). Any extra greens are sold to nearby restaurants.

There is no sunlight and no soil involved. Every plant grows in hydroponic trays, illuminated by energy-efficient LED lights. Environmental conditions - light, humidity, temperature, nutrients - are monitored and adjusted by AI-powered robots.
This system allows the farm to grow vegetables twice as fast as traditional agriculture.

According to Farm8, LED-powered hydroponics are 40 times more productive per square meter than outdoor farming - a key advantage for land-scarce regions, megacities and countries facing climate stress. Demand is rising quickly, especially from health-conscious consumers concerned about air pollution and the quality of open-field vegetables.

Advantages and Challenges of Vertical Farming

Vertical farming offers major benefits:

• up to 90% less water consumption

• stable production regardless of weather

• reduced emissions from transport, plowing, irrigation and machinery

• pesticide-free, clean and traceable produce

• year-round availability

But it comes with challenges:

• high energy use

• need for continuous lighting (12–16 hours per day)

• heating during winter

• higher operational costs than traditional field farming

Many vertical farms are now turning to solar energy to reduce carbon emissions and make the business model more affordable — especially in India, Africa and the Middle East, where sunlight is abundant.

Why the World Needs Innovations Like This

Climate change is already affecting global food systems. Recent years have brought devastating floods, cyclones and droughts that caused billions of dollars in agricultural losses. Soil in many regions will take decades to recover.

Meanwhile:

• 2.5 billion people depend on agriculture for income

• groundwater depletion is accelerating

• rainfall patterns are becoming unpredictable

• food security is a growing challenge across Asia, Africa and the Gulf

Urban vertical farming offers a climate-resilient solution that brings food production closer to consumers, reduces transport losses and creates stable year-round supply chains.

Farm8’s experiment is not just about business — it is a message to the world: cities must learn to grow their own food, even underground.

Interested in High-Tech Storage or Smart Farming Solutions?

Our specialists design advanced vegetable stores, climate-controlled facilities and post-harvest systems tailored for India, Africa and the Middle East.

📞 Call: +971 50 437 7119
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