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Gardyn Aims To Make At-Home Vertical Farming Small, Simple, and Stylish
Thanks to disruptions in the food supply chain, panic-buying sprees, and the general uncertainty of the times, growing food at home seems like a pretty good idea of late
Thanks to disruptions in the food supply chain, panic-buying sprees, and the general uncertainty of the times, growing food at home seems like a pretty good idea of late. Trouble is, many consumers don’t have the know-how to cultivate their own leafy greens and other produce in the backyard. Even those who do often lack adequate space.
A company called Gardyn is addressing both of those issues with an at-home vertical farming system that requires minimal input from the user and can easily fit inside a small apartment if need be. The idea, as Gardyn founder and CEO FX Rouxel explained to me over the phone last week, is to make growing food in one’s own home as simple and straightforward as possible. To do that, the company has built a farm that relies on AI to do much of the heavy lifting in terms of monitoring and maintaining an edible crop of food. Or as Rouxel said, “The system is managing everything for you.”
Gardyn’s system is made up of two parts: a compact vertical tower, which can grow as many as 30 plants, and an accompanying app powered by an AI assistant named “Kelby.” Users only have to order seeds and “plug” the seedpods into the vertical towers. The system automatically circulates water and nutrients to the plants, while Kelby monitors plant growth and sends reminders when it’s time to add water to the garden or harvest the plants.
Right now, available crops from Gardyn’s site include mostly leafy greens and herbs, some flowers, cherry tomatoes, and jalapeños. Customers can also use their own seeds if preferred.
The system uses what Rouxel calls “a hybrid of different hydroponic technologies,” including the deepwater method and aeroponics. (The company brands its approach as “hybriponics.”) By themselves, these different methods have certain limitations in the at-home setting. Deep water, where plant roots are fully submerged in nutrient-enriched water, requires a lot of space. Aeroponics is a great setup for outdoors, but once indoors it requires lighting, which gets expensive very quickly. Gardyn pulled elements from both to create a system that takes up only two square feet of space and doesn’t require any extra hardware. “Within just two square feet, you can produce a lot of food,” says Rouxel, adding that Gardyn’s units have produced “over 25,000 pounds of produce” during the last few months.
That quest to grow a lot of leafy greens in a small amount of space is an area with plenty of competition these days. Farmshelf recently unveiled its first-ever farm for the home, and companies like Rise Gardens and Agrilution (the latter recently bought by Miele) also offer promising solutions for the consumer space.
And while historically, investment in vertical farming has mainly gone towards the industrial-scale indoor farms (think AeroFarms), at-home farms are fast becoming a lucrative area. Investors, Rouxel explained to me, see traditional agriculture as a risky business that’s less insurable because its success is in part dependent on the weather outside. With climate change triggering more extreme weather, investors will look more and more to alternative solutions in controlled-environment agriculture.
“I am absolutely convinced we are going to see in the coming two years a total disruption in the way we grow things,” he says. Chiefly, that will be growing the food in much closer proximity to consumers, whether through at-home systems like Gardyn’s, in-store farms at grocery retailers, rooftop gardens, and high-tech greenhouses. “In future, we’re going to have a spectrum of solutions,” Rouxel noted.
Getting these vertical farms closer to consumers and in their own homes will require bringing the price of the machines down. At the moment, Gardyn’s system is roughly on par pricewise with other systems out there that can realistically feed a family of four: $799 for the base model all the way up to $1485 for the “Plus” model.
Rouxel is aware that the cost is still too high for many consumers. “We don’t want this to be only for well-off people,” he told me. “It’s important that we find ways that anyone can afford this.”
Many companies, including Gardyn, offer financing options on their farms now. And more investment dollars going into the space in the future could mean companies have the time and space to innovate on ways to make their system cheaper for the average consumer.
While pricing remains a question, one thing that’s certain is that at-home vertical farming is on the path to becoming a regular part of the kitchen, rather than just a trend. “What we want is to develop solutions that will quickly change the way people access food,” said Rouxel. “We won’t solve everything, that’s for sure, but we want to be part of the solution for how we shape food.”
FILED UNDER: AG TECH BUSINESS OF FOOD EDUCATION & DISCOVERY FEATURED FOODTECH
Amazon’s Alexa Fund Invests In At-Home Vertical Farming Company Rise Gardens
Rise Gardens announced today it has received an investment from the Amazon Alexa Fund that builds upon a $2.6M seed round Rise closed in May. The amount invested by the Amazon Alexa Fund was not disclosed
Rise Gardens announced today it has received an investment from the Amazon Alexa Fund that builds upon a $2.6M seed round Rise closed in May. The amount invested by the Amazon Alexa Fund was not disclosed.
According to a press release sent to The Spoon, the deal is both a collaboration and a cash investment that will “fuel new products, accessories and further R+D” for Rise Gardens.
The Chicago-based Rise is best known for its standalone console (roughly the size of a standard bookcase) that contains a hydroponic grow system for consumers at home. The system does most of the hard work—calculating nutrition and pH levels, knowing when and how much to water the plants—for the user, whom it notifies via a corresponding app.
Rise’s system is also modular, so it can be added to or subtracted from over time depending on how many greens your household consumes each week. Users can also grow beets and tomatoes in addition to leafy greens and herbs.
Rise raised $2.6 million in seed funding earlier this year; Amazon’s new investment is an extension of this seed funding, according to today’s press release.
Amazon’s investment in Rise sounds promising, not just for the company but for the entire vertical farming sector. To start, Rise CEO and founder Hank Adams hinted today at Alexa functionality for the Rise system: “Collaborating with the Alexa Fund will better enable us to integrate our smart, connected garden with Alexa, making indoor gardening even easier. We are also excited about the opportunity to work with Amazon to evolve and expand how we reach consumers with our device and consumables business concept,” he said. The details of that Alexa integration are scant as of now, but one imagines being able to ask Alexa about your plant’s pH levels or tell the speaker to adjust the light mixture. On the flip, Rise could notify users via Alexa when it’s time to water the plants.
There’s no question that consumer-grade vertical farms are still a pretty niche product right now since many of them cost more than the average person can easily afford. (Rise’s single unit console starts at $549.) But the pandemic and accompanying disruptions to the food supply chain have undoubtedly increased folks’ desire to control more of what they eat, which has led to an influx of new devices. From Gardyn’s stylish take on at-home farming to consumer electronics companies like LG building them into the kitchen, vertical farming is definitely making its way into the home.
Amazon, of course, wants to control your entire home, including your kitchen, so it’s not surprising the Seattle tech giant would partner making at-home vertical farming products. As well, the company has made forays into the gardening space before, like this patent from 2017. Amazon knowing what types of plants you are growing can fuel its selling machine to recommend recipes and other groceries.
Like it or not, Amazon’s moves in food tech tend to influence others, which means the collaborations and products that come out of the Rise partnership will influence the future of at-home vertical farming for everyone
Filed Under: AG TECH BUSINESS OF FOOD CONNECTED KITCHEN FEATURED FOODTECH FUNDING SMART GARDEN VERTICAL FARMING
VIDEO: “Everyone Can Become A City Farmer”: Interview With iFarm’s Co-Founder And CEO Max Chizhov
If you’re interested in agtech and the future of food but also in having a positive social impact, reducing our carbon footprint, or how to build a solid team in a startup, you’ll find some good advice from Max
October 13, 2020
Today’s agricultural models have shown their limits in terms of their impact on the environment, biodiversity, and production. In a bid to reduce pollution, biodiversity loss, and shrinking yields, one solution presented has been ‘vertical farming’, otherwise known as growing crops in vertically stacked layers, and in a controlled environment.
We recently caught up with Max Chizhov, co-founder and CEO of Helsinki-based iFarm, a startup founded in 2017 that are providing ‘plug&play’ automated vertical farms for stores, restaurants, warehouses, and even homes. We asked him a few questions about things that matter when you’re an entrepreneur and leading your company to grow.
If you’re interested in agtech and the future of food but also in having a positive social impact, reducing our carbon footprint, or how to build a solid team in a startup, you’ll find some good advice from Max down below.
Hello Max, thank you for being with us today. Could you please give us a short overview about how you became an entrepreneur as well as why you founded iFarm?
In 2017, I was looking for a project that, on the one hand, would be interesting for me from a professional point of view, and on the other, bring tangible benefits to the society. I already had experience in the technological field, that is why I focused on that area. At that time, I also met Alex Lyskovsky, who had just finished a course at a culinary school in France. That experience left him wondering whether it was possible to grow high-quality vegetables all year round, regardless of climate conditions and with the least environmental impact, ideally making profit. His story resonated with me, so I researched the topic thoroughly and realized that that was something I really wanted to do — that’s how iFarm was born.
iFarm is based in Vantaa, Finland. What is your opinion on the environment for creating a tech company there?
Finland offers a favorable environment for tech startups that care about the social side of business as much as the profits. It has a strong community of tech entrepreneurs, an excellent networking base, and government support.
iFarm has announced recently an approx. €3.6 million seed investment. What are your future plans with such capital?
The company will use the funding to develop our iFarm Growtune IT platform that enables operations of multiple varieties of vertical farms and quadrupling the number of plants available to iFarm’s tech. In addition, iFarm will be optimizing its automated production lines to reduce labor costs and complete experiments with growing strawberries, cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers, radish, and other crops.
We are also currently preparing for Series A round, which will take place in Q4’2020 – Q1’2021. Next year we are planning to expand our presence in Northwest and Central Europe and the Middle East.
This news comes amidst great uncertainties with COVID-19. Has the pandemic impacted your activities and priorities as a company?
Over the last few years, the overall trend in agriculture has been to localize production. This is due to the high rates of urbanization, growth of population, and in 2020 the additional impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the quarantine following it that made the problems of long supply chains and food security even more obvious.
Such conditions make growing vegetables, berries, and greens in the immediate vicinity of the consumer a necessity. Countries have begun to think strategically about food security issues, which brought us several large customers.
From the point of view of organizing teamwork, we did not face any difficulties. Even before the pandemic, we had been building processes and implementing tools for smooth work of an effective remote team.
Since 2017, your team has grown to over 20 people. What tips would you give to someone who wants to build a solid team?
Create a welcoming atmosphere and avoid strict hierarchies. At iFarm, every employee has the opportunity to contact the founders, ask any question, or come up with a proposal. This does not require full control over tasks and is based on the trust and professionalism of each team member. Top management is to come to the rescue when necessary and prioritize a large pool of operational issues. This increases the level of employee motivation and loyalty, that is how we manage to achieve our goals and to meet deadlines, while maintaining high quality.
Hire people that share your company’s mission and values, are independent and self-organized. We allow for mistakes to take place, they can happen and it is part of the process. Reflecting on these mistakes, understanding their essence and cause helps employees to become stronger and more confident, and to avoid them in the future.
In your opinion what makes iFarm stand out from the competition?
iFarm provides a turnkey solution, so our clients do not need to have special knowledge — everyone can become a city farmer and produce crops for sale; traditional agricultural productions will be able to modernize their capacities, and such businesses as HoReCa, retail and food manufacturers will receive a technological solution that ensures uninterrupted supply of ingredients for their dishes and goods.
Another important advantage of iFarm is the range of crops that can be grown using our technology, while most vertical farms in the world produce the same salads and greens, which is often criticized in the market.
What is it like to tackle such an important issue as food and agriculture?
That is a great challenge and a great responsibility. On the one hand, we want to ensure access to healthy and high-quality food for as many people in the world as possible, on the other hand, we want to conserve the natural resources of our planet and minimize our carbon footprint. Thus, creating iFarm technology, we are always guided by these principles when making decisions that affect this result.
What is your advice to young entrepreneurs looking to kick off their own agtech company?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, set ambitious goals, work in a team, and remember to delegate.
In Partnership With Whole Cities Foundation - GrowGeneration to Donate Hydroponic Growing Systems to Urban Farms And Nonprofits
GrowGeneration Corp. announced its partnership with Whole Cities Foundation. Founded by Whole Foods Market in 2014, the independent, nonprofit organization is based in Austin, Texas, and has partnered with more than 190 community organizations in 100 cities across the U.S. to build thriving local food systems and improve health
GrowGeneration Corp. announced its partnership with Whole Cities Foundation. Founded by Whole Foods Market in 2014, the independent, nonprofit organization is based in Austin, Texas, and has partnered with more than 190 community organizations in 100 cities across the U.S. to build thriving local food systems and improve health.
The first projects to receive GrowGeneration support will be Newark Science & Sustainability and Greater Newark Conservancy, both recipients of the Whole Cities Foundation Fresh, Health Food Access grant. Both organizations have identified hydroponic growing as a goal for their community plans. Each group will benefit from an equipment grant. These two projects are part of a pilot that we expect will yield learnings over the course of the next year. GrowGen will provide equipment and expertise and partner with Whole Cities to evaluate community impact.
"Whole Cities Foundation is proud to partner with GrowGeneration, supplier of hydroponic equipment to 1000's of cultivators and growers, to support two locally-led Newark organizations in their efforts to increase production of food grown for their community members – hydroponically, said Nona Evans, Executive Director for Whole Cities Foundation. "The company and its team of experts provide support to growers across the nation. As the company expands, the GrowGen team is focused on ways they can use their knowledge and equipment to give back to communities focused on improving healthy food access."
Darren Lampert, GrowGeneration CEO stated, "As we have built a national chain of hydroponic garden centers, it has always been our mission to give back to the local communities. In our day to day operations, we see the results from growing hydroponically. We could not be prouder to partner with Whole Cities Foundation to donate hydroponic equipment and supplies to their community partners to support their gardens and increase access to fresh, healthy food."
"Our staff of over 250 dedicated team members, who have tremendous knowledge on growing hydroponically, are energized to lend a hand and their personal time to support Whole Cities Foundation. There is nothing more rewarding than participating with a community committed to growing its own food! Newark, NJ with its long history of urban agriculture is a great place to begin our partnership. We look forward to celebrating their first harvest together."
For more information:
GrowGenerationwww.growgeneration.com
Whole Cities Foundation
www.wholecitiesfoundation.org
Publication date: Fri 14 Aug 2020
VIDEO: Growing Healthy Food Indoors
How many of us live in apartments or townhomes and long for a big backyard to start a garden?
How Many of us Live in Apartments or
Townhomes And long For a Big Backyard to Start a Garden?
Well with new technology, indoor herb growers give anyone the chance to grow their own food. You don't even need a backyard anymore to grow healthy foods.
Now, you can do it all from the comfort of your home. In this article, we're going to talk about our favorite indoor herb grower right now and why you should try it for yourself!
Read more
US: South Carolina - Vertical Roots Hits The Road In Their Lettuce Localmotive, Spreading The Good Word of Hydroponics
The hydroponic growing system is simple - nutrient-filled water replaces traditional soil in order to grow the plant, and for the first time since we started tilling land farmers can grow crops without the soil beneath their feet
The technology of planting crops has revolutionized over the years.
The hydroponic growing system is simple — nutrient-filled water replaces traditional soil in order to grow the plant, and for the first time since we started tilling land, farmers can grow crops without the soil beneath their feet.
Hydroponic container grower Vertical Roots is taking one of their shipping container farms on the road — they're hitting the streets with the Lettuce Localmotive, teaching people about the process of growing lettuce. They'll be making stops at Publix and Greenwise Markets across the country.
RELATED Tiger Corner Farms produces full-scale, aeroponic crops in recycled shipping containers: The Future of Farming
Unlike traditional farms, the Vertical Roots' containers grow plants vertically indoors without soil, with the plants obtaining all their nutrition from water and their light energy from powerful LED lights.
During tour stops, guests will get a hands-on experience with seeding lettuce, learn how technology manages the growing process, and get schooled about all the benefits of this alternative way of farming.
The first stop of the tour is at Vertical Root's home base — Charleston. Check them out at the Daniel Island Publix this Sat. Feb. 15 from 10 a.m.-4p.m.
Elevate Farms Inc.: Tech-Based Vertical Farming Company Completes Capital Funding to Scale Operations and Secure IP
A tech-based vertical farming company focused on cost-effectively growing leafy green vegetables at mass scale, Elevate Farms Inc. (“Elevate Farms”) is pleased to announce the closing of a $1.8M funding led by Brightspark Ventures
By urbanagnews
February 14, 2020
PRESS RELEASE – Toronto, CANADA / A tech-based vertical farming company focused on cost-effectively growing leafy green vegetables at mass scale, Elevate Farms Inc. (“Elevate Farms”) is pleased to announce the closing of a $1.8M funding led by Brightspark Ventures.
Elevate Farm’s unique solution uses hydroponics and a proprietary automation system, paired with photobiology, to grow high-quality leafy greens (such as arugula, kale, and basil) in a climate-controlled environment.
Elevate Farms’ system aims to deliver a product that is larger, tastes better and has higher nutritional content than traditionally-grown leafy greens – all at a lower cost. The produce grown by Elevate Farms also has the benefit of being local, completely non-GMO, as well as pesticide and chemical free.
“Elevate Farms represents the next generation of indoor farming: their system solves some of the biggest problems the first wave of vertical farms experienced,” says Mark Skapinker, Managing Partner at Brightspark Ventures. He continued, “their edge is their ability to cost-effectively create a tasty and nutritious product – and grow it at a mass-market scale. We invested because we saw meaningful potential, being a team of world-leading experts that can execute, proven technology, and true science being applied into a massive marketplace.”
Elevate Farms is the first to commercially implement an automated climate-controlled environment for plant-production that utilizes far less labor than other indoor farms.
Amin Jadavji, Elevate Farm’s CEO stated: “With the new funding, the company is now ready to scale significantly. This financing will allow us to execute on our currently secured flagship facilities in New Jersey and Niagara, each projected to produce in excess of one-million pounds of leafy greens annually.” Mr. Jadavji continued: “The funding will also fuel our plans to scale the business, grow our team, build and secure new and existing IP, prepare for business partnership opportunities, as well as finalize initial major orders and operational financing.”
Travis Kanellos, Elevate Farm’s Chief Strategy Officer added: “This is a major milestone for our North American operations. It also allows us to forge ahead on our global partnerships, as well as execute our global plan to build out facilities internationally over the next 12-months.”
ABOUT ELEVATE FARMS
Elevate Farms Inc., previously operating corporately as Intravision Greens Inc., is a technology-driven vertically-stacked indoor farming enterprise focused on a mass scale and cost-effective operations with patent secured and patent-pending technology as well as over a decade of advanced photobiology research deployed.
ABOUT BRIGHTSPARK VENTURES
Brightspark is one of Canada’s top-performing venture capital firms, actively investing in exceptional entrepreneurs since 1999. We provide growth capital and expertise to disruptive, market-transforming Canadian tech companies in seed to growth stages. Since inception, Brightspark has invested across traditional VC Funds, and more recently under an investment model open to individual and non-institutional investors.
A.G. Kawamura Joins Board of Indoor Growing Tech Company
“A.G.’s extensive expertise in innovative farming and sustainable agriculture will be invaluable to the Agt3 Holdings Board,” CEO Ed Horton said in the release
February 7, 2020
Agt3 Holdings, a Laguna Niguel, Calif., indoor vertical growing technology company, has appointed former California Secretary of Agriculture A.G. Kawamura to its board.
Kawamura, who led the California Department of Food and Agriculture from 2003-10, is a founding member of Orange County Produce. The Agt3 Holdings board is made of agriculture industry leaders with “unparalleled experience and expertise in sustainable, economically strong urban farming,” according to a news release.
“A.G.’s extensive expertise in innovative farming and sustainable agriculture will be invaluable to the Agt3 Holdings Board,” CEO Ed Horton said in the release.
Kawamura is involved in numerous agriculture groups and is a co-chairman of Solutions From the Land, a member of AGree Initiatives’ Ag Advisory Committee, a member of the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, a Western Growers board member, a member of the advisory committee for the Agricultural Sustainability Institute at the University of California-Davis, and a trustee for the Council on Agriculture, Science, and Technology.“
With the rapid expansion of urban agriculture, innovative vertical farms like Agt3 Holdings offer a solution to the changing landscape,” Kawamura said in the release. “I look forward to collaborating with Ag t3 Holdings and its board of like-minded visionaries.”
Lead Photo and logo courtesy Agt3 Holdings; graphic by Amelia Freidline )
Related Topics: Greenhouse Produce Tech
Are In-Home Vertical Farms The Next Big Appliance For Connected Kitchens?
Whether you’re contemplating your own home grow system or just curious, here’s a look at what’s available and what’s in the pipeline
A little less than a year ago, The Spoon looked at a number of hydroponic farming devices that could fit into the average person’s apartment. These were, for the most part, table-top models or units that could hang on a wall. At the time, the concept of having a grow system in your own home seemed more than a little novel.
Fast forward to now and things have changed. Putting an indoor vertical farm in the average consumer’s home isn’t yet a mainstream concept, but as more startups and major appliance-makers alike have shown over the last 12 months, the idea is making its way into the Everyman’s kitchen with more speed these days. Now, thanks to a bunch of concepts shown off at this year’s CES, suddenly the idea of having a smart farm in your kitchen doesn’t seem so novel.
Whether you’re contemplating your own home grow system or just curious, here’s a look at what’s available and what’s in the pipeline.
Aspara
If you’re like me, you have minimal space (almost none, really) in the home for adding much in the way of smart farming systems. Aspara’s hydroponic growing device could potentially solve that problem because it’s small — 14 inches high and 21 inches wide — and could reasonably fit on a countertop, shelf, or even on top of the refrigerator. The system uses a combination of LEDs, an auto-watering feature, and sensors that detect nutrient levels, humidity and air, and other factors to create the optimal grow “recipe” for the plants.
After a user does the initial planting of the seeds, the Aspara app manages most of the grow process, notifying the user when it’s time to refill the water tank and harvest the plants. It also includes tips and recipes for growing and lets you monitor multiple Aspara farms at the same time.
The device is currently available in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the U.S. through online retailers. For U.S. buyers, the device currently goes for $259.99 on Amazon for just the machine and $339.99 with a starter seed kit included.
Rise Gardens
Chicago, IL startup Rise Gardens is one of those companies aiming to make a truly “plug in and go” indoor vertical farming system for the home. This one is a standalone console that can be purchased with one, two, or three “levels” for plants and weighs between 60 and 106 pounds depending on the size.
A user assembles the garden — much as you would a piece of furniture from IKEA, from the looks of it — then downloads the app, which controls the lighting and nutrients schedule and reminds the user when it’s time to water the plants. Each garden comes with a starter pack of 12 plant pods that can be inserted directly into the grow trays.
Price ranges from $549 for a single-level console to $949 for a triple.
Agrilution’s Plantcube
Not to be confused with Plantycube (see below), the Plantcube made headlines at the end of 2019 when its maker, a German company called Agrilution, was acquired by appliance-maker Miele. Less device than full-on kitchen appliance, the Plantcube automates temperature, light, climate, and water levels of the indoor vertical farm, and can be controlled from within the Agrilution app.
The appliance looks like a wine cooler and is about the same size. However, unlike a wine cooler or any of the systems listed above, the Plantcube is meant to be built directly into your kitchen cupboards or beneath a countertop. That would perhaps explain the price point: €2,979 (~$3,300 USD), a figure most consumers wouldn’t spend on an indoor farm right now. Even for those who would, the device is currently only available to those in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxemburg or the Netherlands.
Even so, the concept Plantcube pushes is one to watch. It’s entirely possible that appliances like these eventually become as common in the home kitchen as microwaves. The price point would have to come way down for that to become a reality, which is one reason we’re watching Plantcube closely in the future.
GE Home Grow
As The Spoon’s Mike Wolf wrote recently, CES 2020’s standout in the consumer kitchen was GE because, “rather than create product demos designed as show-off vehicles for new technologies, GE illustrated how these technologies could be employed in a cohesive, systematic way to provide consumers answers to some of their biggest problems.”
Among those technologies was Home Grown, GE’s indoor gardening concept that uses a combination of hydroponics, aeroponics, and soil-based grow systems that are built directly into the kitchen design. For each of the three systems, water, nutrient, and light delivery are controlled through an app, which also guides the user through the seeding and harvesting stages of the grow process.
The system also offers consumers information on the health benefits of each plant as well as how to prepare herbs and greens in meals once they are harvested.
Home Grow is purely conceptual at this stage, so there’s no price point on these systems. Like the Plantcube, however, GE is thinking bigger than the just-another-appliance concept and imagining a system that can encourage healthier eating, reduce food waste, and increase consumer education around the foods they’re eating.
Honorable Mentions
We’ve covered these in-depth already, but LG and Plantycube are also at the forefront of bringing vertical farming technology into the consumer kitchen. Both showed off products at CES this year.
LG’s forthcoming appliance is the size of a fridge and, as I wrote recently, “takes many of the functions found in commercial-scale indoor farming and applies them to a device specifically made for the average consumer.”
N.thing’s Planty Cube, meanwhile, is a highly modular indoor farming system that can be small enough to fit on a countertop or large enough to serve cafeterias at schools, offices, and other institutions.
Since things are never as simple as they seem, there are obviously still a lot of questions around these “plug-in-and-grow” systems. Will they raise consumers’ utility bills significantly? What happens if they break? Are they worth the cost if they can only grow leafy greens and not more substantial veggies, like carrots or broccoli?
Many more questions will sprout up as companies introduce new systems to the consumer market, and it’s ok that those questions won’t get answered immediately. The more important point here is that entrepreneurs and corporations both are testing new ways to make food cleaner, more local, and more in the consumer’s control. Right now, we need concepts as compact as an Aspera and as conceptual as GE’s Home Grown right now to help get us there.
Farmshelf Takes Growers From Seed to Plate
Kitchen gardens are going high-tech as the development of smart, efficient hydroponic grow systems helps both novice and experienced growers from seed to plate
Farmshelf is A Smart, Automated Farm For Hotels,
Restaurants And Corporate Cafes
BY CORRIS LITTLE ON JANUARY 15, 2020
BROOKLYN, NY—Kitchen gardens are going high-tech as the development of smart, efficient hydroponic grow systems helps both novice and experienced growers from seed to plate. One such company is Farmshelf, based here, which builds smart indoor farms that enable people to grow leafy greens, herbs and flowering crops where they live, work and eat.
“Our bookcase-sized smart, indoor farms are small enough to fit into a restaurant and powerful enough to provide pounds of fresh produce every week. Farmshelf brings the outdoors inside and grows food two to three times faster than conventional farming,” said J.P. Kyrillos, co-founder, Farmshelf.
Farmshelf’s bookcase-style growing system was invented by Andrew Shearer, Farmshelf co-founder, and CEO. He found inspiration through his passion for food, technology, engineering, and community.
“He married his years of volunteering experience to fund education in agriculture in Nicaragua’s food-insecure communities, and professional tech experience in Silicon Valley to build a tool that allows people to grow healthful, flavorful food anywhere, any time and know its source,” said Kyrillos.
As a result, the hospitality industry has taken notice. At HX: The Hotel Experience Powered by AAHOA, Farmshelf was the winner of the Best of Show award. Farmshelf has also captured the attention of hotel chefs and high-profile New York restaurateurs like Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster and Jose Andres of Mercado Little Spain, who have entered into partnerships with the company.
“They find as much value in the five to six pounds of leafy greens and herbs the units produce weekly as they do the organic marketing value,” Kyrillos said. “Our partners in the hospitality space share with us that the units add beauty to whatever space they are in. We designed Farmshelf to be eye-catching, and we often see hotel guests and diners in the restaurants that house Farmshelf taking time to really look at the unit, discover what it is and admire what it provides.”
Kyrillos also noted that the chefs at the hotels where Farmshelf is stationed regularly praise the accessibility and freshness of the produce.
“We aim to shorten the distance between farm to plate—a journey that’s often hundreds or thousands of miles—and having fresh herbs and greens right at your fingertips not only allows for speedy and easy access, it provides superior freshness,” he said.
Sustainability is a key facet of the Farmshelf business.
“Farmshelf helps minimize food waste because you know exactly how much produce you are able to harvest at any time, and no food expires in transit,” he said. “Nearly 40% or more of the food we grow in the U.S. ends up in a landfill. That equates to millions of dollars and pounds of food that could have otherwise been used. It’s a solvable problem, and we’re working to lay the building blocks to address it in a scalable way. In addition, Farmshelf uses 90% less water in comparison to traditional soil growing. By enabling you to harvest just what’s needed, Farmshelf also eliminates packaging, environmental impacts from transportation, and food waste.”
Kyrillos noted that the Farmshelf leadership team has seen firsthand the devastation that a lack of access to food causes.
“At Farmshelf, we are passionate about ensuring people have access to fresh, healthful food, anywhere and anytime,” he said. “And, while we are still a young company, we are working to scale our technology so that more people can have access to food.”
Andrew Shearer Farmshelf food waste garden Gardening HX: The Hotel Experience Hydroponic J.P. Kyrillos Sustainability
This UVA-Born Startup Is Revolutionizing The Home Farming Industry
Imagine a world where you can grow your own produce right in your kitchen. That world might be closer than we think
December 23, 2019
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Imagine a world where you can grow your own produce right in your kitchen. That world might be closer than we think.
Alexander Olesen, CEO of Babylon Micro-Farms, and his business partner Graham Smith, CTO, started exploring hydroponics in 2016 while in school at the University of Virginia in terms of its hypothetical applications to grow crops in refugee camps.
“We realized that this was an incredibly efficient way of growing crops,” Olesen said.
Upon researching into how large commercial greenhouses use this technology, Olesen and Smith began looking into how it could be used on a smaller scale. While the technology never made it into refugee camps, they started looking into practical applications in their community and researching the minimum square foot of farming space needed to feed one person, feed a family or sustain a business.
Image courtesy of Babylon Micro-Farms.
When they realized those measurements could fit into a home or business, the idea of the small vertical farming modules utilizing unique hydroponics technology that Babylon Micro-Farms creates today was born.
Named for the famed ancient Hanging Gardens, Babylon Micro-Farms produces self-contained vertical farming units that can easily fit into a home or business. The company sends weekly “meal-prep style” subscription packages of produce kits and remotely manages the units, including the airflow, irrigation, sunlight-mimicking grow lights, fertilizer mixes and pH for the acidity of the water. Customers lease the farming space on a 24-month contract, which includes an all-inclusive monthly fee.
“We’ve essentially automated the need for a green thumb,” Olesen said.
The company just this year finalized a $2.4 million seed round of fundraising from investors including CIT GAP Funds and Plug and Play Ventures, following a $600,000 pre-seed round in 2018. Additionally, Babylon received a $25,000 grant to continue their research this year from the National Science Foundation.
Grown out of UVA, the company is still based in Charlottesville but hopes to begin expanding its operations into Richmond soon. The company is focusing on building their core market in Virginia and expects to see the growth of customers in commercial food service and corporate dining.
While Olesen and Smith have ambitions to bring their farming units into the household, the business currently targets clients in industries such as institutional food service and restaurants, higher education and corporate dining. Babylon’s products are already in use at companies including Dominion Energy, Commonwealth Senior Living, and Hampton Roads Academy, to name a few.
Currently, the company has 14 employees with a heavy emphasis on software and mechanical engineering, developing their patented software platform, app, hardware product, and weekly subscriptions.
Olesen believes this is just the beginning of a booming industry, similar to the way in which solar panels have become popular for use even on residential homes.
“We’re in the infancy of an industry for fresh produce or herbs,” Olesen said. “Vertical farming is going to disrupt that industry and become the status quo given how inefficient things are today. We see what we’re doing as a sustainable infrastructure play that is going to become a necessity.”
Image courtesy of Babylon Micro-Farms
CubicFarm Systems Corp. Announces Strategic Acquisition of HydroGreen, Inc.
Vancouver, BC – (AccessWire – December 11, 2019) – CubicFarm® Systems Corp. (TSXV:CUB) (“CubicFarms” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding purchase agreement effective December 10, 2019, to acquire HydroGreen, Inc. (“HydroGreen”), an arms-length private company headquartered in South Dakota
December 11, 2019
Vancouver, BC – (AccessWire – December 11, 2019) – CubicFarm® Systems Corp. (TSXV:CUB) (“CubicFarms” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding purchase agreement effective December 10, 2019, to acquire HydroGreen, Inc. (“HydroGreen”), an arms-length private company headquartered in South Dakota (the “Acquisition”).
HydroGreen is a manufacturer of fully-automated hydroponic growing systems that produce live, green animal feed, prioritizing animal health and performance. HydroGreen’s unique process sprouts grains, such as barley and wheat, in a controlled environment with minimal use of land, labor, and water. Its system performs all growing functions including seeding, watering, lighting, harvesting, and re-seeding – all with the push of a button – to deliver animal feed without the typical investment in fertilizer, chemicals, fuel, field equipment, and transportation.
Overview of Acquisition
The Acquisition will be completed by way of a reverse triangular merger of CubicFeed Systems U.S. Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and HydroGreen, resulting in HydroGreen being renamed “of CubicFeed Systems U.S. Corp” and becoming an indirect and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The new CubicFarms subsidiary will operate the existing business of HydroGreen moving forward.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, holders of HydroGreen shares (“HydroGreen Shareholders”) will be entitled to receive an aggregate of 11,000,000 common shares of CubicFarms (the “Consideration Shares”), subject to an adjustment related to working capital. Of the Consideration Shares, 10,000,000 will be issued on closing of the Acquisition with the remaining 1,000,000 shares being issued on the six-month anniversary of closing, subject to any set-off relating to indemnification. None of the current shareholders of HydroGreen will hold more than 5% of the common shares of the Company pursuant to the Acquisition.
The implied value of the CubicFarms common stock issued to HydroGreen is C$1.50 per share. Following closing, principals of HydroGreen holding in excess of 80% of the Consideration Shares will enter into a pooling agreement with respect to their Consideration Shares. Under the terms of the pooling agreement, 25% of their Consideration Shares will be released on the closing of the Acquisition and an additional 25% will be released on each of the dates which are 6 months, 12 months and 18 months following the closing of the Acquisition.
In 2018, HydroGreen recorded unaudited sales revenues of approximately US$1.2 million and an unaudited gross profit of approximately US$700,000.
The Acquisition will require the approval of HydroGreen Shareholders at a special meeting expected to take place in late December (the “HydroGreen Meeting”). In order to become effective, the Acquisition must be approved at the HydroGreen Meeting by HydroGreen Shareholders holding greater than 50% of the HydroGreen shares entitled to vote at the HydroGreen Meeting. HydroGreen Shareholders holding approximately 75% of the issued and outstanding HydroGreen shares have entered into voting and support agreements with CubicFarms in support of the Acquisition. The board of directors of HydroGreen has unanimously approved the Acquisition and will recommend that HydroGreen Shareholders vote FOR the Acquisition. The merger agreement includes representations, warranties, and covenants typical of a transaction of this nature, including with respect to non-solicitation.
In addition to approval of HydroGreen Shareholders, the Acquisition is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and other customary closing conditions. It is not anticipated that the Acquisition will be classified as a Reviewable Transaction under TSX Venture Exchange Policies.
The Acquisition is expected to close in December 2019 following the HydroGreen Meeting.
About HydroGreen
The HydroGreen growing system consists of a 10-feet by 8-feet rack with 8-feet by 6-feet growing surfaces stacked 6 layers high to a total height of 10 feet. This is the smallest, one-section system available for sale – two-section up to six-section systems that are 50 feet long, 8 feet wide and 10 feet high are available. The modular system allows farmers to combine multiple systems to feed hundreds or thousands of livestock.
Image 1: The HydroGreen automated three-section growing system for animal feed.
Seeding one growing surface each day with 1.8 bushels of seed can produce 487 pounds of animal feed every six days. A one-section system could produce enough feed for a 20 to 25-cattle farm, while a three-section system could potentially provide most of the feed for a herd of 100.
The HydroGreen growing system’s automated seeder spreads half an inch of small grain seed on the growing surface. A fine mist of water is sprayed from above to initiate growth, followed by a gentle-rain automated irrigation system to feed the plants as they sprout. After six days, fresh green feed on the growing surface is rolled off and harvested at the push of a button on the touchscreen control panel.
As the feed layer is rolled off the surface, it is sliced into pieces with a water jet, ready to be blended with a feed ration or fed directly to livestock. Once the harvest cycle is complete, the surface is automatedly cleaned and reseeded with a new seedbed, ready to be irrigated – setting in motion another grow cycle.
Image 2: The HydroGreen system takes seed to feed in six days.
While growing feed hydroponically is not a new concept, traditional rack-and-stack systems are labor-intensive and are sensitive to mold. Mold tends to grow on seeds in warm, damp or humid conditions. Traditional hydroponic systems rely on human labor to manually clean the growing pans and soak, spread and water the seed, resulting in significant potential for human error and potential for mold to develop. The HydroGreen technology alleviates both problems as it requires only one second of labor per tonne of feed produced – to push a button on the touchscreen control panel. Through its automated process, the system applies a sequence of eleven procedures dedicated to controlling mold, stretching from seed selection to harvest, reducing the potential for human error and for mold to develop.
Economic, environmental and nutritional benefits of hydroponic animal feed
The HydroGreen system provides local, on-demand availability of fresh green feed 365 days a year, unaffected by drought, snow or rain. Hydroponic feed that is fed directly to livestock results in a significant reduction of feed waste since the entire root mass is consumed with the grass.
In addition to savings from reduced labor and water, the system’s vertically stacked surfaces allow for high yields in a very small area, increasing farmers’ independence by growing food for their livestock without the need for cultivated land.
When wheatgrass and barley are sprouted, they release many vitamins and minerals as well as convert hard-to-digest starches into easily digestible proteins. Sprouting results in increased enzyme levels in the ration, which aids digestion and absorption of nutrients; increased levels of vitamins; increased mineral bioavailability and increased fatty acids (quality energy) and amino acids (quality protein). These nutrients are critical to animal health, growth, milk production and reproduction.
Sales and marketing strategy for the HydroGreen system
CubicFarms has signed an authorized reseller agreement with Artex Feed Solutions. Artex Feed Solutions is a joint venture company which is 25% owned by CubicFarms and 75% owned by Artex Barn Solutions, a leader in agricultural supplies for over 40 years. Artex Barn Solutions was founded by John de Jonge – also a board member of CubicFarms – who purchased Artex Barn and grew it into a global provider of cattle handling equipment, ventilation and cow cooling. He has deep expertise in establishing and scaling up multiple manufacturing facilities in China and North America.
Artex and Mr. de Jonge plan to market the HydroGreen system to their existing dealership network in the USA and Canada, and to qualified leads in China, Indonesia, and the Middle East – areas with substantial market potential due to changing food consumption patterns and supportive government policies toward agricultural technology.
Internationally, Artex dealers will target existing agriculture animal producers looking to enhance profitability and environmental sustainability, early-stage farmers with minimal capital and land constraints, small- to medium-size farms seeking feed alternatives to benefit their operations and urban farmers without access to land.
The arrangement with Artex Feed Solutions may be considered a related-party transaction subject to TSX-V Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101. The Company will be exempt from the need to obtain minority shareholder approval and a formal valuation as required by MI 61-101 as the Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the fair market value of the transaction with Artex is far below 25% of the Company’s market capitalization.
While remaining on CubicFarms’ board of directors, Mr. de Jonge will transition from his current role as the Company’s Chief Design and Installation Officer to Chief Executive Officer of CubicFarms subsidiary CubicFeed Systems, effective immediately. Rodrigo Santana, CubicFarms’ Chief Operating Officer, will assume oversight of machine design and installations, supported by a management team with significant field expertise.
Dave Dinesen, Chief Executive Officer of CubicFarms, commented: “This landmark transaction with HydroGreen is a catalyst for continued growth at CubicFarms. Having already established a robust sales pipeline for our fresh produce vertical, this acquisition will enable us to capitalize on technology and automation synergies with HydroGreen to capture the animal feed space, which we believe could be a larger market than fresh produce. Approximately two-thirds of the world’s agricultural land is used for grazing and animal feed production. HydroGreen’s “land on a stand” system helps reduce the vast amounts of land required to grow feed.
“While the CubicFarms system is ideal for growing fresh produce, the advancements made in the HydroGreen system in the areas of harvesting, reseeding and self-cleaning, make it particularly well-suited for the production of animal feed. This transaction positions us to be a leading ag-tech company providing controlled-environment growing systems in four diversified verticals – fresh produce, animal feed, hemp/cannabis, and nutraceutical ingredients.”
Dihl Grohs, Chief Executive Officer of HydroGreen, commented: “I am incredibly proud of HydroGreen’s growth trajectory since our first system prototype was built in 2014 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, then progressively refined to achieve today’s 98% reliability rating and the system’s ability to monitor and correct issues in advance.
“The technology is poised for large-scale commercialization and this merger represents an ideal next step to bring HydroGreen systems to international markets. I am confident that CubicFarms’ global leadership in automated vertical-farming solutions, combined with the go-to-market ability of Artex Feed, will result in significant uptake of our systems as farmers learn how this technology enhances the productivity of their operations.”
John de Jonge, President of Artex Feed Solutions, and Chief Executive Officer of CubicFeed Systems commented: “As a lifelong dairy industry participant, I believe the animal feed market is ripe for disruption, urgently requiring predictable, year round production of nutritious feed while minimizing the inputs of land, labor, and water. I am excited to lead the expansion of CubicFarms’ animal feed business by leveraging Artex’s broad network of dealers in 40 countries to bring the HydroGreen solution to market.”
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor it’s Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The Consideration Shares to be issued as part of the Acquisition have not been, nor will be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), and such securities may only be offered or sold within the United States pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws.
About CubicFarm® Systems Corp.
CubicFarm® Systems Corp. (“CubicFarms”) is an ag-tech company commercializing large scale, vertical farming solutions for global industrial markets. Founded in 2015, the Company’s mission is to provide industries around the world with efficient growing systems capable of producing predictable crop yields. CubicFarms offers turnkey, commercial scale, hydroponic, automated vertical farm growing systems that can grow predictably and sustainably for 12 months of the year virtually anywhere on earth. CubicFarms enables its customers in the fresh produce, animal feed, nutraceutical, and hemp/cannabis industries to grow locally and to provide their markets with safe, sustainable, secure and fresh ingredients that are consistent in color, size, taste, nutrition and allows for longer shelf life. Further support and value is provided to customers through the Company’s patent-pending germination technology and proprietary auto harvesting and processing methods.
Using its unique, undulating growing system, the Company addresses the main challenges within the indoor farming industry by significantly reducing the need for physical labor and energy, and maximizing yield per cubic foot. The Company has sold and installed systems in Canada and the US and is currently negotiating with a global pipeline of prospective customers. It also operates one wholly owned facility in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, and sells its produce in the province to retail and wholesale customers under the brand name Thriiv Local Garden™.
Information contact
Kimberly Lim
kimberly@cubicfarms.com
Phone: +1-236-858-6491
www.cubicfarms.com
Cautionary statement on forward-looking information
Certain statements in this release constitute “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the closing of the Acquisition and HydroGreen’s sales and growth prospects. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of CubicFarm Systems Corp. and its subsidiaries, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “predict”, and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events, or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, or “will” be taken, occur, or be achieved.
These statements reflect the company’s current expectations regarding future events, performance, and results and speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except as required by securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the company, the company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if the company’s expectations regarding future events, performance, or results change.
Urban Crop Solutions Celebrates it's 5th Anniversary
The company is a total solution provider and offers container farms and plant factories and all products and services that growers need to grow healthy crops in an indoor farm
Today, Urban Crop Solutions celebrates its 5th anniversary. On this occasion, a movie was released with testimonials from customers around the globe. Urban Crop Solutions is proud to be a pioneer in the emerging market of indoor vertical farming with a unique business model. The company is a total solution provider and offers container farms and plant factories and all products and services that growers need to grow healthy crops in an indoor farm.
The story of the founding of Urban Crop Solutions starts in 2012 when the founders were experimenting with rooftop farming in urban areas. Only in 2014, the choice was made to focus on indoor vertical farming after some successful tests where done in the warehouse of one of the founders. Since then the company was taken on a rollercoaster and the company evolved from a local AgTech startup to an international scale-up with unique commercial products and services.
Link to the 5 years anniversary movie with testimonials from over the globe.
https://youtu.be/KnqLMtNrr7w
From its incorporation, the company’s vision was always that the knowledge of plant growth is key. Today, the company operates 10 labs, 1 demo plant factory and 1 demo container farm for its research operations.
“Over the last 5 years, we have conducted over 800 cultivar trials. Some tests with seeds failed miserably.” explains dr. Oscar Navarrete, chief plant scientist and the first employee of Urban Crop Solutions. “But through our continuous work to tweak seed selection, LED spectrum, irrigation, substrate and nutrition, we have developed more than 200 plant growth recipes that are available for our clients.”
The design of the plant growth infrastructure that Urban Crops Solutions is building for its clients is the result of the know-how the plant scientists transfer to the mechanical engineers to achieve optimal plant growth in an indoor vertical farm environment. In February 2016, the Flemish Minister-President Geert Bourgeois opened Urban Crop Solutions’ automated indoor farm which was the largest in Europe. This installation was built and is operated by Urban Crop Solutions for research purposes.
“We’ve been at the forefront of this emerging industry since the beginning. Some of our engineering concepts lacked robustness, but by listening to the feedback of our customers we’ve upgraded numerous components to improve the reliability, the operational efficiency, and food safety”, says Maarten Vandecruys, founder and CTO of Urban Crops Solutions. “We now have 24 containers in operation with our customers, of which about half in Europe and half in the USA. We are proud to have collaborations with large corporates and with several scientific institutions”.
Urban Crop Solutions caught in the past 5 years much attention by media, by trendwatchers, by large corporates, by politicians, and by royals. In November 2018, the company could present its technology to the French president Emmanuel Macron and the Belgian King Filip. In September 2019, the company realized a series A capital round, marking the start of the international commercialization of its products and services portfolio.
“It is clear that indoor vertical farming is still an early-stage industry. With the current high initial cost involved, it requires finding the right market niche for the right crop in order to achieve an attractive ROI.” Explains CEO and co-investor Tom Debusschere. “However, the world is changing very fast and besides the obvious food industry we see a lot potential for our products and services in some high-value end-markets like food supplements, fragrances, cosmetics, aromatics and phyto-pharmaceuticals.”
The technology and the products of Urban Crop Solutions are best explained as at “the crossroads between plant biology and factory engineering”. In the coming years, the company will continue to invest in products and services for ‘killer applications’ (revolutionizing market segments) and ‘moonshot crops’ (developing indoor plant growth recipes with large impact) in order to realize its mission: ‘Urban Crop Solutions contributes to the solutions for the challenges caused by global urbanization, the growing world population and the lack of agricultural land in the world’.
For more information on this press release, on Urban Crop Solutions or on the products and services of Urban Crop Solutions you can contact Tom Debusschere, Managing Director (tode@urbancropsolutions.com), or Maarten Vandecruys, Co-founder and CTO (mava@urbancropsolutions.com ) or visit our website ( www.urbancropsolutions.com ):
European headquarters: American headquarters:
Grote Heerweg 67 800 Brickell Avenue, 1100 Suite
8791 Beveren-Leie (Waregem) Miami (FL 33131)
Belgium Florida
(+32)56 96 03 06 +1 (786) 408-6027
Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbancropsolutions
Twitter: www.twitter.com/U_C_Solutions
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/urbancropsolutions
YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/c/UrbanCropSolutions
Babylon Is Excited To Share That We Have Made It Onto The FoodTech 500's Shortlist!
The final list will be released in February, so keep an eye out for our final ranking
The list recognizes companies in all sectors of the AgriFoodTech industry, that are entrepreneurial success stories and have disrupted norms within the industry. The final list will be released in February, so keep an eye out for our final ranking.
hashtag#FoodTech hashtag#Agtech hashtag#futureoffood hashtag#babylonmicrofarms hashtag#successstories
Hydroponic Indoor Gardening Kit Allows You To Grow Vegetables All Year Round
The Swedish company IKEA has developed a hydroponic system that would allow anybody to grow vegetables all year round without the need for a traditional garden
November 04, 2019
The Swedish company IKEA has developed a hydroponic system that would allow anybody to grow vegetables all year round without the need for a traditional garden. Users without immediate access to a garden now have the chance to grow their own foods via IKEA's indoor hydroponic garden. It's easy to use and requires no prior gardening experience and knowledge.
A hydroponic farm
The hydroponic system in order to function requires only adequate sunlight and water. With this, the user is able to grow much produce found in the aisles of their local grocery stores. Within the hydroponic system lies absorbent foam plugs that coat the seed. The specially created foam enables the seed to fully hydrated, keeping them moist enough without overwatering them which could be detrimental to their growth. Once germination is complete, they would then be transferred to a separate pot that is filled with pumice rock and water to complete the growth process.
Indoor gardening kit
Subsequently, the pots are then moved to a growing tray that is equipped with a solar lamp. The addition of the solar lamp is beneficial for places where sunlight is not readily available. The internal water sensor ensures that the plants are receiving sufficient water. According to, Helena Karlen, from the Swedish University Of Agricultural Science, the main objective was to make a hydroponic system that could be easily utilized by the average consumer. The series of a hydroponic device referred to as KRYYDDA/VAXER, was designed by a team consisting of Swedish agricultural scientist and was marketed to persons who live in apartments and those who want fresh produce during winter months.
Additionally, the product was designed to be a more sustainable, healthier and eco-friendly mean of growing and harvesting produce. Whether you live in China, North America or Northern Sweden, the product creators believe that you should be able to produce freshly harvested produce. Upon purchasing the basic VAXER series, the user will get seeds, starter plugs, nursery boxes, cultivation insert sets, fertilizer, pumice stones, cultivation light fixtures, and cultivation light. Additionally, the VAXER hydroponic system is more affordable when compared to traditional means of produce harvesting. It's also the company's first departure from traditional household items like bookshelves and tables. The head of the sustainable department of the Swedish company states that the device is the first of many that will be placed on the market in an attempt to provide a more eco-friendly and sustainable life for users.
CubicFarm Systems Announces Global Reseller Agreement With Groviv With Minimum Sales Threshold of 200 Machines
The new partnership significantly expands CubicFarms’ machine sales pipeline into strategic international markets
New partnership significantly expands CubicFarms’ machine sales pipeline into strategic international markets
Vancouver, BC – (AccessWire – November 6, 2019) – CubicFarm® Systems Corp. (TSXV: CUB) (“CubicFarms” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a global Reseller Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Groviv, a leader in the science and technology of controlled-environment agriculture (CEA). Groviv, a division of Nu Skin Enterprises – a minority investor in CubicFarms – will lead global sales for CubicFarms and has appointed Joe Huston, its Vice President of Business Development to direct the effort. Mr. Huston has extensive retail sales and distribution experience, working with brands such as Walmart, Kroger and Costco.
The authorized Reseller Agreement, while global in nature, will be focused initially on the sales of vegetable-growing machines in key territories such as China, the Middle East, and other strategic areas. The Agreement complements CubicFarms’ own sales and marketing efforts for its machines. CubicFarms is also focused on growing machine sales in its other verticals – animal feed, hemp/cannabis, and nutraceutical ingredients – through its own sales pipeline or in partnership with other resellers.
In January 2019, CubicFarms signed a binding term sheet with Nu Skin to work together in the long term to market and sell CubicFarms systems in China. This Reseller Agreement expands upon CubicFarms’ relationship with Nu Skin to allow its Groviv division to act as an exclusive, authorized reseller globally, with the provision that Groviv fulfills a minimum semi-annual sales threshold of 60 and 140 CubicFarms growing machines by June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
“The expansion of the China binding term sheet to this global Reseller Agreement is a testament to Nu Skin and Groviv’s confidence in CubicFarms’ patented technology. We are excited to work with Joe and his team to bring the best automated vertical farming technology to China, the Middle East and other strategic areas where population growth, water, soil and farmland challenges present a huge need for high-value leafy vegetables, herbs and other crops,” said Dave Dinesen, Chief Executive Officer of CubicFarms.
“Joe and the rest of the Groviv team have already established relationships with key growers, customers and partners worldwide, resulting in a significant sales pipeline. Joe’s leadership experience in building businesses and driving revenue, coupled with his deep experience operating in China, are an enormous boon to our partnership.”
Steve Lindsley, President of Groviv, stated: “We are excited to combine both our sales and marketing expertise with CubicFarms. Together we have the science, technology and experience to provide sustainable solutions that will grow safe, clean and nutritious fresh produce around the world.”
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
About CubicFarm® Systems Corp.
CubicFarm® Systems Corp. (“CubicFarms”) is an ag-tech company commercializing large scale, vertical farming solutions for global industrial markets. Founded in 2015, the Company’s mission is to provide industries around the world with efficient growing systems capable of producing predictable crop yields. CubicFarms offers turnkey, commercial scale, hydroponic, automated vertical farm growing systems that can grow predictably and sustainably for 12 months of the year virtually anywhere on earth. CubicFarms enables its customers in the fresh produce, animal feed, nutraceutical, and hemp/cannabis industries to grow locally and to provide their markets with safe, sustainable, secure and fresh ingredients that are consistent in colour, size, taste, nutrition and allows for a longer shelf life. Further support and value is provided to customers through the Company’s patent-pending germination technology and proprietary auto harvesting and processing methods.
Using its unique, undulating growing system, the Company addresses the main challenges within the indoor farming industry by significantly reducing the need for physical labour and energy, and maximizing yield per cubic foot. The Company has sold and installed systems in Canada and the US, and is currently negotiating with a global pipeline of prospective customers. It also operates one wholly owned facility in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, and sells its produce in the province to retail and wholesale customers under the brand name Thriiv Local Garden™.
Information contact
Kimberly Lim
kimberly@cubicfarms.com
Phone: +1-236-858-6491
www.cubicfarms.com
Cautionary statement on forward-looking information
Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, statements with respect to Groviv, a division of Nu Skin Enterprises – a minority investor in CubicFarms – will lead global sales for CubicFarms; and the authorized Reseller Agreement, while global in nature, will be focused initially on the sales of vegetable-growing machines in key territories such as China, the Middle East and other strategic areas. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of CubicFarm Systems Corp., or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict", and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events, or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken, occur, or be achieved.
These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance, and results and speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except as required by securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the company, the company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if the company's expectations regarding future events, performance, or results change.
The Farmshelf Corridor Dubbed The “Garden of Eden” by Katie Couric At The Next50 Event Celebrating The Work of José Andrés And World Central Kitchen
Farmshelf was honored to play a small part in an event that kicks off the next 50 years of World Central Kitchen and its mission to mobilize chefs after natural disasters to deliver a hot plate of food when it’s needed most
The Farmshelf corridor dubbed the “Garden of Eden” by Katie CouricOctober 4, 2019
Jean-Paul KyrillosFollow
Co-founder/ CRO at Farmshelf
Farmshelf is rolling into new cities and big events.
Next50 at The Shed, Hudson Yards, NY
Last week, guests of José Andrés got to enjoy tapas with Farmshelf greens harvested on-demand as they wandered through the Farmshelf corridor. Farmshelf was honored to play a small part in an event that kicks off the next 50 years of World Central Kitchen and its mission to mobilize chefs after natural disasters to deliver a hot plate of food when it’s needed most.
Stop Food Waste NYC at the Javits Center
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, NY
Our partners from Cultivated NY had their brand new Farmshelfs on display as part of their larger effort to showcase ways that their parent company Compass Group is fighting food waste. With Farmshelf, no greens or herbs are lost in transit and chefs harvest only what is needed, so food waste from spoilage is virtually eliminated.
Oh hey, CA...
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, Indian Wells, CA
As we get ready for our west coast launch, Farmshelf was at the Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management conference in Palm Springs, CA. While we had some fun being outdoors, this was just a cameo. Farmshelf is designed for onsite growing inside your restaurant, hotel or café.
Wondering when we arrive in your city?
Available Now: NYC, DC, Philadelphia, Texas
October 2019: Chicago, Milwaukee
January 2020: SF Bay Area, Boston, Florida
March 2020: Portland, Seattle
Summer 2020: Top 20 U.S. Markets
Farmshelf connects you to your food by making growing simple and enjoyable. Available now for businesses only.
Subscribe to our newsletter for more live updates on Farmshelf and our partners!
InvertiGro Has Scale-Up Plans For Its Innovative Vertical Farming Solution
“We can grow anything that requires a controlled environment — all the way from micro-greens to proteins to fibres to medicinal plants.” One example is traditional farmers, who can use the InvertiGro system to grow additional livestock feed to back up their crops “Another interesting thing that’s popped up is we’re now working closely with property developers to incorporate productive green spaces into their buildings.”
(Pic: Getty Images)
October 20, 2019 | Sam Jacobs
Developing advancements in food and agriculture technology have been cited as a key area of opportunity for Australian entrepreneurs.
Earlier this year Phil Morle — a partner at Main Sequence Ventures (the CSIRO’s $230m innovative venture fund) told Stockhead that Australia can be a world leader in sustainable food solutions.
Already there’s a number of interesting narratives within the space. And Sydney-based agtech InvertiGro is one company looking to drive some innovation of its own with a sustainable indoor farming solution.
Speaking with Stockhead, founder and CEO Ben Lee said the company has been pleasantly surprised by the local market, since starting the business in 2017.
That launch followed an initial proof-of-concept that the founding team established in Singapore — a country that imports more than 90 percent of its domestic food supply.
“Going through that process, it became apparent that rather than compete in food production, the opportunity was far greater to give players in the market the option to adopt our technology and build out efficient indoor farming systems in their own right,” Lee said.
While developing the tech, the InvertiGro team came into contact with Mark Adams, Dean of Agriculture at Sydney University, who was enthusiastic about the prospects for the business in the Australian market.
That helped prompt the move in 2017, and Sydney Uni maintains an ongoing partnership with InvertiGro along with other tertiary institutions including Swinburne University of Technology and Newcastle University.
Customer foot-print
Lee said the company has a diverse range of customers for indoor farming technology, although existing players in the food-produce supply chain are the “mainstay” of its client base.
“That’s wholesalers and distributors looking for a reliable and profitable supply of fresh produce,” he said. “But we can grow anything that requires a controlled environment, so in that manner, the hardware systems we developed aren’t limited to fill a particular gap — it can be adapted to a whole range of produce.”
“We can grow anything that requires a controlled environment — all the way from micro-greens to proteins to fibres to medicinal plants.”
One example is traditional farmers, who can use the InvertiGro system to grow additional livestock feed to back up their crops.
“Another interesting thing that’s popped up is we’re now working closely with property developers to incorporate productive green spaces into their buildings,” Lee said.
“That’s for both new developments, and to convert underutilised spaces (eg car parks) into profitable urban farms to supply local residents and communities with fresh produce.”
Raising funds
To finance its early growth, InvertiGro has raised seed funding from private investors and venture capital.
Lee said investors have fallen into two distinct categories — “those who understand the model and are willing to support and those who don’t and are essentially more cautious”.
The company has taken investment from Australian VC fund Artesian Capital in connection with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation — a federal government-owned bank that facilitates capital flows into the clean energy sector.
“We’ll look to carry out a Series A capital raise in the next two years, in order to accelerate growth into global markets and develop our technology offering,” Lee said.
For now, InvertiGro is focused on execution for its existing customer commitments, developing the tech and growing out its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region.
Lee also highlighted the opportunity to leverage InvertiGro’s crop database to provide unique industry insights — a form of intellectual property that will prove valuable as the customer base expands.
“It’s still a very nascent space, and for people who want to adopt tech but who aren’t sure, we take away the uncertainty,” Lee said. “It allows agriculture companies to grow with much less hassle, and essentially establish a profitable business.
Netled To Supply SweGreen With Production Units
Netled has signed a distribution agreement with Swedish technology company SweGreen. They will start providing Vera Compact Production Units for SweGreen’s urban farming destinations in Sweden. SweGreen is an innovation and technology urban farming company based in Stockholm. The company provides circular solutions for controlled-environment urban farming
Netled has signed a distribution agreement with Swedish technology company SweGreen. They will start providing Vera Compact Production Units for SweGreen’s urban farming destinations in Sweden.
SweGreen is an innovation and technology urban farming company based in Stockholm. The company provides circular solutions for controlled-environment urban farming. By integrating smart vertical farming solutions into real estate properties SweGreen provides circular energy-waste-water and carbon-absorbing systems, which enable locally grown, quality greens and help minimize the environmental footprint of facilities. Under the brand Stadsbondens, SweGreen’s CityFarm in Stockholm produces herbs for ecological-minded citizens all year round in a sustainable way.
Netled´s Vera Compact Production Units are especially well-suited for limited scale production of salads, herbs, seedlings and pot plants, and will complement SweGreen’s efforts perfectly.
For more information:
Netled
netled.fi
Publication date: Tue, 08 Oct 2019
Urban Crop Solutions Joins EIT RisingFoodStars Community
“The vertical farming industry is getting recognized as an important global game-changer in the future like the 3D printing industry was seen as such 10 years ago,” speaks Tom Debusschere, CEO of Urban Crop Solutions.“
Urban Crop Solutions has been accepted in the EIT RisingFoodStars community. EIT Food is a Knowledge and Innovation Community established by the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT), an independent EU body set up in 2008 and working in Europe to make the food system more sustainable, healthy and trusted by consumers.
The mission of EIT Food is to support innovative impactful agrifood entrepreneurs, startups and scale-ups to deliver new food innovations and businesses across Europe. The RisingFoodStars program selects only those companies to participate in their community that will drive the disruption of the food system and thereby help tackle the strategic objectives of the EU.
Together with Urban Crop Solutions, 13 other young Agrifood companies were accepted from 10 different countries in Europe. The unique business model as a total solutions provider for indoor vertical farming, the built-up know-how on plant growth in closed environments, the availability of commercial working indoor farming growing solutions and the quality of the management team were all determining factors for the lengthy audit that resulted in the admission to the RisingFoodStars Association. The membership of the EIT Food RisingFoodStars will open many gates for Urban Crop Solutions in terms of increased visibility and access to, and collaboration with, an expert network of industrial and academic partners in EIT projects.
“Over the last 5 years we worked day and night with our team with the mission to secure all built up knowledge to develop commercial products and services for our customers” smiles a proud Maarten Vandecruys, co-founder and CTO of Urban Crop Solutions. “This acceptance is really the recognition of the great work of our team.”
Annick Verween, manager at EIT RisingFoodStars: “With Urban Crop Solutions we add again a new impactful member to our community who we know will leave a positive mark on society.”
“The vertical farming industry is getting recognized as an important global game-changer in the future like the 3D printing industry was seen as such 10 years ago,” speaks Tom Debusschere, CEO of Urban Crop Solutions. “This acceptance strengthens our vision that focusing on economical crop yield is the only way forward for our fast emerging and promising industry to become mature. Turning our in-depth know-how into value for our customers is the promise that we will keep making in future. ”
Urban Crop Solutions develops tailor-made indoor vertical farming solutions for its clients. These systems are turnkey, robotized and able to be integrated in existing production facilities or food processing units. Urban Crop Solutions also has its own range of standard growth container products. Being a total solution provider, Urban Crop Solutions can also supply seeds, substrates, and nutrients for clients that have limited or no knowledge or experience with (indoor) farming. Currently, the company has developed plant growing recipes for more than 220 varieties of crops that can be grown in closed environment vertical farms. Some of these recipes (ranging from leafy greens, vegetables, medicinal plants to flowers) are developed exclusively for its clients by the Urban Crop Solution team of plant scientists.
Urban Crop Solutions has its headquarter in Waregem (Belgium – Europe) but has also operations in Miami (Florida, US) and Osaka (Japan)