Edenworks Touts Results From Growing With Ecology Instead Of Chemicals
Oct 30, 2018
Edenworks Touts Results From Growing With Ecology Instead Of Chemicals
Edenworks micro kale. Leafy greens are grown in a proprietary growing media designed to host a wide range of beneficial bacteria, improving plant health from the roots up. Plants are fertilized from under their roots with fertilizer from fish. Plants are grown in a controlled environment, lit by energy efficient LEDs.EDENWORKS
Jason Green, the aptly named CEO of Edenworks, says too many articles on the growth of the indoor farming industry are missing its "most exciting aspect." That is, the ability to achieve new levels of plant health through ecology rather than chemicals.
Edenworks grows produce and fish in aquaponic ecosystems. The company is based in Brooklyn, New York. When Forbes caught up with Green in 2017 for a "30 Under 30" feature, he and cofounder Matt LaRosa had plans to expand by the end of 2018, moving to a space 40 times larger while rolling out five more product lines across the New York City area.
Those type of plans are still in the works, but the company has been growing in other ways during the past year: Shifting its focus from the plant to the microbe after a bout with root rot fungus. And Green says they've unlocked ways to virtually eliminate diseases in plants while increasing yields and using less fertilizer.
Edenworks cofounders. From left: Ben Silverman, Matt LaRosa, Jason Green. Behind them is a vertical farming system. Plants are grown in vertically stacked shelves.HEIDI LEE
Edenworks supplies greens to Whole Foods and other select grocers in Brooklyn. The plants are grown with nutrients provided by the waste from farmed fish. Edenworks has plans to commercially sell the fish, striped bass, later on, followed by shrimp and salmon.