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Giant Vertical Farm Opens in Denmark
The produce grown here will be harvested 15 times a year, despite never seeing soil or daylight. It is lit up around the clock by 20,000 specialized LED lightbulbs
DECEMBER 7, 2020
by Camille Bas-Wohlert
First developed around a decade ago, vertical farms have taken off in Asia and the United States
A purple glow illuminates stacked boxes where lettuce, herbs and kale will soon be sprouting at one of Europe's biggest "vertical farms" which has just opened in a warehouse in an industrial zone in Copenhagen.
Fourteen layers of racks soar from floor to ceiling in this massive, 7,000-square-metre (75,350-square-foot) hangar used by Danish start-up Nordic Harvest.
The produce grown here will be harvested 15 times a year, despite never seeing soil or daylight. It is lit up around the clock by 20,000 specialized LED lightbulbs.
Danish Nordic Harvest raises DKK 62 million. DKK to one of Europe's largest vertical farms
In this futuristic farm, little robots deliver trays of seeds from aisle to aisle.
The large aluminum boxes are mostly empty for now, but lettuce and other leafy greens will soon be growing.
Some 200 tonnes of produce are due to be harvested in the first quarter of 2021, and almost 1,000 tonnes annually when the farm is running at full capacity by the end of 2021, explains Anders Riemann, founder and chief executive of Nordic Harvest.
That would make the Taastrup warehouse one of Europe's biggest vertical farms.
These urban facilities have unsurprisingly received a cool welcome from rural farmers, who have questioned their ability to feed the planet and criticised their electricity consumption.
But Riemann stresses the environmental benefits of his farm, with produce grown close to consumers and its use of green electricity.
A robot, used to plant seeds and check the plants while growing, moves past vertical racks at 'Nordic Harvest' in Taastrup, a suburb west of Copenhagen
"A vertical farm is characterized by not harming the environment by recycling all the water and nutrition or fertilizer," says Riemann, who uses no pesticides.
In Denmark, a world leader in wind farms, about 40 percent of electricity consumption is wind-based.
"In our case, we use 100 percent energy from windmills which makes us CO2-neutral," he adds.
While he wouldn't disclose how much Nordic Harvest's electricity bill comes to, he said the power came with "wind certificates" registered on the Danish commodities exchange.
These legal documents guarantee that "the amount of electricity you consume in one year is equivalent to the electricity produced by numbered windmills offshore".
Slow start in Europe
First developed around a decade ago, vertical farms have taken off in Asia and the United States, which is home to the world's biggest.
The idea has slowly started to catch on in Europe.
Urban farming could even allow land exploited by single-culture farming to be reforested, Riemann said.
Shelves of the vertical plant farm 'Nordic Harvest' where lettuce, herbs and kale will soon be growing
"We moved the forests in order to have fields," he laments, noting that now farmers like him can bring "some of the food production back into the cities where you can grow on much smaller land and space-optimized in height".
His farm uses one liter of water per kilogram of produce, or 40 times less than underground farms and 250 times less than in fields, he says.
The names of his clients remain confidential, but they include caterers, restaurants, and even supermarkets.
According to a poll conducted by the Danish Farmers Union, 95 percent of Danes are ready to change their consumer behavior to protect the environment.
Nordic Harvest's products are however not labeled as organic.
"The EU regulation dictates that the word organic is linked to the word 'soil' so if you take soil out of the equation you can't name it organic anymore," he says.
But "we grow on the same terms as organic: we don't use pesticides or insecticides".
Meanwhile, Aarhus University agriculture professor Carl-Otto Ottosen notes that Denmark "doesn't have a space problem" and companies like Riemann's are largely a novelty that won't threaten Danish farming traditions.
"It works in Japan or Shanghai, where there's no space to farm and where they want quality products," he says.
But despite what polls suggest, Ottosen insists Danes are still more inclined to buy products based on "price, not taste".
AUSTRALIA: NSW Architect’s Idea For Sustaining Life on Mars is a Winner
Calabrese’s submission outlined how rockets would send robotic self-building farms a year prior to the first human landing. Using Artificial Intelligence and 3D printing, these buildings, preloaded with seeds, would then assemble autonomously and begin growing enough fruits and vegetables to sustain nine astronauts for up to two years
7/12/2020
Architecture news & editorial desk
A proposal conceptualized by an NSW architect for an international design competition that sought ideas for sustaining life on Mars has won the top prize.
Giuseppe Calabrese, the senior architect at Council Approval Group – a small Australian town planning and architecture firm – was placed first at the international competition launched by the Californian smart city development company, Mars City Design, and backed by NASA. The primary objective of the competition was to source ideas to sustain human life on Mars for more than two years.
Calabrese’s submission outlined how rockets would send robotic self-building farms a year prior to the first human landing. Using Artificial Intelligence and 3D printing, these buildings, preloaded with seeds, would then assemble autonomously and begin growing enough fruits and vegetables to sustain nine astronauts for up to two years.
Last month, Calabrese was shortlisted in the top 10 designs, competing against international firms from the USA, Germany, United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan. On the live-streamed awards night recently, his submission was announced as the winner for ‘Mars City Design Urban Farming Challenge 2020’, which was presented by NASA astronaut, Col. Terry Virts.
Until less than a year ago, Calabrese spent his time designing granny flats, duplexes and boarding houses for investors. Following the COVID pandemic, he was able to keep his job thanks to the Job Keeper program. During this period, he was also able to use his surplus design time on a passion project – town planning on Mars. When the competition came up, he decided to apply his architectural skills to the challenge.
Competition founder Vera Mulyani was very impressed with the Australian submission, not only for the visually appealing designs but also for the fact that every detail was supported by hundreds of pages of research and scientific data.
“Our next step is to secure funding, so we can build a prototype of the winning designs, which include Calabrese's proposal, in the Californian desert,” Mulyani added.
Calabrese’s smart farm idea couldn’t have come at a more perfect time given that NASA’s latest high-tech Rover will be reaching Mars in February 2021 while Elon Musk is considering a mission to the red planet as early as 2024.
“Australia already leads the world in many farming practices. So why not in space? And when billionaire Elon Musk needs an architect to design his mansion on Mars, he now knows who to call,” Calabrese said with a smile.
December Indoor Science Cafe Recording Is Now Available!
This presentation 'Crop Growth Monitoring and Simulation-Based Resource Use Optimization' was given by Dr. Murat Kacira and KC Shasteen (University of Arizona) during our 25th cafe forum on December 8th, 2020
"Crop Growth Monitoring and
Simulation-Based Resource Use Optimization"
by KC Shasteen & Murat Kacira (University of Arizona)
This presentation 'Crop Growth Monitoring and Simulation-Based Resource Use Optimization' was given by Dr. Murat Kacira and KC Shasteen (University of Arizona) during our 25th cafe forum on December 8th, 2020.
Cafe Archive & QA Forum
Our archived Indoor Ag Science Cafe page in OptimIA website now has a forum function! Please click on presentations of your interest and ask your quick questions. Notifications come to us and we should be able to respond promptly.
Submit Your General Questions For 'Indoor Ag Sci Queries'!
Please submit your questions (anonymously if you wish) about sciences and technologies of indoor farming to this submission site. Any questions are welcome! The site is always open for your questions. Selected questions will be discussed in our future Indoor Ag Science Queries series.
GE Current Expands Horticulture Distribution Network To Support Indoor Growers Across Eurasia
Current’s Lucalox and Arize lighting solutions are available now. Customers can contact their local distribution partner for more information and advice on the best Current solution for their individual greenhouse set-up
GE Current, a Daintree company, has signed three new distribution partnership agreements with Agro Top Garden, Helle-Tech Oy, and Vitro HTS to make its full Lucalox HPS and Arize LED portfolio available to more greenhouse growers across Europe and Asia. The deals inked will provide growers focusing on horticulture, floriculture, and the burgeoning medicinal cannabis market, with easier access to leading lighting technologies, whether they rely on traditional HPS or are looking to transition over to low-energy LEDs to meet net-zero carbon goals.
Malcolm Yare, Business Development Manager for Horticulture at Current, commented, “There are all sorts of variables that combine to create the most productive greenhouse environment, from location and surrounding geography, to weather patterns and the type of crop grown. We want to ensure that greenhouse growers have access to the perfect lighting for their unique set-up. By expanding our network of distribution partners, we can ensure that growers receive expert, localised advice and support to ensure that they get the right Current system to maximise their yields and grow their businesses.”
Agro Top Garden is now the exclusive European distributor of Current’s Lucalox HPS lighting to the medicinal plant market, as well as being a master distributor of the company’s Arize LED portfolio. With a depth of broad horticultural experience, Agro Top Garden advises customers on the best growing media and fertilisers for their flowering plants. Now, with Current’s broad portfolio at its disposal, the company will also be able to advise cannabis growers on the most appropriate, low-energy lighting technology to nurture high-quality, abundant harvests every time.
Based in Finland, Helle-Tech Oy provides a range of greenhouse products, up to complete turn-key installations. With more than 30 years’ team experienced in building greenhouses all over Europe and Russia, Helle-Tech Oy partners with its customers throughout every stage of planning and installation, followed by close support and counsel, in order to maximize the potential of each greenhouse. With more growers looking to reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint, Helle-Tech Oy is expecting to guide many more customers through the transition from HPS to LED lighting in 2021, working with Current’s lighting experts to maintain yields and income throughout the process.
Vitro HTS is based at the heart of Eurasia, in Antalya, Turkey, and is focused on supporting growers across Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. With new investments in horticulture and floriculture across the region, Vitro HTS is ideally positioned to support new market entrants and existing growers with Current’s state-of-the-art lighting systems that reduce energy consumption and costs, whilst boosting revenue.
Current’s Lucalox and Arize lighting solutions are available now. Customers can contact their local distribution partner for more information and advice on the best Current solution for their individual greenhouse set-up.
For more information:
www.gecurrent.com
agrotopgarden.de
www.helle-tech.fi
www.vitrohts.com
1 Dec 2020
Nature Fresh Farms Has Expanded Operations With A New Distribution Center in Laredo, Texas
The new 61,000 square foot Distribution Center in Laredo, Texas, provides a new major hub of fresh produce
Leamington, ON (December 2, 2020) – Nature Fresh Farms has expanded operations with a new Distribution Center in Laredo, Texas, with future developments planned for next year.
The new 61,000 square foot Distribution Center in Laredo, Texas, provides a new major hub of fresh produce. Since the opening of the facility, they have employed over 30 team members with more positions available for hire. The center will help service Nature Fresh Farms Mexican winter program and allow for direct shipping of product, shortening their supply chain. With this fully operational facility, the company will be able to bring fresher produce to customers located in the Southern United States.
Laredo Division Manager, Sergio Restrepo, said the new Distribution Center is in response to Nature Fresh Farms continuous growth. “The acquirement of our new center is part of our plans to optimize our distribution network,” shared Sergio. “With this, we are able to further strengthen our logistics and operations, ensuring that we can better meet the needs and expectations of our consumers and customers.”
Nature Fresh Farms has had a streak of sustained operational growth with their newly completed Phase 7 and 8 greenhouses, and a large expansion planned for their Leamington location with more details to follow. The company also has future plans for expansion in Ohio with an extension of acreage, in addition to their current 45 acres of greenhouse, and the construction of a new Distribution Center.
“We are looking forward to further developing our Ohio location with many new initiatives planned,” said Vice President, John Ketler. “We see significant opportunities in the continued construction with these new facilities needed to support our growth.”
Nature Fresh Farms has experienced rapid growth over the last few years. Today the company has over 600 employees, 200 acres of greenhouses Tomato, Pepper, and Cucumber plants, with multiple facilities across North America.
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About Nature Fresh Farms -
Continuously expanding, Nature Fresh Farms has become one of the largest independent, vertically integrated greenhouse vegetable farms in North America. As a year-round grower with farms in Leamington, ON, Delta, OH, and Mexico, Nature Fresh Farms prides itself on consistently delivering exceptional flavor and quality to key retailers throughout North America, while continuing to innovate and introduce more viable and sustainable growing and packaging solutions.
SOURCE: Nature Fresh Farms | info@naturefresh.ca T: 519 326 1111 | www.naturefresh.ca
VIDEO: Vertical Farms Heading For Mars
In this video interview, Paul Millett, Co-Founder, and COO at Invertigro talks about the main trait he looks for in new hires, what their vision is for 2021, and the incredible applications vertical farming has not just on this planet
In this video interview, Paul Millett, Co-Founder, and COO at Invertigro talks about the main trait he looks for in new hires, what their vision is for 2021, and the incredible applications vertical farming has not just on this planet.
Check it out here:
What is InvertiGro ?
Fully-integrated, cost-effective, and flexible indoor vertical farming solutions that enable sustainable and reliable production of fresh and healthy produce. Everywhere.
InvertiGro indoor vertical farming solutions apply innovative design and leading-edge technologies to profitably and pragmatically solve the real-world challenge of sustainable and affordable food production.
We design, build, supply, and support cost-effective and flexible indoor vertical farming solutions that enable customers around the globe to quickly convert indoor spaces into highly efficient fresh produce farms.
InvertiGro indoor vertical farms are capable of growing a vast number of different crops; from herbs and leafy greens to microgreens, berries, fruits, vegetables, fibers, feed-stock, and more. Our hydroponically grown produce is also herbicide- and pesticide-free.
Modular growing units and their supporting smart technology systems are able to grow (and switch between) a variety of crops with superior yields, consistent quality, and greater resource efficiencies (water, land, labor, and capital).
InvertiGro’s fully integrated indoor vertical farming solutions provide everything required to quickly begin producing hassle-free, profitable, and reliable supplies of quality fresh produce well into the future.
Our indoor vertical farming systems are available in two different configurations:
The fully-integrated and supported InvertiCube system is designed to enable businesses to produce reliable rural-scale fresh produce. InvertiCube indoor vertical farming systems are modular and scalable by design making them equally well-suited to purpose-built warehouses or manufacturing spaces as to under-utilized existing spaces such as disused carparks and basements – of any size, shape or location. Unique pallet-size modular growing units can be configured for (and easily switched between) horizontal or vertical growing to suit a variety of different crops and applications. Their supporting smart technology operating and monitoring systems ensure clients benefit from our on-going R&D advancements.
The InvertiWall system is a productive green-wall designed for smaller-scale commercial and community applications. The space-efficient and aesthetically pleasing design also lends itself to installation in shared indoor spaces (such as foyers, food courts, and restaurants).
Both InvertiGro indoor vertical farming systems are designed to be scalable, flexible, affordable and smart, enabling businesses and communities to become successful and sustainable modern farmers.
Contact InvertiGro: info@invertigro.com
Pipp Horticulture Announces Patent-Pending TRAK-FREE Carriage System
The revolutionary advancement of the TRAK-FREE™ Carriage System is the single guide rail along the back of the system, rather than multiple tracks in the walkway
For the past several years, Pipp Horticulture’s mission has been to help cultivators across the globe save time and money by creating a more efficient grow facility and help streamline operations.
Pipp has not only developed a product line that was purposefully designed to serve the cannabis cultivation market, but they added experienced cultivators and industry experts to their team to continuously improve upon their services and develop products that positively affect canopy output and facility operations.
While focusing on this mission, and in an effort to meet a wider range of customer requirements and price points, Pipp engineered their new, patent-pending TRAK-FREE™ Carriage System. The revolutionary advancement of the TRAK-FREE™ Carriage System is the single guide rail along the back of the system, rather than multiple tracks in the walkway.
This system not only saves time and money on materials and installation, but also helps cultivators: improve efficiencies of standard operating procedures and safety measures, reduce potential floor impediments, and effortlessly move other necessary equipment like carts, racks and ladders around the grow room.
For more information:
Pipp Horticulture
2966 Wilson Drive NW
Walker, Michigan 49534
P: 616-988-4044
F: 616-988-4045
info@pipphorticulture.com
pipphorticulture.com
2 Dec 2020
Colorado Students Become Virtual Farmers During Pandemic
Students at a Douglas County high school are learning COVID-era business skills using a freight container converted into a high-tech hydroponic vertical farm as their virtual classroom
December 3, 2020
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. -- Students at a Douglas County high school are learning COVID-era business skills using a freight container converted into a high-tech hydroponic vertical farm as their virtual classroom.
After Mountain Vista High School recently switched to remote learning, students and teachers had to completely reorganize the farm's workflows and lesson plans.
David Larsen, agriculture business teacher and farms manager at Mountain Vista High School, said while some students may go on to pursue biology or horticulture, skills learned during the pandemic should transfer to any field.
"Most of these kids are not going to actually be farmers," Larsen admitted. "But they all will have jobs in which they have to troubleshoot, scheduling, logistics, it all comes into play. And the goal I always have with students is to, as much as possible, involve them in that decision-making."
With kids unable to be physically inside the farm to seed, plant, tend, harvest, package and sell crops, Larsen live streams, and records every lesson.
Supply-chain disruption during the pandemic drove up sales, and Larsen saw an opportunity for a business lesson in supply and demand. Crops typically sold during two-day markets have been selling out within two to three hours.
Larsen noted the Greenery unit created by Massachusetts-based company Freight Farms is resistant to pandemics, but also extreme weather and drought.
The unit uses nearly 99% less water than a traditional farm, running on less than the average dishwasher uses.
While most food consumed in the U.S. travels hundreds or even thousands of miles, Larsen observed the Mountain Vista operation is as close to zero food-production miles as you can get.
"So we are literally harvesting and putting into bags as the customer is standing right there," Larsen explained. "So they are living plants. People love lettuce; it's definitely delicious and very clean."
Larsen added students still are able to interact with local shoppers via live video streaming, learning important customer-service lessons.
Because the climate is controlled inside the container, Larsen said food can be grown all school year long with a predictable commercial-scale output.
A Greenery unit can support 13,000 plants at a time, producing harvests of up to 900 heads of lettuce per week.
Lead photo: Crops produced by students at Mountain Vista High School in Douglas County usually are sold during two-day market sales, but post-COVID, customer volume has shot up, selling out within two to three hours. (Mountain Vista High School)
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Startup of The Month: Unfold
The future of vertical farming begins on the genetic level. That’s the philosophy of Unfold, a Sacramento-based startup focused on innovating fruit and vegetable seeds to better serve indoor growing facilities
John Purcell is the president and CEO of Unfold. (Photo courtesy of John Purcell)
Breeding Seeds For Vertical Farms
December 3, 2020
By Russell Nichols
The future of vertical farming begins on the genetic level. That’s the philosophy of Unfold, a Sacramento-based startup focused on innovating fruit and vegetable seeds to better serve indoor growing facilities.
Vertical farms use artificial light and take up less space than traditional farms. They are automated to control factors such as light, temperature, and humidity. With a biochemistry background, John Purcell, president, and CEO of Unfold recognized a gap between open fields (and greenhouses) and controlled environments. He heard from many vertical farmers that seeds intended for outdoor use didn’t work as well indoors where plants are grown on shelves.
“They’ve made so many investments on lighting and mechanics, but they were trying to get by with seed varieties that were developed for other production systems,” Purcell says.
Unfold aims to fill that gap using seed genetics (germplasm) from vegetable crops to create new varieties best suited for vertical farms. The startup’s bimodal strategy begins with a screening phase, analyzing which germplasm yields optimal results, followed by a breeding phase to develop the varieties that thrive in a controlled environment.
With urban living and organic food becoming more popular, the vertical farming industry has been booming globally. In 2019, the market reached about $4.4 billion, according to Statista. By 2025, the market value is expected to hit $15.7 billion. Using vertical spaces increases the amount of yield per square foot or per acre while being able to grow food closer to the consumer. Because these farms are automated, they require less labor to run, which is also attractive, given the labor shortages in agriculture, Purcell says.
Purcell previously worked as senior vice president at Bayer and head of vegetables research and development for its Crop Science division. He also spent nearly 30 years at Monsanto Company, acquired by Bayer in 2018. His team will be exploring questions such as: How does a plant respond to artificial light? How fast does a plant grow with no disease or insect pressures? What kinds of varieties have proved to be successful already?
Lettuce greens will be the first crop tested because they are the biggest crop grown by indoor farmers — 57 percent of indoor farms, including vertical farms, produce leafy greens, according to the Agrilyst 2017 “State of Indoor Farming” report. In the future, Unfold also plans to examine other crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.
But vertical farms aren’t all the same. They use similar core technology (lighting, temperature, humidity), but the setups vary. The lack of standardization in the market presented a challenge, which is why Unfold is also providing a crop model (a “digital recipe”) to growers to define how to set up the various parameters for optimal results.
Unfold launched with $30 million in initial funding and an agreement for certain rights to germplasm from Bayer’s vegetable portfolio. The funding is meant to help the startup fast-track tailor-made seeds to the vertical farming industry, says Derek Norman, vice president of venture investments for Leaps by Bayer, the company’s impact investment division.
“Everybody saw the sector as high potential but relatively small today compared to traditional vegetable growing,” Norman says. “Vertical farming hasn’t commanded the same resources.”
In 2021, Unfold plans to have its facility secured and the breeding program established. For Purcell, the initial investment plus the advantage of a license agreement to tap into Bayer Crop Science allows Unfold to “hit the ground running, providing solutions,” he says.
And what better ground for an agtech startup is there than Sacramento? Purcell chose the Capital Region because he recognized it as a center for agricultural innovation and a great hub for seed companies like Unfold. “Not a whole lot of better places, especially for horticulture and produce,” he says. “There’s such a robust ecosystem.”
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VIDEO: How Max Chizhov, Co-Founder And CEO of iFarm Raised $4M To Build An Indoor Farming Solution Provider In Today’s Urban Environment?
The company is an indoor farming solution provider of plug and play automated vertical farms and data-driven software. Easy one-button managed farms from 50 till 5000 sq.m and a wide range of plants to grow are available for customers
Max Chizhov is the co-founder and CEO of iFarm. The company is an indoor farming solution provider of plug and play automated vertical farms and data-driven software. Easy one-button managed farms from 50 till 5000 sq.m and a wide range of plants to grow are available for customers. Farms can be set in a store, restaurant, warehouse, home, or country house. iFarm allows everyone on Earth to grow their healthy food sustainably and be independent of the supply chain.
iFarm technologies are recognized worldwide: the project is not only included in the TOP 500 food startups of the world and is a member of the EIT Food Accelerator Network; iFarm also became the best agricultural startup in Europe in The Europas Awards 2020, the winner in the category of the best social impact startup of Nordic Startup Awards 2019
In an exclusive interview with AsiaTechDaily, Max Chizhov says:
The main mistake is to lose focus. We have been there too. At first, we wanted to create a whole product line that would meet both the b2b and b2c needs: indoor farms, containers, grow boxes, etc. And in the end, we realized that this would entail additional costs and postpone the launch indefinitely. As a result, we decided to focus on one area, create a high-quality industrial technology, and then develop new formats.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Without them, you cannot become your best self. Also, never cease to learn. It is actually something that should be taught at school — not simply give knowledge, but teach how to find it, interpret and apply.
Read on to know more about Max Chizhov and his journey.
Please tell me about your personal background and What motivated you to get started with your company?
Max Chizhov: 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 society. I already had experience in the technological field, which 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 a profit. His story resonated with me, so I thoroughly researched the topic and realized that I wanted to do something; that’s how iFarm was born.
What is your current main product, and can you share any previous product pivot story to the current product?
Max Chizhov: At first, we wanted to develop as a producer of farm vegetables, herbs, and berries. But having evaluated the scaling prospects, we realized that we were not ready to wait 20 years to become a global supplier.
Then iFarm focused on developing technological business solutions for growing delicious natural products on vertical farms in today’s urban environment. Since 2018, the iFarm team has created automated vertical farms and an IT platform to manage them. We want to equip farmers worldwide with advanced growing technologies to earn by supplying fresh, tasty, and healthy products.
How much fundraising have you raised in total so far? When was the recent funding round?
Max Chizhov: This year iFarm closed a $4M investment round. The round was led by Gagarin Capital, which has previously invested in the project. Other investors included Matrix Capital, Impulse VC, IMI.VC and several business angels.
What were the internal decision processes in determining when to begin fundraising, and what were the logistics for this? And how many investors have you met so far and how did you meet these investors, and which channels worked best for you?
Max Chizhov: When we came up with iFarm, we were aimed at multiple growths. Having experience setting up several businesses with a similar strategy, we already knew how to develop companies at high speed and what to focus on. We needed venture capital investments to scale faster, improve the quality of our products and services, and strengthen the team with the best specialists.
The first investors were ourselves — the founders. We created a prototype and received the first money from the sale. Later, investments started to come from friends, acquaintances, and close associates. Thanks to this, we reached stable growth, finalized our target audience, and made the technology’s first sales. That was useful when we began to communicate with venture capital funds, who could give us additional value — help enter new markets and reach potential clients and raise funds in the next rounds.
The funds that have already invested in iFarm provide us with such assistance. We are also looking for new funds that are ready to work with us and help us accelerate the company’s development.
What are the biggest challenges and obstacles that you have faced in the process of fundraising? If you had fundraising, what would you do differently?
Max Chizhov: We made several pivots during fundraising. Initially, fundraising was different, but we changed it along the way. It was not easy, but it was a conscious decision for us. After a few experiments, we came up with the most efficient and scalable concept and business model.
Not every investor is tolerant to a sudden change of concept in a company’s development, so it was important for us to find funds that would trust us and treat such changes with understanding. Of course, any decision like that has to be supported by analytics and convincing reasoning and backed by a certain reputation of the founders in investors’ eyes.
What are your milestones for the next round? And what are your goals for the future?
Max Chizhov: We are planning to close Round A for € 5 million in the first quarter of 2021. This funding will be used to advance further in Europe and the Middle East, develop iFarm Growtune and update the library of growth recipes with new crops, expand the team, and increase sales. Next year we are also aimed at launching 40,000 square meters of vertical farms under our management.
How have you attracted users, and with what strategy have you grown your company from the start to now?
Max Chizhov: We were our own first clients because, in the first place, we were creating a technology that we wanted to use. The results allowed us to validate the quality and made it clear that we had produced the product we were willing to consume ourselves.
The next customers came through word of mouth: they contacted us through a recommendation or after tasting the products. For three years, we did not invest anything in advertising or marketing. All clients came thanks to our own activity on social networks, events, and media.
Entering new markets today, we, of course, launch a sales funnel and aim at our target groups: b2b, enterprise, city-farmers.
What do most startups get wrong about marketing in general?
Max Chizhov: The founders’ biggest mistake is to ignore their customers and end up making a product that the market does not need. The prototype must be shown to the customer as soon as it is ready, then you collect feedback and finalize the product according to it. When entering new markets, it is necessary to conduct cust dev, collect opinions on improvement and customers’ vision for further product development.
How do you plan to expand globally?
Max Chizhov: Next year we will continue our expansion in Europe and the Middle East. In 2022-2024 we plan to enter the North American and Asian markets.
What are the most common mistakes companies make with global expansion?
Max Chizhov: None of us had any experience in this area; we wanted to produce high-quality and tasty products. It was important to go all the way from the idea to the final product, to make all possible mistakes, to realize the shortcomings of the chosen business model, and finally determine that our product would be the vertical farming technology itself, and not greens.
How do you handle this COVID-19 outbreak situation for your company’s survival in the future?
Max Chizhov: Over the last few years, the overall trend in agriculture has been to localize production. This is due to the high rates of urbanization, population growth, 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 consumer’s immediate vicinity 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 an effective remote team’s smooth work.
What are the most common mistakes founders make when they start a company?
Max Chizhov: The main mistake is to lose focus. We have been there too. At first, we wanted to create a whole product line that would meet both the b2b and b2c needs: indoor farms, containers, grow boxes, etc. And in the end, we realized that this would entail additional costs and postpone the launch indefinitely. As a result, we decided to focus on one area, create a high-quality industrial technology, and then develop new formats.
Another mistake is to pay too much attention to details without seeing the bigger picture. For example, in the beginning, we did not think about any high-level process automation. But the further we went, the more clearly we understood the need to reduce human involvement in the production. That is why we developed special software for managing vertical farms — iFarm Growtune launched a drone and continues to create solutions that automate planting, moving trays on racks, assembling, and packaging.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? And What advice do you have for someone who is interested in doing similar things like yours or in a similar direction?
Max Chizhov: Launching a project, it is crucially important for the founders and early team members to share the same vision and ambition and make sure they are in tune. This will help you stay focused.
What are the top-three books or movies (TV series) that changed your life and why?
Max Chizhov: My top-3: Ray Dalio – Principles, Tony Hsieh – Delivering happiness, Daniel Kahneman – Thinking, Fast and Slow. These books help me to look at our business from different sides and make my workdays more efficient.
How do you keep yourself motivated every day?
Max Chizhov: New goals and plans, a global mission that the entire team is guided by, allow you to avoid unnecessary distractions and make sure you work towards your goals. Being involved in development in the food industry, you can see, touch, and taste your work’s tangible results. This also gives additional motivation.
What are the top-three life Lessons that you want your (future) sons and daughters to know?
Max Chizhov: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Without them, you cannot become your best self. Also, never cease to learn. It is actually something that should be taught at school — not simply give knowledge, but teach how to find it, interpret and apply.
What would you like to be remembered for?
Max Chizhov: I would like that in a year when you hear about our company or see products grown using our technology, you would remember where we started and what mistakes we made at the very beginning, and that each mistake motivated us to move on.
You can follow Max Chizhov here.
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Hamill Has Moved Into Agritecture
Canadian farmers are relying on indoor farming than greenhouse farming for growing microgreens because of the electricity needed for lighting and also growing indoors eliminates many of the pest and disease problems of outdoor production”
When COVID-19 hit Canada in February 2020, the Hamill Group of Companies was in its early inception. “We weren’t quite sure how things were going to play out, but we knew that whatever challenges were, we could tackle them head on!” said CEO Bob Benner. As a leader in manufacturing services and having carved out a niche for microgreens harvesting equipment, Hamill quickly realized it would need to do more to support their growers.
The company took the step forward and moved to Agritecture. Vertical, hydroponic, and aquaponic farms are taking hold in many major cities throughout the world. With the help of enhanced indoor and vertical farming practices, the US growers have been able to produce microgreens on a large scale.
Canadian farmers are relying on indoor farming than greenhouse farming for growing microgreens because of the electricity needed for lighting and also growing indoors eliminates many of the pest and disease problems of outdoor production” [1].
One of the major crops that they grow are microgreens but these farming environments presented new challenges in and of themselves. As growers looked to establish their systems, they realized they needed the Hamill Group of Companies to propel them forward. This was due to Hamill's superior experience in 3D engineering, manufacturing, prototyping, electrical. For Hamill, they had to rapidly shift their focus from just harvesting equipment to innovating and designing farms, and full production facilities being an end-to-end provider.
Hamill’s ability to adapt and pivot meant that the Hamill Group of Companies could foster new partnerships throughout Canada and the US. They have undertaken projects such as with AquaGreens in Toronto, Intravision Group in Welland, as well as are in the preliminary stages of planning with InCity Farms in the United States.
For more information:
Hamill Agricultural Processing Solutions
contactus@hamillaps.com
www.hamillaps.com
Publication date: Thu 3 Dec 2020
New Technology To Speed Discovery of Sustainable Crop Solutions For Farmers
Terramera announced the launch of six custom, state-of-the-art plant growth chambers. Many crop protection products fail in the field because labs and greenhouses do not accurately replicate real-world conditions
Terramera announced the launch of six custom, state-of-the-art plant growth chambers. Many crop protection products fail in the field because labs and greenhouses do not accurately replicate real-world conditions. Each chamber offers precise control over temperature (ranging from 5 to 40 degrees Celsius), humidity, and light to simulate many possible field conditions, from cool nights and morning mists to desert and subtropical conditions, and will be outfitted with a Terramera-built automation system for end-to-end integration.
Automation will enable experiments to run entirely without human intervention including watering, spraying, nutrient dosing, and imaging of the plants throughout their lifecycle, dramatically accelerating data collection for product performance and increasing accuracy with Terramera’s industry-leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) platform.
“Customized growth chambers allow us to simulate weather to study disease and insect infestations with integrated treatment and imaging systems in one automated system -- replicated six times for parallel studies,” said Annett Rozek, Terramera Chief Scientific Officer. “This is as close as we can get to real-world conditions in a research environment and will deliver solutions as rapidly and efficiently as possible.”
The new growth chambers bring Terramera’s total to 12 and are part of a larger technological scale-up for the company, which also brought a new liquid handling robot on board. Terramera’s own machine learning (ML) model named the robot, “Enzing,” which is integrated into Terramera’s fully automated in-vitro screening and data analysis pipeline. The robot has already enabled Terramera’s largest in-vitro screening project yet, testing the company’s Actigate library against numerous plant disease pathogens.
“This marks an exciting milestone for Terramera and a step-change in the industry by adding a new, essential capacity,” said Karn Manhas, Terramera Founder, and CEO. “Simulated environment studies are the missing link between controlled environments like the lab or greenhouse and field trials since many products fail because lab and greenhouse conditions are too different from the outside world on a farm. This technology increases our throughput, allowing us to predict outcomes more accurately, allowing us to quickly scale our knowledge and technologies to make farming healthier, more sustainable and productive while turning back the clock on climate change.”
For more information:
Terramera
www.terramera.com
4 Dec 2020
Kalera To Open a Vertical Farming Facility in Seattle, Bringing Fresh, Locally-Grown Greens to Every Corner of the US
With this news, Kalera expands its reach from coast to coast, giving grocers, restaurants, theme parks, airports and other businesses throughout the country reliable access to locally grown clean, safe, nutritious, price-stable, long-lasting greens. The new facility will generate approximately 60 jobs in the area
The new facility is the sixth location to be announced by Kalera, marking their entry into the Pacific Northwest
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kalera (Euronext Growth Oslo ticker KAL, Bloomberg: KSLLF), one of the fastest growing vertical farming companies in the United States, today announced it will begin construction on a new facility in the Seattle, Washington area, slated to open in 2021. With this news, Kalera expands its reach from coast to coast, giving grocers, restaurants, theme parks, airports and other businesses throughout the country reliable access to locally grown clean, safe, nutritious, price-stable, long-lasting greens. The new facility will generate approximately 60 jobs in the area. This announcement comes on the heels of recent announcements of completing over $150 million in fundraising this year and the addition of two new Board members, including Kim Lopdrup, the CEO of Red Lobster.
“With this latest expansion, Kalera will extend its reach into the Pacific Northwest, successfully completing our goal of providing hyper-local produce on a national level,” said Daniel Malechuk, Kalera CEO. “Thanks in part to our optimized design processes, we have been able to extend into new markets at an extremely quick rate. Soon, customers from Orlando to Seattle will have access to fresh, locally-grown Kalera greens, every day of the year, regardless of weather, wildfires, or other natural disasters.”
As of this announcement, Kalera is slated to have six commercial growing facilities open and operating across the US by the end of next year. Kalera currently operates two growing facilities in Orlando, and is constructing facilities in Atlanta, Houston and Denver which will also open in 2021.
Kalera utilizes cleanroom technology and processes to eliminate the use of chemicals and remove exposure to pathogens. Kalera's plants grow while consuming 95% less water compared to field farming.
"Kalera's incredibly efficient growing methods allow us to produce higher quality, fresher, and more nutritious greens with yields 300-400 times than that of traditional farming,” continued Malechuk. “Because of this, we’ve been able to maintain conventional pricing and partnerships with large national chains, making our produce affordable and accessible. With our expansion, we’ll only be making our high-quality produce more accessible as we spread across the country.”
About Kalera
Kalera is a technology driven vertical farming company with unique growing methods combining optimized nutrients and light recipes, precise environmental controls, and clean room standards to produce safe, highly nutritious, pesticide-free, non-GMO vegetables with consistent high quality and longer shelf life year-round. The company’s high-yield, automated, data-driven hydroponic production facilities have been designed for rapid rollout with industry-leading payback times to grow vegetables faster, cleaner, at a lower cost, and with less environmental impact.
Des Moines, Iowa: Food Inflation Is Real And Growing
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO, of the United Nations, during the month of November, its Food Price Index marked its largest month over month increase since 2012
Dec 04, 2020
by Dan Hueber
While it should come as no surprise to any of us involved in the commodity trade, but global food inflation is back. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO, of the United Nations, during the month of November, its Food Price Index marked its largest month over month increase since 2012; it rose to the overall highest level since December of 2014. The index itself came in at 105, which was 4 points higher than October and was 6.4 points higher than the same month last year. For the month, the Cereal Price Index was up 2.7 points, Dairy was up .9 and the Meat Index up .9, the Sugar Index up 2.8 points, but the real gain was recorded in the Vegetable Oil Index, which gained a whopping 15.4 points. Rising palm oil values were the main driver in this rise, but soy, rapeseed, sunflower, and other veg. oils all contributed. I guess it only stands to reason that oil has lost the least of all grain/soy markets this week.
Needless to say, none of this has gone overlooked in China, and yesterday, the government drafted a new law concerning the oversight of grain reserves. Previously, the central government only tracked the central state stockpiles, but obviously, that will now be expanded to oversee local and regional inventories as well. The rationale for the change in policy given was “new situations and questions have arisen regarding grains reserves security administration, posing severe challenges to China’s grain stockpile security.” I guess this is saying; you local authorities have not been doing a good job, so it must be your fault that we have food price and availability concerns. It is tough to find good help these days.
We do have a little more corn business to report as we wrap up the week. The USDA reports that Mexico has purchased another 182k MT. There have been rumors circulating for the past few days that China has been purchasing more corn, but nothing has been confirmed. Regardless, it does not appear to be providing much support for now as we are staring at a lower close on the combination chart for the first time in the past five weeks.
The same cannot be said for the trade in the equity world. The S&P 500, the Dow Industrials, and Nasdaq are all on track to finish with record-high weekly closes, so optimism reigns supreme over there. The same cannot be said for the dollar though, as if we closed right now, it would be at the lowest point since April of 2018.
Grow Plants Indoors All Year Long With Hydroponics
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil. Usually, hydroponic production is done indoors, but it is also an excellent method for gardeners with a balcony or limited access to gardening space outdoors
December 3, 2020
A simple DIY hydroponics system for growing lettuce and other greens
Are you looking for:
A new winter hobby?
Access to fresh greens or herbs throughout the winter?
A fun project for kids?
A unique holiday gift idea?
Hydroponic gardening checks all of these boxes! Hydroponic gardening allows you to grow greens and herbs all winter long indoors and can be done easily and affordably.
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil. Usually, hydroponic production is done indoors, but it is also an excellent method for gardeners with a balcony or limited access to gardening space outdoors. This method uses less water than soil-based gardening, allows for faster growth and often higher yields, and requires few materials.
Check out our new webpage to learn
more about whether hydroponic gardening is for you!
New EPA Finding: Glyphosate Harms 93 Percent of Endangered Species
Over 93 percent of endangered species and 96 percent of their habitats are likely to be harmed by glyphosate, the ubiquitous and controversial herbicide, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported in a draft evaluation released last week
by Sam Bloch
12.02.2020
Another task for Biden’s first 100 days—whether to rein in the controversial herbicide.
Over 93 percent of endangered species and 96 percent of their habitats are likely to be harmed by glyphosate, the ubiquitous and controversial herbicide, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported in a draft evaluation released last week.
The evaluation was conducted as part of a registration review—the agency’s routine process for renewing herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals for use in the United States every 15 years. An interim decision, released in January, paved the way for the chemical’s renewal, which EPA said was safe to humans if used correctly. But the agency must now assess the herbicide’s impact on nearly 1,800 protected plants and animals, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This law prohibits federal agencies from engaging in actions likely to “jeopardize the continued existence” of threatened or endangered species.
The initial findings are now open for 60 days of public review, after which the EPA will decide how to limit the use of the pesticide, in order to protect those plants and animals. Because of that timing, a decision to rein in the most popular farm chemical in the history of the world could be among President-elect Biden’s first environmental actions. After years in which the Trump administration rolled back regulations on pesticides, and shrank the number of animals protected under the ESA, it could signal that a chastened EPA—reportedly in revolt—is coming back to life.
“This is indeed interesting and out of character. Perhaps this is a rare moment that science was followed.”
“This is indeed interesting and out of character,” said Judith Enck, a former EPA regional administrator appointed by President Obama, in an email to The Counter. “Perhaps this is a rare moment [that] science was followed.”
The impacts on endangered species are the latest finding in the long, controversial life of glyphosate. The chemical is used widely on farm fields—about 280 million pounds applied every year to soybeans, corn, cotton, and other crops, according to EPA. It’s also used heavily to control weeds in watersheds, pastures, forests, and roadsides.
For the last two years, glyphosate has been at the center of thousands of lawsuits brought against Bayer, the pharmaceutical giant that took over Monsanto. Bayer produces Roundup, the weedkiller’s most popular brand name. Juries have awarded billions of dollars in damages to plaintiffs in court cases who claimed that glyphosate caused their cancers. In June, Bayer agreed to pay $10.5 billion to settle the remaining cases.
Farmers continue to use the weedkiller at soaring levels, despite mounting evidence that overuse is causing it to become ineffective.
The question of how dangerous it is to human health remains unsettled. As part of its interim review, the EPA found that glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans, but the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, has concluded it probably is. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also called for more research on the chemical’s effect on humans. Nevertheless, farmers continue to use the weedkiller at soaring levels, despite mounting evidence that overuse is causing it to become ineffective.
“We are reviewing the EPA’s draft biological evaluation for glyphosate. The safety of our products is our top priority, and we will continue to participate in this public process,” a Bayer spokesperson said to The Counter in a statement. “In the meantime, the EPA’s current determination—that glyphosate products pose no unreasonable risks when used according to label requirements—still stands, and growers and others can continue to use glyphosate products according to current label instructions.”
In its report, EPA found that glyphosate, which affects non-farm environments predominantly through field runoff and spray drift, is “moderately to highly toxic to fish, highly to very highly toxic to aquatic invertebrates, moderately toxic to mammals, and slightly toxic to birds on an acute exposure basis.” Chronic exposure causes “a variety of growth and reproductive effects” to land and aquatic animals as well as plants.
“The goal and the purpose here is not a glyphosate ban. It’s to change the labels of glyphosate so that it’s not used in a way that jeopardizes the continued existence of endangered species.”
Overall, it’s “likely to adversely impact” 75 endangered species of mammals, 88 endangered bird species, 36 endangered amphibian species, 33 endangered reptile species, 179 endagngered fish species, 185 endangered aquatic invertebrates, 140 endangered terrestrial invertebrates, and 940 endangered plant species.
After EPA analyzes the comments, it may consult with two federal agencies—the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, known as NOAA Fisheries—to prepare reports that would inform steps to minimize impacts. Those steps would likely take the form of restrictions, visible on labels, to limit where and when glyphosate is used. Glyphosate could, theoretically, be banned during high winds, restricted from hundred-foot buffers near water, or in some counties with sensitive habitats.
Depending on the severity of the restrictions, they could be challenged by industry, just as restrictions on dicamba and chlorpyrifos have, said Lori Ann Burd, senior attorney and environmental health program director at the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group that sued EPA to force the ESA review.
“The goal and the purpose here is not a glyphosate ban. It’s to change the labels of glyphosate so that it’s not used in a way that jeopardizes the continued existence of endangered species,” said Burd. “It probably will lead to real reductions in use, and it will lead to more thoughtful use, because right now glyphosate is just sprayed in wild amounts.”
Correction: An earlier version of this story suggested glyphosate might be used for lawn maintenance. This reference has been removed, as the herbicide would kill virtually any common grass.
Lead image: Frank Hoermann/SVEN SIMON/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Tags: glyphosate Environment Animal welfare Impact
Sam Bloch is a staff writer for The Counter, where he covers business, environment and culture. He has also written for The New York Times, L.A. Weekly, Places Journal, Art in America and other publications.
‘Salad As A Service’: Retailers’ Interest In Vertical Farming Grows
Retailers are waking up to the potential of vertical farming, with technology-enabled agriculture a core part of supply chain bosses’ and food buyers’ plans
By Ben Sillitoe
07 Dec 2020
Retailers will be aware of software as a service (SaaS) – and they may have noticed the emergence of the shopping-centre-as-a-service model, described by Computer Weekly in 2019 – but what about ‘salad as a service’, the latest SaaS opportunity?
If they haven’t yet, they soon might. For food retailers, it could revolutionize supply chains, boost companies’ environmental credentials, and drive new customer experiences.
The concept is related to the evolution of vertical farming, also known as controlled environment agriculture. Vertical farming allows food to be grown independently from climate conditions and other outside elements.
Typically, in aeroponic system vertical farming, plants are grown vertically, with their roots suspended, soil-free, in cylinders where they are nourished with nutrients. LED lighting is increasingly being used in the process to influence how plants grow and taste.
Although the vertical farming term was first coined over a century ago, interest and investment in it has ramped up in recent times for several core reasons, not least enhancements in technology and a renewed focus by businesses on their eco-credentials.
Reflecting on a Mintel 2019 study, Mintel analyst Armando Falcao says vertical farming “can reduce wastage and preserve available resources”.
“Food wastage is a key concern of grocery shoppers, and Mintel research shows that 83% of consumers think it’s important to cut back on the amount of food that is wasted,” he adds.
Supply chain bosses at several large UK retailers are increasingly looking at how they can incorporate this technology-enabled agribusiness into their operations for the reasons Falcao suggests.
But by launching these facilities in urban areas, nearer to the end consumer, there is a chance to significantly reduce the time it takes for fresh produce to get from ‘farm’ to fork, which comes with other obvious environmental benefits.
Mini in-store ‘farms’
Marks & Spencer, Selfridges and Amazon-owned Whole Foods are among the first burst of UK retailers to bring food production even closer to customers by introducing in-store herb-growing pods, from which shoppers can pick the produce themselves.
Those three businesses are using units from urban farming company Infarm, which works with multiple food retailers across Europe. In Whole Foods’ London stores, for example, produce grown includes coriander, parsley, basil, and mint.
Selfridges announced its partnership with Infarm in August, with several leafy greens grown within an in-store unit at the company’s flagship Oxford Street location in London. The first in-store harvest was in September. Prior to that, Selfridges’ customers could order directly from Infarm’s London plant hub for collection in store.
Maria Trapani, Selfridges’ food buyer, says vertical farming provides customers with “hyper-local, extremely fresh and naturally flavourful produce”.
“We are constantly looking for new and more sustainable ways to source food, and this allows us to reduce our carbon footprint, as well as being chemical-free and using 95% less water,” she says. “The range we are offering, which is exclusive to us, is proving popular with customers and we’ve had some great feedback.”
Infarm says its growing environments connect to “a central cloud-based farm-brain”, combining big data, the internet of things (IoT), and cloud analytics technology to gather tens of thousands of data points throughout a plant’s lifetime. The vertical farm provider argues its platform can “learn, adapt, and improve itself constantly” to optimize plant growth.
The modular ‘farms’ provide consumers with something new to explore in-store, but there is much deeper disruption vertical farming could bring to the retail supply chain.
Salad as a service?
Adam Waterman, chief software architect at LettUs Grow, a vertical farming company comprising tech experts and plant scientists, uses the phrase “salad as a service” to describe how his business can aid retailers and food industry suppliers.
Those using LettUs Grow’s vertical farming systems have the option to tap into the company’s experienced in-house experts for recommendations and improvements related to their yields, described by Waterman as “a rapid feedback loop”.
For Waterman, in-store growing units, like Infarm’s, are a “starting point” for vertical farming’s wider use in retail. He believes the discipline will become much more influential.
“I see it moving towards larger food production warehouses in the outer areas of urban centers, in industrial parks, for example, where consistently produced food in large quantities is produced for cities, taking the pressure off the land use around the city,” he says.
UK retailers are very much in the learning phase of what vertical farming could do for their businesses. Online grocer and tech provider Ocado Group has arguably taken a more significant step forward, having formed a joint venture (JV), Infinite Acres, with Priva and 80 Acres, which both operate in the vertical farming industry.
Ocado also has a majority stake in Jones Food, a vertical farm based in Scunthorpe, UK, which when combined with the 2019 JV took its overall investment in the sector to £17m.
CEO Tim Steiner says the plan is to co-locate vertical farms within or next to Ocado’s distribution centers and its rapid food delivery arm Ocado Zoom's micro-fulfillment sites, enabling fresh produce to reach customers within an hour of purchase.
Waterman, who says LettUs Grow is in talks with salad producers and major retailers in the UK about how they might want to use vertical farming, adds: “It’s got the potential to have quite a large impact on the overall food supply chain.”
The main selling points, he says, are consistency and reliability of production, and year-round output that is not affected by weather or seasonality.
LettUs Grow’s vertical farm systems operate on a minimum scale of 24m2. They often cover a container-sized footprint, although the company also builds facilities inside buildings.
Software developed in-house controls, monitors, and manages the farm, taking care of lighting, irrigation, fertigation, and the overall environment such as air temperature and humidity to help plants grow. Users can develop a “gross plan for a crop, and projected yield”, notes Waterman.
Although the main focus of production via vertical farming is currently on leafy vegetables and herbs, the variety of crops that can be grown successfully in this manner continues to broaden.
A vertical farming structure in Wyoming in the US, called Vertical Harvest, for example, has operated with a capacity to produce more than 20 tonnes of tomatoes per year since 2015.
“Expanding vertical farming into a wider variety of produce is completely feasible,” Falcao says.
Future yield
Beth Eldridge, a plant scientist at the University of Bristol, who specializes in soil erosion, heralds the lack of pesticide used in most vertical farms, but she says “so much fundamental plant science is required” to understand this approach’s impact on crops.
“What’s interesting is how we might automate the systems to get feedback on plant growth and energy input,” she says. “Are there clever ways we can measure plant growth indicators, and can computers sense this and feed it back into the system to adjust conditions accordingly?”
She predicts vertical farming will be one part of the supply chain, supplementing already-in-use huge greenhouses and traditional farms.
“I see a niche for it in leafy greens and herbs because there is so much wastage in the transportation of those types of vegetables that I can see a real benefit of having them in the store, picking them fresh and increasing longevity.”
Eldridge also says there is an opportunity for retailers to connect people with the food they purchase by using the smaller in-store units.
When you go in store and pick food yourself, you become a lot more engaged in where it comes from
Beth Eldridge, University of Bristol
“People can become very disconnected on where the food comes from when they buy in packets, but when you go in-store and pick it yourself, you become a lot more engaged in where the food is coming from.”
Trapani suggests there will be multiple uses for the units in Selfridges’ stores, adding: “For now, we are selling from the stacks in the food hall, but the longer-term plan is to also use the salads within our restaurants.”
Vertical farming technology continues to evolve. LettUs Grow, specifically, is aiming to create a general control system, where the software can help predict yields and improve reporting of food provenance information.
“Having effective traceability is an industry must, and we plan to build out in that direction,” Waterman says.
A report from market research group IDTechEx, published this year, acknowledges vertical farming has caught the imagination of entrepreneurs and investors alike. It forecasts the market value to rise from $709m now to $1.5bn by 2030, but highlights potential obstacles to growth, such as electricity costs for lighting.
Michael Dent, analyst at IDTechEx, says: “Rather than focusing on mass-produced, wholesale crops, where vertical farms will always struggle to compete on price with traditional farms and greenhouses, it may make more sense for vertical farm operators to focus on high-value crops that command a price premium, perhaps within niche markets or specialized applications. The debate over the best size for a vertical farm is still ongoing.”
Brexit and any potential disruption in the transportation of goods at the UK border may further influence British companies to invest in vertical farming as part of local sourcing strategies. One thing seems certain, though – food retailers will continue to assess their options as this new technology-enabled agriculture market establishes itself in the UK.
Diving Into Aquaponics
Aquaponics, a method of raising crops and fish in an all-water, soilless environment, presented a fun challenge to Aquaponics Club co-founders Jonathan Dong ’21 and Robbie Rioux ’21
21 DECEMBER 3, 2020
Tucked away in the Taylor Science Center’s greenhouse, a new aquaponics system brims with tilapia, lettuce, and other developing life. Built in 2019 by Hamilton’s Aquaponics Club, the system promotes on-campus food sustainability while also providing a space for students and faculty to learn about aquaponics. And with its accessibility, regular maintenance, and potential to expand with student interest, the system does just that.
Aquaponics, a method of raising crops and fish in an all-water, soilless environment, presented a fun challenge to Aquaponics Club co-founders Jonathan Dong ’21 and Robbie Rioux ’21. According to Dong, the club started with the aim of creating “a sustainable farming practice and system on campus that [community] members could maintain.” With members representing a variety of disciplines, including chemistry, history, and government, the club teaches students about animal and plant biology and practicing aquaponics.
After building the aquaponics system, Dong and Rioux populated it first with tilapia and lettuce, two of the easiest and most efficient products to cultivate in water. The 400-gallon system includes a 100-gallon tilapia tank, tanks that break down tilapia waste, and tanks that contain the plants. Nutrients from the tilapia waste sustain the plant life, and club members feed the tilapia daily. (The club’s adviser, Supervisor of Introductory Laboratories in Biology and Lecturer in Environmental Studies Jason Townsend, feeds the fish during breaks.) The $7,000 system was funded through Student Assembly.
“The thought is that we grow the food and give it to someone on campus or in the Hamilton community,” Rioux said. The Aquaponics Club donated the first batch of lettuce to students living in the Woollcott Cooperative and the first tilapia harvest to a family from the Utica Refugee Center. Rioux said the club hopes to eventually have the tilapia served in Commons.
In addition to the initial tilapia and lettuce, the club is looking to raise and grow other animals and plants in the system. The effort to expand reflects student curiosity about how aquaponics works. “We got a ton of students on campus with their own questions about the system that they want answered,” Dong said. Club projects include researching which tilapia breed, vegetable types, and flower species that grow best with aquaponics.
Since its founding in 2018, the Aquaponics Club has come a long way in both bringing aquaponics to Hamilton and recruiting members to maintain and learn about the system. Both Dong and Rioux expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to design and continue the project. “We transformed the greenhouse into our own space, and that was a lot of fun,” Rioux said. “Hamilton’s [has] been very supportive of having us in there and letting us do what we need to, so that’s been pretty great to be able to do.”
Dutch Scale-Up PlantLab Launches First Production Site In USA
In Indianapolis, PlantLab has entered into a joint venture with Englewood Community Development Corporation, which works to promote the sustainable development of urban corridors
Annual Harvest of 420,000 Kilos For Indianapolis Residents
Den Bosch (The Netherlands), December 7, 2020 – PlantLab, the Dutch indoor farming pioneer, has opened a new production site in Indianapolis (Indiana). This first-ever ‘Plant Paradise’ in the United States is growing vegetables for the local population at a site that was previously unthinkable - a former battery factory near the city center.
In Indianapolis, PlantLab has entered into a joint venture with Englewood Community Development Corporation, which works to promote the sustainable development of urban corridors. The fresh vegetables are being marketed under the brand name ‘Uplift, good food for purpose’. “Our collaboration allows us to deliver greater value to the population of Indianapolis,” explains Michiel Peters, CEO of PlantLab. “This is also very much in line with our global mission: we not only increase the supply of sustainable and healthy fresh food for local clients but also create local jobs in a completely new sector.”
First harvest
This week, the first herbs and heads of lettuce will be harvested at the 54,000 square feet growing site for delivery to local supermarkets and foodservice companies. PlantLab is growing various kinds of tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and herbs in Indianapolis. The new location will provide an annual supply of close to 1,000,000 pounds of fresh vegetables as well as jobs for roughly 30-70 persons. Chris Arnold, CEO Uplift: “It tastes like I went out to my backyard garden, picked it, and put it in my bowl.”
The new production site, the former battery factory of P.R. Mallory, was once the pride of the city, also producing batteries for army vehicles during World War II. After the factory fell into decline in the 1970s, a joint effort by the municipality, NGOs, and businesses breathed new life into the area with the construction of a new campus.
The United States and the Bahamas
Indianapolis is the first American city where the Dutch scale-up PlantLab is opening an indoor production facility. The Bahamas will soon follow. PlantLab’s production sites can be located anywhere in the world, even on barren soil or in urban areas. Thanks to optimized temperature, moisture, and light regulation, the crops grow to their full potential, while at the same time needing only 5% of the water used in conventional farming. Light is provided by specially developed LEDs, which radiate the exact color of light needed by the plant for photosynthesis.
PlantLab has a dedicated R&D center in Den Bosch (the Netherlands), the largest such center in the world for vertical farming, as well as a commercial production site in Amsterdam. PlantLab holds patents for its indoor farming technology in 74 different countries, including the US. Its indoor farming patent applies to the method used for regulating the root/substrate temperature as well as the evaporation and leaf temperature of the crop. Many of the indoor farming systems presently in use may constitute a violation of PlantLab’s intellectual property.
Globally patented technology
Over the last 10 years, PlantLab has worked hard to realize a breakthrough via its extremely efficient and globally patented technology for innovative urban farming. The new technology is already being put into practice at its commercial production site in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, as well as at this new location in Indianapolis. The breakthrough technology makes it possible to grow day-fresh, healthy, delicious vegetables on a large scale very near to the consumer without the need for any chemical crop control agents. On a production site no bigger than two American football fields, it is now possible to grow enough produce to supply a city of 100,000 residents with 200 g of fresh vegetables each on a daily basis.
This summer, PlantLab received an injection of €20 million of growth capital from De Hoge Dennen Capital. The scale-up intends to use these funds to launch indoor production sites in various locations, including the Netherlands, the United States, and the Bahamas.
About PlantLab
PlantLab specializes in technology for innovative urban farming, the sustainable food supply of the future. The company was founded in 2010 in Den Bosch with the goal of optimizing the production of food for our planet. Over the last 10 years, the company has already invested € 50 million in the development of technology that makes it possible to grow healthy, day fresh vegetables close to the consumer anywhere in the world without the use of chemical crop agents sustainable and environmentally friendly, while at the same time reducing water consumption to an absolute minimum. Enough crops can be grown on an area no bigger than two football fields to supply a city of 100,000 residents with 200 g of fresh vegetables every day. As the new technology can be used everywhere and always, it also makes it possible to radically shorten the logistic chain year-round. The benefits: superior product quality, longer shelf life, much less food wastage, and no CO2 emissions or nuisance associated with long-distance transport. PlantLab aims to make its technology accessible to everyone and therefore bring fresh and sustainably grown food within reach for everyone.
Note for the editors, not for publication
For more information and for requesting interviews with the initiators, please contact Koolhoven & Partners: plantlab@koolhovenenpartners.nl or +31 85 4017175.
You can download royalty-free images here.
PlantLab, the Dutch indoor farming pioneer, has opened a new production site in Indianapolis (Indiana). On the left Chris Arnold, CEO of Uplift, on the right co-founder of PlantLab Leon van Duijn. Click on the picture to download the royalty-free image in a high resolution.
"CEA Can Increase Its U.S. Market Share By 5x Over The Next 10 Years"
Investment in CEA has surpassed $2.0B across North America and Europe spurring new start-ups, innovation and corporate engagement across the supply chain
S2G Ventures rResearches
Controlled Environment Agriculture Market:
Investment in CEA has surpassed $2.0B across North America and Europe spurring new start-ups, innovation and corporate engagement across the supply chain. With increased demonstration of the viability of controlled growing, a newly launched report predicts that CEA will support more than 10% of US vegetable and herb production by 2025 leading to significant opportunities for growers over the next decade.
The new report, Growing Beyond the Hype: Controlled Environment Agriculture, launched by S2G Ventures reveals how innovation in the field of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), including greenhouse and indoor farming, will lead to ripple effects across the food system and more sustainable methods of production. S2G Ventures is a multi-stage investment firm committed to advancing sustainable solutions in food and ag – its portfolio companies include Beyond Meat, sweetgreen, Lavva, Apeel Sciences and more. The report predicts the maturation of CEA will lead to differentiated, quality products, cost-competitive pricing and a more resilient, traceable and trustworthy supply chain. These new supply chains may represent a transition for the changing urban real estate landscape post-covid.
"Controlled farming has the potential to offer consumers and supply chain stakeholders resilient, sustainable, local, high-quality products," said Walter Robb, Executive-in Residence at S2G Ventures and former co-CEO of Whole Foods. "It is a growing part of our evolving food system and can work alongside outdoor production to mitigate climate risk and help solve systemic nutrition and food access challenges."
S2G Ventures expects that CEA will have far-reaching implications for the future of our food system in three key areas.
Local production and controlled environments will lead to a more resilient, traceable and trustworthy supply chain
Despite being a $1.2 trillion global industry, fresh produce faces significant supply and demand challenges resulting in a systemic lack of high-quality, affordable products reaching consumers. According to the Lancet, only 36% of the global population in 2015 had adequate availability of fruits and vegetables to meet the WHO age-specific minimum nutrition targets.
In the United States, for example, the fresh produce market is challenged by the limitations of outdoor production, including climate, field loss exposure, resource intensiveness, and limited ability to iterate or diversify, as well as geographic constraints resulting in products traveling 7-10 days on average from farm to consumer. As a result, the U.S. is reliant on other countries to meet demand with 53% of fresh fruit and 32% of fresh vegetables imported annually according to the FDA.
If just 13% of vegetables and herbs shift to local CEA production by 2025, the United States can add $2.3bn additional production capacity and reduce our need for fresh vegetable imports by 15%. Local production can save up to 9 Trillion food miles through shorter transportation routes minimizing shelf life time spent in transit and reducing the amount of food waste by retailers and consumers. Additionally, controlled environments improve food safety, traceability and consistency of production.
Technology and operations advancements drive improvements to CEA unit economics that can compete with or beat outdoor production.
In order to gain market share, CEA production must become cost competitive with outdoor production. High upfront capex costs of facilities and equipment as well as energy costs, labor and product inputs, have historically made costs of CEA growing prohibitive. But innovation of grow inputs, improved grow systems, and optimization of facility productivity are driving more cost-effective production. Those innovations combined with CEA's higher number of grow cycles, 10+ for Greenhouse and 20+ for Indoor, will enable CEA to achieve unit economics that are at cost parity with outdoor.
CEA will usher in the next wave of biodiversity, nutrient density, and flavor innovation providing retailers with differentiated, quality products.
According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, about 75 percent of the world's food comes from just 5 animal species and 12 plants. Almost half of our plant-derived calories come from just three foods: wheat, corn and rice. Germplasm for these plants are bred for long storage time and disease resistance, at the expense of flavor, color, and nutritional value. The lack of biodiversity and nutritional value in our global diet restricts the value that plant molecules can play in human health.
Indoor Agriculture offers new grow formats, methods and technologies that promise to increase the quality, consistency and diversity of produce. Advancements in CEA-tailored seeds bred for traits such as flavor, color, nutrient density and ripening will expose consumers to new flavors and more varied products. Ultimately, indoor agriculture will support customized grow recipes as IP, branded produce, local production of hard to access specialty ingredients, spices and superfoods and eventually inputs for food as medicine.
"Controlled growing is a critical solution to address both the current supply challenges brought to light by COVID and the pressures on outdoor growing exacerbated by climate change," said Sanjeev Krishnan, S2G Ventures Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer. "We believe CEA can grow its US market share by five times over the next 10 years in response to these pressures and continued consumer demand for fresh produce."
The report
Growing Beyond the Hype: Controlled Environment Agriculture is based on S2G Ventures desktop research and interviews with over 20 industry experts including CEA growers, systems providers, policymakers, academic institutions, outdoor growers, ag input suppliers, philanthropists, and other investors. The report outlines the opportunity for CEA to resolve the current lack of high-quality, affordable produce driven by limitations in outdoor production and customer geography and outlines three areas indoor production must overcome to take significant market share including cost, product selection and productivity.
To read the full report, download at https://www.s2gventures.com/reports
3 Dec 2020