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Natalie Portman, Other Celebs, Invest In Vertical Farming Startup Bowery
The sustainable agriculture startup, the largest vertical farming firm in the U.S., secured over $300 million from both individuals and investment groups to help expand its operations across the U.S.
$300M Investment Round Will Help
The Company Expand Its
Indoor Farms Across The U.S.
June 4, 2021
Natalie Portman | Roy Rochlin / Getty Images
Natalie Portman, an actor as well-known for her film roles as her dedication to causes ranging from the environment to animal welfare, has thrown her financial support behind a new investment round for Bowery Farming. The sustainable agriculture startup, the largest vertical farming firm in the U.S., secured over $300 million from both individuals and investment groups to help expand its operations across the U.S.
"At Bowery, we're reinventing a new supply chain that's simpler, safer, more sustainable and ultimately provides vibrantly flavorful produce unlike what's available today," Irving Fain, CEO, and Founder of Bowery Farming, said in a press release. "This infusion of new capital from Fidelity, other new investors, and the additional support of our long-term investor partners is an acknowledgment of the critical need for new solutions to our current agricultural system, and the enormous economic opportunity that comes with supporting our mission.
Portman’s investment is the latest in a series of big moves by the vegan activist to help grow companies that provide healthy, sustainable, and animal-friendly products to millions around the globe. In July of 2020, she joined others such as Oprah Winfrey and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz in investing in milk-alternative startup Oatly. In November, she teamed with music artist John Legend in backing MycoWorks, a company creating vegan leather from fungus, to help raise more than $45 million.
“So now lots of people make fun of vegans, right? Lots of people make fun of anybody who cares about anything deeply, right?,” Portman said during a youth activism speech in 2019. “But I’m here to say, it is always a great thing to care…whether it’s environmental issues, animal rights, women’s rights, equality, never be afraid to show how much you care.”
Joining Portman in the latest investment round for Bowery, which has raised more than $465 million since its founding in 2014, were well-known plant-based eating advocates Lewis Hamilton and Chris Paul, as well as world-renowned chef and hunger advocate José Andrés and singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake.
Growth of vertical farming reaches new heights
So why is everyone from celebrities to investment groups throwing money at Bowery? Simply put, the skepticism around vertical farming that stunted early growth has been replaced with blooming enthusiasm in the wake of its success.
In the last year, Bowery has gone from selling produce in under 100 retail locations across the U.S. to nearly 800. According to Fain, these include such giants as Whole Foods Market, Giant Food, Stop & Shop, Walmart, and Weis Markets.
“It’s definitely bigger than the pandemic,” Fain told The Spoon. “What you’re seeing is a food system that’s evolving and [people have a desire] to see transparency and traceability in the food system.”
Bowery presently has two vertical farming sites in New Jersey and Maryland, with a third slated to open in Bethlehem, PA later this year. Each industrial space features various greens and herbs (butter lettuce, cilantro, arugula, etc.) stacked vertically in trays and grown hydroponically using a state-of-the-art computer control system and LED lights. An average of 80,000 pounds of produce is generated each week using 95% less water than traditional farms and with zero pesticides or chemicals. And because these vertical farms can be built within cities, transport costs and their associated environmental impacts are drastically reduced.
While the focus for vertical farming remains firmly planted on greens, Bowery is testing new crops like tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries. They are also making constant improvements to the artificial intelligence system that monitors the plants at all times. At any moment, the computer can make changes to improve the yield or alter the flavor of a particular crop.
“We achieve a plant vision system and that vision system takes photos of our crops in real-time and runs them through our machine learning algorithms,” Fain said in an interview with Tech at Bloomberg. “We know what’s happening with a crop right now and whether it’s healthy, but then also predict what we will see with this crop based on what we’ve seen in the past and what tweaks and changes we want to make.”
Yes, we know that sounds like some slice of a dystopian future, but vertical farming is quickly proving itself a necessary technology to help feed and sustain humanity. For Fain, he believes the ability to do all of this with fewer resources, chemicals, and independent changing climate conditions or unexpected global crises is something that should be celebrated and not feared.
“I actually view it as this incredibly optimistic opportunity to say, ‘Wow, like, isn't it amazing that technology has taken us to a point where something that we've done in a certain way for hundreds and hundreds of years with iteration and optimization can really be rethought and re-imagined in totality because of human creativity and human ingenuity?", he told MyClimateJourney. “And I think that's actually exciting and that's something that we should be happy about and optimistic about. And that to me is really the message in what we're building at Bowery.”
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A Primer On Vertical Farming As The Industry Gains Steam
The modern concept of vertical farming was put forth in 1999 by Columbia University microbiologist Dickson Despommier, who along with his students, came up with a design of a skyscraper farm that could feed 50,000 people
MAY 28, 2021
The modern concept of vertical farming was put forth in 1999 by Columbia University microbiologist Dickson Despommier, who along with his students, came up with a design of a skyscraper farm that could feed 50,000 people.
Since then, vertical farming has become a multi-billion-dollar industry. And it’s growing rapidly.
According to PitchBook data, nearly $1.9 billion of global venture capital was invested in indoor farming in 2020, nearly tripling investment in 2019. And just this week, New York-based vertical farming startup Bowery Farming raised $300 million in its latest funding round, valuing the company at $2.3 billion.
Vertical farming growth may be accelerating at the ideal time, as concerns about population growth and climate change push the food industry to innovate to meet tomorrow’s challenges.
By 2050, around 68% of the world population is expected to live in urban areas, and this growth will lead to an increased demand for food. The use of vertical farming could play a role in preparing for such a challenge. At the same time, it could help restore forests depleted by commercialized agriculture and curb planet-warming emissions caused by farming and transportation. Agriculture and forestry alone account for about a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gases.
What is it?
Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers as opposed to a single level, like a field or greenhouse.
Through the artificial control of temperature, light, humidity, and gases, food can be produced indoors in a way that optimizes plant growth and soilless farming techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics. The benefits of which are reliable, environmentally friendly, year-round crop production, significantly reduced water usage (by some estimates up to 95% less), efficient land use, and less exposure to chemicals and disease.
Among its downsides, vertical farms are costly to set up and operate and are too dependent on technologies that have yet to reach full maturity. Further, with its heavy reliance on electricity for lighting and climate control, it uses more energy than traditional farming methods and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
With that, the sector continues to innovate. And with vertical farming merely in its infancy, it’s reasonable to expect big things in the coming decades.
Investors certainly think so.
In fact, the global vertical farming market is projected to reach $12.77 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 24.6%, according to Allied Market Research.
VIDEOS: A Made-In-Canada Clean Energy Solution Wins Multiple Awards For Innovation
The Eavor-Loop is a closed system within which a proprietary working fluid is contained and circulated
Eavor’s technology consists of several Patent Pending innovations. The Eavor-Loop is a closed system within which a proprietary working fluid is contained and circulated. The working fluid is not fluid from a reservoir flowing into our wells, it is a fluid added to the closed-loop Eavor-Loop™ to create an efficient radiator, much like a vehicle radiator circulates fluid in a closed-loop to remove heat from a gasoline engine.
Eavor-Loop™ harvests heat from deep in the earth to be used for commercial heating applications (ex: greenhouses or district heating) or to be used to generate electricity using conventional heat to power engines. Eavor-Loop™ is an industrial-scale geothermal system that mitigates many of the issues with traditional geothermal systems, which rely upon using wells to produce brine from a subsurface aquifer.
The closed-loop is the key difference between Eavor-Loop™ and all traditional industrial-scale geothermal systems. Eavor-Loop™ is a buried-pipe system, which acts as a radiator or heat exchanger. It consists of connecting two vertical wells several kilometers deep with many horizontal multilateral wellbores several kilometers long. As these wellbores are sealed, a benign, environmentally friendly, working fluid is added to the closed-loop as a circulating fluid. This working fluid is contained within the system and isolated from the earth in the Eavor-Loop™. The wellbores act as pipes, not wells producing fluid from the earth.
The working fluid naturally circulates without requiring an external pump due to the thermosiphon effect of a hot fluid rising in the outlet well and a cool fluid falling in the inlet well. The working fluid contained in this closed-loop pipe system brings thermal energy to the surface where it is harvested for use in a commercial direct heat application or converted to electricity with a power generation module (heat engine).
Unlike heat pumps (or “geo-exchange”), which convert electricity to heat using very shallow wells, Eavor-Loop generates industrial-scale electricity or produces enough heat for the equivalent of 16,000 homes with a single installation.
An excellent new video by CNBC entitled 'How Geothermal Energy Could Power The Future' features Eavor CEO, John Redfern and several others in the modern geothermal industry such as Catherine Hickson of Geothermal Canada, Tim Latimer of Fervo Energy, Cindy Taff of Sage Geosystems and Joe Scherer of GreenFire Energy.
The video covers topics such as:
- What is Geothermal energy?
- Geothermal startups gain traction
- Major opportunity for oil and gas
- The future of geothermal
"Miles below the Earth’s surface, there’s enough thermal energy to power all of humanity for the foreseeable future. It’s called geothermal energy, and it’s poised to play an increasingly large role as a source of always available, renewable power. Now, there are a number of startups in the geothermal space, working to figure out how to access this heat in difficult-to-reach geographies, at a price point that makes sense. And it’s even gotten the attention of oil and gas industry giants, who are interested in greening their portfolios while sticking to their core competencies - extracting energy resources from deep within the Earth."
VIDEO: Japanese University Looks Abroad
Researchers hope to promote technologies for things like breeding vegetables that grow well indoors
June 3, 2021
A Japanese university is turning overseas to find new customers for farming and medical technologies developed by its staff.
Chiba University has teamed up with the Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO. They signed an agreement last month.
The push abroad will mainly be online for now as the coronavirus pandemic pulls the plug on conferences and other trade events.
Researchers hope to promote technologies for things like breeding vegetables that grow well indoors.
They are already making progress in China.
The university's technology is helping a next-generation plant-growing facility in the city of Shenzhen.
Watch the video at www.nhkj.or.jp.
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The Vertical Farms of ZERO Democratize Access to Sustainable Agro-Food
“Vertical farms are a frontier of agriculture in terms of production quality and reduced environmental impact: all our work is concentrated on making them sustainable also on an industrial level”
The Pordenone-based company lands on the Italian market with salads, aromatic herbs and microgreens, whose cultivation is totally entrusted to an intelligent virtual agronomist who ensures maximum performance in industrial spaces or abandoned buildings regenerated in farms powered by clean energy. "Ours is an advanced and proximity agriculture: we cultivate close to the places of consumption, reducing the impact of the logistics of products that often travel thousands of kilometers" explains the CEO, Daniele Modesto
With the launch of the distribution of single variety salads, salad mixes, aromatic herbs, and microgreens in the Eurospesa supermarkets of the Dado SpA Group in Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Pordenone company specializing in Vertical Farming marks its entry into the Italian market. In the meantime, ZERO works on the development of the cultivation of strawberries, wild strawberries and cherry tomatoes and on the strengthening of its activities in the North East and West with the aim of gradually expanding the installed capacity and passing from 30 tons of product per year to 1,500 tons in 12 months
“Vertical farms are a frontier of agriculture in terms of production quality and reduced environmental impact: all our work is concentrated on making them sustainable also on an industrial level. This launch is the demonstration that ZERO Farming, the innovative approach to agricultural production that we have reached after three years of study and experimentation, is the solution to democratize access to quality products for an increasingly wider range of consumers " explains the CEO of ZERO, Daniele Modesto .
Smart production approaches the consumer by reducing logistics costs
The ZERO Farms project involves the application of proprietary vertical farming technologies to set up production plants (the first are under construction in Italy, Switzerland, the Middle East and the Caribbean) for vegetables and small fruits then distributed in supermarkets, restaurants and through direct channels. . The Farms are entrusted to ROOT , an intelligent virtual agronomist who knows and finely manages all the variables that affect the cultivation cycle in a controlled environment, on multiple levels and without the use of earth or other substrates, ensures maximum plant performance. with the result of products that keep freshness and beneficial properties for a long time.
Tags: AGRICULTURE 4.0 AGRI-FOOD DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ESG FOOD INNOVATION
GREEN DEAL GREEN ECONOMY INNOVATION INTERNET OF FARMIN INTERNET OF THINGS LOGISTICS
SMART AGRIFOOD TRACEABILITY VERTICAL FARM FoodTech , Made in Italy , Sustainability HOME SUSTAINABILITY
VIDEO: What Is Hydroponics?
Hydroponics is a form of farming that uses a nutrient solution root medium, rather than soil, to grow plants
How Hydroponics Works, Types, And Pros and Cons
May 28, 2021
Hydroponics is a form of farming that uses a nutrient solution root medium, rather than soil, to grow plants. Also referred to as tank farming, hydroponic plant roots may simply hang in water containing a mixture of dissolved nutrients or be supported by an inert substrate growing medium.
Often, the irrigation and fertilizing is performed mechanically in smaller spaces, and even vertically (known as vertical gardens), making it a more budget-friendly and labor-saving farming method. Vegetables like cucumbers and leafy greens like spinach are some of the most popular plants that are grown hydroponically, but gardeners can easily grow herbs or fruiting plants like strawberries, as well.
How Does Hydroponics Work?
Jtasphoto / Getty Images
Hydroponics involves any plants that are grown without the use of soil, the plants simply get their essential nutrients from a different source. Depending on the type of hydroponic system used, the plant’s roots may grow directly into a liquid solution or into a medium such as clay pebbles, peat moss, or sand (in an aggregate system). This way, the grower has control over environmental conditions like temperature and pH balance as well as the plant’s exposure to nutrients.
Hydroponics can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Some operations can range 25,000 square feet and produce 10,000 heads of lettuce per day, yet something as uncomplicated as sticking the base of a leafy vegetable into a glass of water to regrow is also a form of hydroponics. While soil is often the easiest method of growth among traditional gardens, plants don’t technically need it; the photosynthesis process, where they use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose for energy, only really requires water, sunlight, carbon dioxide, and nutrients. Nutrients for hydroponic gardening consist of both macronutrients and micronutrients, including carbon, phosphorus, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, nickel, boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, boron, and chlorine.
Types of Hydroponics
There are several techniques when it comes to hydroponics, all with different levels of difficulty, maintenance requirements, and budget. Beginners are suggested to start with either the basic wick system or the deep water culture system before graduating to more expert-level systems like the nutrient film technique, the ebb and flow system, drip systems, and the aeroponic system. Non-soil growing mediums can include sand, rock wool, peat moss, perlite (a form of obsidian), and coconut coir (the fibrous, middle portion of the coconut between the shell and the outer coat). Because of the versatility of hydroponics, growers can also get creative with medium materials that might otherwise go to waste, such as sheep wool and rice husks.
Wick System
This system has no electrical component and doesn’t require any advanced machinery, which is why it is considered the most basic of the hydroponic systems. The plants are suspended in a growing medium above a tank filled with water and nutrient solution, which are transported to the plants’ roots by way of a wick (like a piece of rope or felt) connecting the solution with the growing medium.
While the wick system is cheap and easy, it’s not suitable for plants and vegetables that require a lot of water, plus it can be inefficient in delivering nutrients. Hydroponic aficionados refer to this system as the "training wheels" of hydroponics.
Deep Water Culture
Imgorthand / Getty Images
Another easy system for new growers, the deep water culture system consists of plants that are suspended over a reservoir filled with water and nutrient solution. The roots are submerged into the liquid, so there is a constant supply of both water and nutrients, but need an air pump to continuously pump bubbles into the reservoir and provide the roots with oxygen. It's an inexpensive, recirculating process that creates less waste, but it doesn’t always work for plants that are larger or require longer growing periods.
Aeroponics
An aeroponic system is perhaps the most complex and expensive hydroponic method, but can also be the most effective. The plant’s roots are actually suspended in air and misted with a water/nutrient solution using an oxygenating air pump, either a small continuous mist or an interval cycle. That way, the roots are provided with continuous nutrients and exposed to constant oxygen without the risk of oversaturation. Aeroponic systems are relatively simple to monitor, but even a slight malfunction can cause the plant roots to dry out and die quickly.
surabky / Getty Images
Nutrient Film Technique
In the nutrient film technique, the water and nutrient solution are held in a larger reservoir with an air pump to keep it oxygenated. The plants themselves are grown in a nearby channel (called net pots) and the water pump is set on a timer that pushes the water through the channel at certain intervals. The roots aren’t completely submerged, but the pump helps deliver a thin film of nutrients and water to the plants.
At the end of the channel, the solution can be dropped back into the main reservoir to be reused. Apart from being a low-waste continuously flowing system, this method ensures that the roots don’t become suffocated with too much solution and requires little to no growing medium. However, it requires a lot of observation, since any malfunction in the pumps or clog in the channel can ruin the plants.
Hydroponics at Home?
Having your own hydroponic system at home is a great way to grow your own plants and vegetables faster than the traditional outdoor soil technique, or if you live in a city apartment without access to an outdoor gardening plot. For beginners, it's best to start with a simpler, less expensive system like deep water culture or wick. All systems, however, will require a reservoir or other large container, a nutrient source, and water, while many may also include a growing light, medium, and an air pump.
As urban gardening continues to rise in popularity, so does technology. There are plenty of indoor or outdoor hydroponics gardens in a wide range of budgets available to consumers who don’t have the time or space to create sophisticated hydroponic operations.
Pros and Cons
Not only do hydroponic plants yield more crops, they also require less space and can be used year-round. Plus, plants grown hydroponically typically use less water than traditional farming, can yield larger amounts, and rarely require pesticides or chemicals. For example, a 2018 study in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation found that nutrient film technique hydroponic systems save 70% to 90% of water among leafy and other vegetables. By leaving out the soil component entirely, you’re also leaving out all of the potential issues (like plant pests and diseases) that can come with it.
Used hydroponic water, however, contains nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen that can be hazardous if it enters waterways, potentially causing excessive growth of algae that kills aquatic animals or contaminating drinking water. Most growers dispose of leftover hydroponic nutrients by filtering out the minerals and disposing of the remaining wastewater after it's been purified, and those who work on a smaller scale may reuse wasted nutrients in future hydroponic projects. Some researchers have even been successful in reusing the nutrients found in non-recycled hydroponic waste solution for growing other plants in greenhouses.
Lead photo: Chonticha Vatpongpee / Getty Images
USA - WISCONSIN: Valor Aquaponic Coming To Hartford Public Market
“They are a commercial aquaponics farm using non-GMO seeds and rainbow trout and koi to grow all natural vegetables,” according to the Hartford Public Market’s post
Daily News Staff
May 26, 2021
Patrick Hansen is bringing Pewaukee-based Valor Aquaponics to the Hartford Public Market.
Submitted photo
HARTFORD — Valor Aquaponics, out of Pewaukee, is the most recent vendor announced as coming to the new Hartford Public Market this summer.
Valor Aquaponics provides basil, microgreens, and other vegetable products grown on its urban aquaponics farm setup, according to a Facebook post from the Hartford Public Market. According to Valor’s own Facebook page, Valor is certified USDA organic.
“They are a commercial aquaponics farm using non-GMO seeds and rainbow trout and koi to grow all natural vegetables,” according to the Hartford Public Market’s post.
“From organic microgreens to organic basal, Patrick (Hansen) will be bringing in some great options into our refrigerator space. We are really looking forward to offering this product in our market!” it continued.
Aquaponics is a system in which fish and produce are farmed together. The water and waste from the fish is processed to be used as fertilizer for the plants, and the plants in turn filter and oxygenate the water for the fish.
Information on Valor Aquaponics’ website stated that aquaponics systems use 95 percent less water than conventional farming, one-third the energy of other farming systems and because of aquaponics using controlled systems indoors, it does not require pesticides or other harmful chemicals to maintain.
Valor began in 2019 when Patrick Hansen built his first home aquaponics system from seeds and blue tilapia. The business’s indoor farm in Waukesha opened in August of last year.
Ally and Steve Kenitz, husband and wife, are currently working on the space for their new business, the Hartford Public Market at 102 N. Main St. Ally Kenitz said they do not have a hard timeline yet, but they are hoping to have the space completed and open by this August.
Once open, Ally said, the Hartford Public Market will host items from dozens of vendors — they have more than 20 lined up already, and are hoping to have 100 by the time opening day comes.
Squamish Nation Grows Plans For Food Security With Hydroponic Farm
While the outside of this 40-foot container is rather striking, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. 🌱
Noah Hilton
May 22, 2021
Home Kits Allows To Grow All Kinds of Plants
If you're the green-fingered type, then Altifarm's latest addition to its indoor garden range—the PicoMax—will be of interest. The brand has just launched its crowdfunding campaign
If you're the green-fingered type, then Altifarm's latest addition to its indoor garden range—the PicoMax—will be of interest. The brand has just launched its crowdfunding campaign.
Growing your own flowers, plants, fruit, and vegetables can be a laborious process for many. Plants die easily without the correct care and attention, and busy lifestyles mean we can't always get out in the garden and tend to a vegetable patch or flower bed. Thankfully, Altifarm has the answer. After successfully launching its palm-sized Pico indoor garden via a well-received 2020 crowdfunding campaign, the brand is back with the latest in its range; the PicoMax.
What is the PicoMax indoor garden?
Essentially, PicoMax is an indoor planter that automatically waters your plants and provides them with exactly the right amount of light to ensure rapid growth and an abundance of greenery.
Altifarm has designed the PicoMax to water your flowers automatically and provide them with the correct amount of light to encourage rapid and abundant growth.
It does this using an irrigation system attached to the base of the planter, along with full-spectrum white LEDs (plus specific red and blue wavelengths) on telescopic arms above the planter. Telescopic, to allow you to move them up as your plants or vegetables grow.
Using its own Real-Time Clock (RTC) powered by a button cell (the first of its kind among its indoor garden peers), and a rechargeable battery pack that lasts up to four days, you can pretty much leave your plants to their own devices and just watch as they grow.
Read the complete article at www.makeuseof.com.
Publication date: Wed 26 May 2021
USA - COLORADO: Sedalia-Based FarmBox Foods Sending Container Farms All Over The World
FarmBox Foods’ short-term goals include partnering with institutions that help provide the biggest possible impact for the most people, including food banks, schools, and hospitals
Posted by Chris Michlewicz
May 28, 2021
With increasingly unpredictable weather patterns impacting crops and a continuing global food crisis affecting millions, a Colorado company is using tech-based indoor farming to make sure no one goes without a reliable, secure source of nutrient-rich food.
FarmBox Foods, based in Sedalia, has spent the last four years developing automated farms in shipping containers to grow organic leafy greens, culinary herbs, tomatoes, and now pine tree seedlings. The company also has a first-of-its-kind gourmet mushroom farm that produces around 400 pounds of mushrooms per week.
The mission-driven company is focused on helping feed those living in food deserts while empowering local communities and providing jobs and educational opportunities. FarmBox Foods’ patented vertical hydroponic watering systems use 90% less water than traditional farms and yield the equivalent of 2 – 2.5 acres of farmland. The repurposed shipping containers that house these systems can be placed virtually anywhere in the world — from island nations to college campuses to the frozen reaches of Alaska — and produce food year-round.
The fully controlled enclosed growing environment is protected from pests and pathogens, which reduces and can eliminate entirely the need for pesticides, allowing people to harvest and eat untainted farm-fresh produce. Setting up containers in or near populated areas also reduces food waste, as the food is able to get to the table more quickly and can better retain its nutritional value.
“The real mission in this whole thing is to be able to feed the world in places that ordinarily wouldn’t be able to grow food,” said Rusty Walker, CEO of FarmBox Foods.
FarmBox Foods’ short-term goals include partnering with institutions that help provide the biggest possible impact for the most people, including food banks, schools, and hospitals.
Learn more at www.farmboxfoods.com.
Posted in Arapahoe County, Douglas County, Douglas County Business, Douglas County Front, Featured, Jefferson County, South Jeffco
Tagged agtech, climatecontrolledfarming, Colorado, coloradobusiness, containerag, containerfarms, eatorganic, farmboxfoods, farmboxfoodscolorado, farming, farmtotable, fooddeserts, foodinequality, foodinsecurity, foodsecurity, growyourownfood, indoorfarming, indoorfarms, mushroomcultivation, mushroomfarm, mushrooms, organic, sedalia, urbanfarming, verticalhydroponicfarm, verticalhydroponics
About the Author: Chris Michlewicz
USA - KENTUCKY: Elliott County High School Receives New Container Farm Through AppHarvest
The curriculum provided by AppHarvest will cover topics such as high-tech growing and an introductory course on local food systems and food resiliency
May. 29, 2021
SANDY HOOK, Ky. (WSAZ) - Some students at Elliott County High School will soon be able to help grow food -- not only for themselves but for the entire region.
The Elliott County High School container farm is the fourth addition to AppHarvest’s program in 2021 and the sixth educational container farm to date.
The container farm program was launched in 2018 and demonstrates AppHarvest’s ongoing commitment to cultivating interest in high-tech farming as it seeks to create America’s AgTech capital from inside Appalachia. Each retrofitted shipping container acts as a hands-on agricultural classroom for students, allowing them to grow and provide fresh leafy greens to their classmates and those in need in their communities.
AppHarvest has opened container farms in Eastern Kentucky at Madison Central High School in Richmond; Breathitt High School in Jackson; Shelby Valley High School in Pikeville; and Rowan County Senior High School and AppHarvest’s flagship farm at Rockcastle County High School in Morehead.
Elliott County High School’s container farm includes space to grow up to 2,760 seedlings and 2,960 mature plants, all at once in a nutrient film technique (NFT) system. NFT is a water-saving system in which plant roots are continuously fed all necessary water and nutrients by a shallow stream, also called “film.” Excess water drains to a holding tank and is then recirculated. This system of high-tech growing sets the Elliott County container apart from AppHarvest’s other educational containers, which have operated hydroponically and vertically.
“One of our goals at AppHarvest is to build an AgTech capital right here in Appalachia,” said Jonathan Webb, AppHarvest Founder, and CEO. “We want to see communities across the region use technology to bring farms to life. And in five years from now, it’ll be leaders from these very programs coming to us with ideas on how we continue to evolve and change agriculture.”
Makayla Rose, Elliott County High School agriculture teacher, will lead the newest container program.
The curriculum provided by AppHarvest will cover topics such as high-tech growing and an introductory course on local food systems and food resiliency.
“This is exciting. Some students who might not like to get in the dirt have a different way of growing vegetables,” said Garret Barker, president of Elliot County’s FFA chapter. “It’s different than my farm at home. It doesn’t depend on outside factors like the rain. It’s all controlled by an app.”
Lead Photo: Elliott County High School receives new container farm through AppHarvest (Kimberly Keagy/ WSAZ)
USA - VIDEO: Founder And CEO Jonathan Webb, Recap Business Update
Jonathan Webb appeared on Fox Business program Claman’s Countdown to discuss the company’s quarterly earnings report and how agriculture is ripe for disruption
FOUNDER AND CEO JONATHAN WEBB
TALKS DISRUPTING
AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECTOR ON
CLAMAN’S COUNTDOWN
Jonathan Webb appeared on Fox Business program Claman’s Countdown to discuss the company’s quarterly earnings report and how agriculture is ripe for disruption.
“We are focused on bringing food production back to the U.S.,” Jonathan said. “We’ve pushed most of our fruit and vegetable production down to Mexico and we have got to bring it back to the U.S., and we can do it through controlled environment, growing indoors.”
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Urban Farming Institute's goal is to teach individuals and families how to grow their own food. In Series No. 1: Off To A Good Start, Seeds and Seedlings staff demonstrate creative options to sustainably grow food employing different methods and mediums. Be inspired. Growing is good for your health and the environment.
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The Urban Farming Institute of Boston’s (UFI) mission is to contribute to healthy people and sustainable cities by promoting and creating self-sustaining urban farming enterprises and farming jobs. By enabling urban farming through farm creation, farmer training, public education and policy change, UFI brings people in urban neighborhoods closer to food production, nurtures a healthy local food system, promotes job creation and the industry of urban agriculture.
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Vertical Farming Startup Hopes To Make Fresh, Healthy Greens More Affordable Across America
Forward Greens, a Vancouver, Washington-based vertical farm is re-envisioning and repurposing existing machinery, technology, and traditional farming methods. Founder Ken Kaneko who previously worked in tech at Intel and Apple is now looking at how to make indoor farming an accessible resource across the nation
May 28, 2021
Vertical farming startup from Vancouver, Washington, hopes to transform the "greens" industry.
FORWARD GREENS
With land expensive to buy, and farmers facing weather-related changes constantly and a push towards more eco-friendly and local production of food, could indoor (and vertical) farming be part of the answer?
Forward Greens, a Vancouver, Washington-based vertical farm is re-envisioning and repurposing existing machinery, technology, and traditional farming methods. Founder Ken Kaneko who previously worked in tech at Intel and Apple is now looking at how to make indoor farming an accessible resource across the nation.
Here’s more on his unique journey from tech to agriculture and his new mission to get us growing more green vertically.
Chhabra: You were inspired in Japan. Tell me what you saw there and how it got your wheels turning.
Kaneko: When I was working at Apple, I went to Japan on business to look for real estate for manufacturing electronics components for phones and other devices. Japan used to have many semiconductor and hard-disk manufacturing sites before much of it got off-shored, much like America. We took a look at many of these older sites, which were oftentimes empty or repurposed for other activities. One of the sites was operating as an indoor farm, and that piqued my interest.
My background is in R/D for semiconductors, and the fact that there were plants growing in an old semiconductor fabrication made me think, “Maybe I can try this.” So I did.
Founder Ken Kaneko | FORWARD GREENS
Chhabra: Why don't we do more vertical farming? It makes a lot of sense from various angles — space, water, cost, etc.
Kaneko: There’s a capital intensity that is not easy to manage. That’s in part due to the fact that a strong vendor and sub-vendor network has not yet matured, so getting the right equipment in place can require big up-front costs. While vertical farming is poised to transform the future of agriculture because of its multiple benefits across the environment, food safety and supply chain, starting a farm can be expensive, especially if it’s built to scale. Production has yet to be formalized so that it can be replicated and used as a template to build multiple vertical farms across the country, and this would help the industry deliver a cost-effective product to consumers in a financially sustainable way.
Another key component is that introducing something new takes time. The idea of vertical farming is gaining traction, but most consumers require education to understand what exactly it is, how it works, its benefits, the things that can be grown, etc. Without that knowledge, it can be an intimidating industry. Produce itself is also heavily commoditized. So many marketing dollars have gone into different brands, farming methodologies, cultivars, etc. Overcoming that, especially as a new entrant, takes time.
Chhabra: How did you fund this venture?
Kaneko: Forward Greens was funded through a mixture of capital from friends, acquaintances and from my own savings.
Chhabra: What challenges did you face in your first harvest? Any big learning curves?
Kaneko: Everything about this experience has been humbling. For the first harvest, things went surprisingly well with respect to product formulation, product packaging, quality assurance and food safety. The part that was the trickiest was learning how the distribution business works with respect to retailer preference and margin expectations.
Chhabra: Is vertical farming getting enough traction and support, in your opinion?
Kaneko: I think vertical farming is beginning to gain traction as a number of facilities are opening up across the country. Vertical farms, in conjunction with controlled environment greenhouses, will likely create a unique market category known for never using pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. Alongside the environmental benefits, these farms provide a significant safety factor that outdoor farming has difficulties in controlling, especially with fresh produce.
Chhabra: How do you think you can make vertical farming more cost-effective and easier to replicate?
Kaneko: From an idealistic engineering perspective, I would like to think anything is possible in terms of making vertical farming more cost-effective. The difficult part is executing this possibility at a reasonable cost. To do it, the industry requires the collective learnings built on the successes and mistakes of everyone involved. You see something similar with the recent technologies in electronics and automobiles. As companies start iterating on others’ ideas, innovations happen. And when more companies build on these solutions it actually helps drive down costs associated with those solutions.
Forward Greens is highly focused on the costs related to delivering a fantastic product to the consumer. We aim to optimize the cost of the whole process by using existing machinery, technology and methods already tried and tested in agricultural and packaging industries. Our focus is on streamlining production to spend more time pushing the practice toward its intended use: using less land, less water, zero pesticides and prioritizing the environment. Efficiencies in how to use technology lead to new ways to apply the technology.
Chhabra: What do you make of all this chatter around regenerative agriculture? Where does vertical farming fit into this?
Kaneko: Agriculture heavily impacts greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to the space utilization, deforestation, water and chemical discharge in the environment. And many people are now noticing these effects. Any practice or methodology that helps in mitigating impacts on the environment should be considered as part of the portfolio of solutions. Regenerative agriculture, organic farming, controlled environment agriculture and vertical farming should all be pursued as they optimize on varying impacts.
Much like negotiating problems spanning science, politics, etc, there is rarely a single solution that addresses all of the issues. I think this is especially true for something as complex as climate change and repairing the environment.
Chhabra: Do you have to have a branded product to make it a profitable venture or can you just be a classic farmer (albeit vertically) and sell the crop to distributors/ CSAs/ markets?
Any of these models can work. Forward Greens opted to brand our greens because we hope to educate the consumers about the benefits of our methodologies and products. Because we’re indoors, we use no pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. We use 97% less land and 95% less water than traditional outdoor agriculture. As a company and brand, Forward Greens is also able to build local partnerships within our own community through employment opportunities and food donations. These benefits and possibilities are due in large part because we grow our products and distribute them under our brand.
Because farm products traditionally trade many hands, the integrity of the product is oftentimes diluted at each node of the supply chain. The farms, packers, distributors, etc. all have competing interests, so messaging and communication can be inconsistent to the end consumer. Forward Greens believes in what we’re doing and how we’re doing it, so we want to keep a channel of communication open directly with our consumers.
I cover a new taxonomy that looks at the crossroads of business and impact, particularly brands and individuals who are developing solutions for social and environmental problems. As a freelance journalist, I’ve written for numerous publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times, Atlantic, Economist, and The Guardian. In recent years, the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting has supported my reporting from Asia, which looks at sustainable fashion, global health, and technology for development. Follow me on Twitter @esh2440 or on Instagram at @eshatravels.
Brick Street Farms Expands Through Florida and East Coast
“We really wanted to bring food production to the point of consumption, so we’re focused on embedding our farms in urban areas,” says Shannon O’Malley, CEO, and co-founder of Florida-based container farming company, Brick Street Farms
"We Are As Much A
Technology Company
As We Are A Farm Operator”
“We really wanted to bring food production to the point of consumption, so we’re focused on embedding our farms in urban areas,” says Shannon O’Malley, CEO, and co-founder of Florida-based container farming company, Brick Street Farms.
The company was founded by Shannon and her husband Bradley, who combined her expertise in electrical engineering with his background in software development to design their own shipping container farms.
According to Shannon, a major differentiator of Brick Streets Farms is that the company manufactures and operates its own shipping container farms.
Brick Street Farms Hubs
Brick Street Farms has recently secured a significant investment from Lykes Brothers, which is reportedly one of the largest and longest-running private agricultural companies in the United States. During the official announcement last week, the financial investment will be used to aggressively expand Brick Street Farms hubs, which are the combination of container farms with a retail front in densely populated areas.
Click here to Zoom the photo. (Photo courtesy of Brick Street Farms)
According to Shannon, this expansion will begin in west-central Florida then expand to the east coast. From these hubs, Brick Street Farms will also introduce home delivery and will support restaurant partners located within 50-100 miles of the hubs. Already in 272 Publix supermarkets, Brick Street Farms will continue this partnership and plans to expand into additional product categories.
Building a resilient, multi-channel sales strategy
Brick Street Farms was first developed in 2015, and during its early years, the company predominantly sold its products to restaurants and directly to customers. However, the pandemic-induced shutdown in 2020 resulted in the loss of 70% of Brick Street Farms’ clients due to restaurant closures. As Shannon explains, Brick Street Farms was already selling its products in the GreenWise section at Publix supermarkets, which is reportedly the largest employee-owned supermarket chain in the US. This partnership allowed Brick Street Farms to quickly pivot following the mandated closure of restaurants.
“In the same month that Florida went into lockdown, grocery stores saw an incredible jump in demand so we were able to quickly pivot and provide our vegetables to grocery stores within a week. We are currently in 272 Publix stores and are working to expand into west-central Florida,” says Shannon. The state of Florida has since reopened and Brick Street Farms was able to bring back its previous accounts and sign new ones, according to Shannon.
Brick Street Farms also has its own gourmet market located at the farm that is open six days per week. Consumers can shop either on-site or online, with contactless delivery available. Shannon also explains that the company has adopted a unique twist to community-supported agriculture. By subscribing to a farm membership, consumers receive a discount and support the recently approved non-profit, Desert Farms Foundation.
“We established Desert Farms Foundation to help us bring container farms to food deserts within the United States. With a farm membership, 1% of the proceeds go to Desert Farms Foundation to really support community agriculture,” explains Shannon.
Thrive Containers
“Our containers are under the name Thrive Containers, which is wholly owned by Brick Street Farms. Our containers are the equivalent of 2-3 acres of traditional farmland. They use very little water, are energetically efficient, produce very little waste and use no chemicals. Since our products are wash-free, our customers get the benefits of long-lasting produce,” explains Shannon.
According to Shannon, Brick Street Farms is as much an agtech company as it is a farm operator. The company decided to establish Thrive Containers as its own entity within Brick Street Farms in order to differentiate between the food production and manufacturing aspect of the company. “When people see Brick Street Farms, we want them to think of butterhead lettuce, basil and our other vegetables,” notes Shannon.
Thrive Containers does not sell its container farms to third parties, but instead continuously improves the farm design for current and future installations. As Shannon explains, the company focuses on designing intelligent systems that can adjust to indoor and outdoor environmental conditions. Thrive containers have more than 120 sensors in and around the farm to monitor and respond to ambient temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, vapor pressure deficit, etc.
Brick Street Farms and Thrive Containers work closely, with the engineers and designers having all undergone farmer training to ensure that the systems designed truly respond to the needs of Brick Street Farms’ growers.
Why Florida?
While warm and sunny Florida may seem ideal for outdoor agriculture, Shannon explains that soil conditions make soil-based agriculture somewhat difficult. She says that Florida soils are rather degraded and sandy, lack nutrients and lack natural bacteria, meaning farmers need to spend significant time and effort on rebuilding soils. Also, water sources are highly saline because of our position at level, near the coast, and with a low water table. Finally, the lack of winter makes it difficult to regulate pest cycles.
Lead photo: Co-founders Brad Doyle and Shannon O’Malley
For more information:
Madeline McNaughton, Head of Business Development
Brick Street Farms
madeline@brickstreetfarms.com
www.brickstreetfarms.com
Publication date: Thu 27 May 2021
Author: Rebekka Boekhout
© VerticalFarmDaily.com
OnePointOne And Sakata Seed America Aim To Accelerate The Quality And Variety In Vertical Farming
OnePointOne’s system consists of advanced aeroponics and a fleet of robotic growers to perform most of the day-to-day production functions – from planting, to watering, to harvesting
Industry-Leading Partnership Will Drive Data, Growth, and Consumer Options
SAN JOSE, CA — OnePointOne and Sakata Seed America announced today a game-changing collaboration in the acceleration of vertical farming. Together, the two leading entities will share intelligence and analysis focused on maximizing plant outputs while minimizing environmental impact.
The large-scale research program begins today at OnePointOne’s facility in San Jose, CA. Their 25-foot vertical structure uses LED lights to supplant the sun, a nutrient-rich mist to replace the soils, and a clean-room environment, akin to a computer lab, as the production field.
OnePointOne’s system consists of advanced aeroponics and a fleet of robotic growers to perform most of the day-to-day production functions – from planting, to watering, to harvesting.
Sakata’s wide array of state-of-the-art genetics coupled with OnePointOne’s industry-leading, proprietary tech promises to drive further innovations and discovery.
Dave Armstrong, President/CEO of Sakata adds, “We are taking the Controlled Environment Agriculture arena very seriously. By working with OnePointOne on product research and development, we aim to push the segment’s development in a real-world vertical production environment. Working together directly and fully sharing information enables both sides to capture data that might otherwise take years to generate.”
“Working with OnePointOne gives us the opportunity to test many of our varieties in a true vertical system and highly precise indoor environment. The performance data we’ll collect will help us continue to refine our varieties and fine-tune our breeding programs for the CEA space,” said Tracy Lee, Sakata’s Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Lead.
“We are on a mission to unleash the power of plants to feed, fuel and heal the world,” explains Sam Bertram, CEO, and Co-Founder of OnePointOne. “As we launch Willo, the world’s first personalized vertical farming experience, this Sakata partnership will help amplify our ability to bring an exciting list of cultivars to our members. Furthermore, it will drive the innovations and advances needed to bring a more sustainable growth platform to the market at scale.”
About Sakata Seed America, Inc.: Headquartered in Morgan Hill, CA, Sakata Seed America is a major research, seed production, and marketing-distribution subsidiary of Sakata Seed Corporation, established in 1913. Sakata Seed America, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, serves as the headquarters for the North American/Central American operations. Their mission is to quickly and efficiently meet industry expectations for quality seed, innovative genetics, and excellent greenhouse and field performance.
About OnePointOne: Founded in Silicon Valley, OnePointOne is revolutionizing vertical farming by building the most technologically advanced plant cultivation platform on the planet through innovations in automation, AI, and plant science. In 2020, OnePointOne launched Willo (www.willo.farm) the world’s first personalized vertical farming program designed to amplify human health.
USA: Vertical Field Signs Agreement To Provide Vertical Farms of Fresh Vegetables To Senior Living Homes In California
Vertical Field has developed and commercialized unique soil-based, vertical farms that operate in 20 and 40-foot containers that produce freshly harvested and pesticide-free produce
Company To Deliver Unparalleled Produce Quality Via
Freshly-Harvested On-site Vertical Farms in 8 Calson
Management Nursing Homes Across The State
News & Photos by: Vertical Field
May 26, 2021
RA'AANA, Israel, May 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vertical Field - ("VF" or the "Company"), a global ag-tech company that develops vertical farming systems, has signed an agreement with Calson Management to supply assisted living homes with on-site vertical farming units. According to the agreement, Vertical Field will provide a demo unit to the Glen Cove senior living lodge in Vallejo, California, and after a successful pilot will expand to seven other centers.
Vertical Field has developed and commercialized unique soil-based, vertical farms that operate in 20 and 40-foot containers that produce freshly harvested and pesticide-free produce. The VF indoor farms are capable of growing a variety of fresh greens and other crops year-round with no seasonality barriers while minimizing supply chain logistics and storage, eliminating the need for transportation, and minimizing inventory losses.
Vertical Field's urban farms use 90% less water and 30 times less land than conventional farming methods. Each portable unit is made up recycled shipping containers that grow produce in controlled conditions. Advanced sensors and monitors, climate control technology, and state-of-the-art lighting create the optimum conditions for crops to grow quickly and efficiently year-round, regardless of the weather.
The Company provides vertical farming for supermarkets, restaurants and multi-site facilities in the United States, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Russia, and others.
"We are very excited to launch our first partnership with an assisted living center, providing senior citizens freshly harvested, high-quality produce grown right outside their residence" says Guy Elitzur, Vertical Field's CEO. "This partnership supports our values of ensuring that nutritious produce reaches the homes of all people- no matter where they live. We look forward to continuing to expand to many other assisted living centers, and to making delicious and quality food accessible to senior citizens and other marginalized communities throughout the world."
About Vertical Field: Vertical Field is an ag-tech company that develops innovative and proprietary vertical growing systems for the urban environment. Our urban farms make efficient use of city space by growing crops vertically and on-site, bringing healthy, fresh, and local produce all the way to the consumer.
About Calson Management:
Calson Management provides a full suite of services and solutions for every aspect of a Senior Living project, and is committed to excellence in providing personal services in a warm, loving, and supportive environment. The Reyes family (partners and managers) have been involved in Senior Living for more than 30 years, and is dedicated to creating unique, specialized communities for seniors throughout California. Our family and our team members work to provide safe, engaging, and comfortable communities.
"Enhancing the health and wellbeing of our seniors is a priority at Calson Management, which is why partnering with Vertical Field to supply senior living homes with fresh, nutritious, and on-site produce was a natural decision. By bringing the farm all the way to our residents, seniors can see where the food grows and enjoy high-quality produce, furthering a living home's ability to create a happy, safe, and comfortable community." – Jason Reyes, Principal, Calson Management
For further information https://www.verticalfield.com
News & Photo Source: Vertical Field
USA - FLORIDA: St. Pete’s Brick Street Farms Gets Multi-Million-Dollar Investment From Lykes Bros
Lykes Bros., one of the oldest and largest agribusinesses in Florida, is putting a big bet on the future of farming as it invests in Brick Street Farms, an urban farm, and market in St. Petersburg
May 20, 2021
Photo credit: Brick Street Farms
Lykes Bros., one of the oldest and largest agribusinesses in Florida, is putting a big bet on the future of farming as it invests in Brick Street Farms, an urban farm and market in St. Petersburg.
Lykes is making a “significant” investment in Brick Street Farms, the two companies announced at a news conference Thursday. The amount of investment was not disclosed, but a news release described it as “multi-million dollar” investment. Lykes will take a 20 percent ownership stake in Brick Street Farms because of the deal, Mallory Dimmitt, vice president of strategic partnerships at Lykes, told the St. Pete Catalyst.
Brick Street Farms will use the investment to accelerate the expansion of Brick Street Farms hubs, an all-inclusive onsite farming and retail shopping experience in urban cores, said Shannon O’Malley, founder and CEO. The company has self-contained, environmentally sustainable THRIVE containers that will be placed in each hub. Each hub will grow between 16 to 20 acres of farmland on one-third acre lots.
Mallory Dimmitt, vice president at Lykes Bros., announces investment in Brick Street Farms while Nikki Fried, Florida Ag Commissioner, looks on.
The first new hub will open in St. Petersburg’s Warehouse Arts District in late 2021, with an expansion to Tampa in early 2022 followed by more hubs on the east coast, O’Malley said.
“We are the future of farming, and our new investors have the perfect expertise to help us take our successful business model in sustainable farming to feed more people healthy food,” O’Malley said.
The two companies first connected in November at the Florida-Israel Agriculture Innovation Summit, hosted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said Nikki Fried, Florida Department of Agriculture Commissioner.
The collaboration meets several goals, including feeding people in urban locations, fighting urban food deserts and food insecurity, bringing farm-to-fork produce closer to people and bringing cutting edge agriculture technology to everyone.
From left, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and Shannon O’Malley, founder and CEO, Brick Street Farms
Brick Street Farms is a hub of innovation and creativity and is the only female-founded and led company in the vertical farming industry, said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. He also highlighted the work of the company’s non-profit Desert Farms Foundation.
“Not only is Brick Street Farms working to make us healthier by providing us some of the best and freshest food around, but through its 501c3, Brick Street Farms is working to end food deserts through the Tampa Bay area,” Kriseman said.
Every urban environment struggles with food deserts, said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.
“The problems that occur from those food deserts are often times for many communities insurmountable. This is a solution to so many problems,” Castor said.
She also praised the company’s business model. It is financially successful by providing produce to a number of restaurants, Castor said.
While an urban focus might seem like an unusual fit for company like Lykes, which owns hundreds of thousands of rural acres throughout the state, “We know from our experience that innovation is what moves the agriculture industry forward,” said Dimmitt, who will join the Brick Street Farms board of directors.
“In addition to innovations in sustainable production and the technology it uses, the job opportunities and related job training and skills are key to Florida’s future and to our health and wellness,” Dimmitt said. “What could be better medicine than high-quality nutrient-dense greens grown close to the consumer where they have direct access, all while creating community.”
Brick Street Farms, at 2233 3rd Ave. S. was founded in 2016 by O’Malley and her husband, Brad Doyle. Read more about O’Malley in St. Pete Catalyst‘s Hustle profile.
Indoor Vertical Farming Grows Up
Bryan Walsh, author of Future
Indoor vertical farming, where crops are raised in automated stacks, often in or near cities, offers a way to sustainably meet the growing demand for food — if its energy demand can be reduced.
Why it matters: With the global population still rising — albeit more slowly — and more people moving to urban areas, the world needs ways to produce more food without clearing land for conventional farms.
Driving the news: New York-based vertical farming startup Bowery Farming on Tuesday announced a new $300 million funding round — the largest in the industry's history — that values the company at $2.3 billion.
The deal accelerates the momentum in venture capital funding for vertical farming companies, which hit nearly $1.9 billion globally in 2020, almost tripling investment from the year before.
"We're going to need 50–70% more food over the next 30 years, according to the UN," says Irving Fain, the CEO, and founder of Bowery Farming, which has two commercial vertical farms in New Jersey and Maryland and sells its leafy greens to 850 grocery stores. "Indoor farming is not the only answer to that challenge, but it's part of the solution."
How it works: Food has been grown indoors in greenhouses for decades, and it's industrialized to the point that the Netherlands has become the second-largest vegetable exporter in the world chiefly through greenhouses.
Vertical farming takes greenhouses to the next level —literally — with crops grown in tower-like walls of plant-holding cells that require no soil. Like an apartment tower versus a suburban tract, that means more food can be grown on a smaller footprint, which is ideal for cities.
Water and nutrients are delivered to crops either aeroponically — via the air through misting — or hydroponically, in which the plants are grown in nutrient-rich water. "You get high density and high output, while using 90% less water" than conventional farming, says Micki Seibel, VP of product at the vertical farming startup Unfold.
Growing light is delivered via LED lamps. While more expensive than sunlight — which currently remains free — the LED lamps aren't weather-dependent, and like water, nutrients and temperature in the vertical farms, the light can be controlled precisely, vastly enhancing yield and reducing grow times.
Because vertical farming uses so little space, "we can move the farm to the people rather than the food," says James Woolard, chief marketing officer at Freight Farms, which develops mobile hydroponic freight containers modified for indoor farming.
By the numbers: There are more than 2,000 vertical farms in the U.S. Most are run by small growers with a few bigger players, including Bowery Farming, Newark-based AeroFarms, and Wyoming-based Plenty.
Internationally, says Seibel, "Japan has looked at vertical farming as a way to increase food security and reclaim production lost during the tsunami, while Singapore — which imports 90% of its food — is making significant investments in the sector to increase its own food security."
A recent report pegs the size of the vertical farming market at $240 million in 2019 and projects it will grow to over $1 billion by 2027.
The catch: Even with that growth, vertical farming will likely still remain a niche player — the output of U.S. farms alone was worth $136 billion in 2019.
In part because of the price of supplying artificial light, vertical farms have struggled to break even in the past, and they chiefly produce comparatively priced leafy greens rather than the commodity crops that make up the backbone of the food system.
What's next: Second-generation vertical farms are taking advantage of efficiency advances in LED technology, as well as automation and sensors that can reduce labor and setup costs and enhance yield.
The ability of vertical farms to maintain the ideal environment for high-quality crops like tomatoes or lettuce anywhere in the world at any time of the year is turning agriculture into a high-tech industry.
"All the externalities that have been uncontrollable [in farming] historically are now very much controllable," says Bowery's Fain.
What to watch: The development of AeroFarms's 136,000-square-foot Model 5 facility in Virginia, which is set to be the largest and most technologically advanced vertical aeroponic farm when it is scheduled to be completed in mid-2022.
The bottom line: Agriculture made cities possible. Now vertical farming holds out the possibility that cities could become farms themselves
Lead Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios