This is an exciting new program being led by the S.C. Department of Corrections and South Carolina-based AmplifiedAg, Inc. with our support.

The legislature has approved construction of a vertical farming facility and training program at Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution, a women’s prison located in Columbia.

This will be the first vertical farm in the United States to be located at a correctional institution.

It will provide incarcerated individuals with real world experience and career training in the fields of vertical farming and agricultural technology.

The farm will supply fresh, healthy lettuce – estimated to produce 48,000 pounds of lettuce per year – to the institution’s cafeteria and food program.

The $1.2 million project received approval for $350,000 in state funds from the State Fiscal Accountability Authority. The remainder is coming from private donations.

The farm facility will consist of eight total farming modules; four modules for growing lettuce, and four support modules for food processing, logistics, and food safety checkpoints.

South Carolina is on the cutting edge of agriculture innovation, and this initiative shows it.