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A Bristol company is hoping to help rehabilitate º£½ÇÊÓƵ prisoners by teaching them about indoor farming methods as part of a new trial.

Lettus Grow, which was founded by a trio of University of Bristol graduates in 2015, has developed a ‘vertical’ system to grow produce suspended in air using a mist to deliver nutrients.

The company, which secured £2.3m in 2020 to develop its game-changing tech, will be introducing its farming methods to HM Prison Hewell in Worcestershire as part of the government-back scheme.

Inmates will be introduced to indoor farming practices and will be trained in horticulture, with the aim of helping them secure full-time employment on release from prison.

Co-founder Charlie Guy, who set up the business with Ben Crowther and Jack Farmer, said he was “excited” to be involved in a project.

“In the first half of this year alone, an estimated £22m worth of fruit and vegetables has been wasted directly because of workforce shortages in agriculture,” he said.

“Unlike typical agricultural work, indoor farming employment is much more stable as it's year-round and not ruled by the seasons. It's a unique development activity for prisoners, providing an introduction to an industry where there are good opportunities for career development, whilst contributing to their own food production in the prison as well.”

The main purpose of the farm is training rather than food production. The salad, vegetables and herbs produced in the container farm, which has already arrived at the prison, will be incorporated into prisoner meals.