Welcome to iGrow News, Your Source for the World of Indoor Vertical Farming
Unfold Expands, Adds Research Facility For Vertical Farming
Unfold, a company that combines leading seed genetics with crop growing and agronomic expertise to advance the vertical farming industry welcomes Minos Athanassiadis as a company advisor and breaks ground on its new state-of-the-art R&D vertical farm facility in Davis, California
April 15, 2021
Unfold, a company that combines leading seed genetics with crop growing and agronomic expertise to advance the vertical farming industry welcomes Minos Athanassiadis as a company advisor and breaks ground on its new state-of-the-art R&D vertical farm facility in Davis, California.
Minos Athanassiadis, one of the foremost leaders in the produce space, working at brands such as Dole Fresh Vegetables, Underwood Ranches, and Fresh Link Group, will leverage his expertise to help Unfold develop products of value to produce retailers and consumers.
“Consumer demands are propelling changes in the food supply that are safe, transparent, personalized, and sustainable,” said Athanassiadis. “As an advisor to Unfold, I look forward to working with their fast-growing team to help them discover and develop products that will meet this criteria for retailers and consumers alike.”
Since launching, Unfold has doubled in size, bringing on diverse talent expertise from software engineers who will build digital agronomic services for vertical farm operators to the computational biology experts that will breed tomorrow’s seeds.
For vertical farms to have an impact on our food system, production can't begin and end with leafy greens. The industry’s success will require new products to be brought to market to supplement what can be produced by traditional farms and greenhouses. With the opening of their new R&D facility, Unfold will leverage expertise in AI, machine learning, and plant biology to test new varieties of fruits and vegetables faster and to develop the digital tools that will speed up plant optimization for Unfold’s customers.
“As we look to bring seeds to market in the next year, Minos’ rich history in the produce industry will be invaluable,” said John Purcell, Ph.D., President, and CEO of Unfold. “Another variable to this equation is finally being able to open the doors to our R&D facility in Davis where we’ll be able to push the boundaries of our plant breeding in controlled environments that leverage state-of-the-art digital tools.”
For additional information about Unfold or to hear about potential career opportunities, please visit our website at https://unfold.ag/.
Lead photo and logo courtesy Unfold
GREECE: 15 Hectare Semi-Closed Hydroponic Greenhouse
With the second round of financing expected to conclude by September 2021, Aurarius first facility is planned to be operational in the first quarter of 2023
Greece Investment Group Closes Funding On
Hydroponic Greenhouse
The Aurarius Investment Group successfully closed its first round of financing in the first quarter of 2021 covering development activities for Aurarius’ inaugural hydroponic greenhouse/energy plant in Greece. With the second round of financing expected to conclude by September 2021, Aurarius first facility is planned to be operational in the first quarter of 2023.
The facility will be composed of a ~15-hectare semi-closed hydroponic greenhouse farm combined with a ~10 MWh CHP facility. Aurarius intends to develop a portfolio of hydroponic farms combined with energy plants across Greece and other Southern European Countries, aiming to grow high-quality vegetables using the most modern and safe hydroponic greenhouse technology – with an eye both to social impact and sound economic returns.
For more information:
Aurarius Investment Group
https://www.aurariusgroup.com/
This Weeks Episode - Season 3 Episode 31
Niko is the CEO of Netled, an organization that designs and builds the high-tech platform for the world's smartest vertical farms
Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Niko Kivioja. Niko is the CEO of Netled, an organization that designs and builds the high-tech platform for the world's smartest vertical farms. Niko spent the first part of his career in controlled-environment-agriculture as a grower and has spent the last decade in high-tech closed-environment and vertical farming technology development.
In this episode, Harry and Niko discuss the Niko’s familial history of entrepreneurship and the inspiration to start Netled. Niko speaks to the proprietary Vera vertical farming platform development that he’s recently been managing, how the global pandemic impacted the food supply chain, and what excites him the most about the future of Netled and the vertical farming industry as a whole.
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Season 3 Title Sponsor
If you are starting a vertical farm and don't know where to begin, or which technology would suit your needs, Cultivatd can help. As indoor farm brokers, they help connect you to the right technology and ensure your project is successful. Best of all, their service is free. They work on behalf of their partners.
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Why Indoor Farming Funding Is Heating Up
Jim Giles, GreenBiz.com
23 April 2021
Investment is flowing into the indoor farming and regenerative agricultural sector as businesses seek to bolster yields and curb emissions
The billions of dollars flowing into indoor ag, followed by news of a big announcement in regenerative farming, is yet more evidence of the furious pace of change we're seeing in food production.
On the indoor side, the update comes in the form of details on a big vertical farm that the startup Plenty is building in Compton, California. The plans are impressive:
The 95,000 square feet facility will be as productive as 700 acres of farmland, according to CNN. In terms of land use, that's more than 200 times as efficient.
A crop of leafy greens in the facility can go from seedling to harvest in two to three weeks, Plenty co-founder Nate Storey told LAist last year. That's significantly faster than a regular outdoor growing schedule.
The facility will supply 100 grocery stores when production begins later this year.
This activity is partly the result of a $140m investment Plenty announced last year, just one of a slew of similar deals in the indoor ag sector. Close to $2bn will have been invested in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) between the fourth quarter of 2020 and the middle of this year, estimates David Ceaser, lead agronomist at Agritecture, an indoor ag consulting firm based in Brooklyn. Most of that is going to large automated greenhouses, he adds, but vertical farm companies such as InFarm, Oishii, and AeroFarms also have raised rounds.
"Consumer demand is fueling investment in CEA," Ceaser explained by email. "Consumers want consistent access to clean, high-quality produce, year-round. CEA production provides this and appeals to investors due to consistent revenue streams and reduced risk of interruptions compared to field-based production."
In addition to using less land, vertical farms require fewer chemical inputs and consume far less water than conventional farms. But remember that these facilities are, to an extent, only as green as the grid they plug into: Studies have shown that using fossil fuels to power vertical farms undermines the other environmental benefits. This isn't really an argument against indoor ag in general, just a reminder that we need to decarbonize our grid as fast as possible. (For more on how that's happening and how your company can get involved, check out GreenBiz Group's new VERGE Electrify event. It runs May 25-26 and is free to attend.)
Another notable deal saw $87m funneled into Gotham Greens, which operates high-tech greenhouses. Some of that will be used to farm lettuce and herbs at a new 10-acre greenhouse in Solano County, California. The facility is co-located with the University of California, Davis, a notable agricultural research hub. Among other things, Gotham will collaborate with Davis scientists on efforts to develop new indoor varieties.
The Solano facility also feels like a statement of intent. Just a few hour’s drive south are the lettuce farms that supply much of the US market. Gotham setting up shop in Solano is like an upstart grocery chain opening in a Walmart parking lot. It signals that the newcomer believes it can take the incumbent on at its own game.
Moving outdoors, the news is that PepsiCo has committed to spreading regenerative practices on seven million acres of US farmland - roughly the size of its entire agricultural footprint - by 2030. I'll state the obvious: seven million acres is a lot of land. To put it in context, it's only two years since General Mills committed to transitioning one million acres to regenerative agriculture, which at the time felt like a step change in the spread of no-till, cover crops and other methods for restoring soil fertility. And the PepsiCo announcement comes just six months after Cargill unveiled plans to implement regenerative practices on 10 million acres. The momentum here is very clear. As well as building soil fertility, these moves potentially could lead to the drawdown of millions of tons of carbon dioxide every year.
This article first appeared at GreenBiz.com
CubicFarm Systems Corp. Announces International Expansion Into Australia
Food production in Australia has been significantly impacted year over year by devastating wildfires and major flooding. Farming currently covers 385 million hectares, or 58 percent of Australia, and accounts for 59 percent of the water extracted
USD $2.7M Sale of Commercial
Scale Indoor Growing Systems
VANCOUVER, B.C., April 23, 2021 – CubicFarm® Systems Corp. (TSXV:CUB) (“CubicFarms” or the “Company”), a local chain agricultural technology company, today announced the sale of 18 modules of the CubicFarm System onsite indoor growing technology at a sale price of USD$2.7M. BoomA Food Group will operate the first commercial-scale vertical farm in Australia, positioning the company as a market leader BoomA Food Group will use these modules to grow commercial-scale amounts of produce in New South Wales, specializing in herbs and microgreens.
Food production in Australia has been significantly impacted year over year by devastating wildfires and major flooding. Farming currently covers 385 million hectares, or 58 percent of Australia, and accounts for 59 percent of the water extracted¹. Crops and horticulture in Australia are generally concentrated near the coast, while areas of New South Wales have been cleared at more than double the rate of the previous decade—and agriculture was responsible for more than half the area cleared.
“We searched the world over for the right sustainable growing technology to serve our communities in New South Wales and beyond. Australia has experienced the challenges of climate change, the devastating effects of drought, and significant impacts on our food production. CubicFarms’ patented technology is superior to other vertical farming options because it provides commercial-scale output while minimizing environmental impact and maximizing cost efficiencies,” said Cory Robertson, Managing Director, BoomA Food Group.
The CubicFarm System was purchased by BoomA Food Group with funding provided by Baillie Asset Management as trustee for the Pokolbin Vertical Farm Infrastructure Fund.
“I’m thrilled to announce our newest farmer partner in Australia, as the initial launch of our global markets expansion, bringing our technologies to another continent,” said Dave Dinesen, CEO, CubicFarms. “For a region that’s been devastated by natural disasters and food scarcity, our local chain ag-tech will empower local farmers to improve independent food production with predictable fresh produce 365 days a year. Our technology was founded by farmers as a solution to help farmers to succeed despite unpredictable outdoor growing conditions.”
Cory Robertson, Managing Director, BoomA Food Group, is an Australian Aboriginal social entrepreneur and business owner, as well as the Services Director of Goanna Services PTY Ltd. (“Goanna”), a company providing direct community access to contracts employing Indigenous peoples for environmental, government, and construction services.
Kevin Chandler, Chairman, BoomA Food Group, has extensive experience using business principles and practices to address community needs and improve opportunities for Indigenous youth. He is a psychologist and management consultant who founded and grew the Chandler Macleod Group into an AUD$1.5B company. Previously, Chandler was the director of Australian venture capital firm Nanyang Ventures.
Ben Macauley, CEO, Baillie Asset Management, has over 25 years of experience in accounting, finance, and C-level management across financial services, family office, not-for-profit, and banking/finance sectors. Baillie Asset Management has extensive experience in Australian agricultural innovations.
Footnote
¹According to the Government of Australia: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/products/insights/ snapshot-of-australian-agriculture-2021#agricultural-production-is-growing.
About CubicFarms
CubicFarms is a local chain, agricultural technology company developing and deploying technology to feed a changing world. Its proprietary ag-tech solutions enable growers to produce high quality, predictable produce and fresh livestock feed with HydroGreen Nutrition Technology, a division of CubicFarm Systems Corp. The CubicFarms™ system contains patented technology for growing leafy greens and other crops onsite, indoors, all year round. CubicFarms provides an efficient, localized food supply solution that benefits our people, planet, and economy.
For more information, please visit www.cubicfarms.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
“Dave Dinesen”
Dave Dinesen, Chief Executive Officer
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements in this release may constitute “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws including, but not limited to, statements with respect to CubicFarms’ expected revenue recognition and the completion of the sale and installation of the modules by the customer. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements.
For more information, please visit www.cubicfarms.com.
Media Contact:
Andrea Magee
T: 236.885.7608
E: andrea.magee@cubicfarms.com
Investor Contact:
Tom Liston
T: 416.721.9531
E: tom.liston@cubicfarms.com
FFAR Pioneers Vertical Farming To Grow Food In Nontraditional Spaces
A $1,000,000 grant has been awarded to the Precision Indoor Plants (PIP) consortium, which has a program to advance vertical farming by researching plant genetics and indoor growing conditions that help crops thrive and enhance desired qualities.
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is awarding a $1,061,576 grant through its Precision Indoor Plants (PIP) consortium to Sky high: Vertical Farming, a revolution in plant production, a program to advance vertical farming by researching plant genetics and indoor growing conditions that help crops thrive and enhance desired qualities.
The Sky high-program, led by Dr. Leo Marcelis of Wageningen University in the Netherlands, is a collaboration of 18 organizations that are conducting research to make vertical agriculture cheaper, more nutritious and energy efficient. PIP’s partnership with SKY HIGH builds on their current research on strawberries, potatoes, lettuce and basil. The research team is exploring factors that increase crop nutrients and how environmental inputs affect taste, appearance and shelf life. The researchers are also identifying genetic traits that accelerate the development of crop varieties with specific traits in a shorter time frame – research that will benefit indoor and outdoor agriculture. Ultimately, this research is developing crops that respond well to indoor environments and designing vertical farms with favorable conditions for their growth.
“Vertical farming is a novel system for producing crops,” said Dr. Marcelis. “To realize the full potential, we need fundamental understanding of the different components of vertical farming. We want to achieve this by a coordinated effort of researchers from disciplines ranging from genetics, metabolomics, physiology, horticulture, machine learning, climate control, energy systems and building physics.”
In addition to these projects, with PIP’s help Sky high is expanding its lettuce research to study tip burn—the browning of leaf edges—in head lettuce, speed breeding in lettuce, and lettuce’s reaction to daylight cycles. The Sky high researchers are analyzing how the structure of lettuce affects the distribution of nutrients like calcium, which is thought to play a role in tip burn. With this information, the researchers will have a better understanding of how tip burn develops and can grow new lettuce varieties that reduce its damage. Researchers are also exploring breeding lettuce varieties to fast-track growth and speed up flowering and seed formation. Lettuce’s reaction to daylight cycles affects indoor growing conditions, and this project is identifying ways to use different light schedules to promote desired traits such as increased yield. The results of the research impacts both indoor and outdoor lettuce, making it a sustainable, high-quality crop.
For more information:
Foundation for food & agriculture research (FFAR)
www.foundationfar.org
April 9, 2021
How The International Space Station Helps NASA Study Plant Growth In Space
Food for crews aboard the ISS is prepackaged, degrades, and requires resupply. But what if astronauts could grow some of their own food in microgravity?
As NASA plans long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, a key factor is figuring out how to feed crews during their weeks, months, and even years in space.
Food for crews aboard the International Space Station is primarily prepackaged, requires regular resupply deliveries aboard cargo spacecraft, and degrades in quality and nutrition after about 18 months. But what if astronauts could grow some of their own food in microgravity? Researchers on Earth and crews aboard the International Space Station are exploring the idea by testing various crops and equipment to see if the plan could work.
NASA hopes to successfully grow fresh, pick-and-eat crops that are easy to produce and do not require a lot of extra equipment or precious electrical power. “Crews really seem to enjoy growing the food themselves,” said Howard Levine, chief scientist for NASA’s International Space Station Research Office at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. “It’s a nice reprieve from typical activities on the station, and astronauts often volunteer their free time to do it.”
To date, NASA has grown a variety of plants, including lettuces, mustard varieties, and radishes – and learned a lot about how to successfully do so in the process.
Here are seven aspects of plant growth they are studying aboard the space station:
1) Picking the right plants
What grows well on Earth may or may not do so well in space. Before sending a crop to space, scientists must identify which plants to test aboard the space station. To improve that process, NASA started a project in 2015 with the Fairchild Botanical Garden in Miami called “Growing Beyond Earth.” The program has recruited more than 230 middle and high school science classes across the U.S. to grow different seeds using special equipment. Seeds that grow well in the classrooms are then tested in a chamber at Kennedy that closely resembles the space station’s equipment. Selected seeds that do well at Kennedy are then sent to the station. How they grow in orbit can inform the selection of plants for long-duration missions only minimal crew attention.
2) Learning to garden in space
Plants need a place to grow, and NASA has tested out a number of facilities to host a microgravity garden. One way is by experimenting with the Vegetable Production System, or “Veggie,” which is a simple, low-power gardening chamber that can hold six crop plants. Seeds are grown in small fabric “pillows” placed in Veggie. Crews then look after and water the plants by hand, similar to caring for a window herb garden on Earth.
NASA is developing another system, called the Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System, or PONDS, to work with the Veggie platform. PONDS replaces the seed pillows with a new plant holder that automatically feeds and waters the produce, but still requires the crew to do some cultivation tasks. Research also uses a hands-off system called the Advanced Plant Habitat. This fully automated device is designed to study the physiology of how plants grow in space in ways that require only minimal crew attention.
3) The right light
The composition of light that shines on plants can affect their size, nutritional content, microbial growth, and taste. Plants particularly rely on red and blue light to grow. Researchers ran experiments aboard the space station to see how different ratios of red and blue light influenced plant development in space. The experiments showed that plants in space grow well under the same light conditions preferred by plants on Earth. While green lights are not necessary for plant growth, they are included in plant growth systems so the plants also appear similar to those grown on Earth.
4) The influence of gravity
Changes in gravity can affect how plants grow and how many crops they yield. Plants can sense gravity using a mechanism that involves changes to calcium within their cells. Astronauts recently ran experiments aboard the space station to measure how microgravity affects these calcium levels, which could offer clues for designing improved ways of growing crops for food in space.
In the PESTO experiment, crews grew wheat plants to see how microgravity may change some of their key features. They found that microgravity alters leaf development, plant cells, and the chloroplasts used in photosynthesis, but did not harm the plants overall -- in fact, wheat plants grew 10% taller compared to those on Earth.
Station crews also successfully grew two generations of mustard plants using the Advanced Astroculture chamber for an experiment that showed the change in gravity caused seeds to be smaller and secondary branches and seed pods to grow differently. Additionally, the experiment grew soybeans from seed-to-seed in space, which produced larger plants and seeds.
5) Water delivery
One significant challenge to growing plants in microgravity is providing enough water to their roots to keep them healthy without drowning the plants in too much water. Numerous experiments have tested a variety of methods to achieve this, including the new PONDS facility mentioned above and the Plant Water Management experiment. The water management study demonstrated a hydroponic method for providing water and air to the root zone to help them grow. Researchers are growing plants both aboard the space station and on Earth to compare how well they develop.
6) How old is too old?
Future space missions could go on for years, which means the seeds that astronauts bring along could be far from fresh by the time they need to plant them. On Earth, seeds have a decrease in viability and germination over time. But how do the age of seeds and long-term exposure to the spaceflight environment affect their ability to germinate and grow? To find out, in January 2021 NASA grew lettuce and seeds from the cabbage family (kale, mustard, and bok choi) that had been aboard the station for nearly three years. The results showed that while the lettuce seeds did not grow well compared to seeds that had been in space less time, the mustard seeds responded better than expected to the storage time in space.
7) The human effect
Gardens need tending, of course, which means astronauts or robots have to look after the plants that are growing. NASA studied how gardening in space could contribute to the behavior and well-being of astronauts. Many astronauts reported they found caring for the plants a fun and relaxing activity.
“Taking care of plants can also help astronauts stay in touch with the life cycles on Earth,” said Gioia Massa, a life sciences project scientist at Kennedy. Massa’s research focuses on growing plants aboard the space station.
What’s more, astronauts say the time spent gardening makes them excited to eat the fresh produce once it’s ready. The excitement motivates astronauts to creatively use the produce as ingredients in their meals, increasing their quality of life in space and boosting their morale.
For more information:
NASA
www.nasa.gov
8 Apr 2021
Barton Breeze Launches Bank Guarantee For Hydroponic Farms
In an attempt to make hydroponic farming attractive to those interested in farming, Barton Breeze, a Gurugram-based agritech firm, has come up with an assured return plan with a bank guarantee
New Delhi | April 21, 2021
TV Jayan
In an attempt to make hydroponic farming attractive to those interested in farming, Barton Breeze, a Gurugram-based agritech firm, has come up with an assured return plan with a bank guarantee.
“A prospective investor will be able to get an assured annual return of 30 percent on his capital expenditure. We would operate the farm for them and sell the produce for them. If there is a shortfall in this return, the deficit would be paid by banks with whom we have entered into an agreement,” said Shivendra Singh, Founder, and CEO of the commercial hydroponic farming venture, which set up shop in India in 2017 after a successful run in West Asia.
Singh said the firm has already tied up with the State Bank of India and HDFC Bank for the bank guarantee scheme. Explaining the model further, Singh said not only progressive farmers, but HNIs and corporates would be able to reap benefits from this scheme.
“Hydroponic has several benefits for commercial farms. However, many customers are not completely aware of the environmental and financial contribution of it that makes them skeptical of investing in a hydroponic set-up. Our approach of providing a bank guarantee to B2B customers ensures a risk-free transaction. With this strategic step, we look forward to strengthening our relationship with customers,” said Singh.
“This a bit similar to contract farming, except that in this case, we take care of everything, including running of the farm. Unlike in contract farming where the farmer is having the liability and responsibility of growing the crop, we ensure that the crop is grown properly by being present at the farm on a continuous basis,” Singh told BusinessLine.
According to him, the capital expenditure involved in setting a one-acre hydroponic farm is around ₹1.1 crore, and with the government subsidies, this comes further down to around ₹85 lakh.
To make this attractive for urban dwellers interested in investing in farming, Barton Breeze plans to make it possible to invest as little as ₹5 lakh. He said a bunch of people can together and start a hydroponic farm, which his firm can help set up. There is no need to purchase the land as it can be taken on long lease, say, of 10 to 12 years. “We will ensure that they would get 30 percent or more returns on the investment annually,” said Singh. The bank guarantee will be available to the investors for three years initially, but this can be further renewed.
He said already a few farms are being planned in Delhi-NCR, Kolkata, and Indore in Madhya Pradesh under the bank guarantee scheme.
Singh said his young company has been growing exponentially in the last few years. Starting from a low base, the firm grew by eight times in 2017, six times each in two subsequent years. “Even in 2020, which was hit by Covid-19, we grew by 300 per cent,” he claimed.
Barton Breeze, which introduced hydroponic kits that can be used by city dwellers to grow vegetables in their terraces and balconies in the country a couple of years ago, normally grows off-season vegetables and greens to fetch a better price for their farmer customers.
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Taking Indoor Farming Operations To New Heights
“Harnessing unused vertical space through the use of motorized and overhead conveyors helps indoor farmers maximize their footprint while achieving greater efficiencies in food production and improved ergonomics”
Conveyor Systems Technology From Ultimation Industries
Conveyor systems technology can help indoor farming operations grow to new heights while improving productivity, efficiency and ergonomics, according to Ultimation Industries LLC, a leader in conveyor technology and automation for over 30 years.
“Harnessing unused vertical space through the use of motorized and overhead conveyors helps indoor farmers maximize their footprint while achieving greater efficiencies in food production and improved ergonomics,” said Richard Canny, president of Ultimation Industries.
Customized and automated
Ultimation is a provider of customized conveyor and automation solutions for indoor agriculture. They design and build systems for vertical farms of all sizes, including a major system for a West Coast-based vertical farming system which is among the world’s largest.
In a typical indoor agriculture facility, workers move through the growing area to plant, monitor and harvest crops. Multi-tier operations may use time-consuming and potentially dangerous lifts to take employees up and down as they perform their daily tasks. Conveyor technology can move plants through automated systems as they grow, bringing them down to the operator level when needed for more efficient, and ergonomically friendly, handling.
Multiple choice
The conveyors and industrial automation equipment used in vertical farming include many of the traditional conveyor types such as gravity roller, belt, and skate wheel or flow rail conveyors. These conveyors are among the most versatile because they help reduce the manual labor of carrying items by hand.
Larger systems use vertical elevators or Power and Free conveyors. Power and Free conveyors are the ultimate in space and volume optimization for vertical farming systems as they enable tight concentration of product in some areas while also enabling separation of the products for movement to processing areas.
Reducing costs
More recently, the technology used in larger vertical farming systems is including motorized and overhead conveyors. These systems take advantage of unused vertical space above a working area and bring plants down to an operator level when needed.
“Using robotics and conveyors has been shown to help vertical farms maximize their growing operations and reduce costs. We believe that indoor farming systems are best optimized through a balanced use of low-cost material handling systems for slow-growing areas. They are complemented by more sophisticated conveyors and other devices for faster moving material handling tasks,” said Canny.
Ultimation’s indoor agriculture solutions range from simple flow rail systems up to more comprehensive systems for larger indoor vertical farming facilities. The company's systems meet food-safe requirements for lubricants, oils, and greases.
“As indoor farmers work to achieve greater efficiencies in food production, conveyor systems technology is likely to be part of any economically viable and scalable solution,” said Canny.
For more information:
Kali Cresent, Sales and Marketing Manager
Ultimation Industries, LLC
kcresent@ultimation.net
+1 586-771-1881
www.ultimation.net
Publication date: Fri 9 Apr 2021
US: KENTUCKY - AppHarvest Continues To Expand Operations, Adds New Container Farm In Madison County
Some Central Kentucky high school students will soon be able to help grow food not only for themselves but the entire region
AppHarvest (WYMT)
By Brandon Robinson
Apr. 22, 2021
RICHMOND, Ky. (WYMT) - Some Central Kentucky high school students will soon be able to help grow food not only for themselves but the entire region.
On Thursday, officials with Morehead-based AppHarvest announced the expansion of their container farm program to Madison County High School in Richmond.
Watch Live Below:
Gov. Andy Beshear, who attended the event, appropriately held on Earth Day, said the move will not only provide food but help students prepare for possible careers in a field with growing demand.
“AppHarvest has been reimagining and reinventing sustainable food production at its state-of-the-art facility in Morehead. With the opening of the company’s container farm classroom at Madison Central High School, AppHarvest is showing its commitment to the Commonwealth runs both strong and deep,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “This living, teaching lab will inspire and engage Kentucky students to learn about cutting-edge technology that will become the basis of the jobs of the future. Thank you to Founder & CEO Jonathan Webb and his team for making education and Kentucky students a priority in his plans for success.”
The container farm is 2,880 cubic feet, weighs 7.5 tons and includes space to grow up to 4,608 seedlings and 8,800 mature plants all at once using 440 vertical crop columns.
Each retrofitted shipping container serves 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. The company has previously opened container farms in Eastern Kentucky at Breathitt High School in Jackson, Shelby Valley High School in Pikeville, and Rowan County Senior High School in Morehead, the site of the company’s flagship farm.
AppHarvest Founder & CEO Jonathan Webb said the latest expansion will not only help feed Kentuckians but will help Eastern Kentucky’s struggling economy.
“We knew long before opening our Morehead farm that we wanted to invest in the region to help grow our growers and build on the many outstanding community and education programs focused on creating a more resilient Appalachian economy,” Webb said. “The technology in each of these container farms is a good example of what AppHarvest’s modern farmers use daily on a larger scale.”
The Madison Central High School container program will be led by agriculture teacher and FFA adviser Derek Adams.
“Our students are looking forward to getting hands-on experience with state-of-the-art technology that will better prepare them for career opportunities in the agriculture industry,” Adams said. “They are especially eager to see the leafy greens come full circle from farm to table in their own school cafeteria.”
Hybrid Event: Vertical Farming World Congress 2021 - September 20-22
There will be two days of conference sessions, where industry leaders, innovators, suppliers, advisers, and investors will share their insights through a series of presentations, interviews, and interactive panel discussions
Vertical Farming World Congress
Event: Vertical Farming World Congress 2021
Date: 20-22 September
Location: Hybrid event – London Heathrow, also online
Organizer: Zenith Global Ltd
Following the success of the inaugural 2020 event, attended by 180 delegates from 40 countries, Zenith Global is delighted to return with an expanded 2nd Vertical Farming World Congress.
Bringing together vertical farming operators, investors, suppliers, and customers, the event will again assemble key industry leaders from around the globe, to debate and advance the future’s sector.
There will be two days of conference sessions, where industry leaders, innovators, suppliers, advisers, and investors will share their insights through a series of presentations, interviews, and interactive panel discussions.
Extensive networking opportunities, from dedicated networking breaks and group workshops to welcome receptions, will enable all delegates to connect with other industry peers.
Attendees joining in person at London Heathrow will additionally have access to vertical farm tours, produce tasting, policy forums, and training courses.
For full event information and to register, visit: www.zenithglobal.com/events/vfwc2021
For information on sponsorship opportunities, visit www.zenithglobal.com/events/sponsorship,
or contact Maxine Harle on e mharle@zenithglobal.com t +44 (0)1225 327900
VIDEO: Growing Your Offtake With Minimal Marketing
The technology of the vertical farming industry is growing faster than the produce
The initial thoughts of any product-supplying business should answer the question; Who, what and where is my potential offtake?
You are about the produce the best product of current times. Marketing is key to grow businesses in ensuring success to those that sell their product and or services. “Marketing is to sales as plowing is to planting for a farmer”- Mary Ellen Bianco, well now, in vertical farming we don’t plow, is the necessity still applicable to extensively market the product?
The production approach at CAN-AGRI is focused on consumer satisfaction. We accomplish this with proper nutrient supply in turn producing a great tasting product with no harmful chemical sprays. Our hypothesis is; High-quality products with extended shelf-life and good presentation will sell themselves. We are proud to know that through our product we set new standards in quality and freshness, a fantastic product to use in restaurants and homes. It has been proven, growth cycle, after the growth cycle, with the greatest success.
The technology of the vertical farming industry is growing faster than the produce. There are many different target points, to name a few, i.e. lights, HVAC, vertical vs horizontal operations, stacking horizontal, and combinations thereof. The technology developers need to keep a continuous drive in the development and improvement. The fact that food insecurity becomes an ever more concerning issue aids in the justification why this should be one of the top fields in research and development.
The R&D outcome focus should enable the customer to produce an economically viable safe to consume fresh produce. CAN-AGRI’s (www.can-agri.com) approach to this is in the trailed and tested uniquely designed patented grow towers. The technology not only addresses the supply and demand orders but also achieves global targets in reducing the use of scarce resources coupled with a low carbon footprint accomplished by our “use of natural resources” approach.
Each facility is tailor-made to you, the clients’, comfortability, and needs. Depending on your conditions CAN-AGRI’s adaptability and flexibility in the facility make your system a success.
Farm 111, Klipkop, Graham Rd, Pretoria, South Africa.
Advances In Hydroponic Cultivation of Floriculture Crops
Advances In Commercial Hydroponic Cultivation of Floriculture Crops for International Markets
UNITED KINGDOM: New Vertical Farm To Launch In The Midlands
High-growth technology company specialising in controlled-environment-agriculture (CEA), Vertical Future, has partnered with newly established Northamptonshire based vertical farming company, Syan Farms
April 22, 2021
Posted by: Barney Cotton
High-growth technology company specialising in controlled-environment-agriculture (CEA), Vertical Future, has partnered with newly established Northamptonshire-based vertical farming company, Syan Farms.
Launching with Vertical Future’s proprietary production systems, Syan Farms will also be brought on board as a research partner as part of Vertical Future’s wider research activities, focused on seed breeding, genetics, and robotics.
Syan Farms – a mainly family-run business based in Horton, Northamptonshire – was recently established to contribute towards the building of a better, more sustainable food system, tackling food security and other key issues. Able to grow fresh produce without the need for herbicides, pesticides or fungicides, and without use of soil, the Syan Farms team are able to provide ‘beyond-organic’ solutions with dramatically reduced emissions and water usage. The use of vertical farming also frees up land for local ecosystems to rebound from agricultural damage.
Vertical Future’s innovative production systems will be housed in a new development in Horton, Northamptonshire, integrated with solar energy and rainwater harvesting in order to provide the most efficient model possible. This is Northamptonshire’s first vertical farm, aimed to serve restaurants, distributors, and homes with the freshest produce around.
Resh Diu, co-founder of Syan Farms, says: “The construction of our first vertical farm with Vertical Future is a great first step for us – and really just the start of our journey in light of our ambitious growth plans. It marks the progression that the UK industry is making towards providing local, sustainable produce all year round whilst protecting the environment. Our ambitions, team, and business model, combined with Vertical Future’s technologies and expertise are set to leave a positive mark on the growing vertical farming industry in the UK and beyond.”
Jamie Burrows, CEO, Vertical Future says: “Growing fresh produce in a fully controlled environment allows our partners to have a measurable influence on flavours, aesthetics, and other product characteristics – this is because we control all of the different variables associated with plant growth. Our systems enable our partners to do this in a sustainable way, year-round, on-demand, and with absolutely no chemicals. We’re so excited to bring on board the Syan Farms team to generate further improvements in UK agriculture.”
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PODCAST: Indoor Ag Continues To Grow
Indoor agriculture has certainly made headlines in recent years. From large investments to partnerships with retailers and companies like Driscoll’s. But how much of this is hype and how much is here to stay?
Apr 22nd, 2021
Tim Hammerich - News Reporter
It’s time for your Farm of the Future Report. I’m Tim Hammerich.
Indoor agriculture has certainly made headlines in recent years. From large investments to partnerships with retailers and companies like Driscoll’s. But how much of this is hype and how much is here to stay? Co-founder and CEO Viraj Puri is very optimistic about the road ahead for these growing systems.
Puri… “I think modern greenhouse farming has a very successful legacy of being practiced profitability in many parts of the world. Much of the technology is robust. Using an example of say tomatoes, for example. I don't think most consumers know this, but upwards of 60% of tomatoes that are found in retail stores in America today are grown in a greenhouse.”
Puri said other greenhouse vegetables like cucumbers and bell peppers are also on the rise.
Puri… “And so we believe that there is still ample opportunity for the indoor farming segment and the greenhouse growing segment to grow not only in the U.S. but in many parts of the world. Because these facilities can really be located anywhere, geographically, particularly in close proximity to large marketplaces, we believe there's a lot of supply chain benefits. That can take cost out of the supply chain, waste and other factors.”
Gotham Greens continues to expand the greenhouse production systems across the country.
Tags: INDOOR AG GREENHOUSE GOTHAM GREENS
ITALY: Zero Farms Delivers Its Salads To Regional Supermarkets
This launch is proof that Zero farming is the solution to enable access to quality products for a wide range of consumers
After years of R&D by the company team, they're now aiming to create an ideal environment, combined with software and technologies for the aeroponically growing salads, arugula, aromatic herbs, and packaged microgreens. All crops are grown in a Pordenone-based production site. The formerly abandoned warehouse has a capacity of producing up to 30 tons per year.
"This launch is proof that Zero farming is the solution to enable access to quality products for a wide range of consumers." This is how Zero's CEO Daniele Modesto explains the entry into the Italian market. The company now presents its first products on the shelves of the Eurospesa supermarkets in Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto.
"We entered large-scale distribution starting with local groups, because we needed to take measures with some processes that were new to us. The processes had to be refined before going into national distribution groups," explains Daniele.
"It all started with a visit to the Expo Milano in 2015. What struck me most was a small glass cube that contained basil, arranged in multiple layers, illuminated by LED lights: the embryonic prototype of a vertical farm. From there on, I tracked down the designer and contacted him."
This appeared to be Paolo Battistel, one of Europe's greatest experts in soilless cultivation and today's scientific supervisor of Zero. He then told me what vertical farming comprised and that it would be a new frontier of agriculture. He said that it often clashes with the economic unsustainability of the project." Modesto then shared his idea with Andrea Alessio, owner of a company that deals with industrial photography with a strong passion for the product and the management of production processes."
In 2018, Zero was born in the Italian commune, Pordenone. Initially self-financed with the first partners, it later saw the first investments of other industrial companies in the area. At the beginning of 2021, the company entered the national and international agritech market as Zero Modular Architecture. This is a proprietary hardware-software technology to mass-produce, on an industrial scale, production plants in vertical farms. Namely, a transversal technological platform that involves the combination of standardized components, all produced independently by Zero, which is quickly assembled in disused industrial spaces regenerated into farms powered by clean energy.
Read more at Fruitbook Magazine (in Italian)
8 Apr 2021
Turning Empty Spaces Into Urban Farms
With a lower occupancy rate in both retail and office spaces, property developers probably could redevelop the buildings for another usage – urban or vertical farming as done in Singapore with tremendous success
EVEN as many ordinary Malaysians struggle to make ends meet arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, empty shop lots continue to mount along the streets and some even display signs that say “available for rent”.
With the growing importance of food self-sufficiency, now is the time for Malaysia to turn empty spaces into urban farms – tackling food security-related issues besides making good use of the existing sites.
Urban farming is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in or around urban areas.
Although Malaysia is rich in natural resources, we are highly dependent on high-value imported foods. Presently, our self-sufficiency level for fruits, vegetables and meat products stands at 78.4%, 44.6% and 22.9%, respectively.
With a lower occupancy rate in both retail and office spaces, property developers probably could redevelop the buildings for another usage – urban or vertical farming as done in Singapore with tremendous success.
According to the National Property Information Centre, the occupancy rate for shopping malls in Malaysia has dropped consecutively for five years. It declined from 79.2% in 2019 to 77.5% in 2020, the lowest level since 2003.
Penang recorded the lowest occupancy rate at 72.8%, followed by Johor Baru and Kuching (75.3%), Selangor (80%), Kuala Lumpur (82%), and Kota Kinabalu (82.1%).
In addition, the Valuation and Property Services Department revealed a lower occupancy rate at Malaysia’s privately-owned office buildings compared to the pre-pandemic era.
For instance, Johor Baru recorded the lowest occupancy rate of privately-owned office buildings at 61.9%, followed by Selangor (67.5%), the city centre of Kuala Lumpur (77.8%), Penang (79.8%), Kota Kinabalu (86.5%), and Kuching (87.1%).
Aquaponics – pesticide-free farming that combines aquaculture (growing fish) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil) – would be the way forward.
To summarise, aquaponics is one of the soilless farming techniques that allow fish to do most of the work by eating and producing waste. The beneficial bacteria in the water will convert waste into nutrient-rich water and is fed into the soil-less plants.
Following are the steps for vertical aquaponic farming:
1. Small growth cups are filled with coco peat, which are then sterilised under ultraviolet light, preventing bacteria and viruses from entering into the water pumps. There is an additional control over the environment with regard to temperature and daylight through the use of LED growth lights.
2. A hole is poked in the middle of the cup, where a plant seed is placed inside. The use of non-genetically modified organism seeds, where the majority are imported from reliable sources, is very much encouraged.
3. The seed is germinated for one to three days in a room.
4. Once the seed has germinated and grown to about two centimetres, the pots can be placed in the vertical harvest tower.
5. Nutrient-filled water from the fish pond flows to the plants automatically. Big plants grow within 30 days.
While enabling the growth of many varieties of vegetables with indoor temperature conditions, aquaponics can generate fish production, sustaining economic livelihoods particularly for the underprivileged and disabled communities, as well as fresh graduates who are still struggling to secure a decent job.
Although Sunway FutureX Farm, Kebun-Kebun Bangsar, and Urban Hijau, for instance, are good urban farming initiatives in the city centre of Kuala Lumpur, there are still many potential sites that could be transformed into urban farms.
Therefore, Malaysia perhaps can adopt Singapore’s approach by using hydroponics on roofs of car park structures and installing urban farms into existing unutilised buildings.
As it requires only a quarter of the size of a traditional farm to produce the same quantity of vegetables, the vertical rooftop system would yield more than four times compared with conventional farming. At the same time, it also reduces the need to clear land for agricultural use while avoiding price fluctuation.
Besides reducing over-reliance on imports and cutting carbon emissions, indoor vertical farming within the existing building also allows local food production as part of the supply chain.
It could expand into workshops, demos and expos besides offering guided and educational tours that promote the joy of urban farming.
Through urban farming structure inside a building, stressed-out office workers and the elderly, in particular, can enjoy a good indoor environment, air quality and well-ventilated indoor spaces. They can also relax their mind through gardening and walking around urban farms.
To increase the portion of food supplied locally, the government needs to empower farmers and the relevant stakeholders, incentivising the private sector in urban farming and providing other support through facilitating, brokering and investing.
This in turn would enhance the supply and affordability of a wide range of minimally processed plant-based foods as suggested under the latest Malaysia Economic Monitor “Sowing the Seeds” report by the World Bank.
With the current administration’s laudable commitment to tackling food security-related issues, this would provide an opportunity for Malaysia to review the current national food security policy by addressing productivity, resources optimisation, sustainable consumption, climate change, water and land scarcity.
By putting greater emphasis on urban farming, the government could empower farmers to plant more nutritious, higher-value crops; to improve their soil through modern technologies application (i.e., Internet of Things, Big Data and artificial intelligence); and to benefit from increased opportunities by earning higher returns on their generally small landholdings.
The government could also provide seeds, fertilisers and pesticides-related subsidies paid directly to the urban farmers through a voucher system.
For instance, the urban farming operators could use the voucher to buy high-quality seeds from any vendor or company.
The vendor also can use the voucher to claim payment from the government.
Not only would this approach create healthy competition among vendors, but it would also stimulate agricultural activities.
And given that current youth involvement in the agriculture sector is only 240,000 or 15% of total farmers in Malaysia as noted by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries (Mafi) I, Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah, Mafi, the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives and Ministry of Youth and Sports have to craft training programmes and develop grant initiatives together – attracting the younger generation of agropreneurs to get involved in urban farming.
These ministries can also work with the Department of Agriculture, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, and Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority to develop more comprehensive urban farming initiatives.
While providing job opportunities for youths to embark on urban farming, young agropreneurs can enjoy higher income and productivity, and yields, on top of increasing the contribution of agriculture to the gross domestic product.
For urban farming to thrive in Malaysia, the government perhaps can adopt and adapt the Singapore government’s approach: developing specific targets to encourage local food production.
Even though Singapore has limited resources, it is still setting an ambitious target – increasing the portion of food supplied locally to 30% by 2030.
The upcoming 12th Malaysia Plan also will provide timely opportunities for the government to turn empty spaces into urban farming in the context of the ongoing impact of Covid-19 besides fostering agricultural modernisation by leveraging on Industrial 4.0.
In a nutshell, every Malaysian can do their part to help Malaysia become more food resilient. By converting empty spaces into urban farms, it can reduce food waste, encourage local products purchase and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Amanda Yeo is a research analyst at EMIR Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research. Comment: letters@thesundaily.com
South Carolina Hydroponic Container Farm Makes A Large Impact With A Small Footprint
The farm, which primarily grows leafy greens, uses a method of growing called hydroponic gardening. Simply put, it’s soil-less gardening. And as the name suggests, it means the roots are left out of the ground and instead fed nutrients and water directly with the help of technology
Hannah Cumler
April 16, 2021
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - It’s been dubbed the gardening of the future, however, it seems the future is here, now that Vertical Roots has planted itself in the Midlands.
© Provided by Columbia WIS TV Vertical Roots
The farm, which primarily grows leafy greens, uses a method of growing called hydroponic gardening.
Simply put, it’s soil-less gardening. And as the name suggests, it means the roots are left out of the ground and instead fed nutrients and water directly with the help of technology.
The controlled method of gardening has several benefits, most notably, its efficiency.
By feeding the plant directly, it means Vertical Roots saves on resources that otherwise would be lost to runoff, weather changes, or other environmental factors.
Andrew Hare, Vertical Roots’ general manager, explains that hydroponic gardening is actually 95% more efficient than traditional gardening.
“A head of lettuce for us might consume a couple of gallons of water during its entire maturation cycle versus outdoors, that’s hundreds of gallons of water,” explains Hare. “It’s not because the plant is consuming more outdoors, it’s because of the evaporation and runoff in the soil, so when you have all that contained, you’re using five percent of what you typically have to use.”
Another added benefit, a longer growing season. Operating in upcycled shipping containers, Vertical Roots is able to control its environment, allowing leafy greens to grow 365 days a year.
The Charleston-based business expanded to the Midlands in 2019 with its farm in Columbia, located at the South Carolina State Farmers Market campus.
Its Columbia location provides its largest farm site with 108 shipping containers growing leafy greens.
To put it into perspective, Hare says, “It’s about 2.5 million pounds a year or a little over 7 million plants per year that that facility grows and it’s on less than four acres of land.”
Vertical Roots products can be found at grocery stores like Publix, Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, and more
Inside Inuvik’s New Hydroponic Greenhouse
Inuvik’s first all-season growing facility will soon be operational, offering residents year-round access to locally produced greens.
April 16, 2021
Inuvik’s first all-season growing facility will soon be operational, offering residents year-round access to locally produced greens.
Inuvik's hydroponic greenhouse is decorated with artwork by resident Adi Scott. Meaghan Brackenbury/Cabin Radio
The hydroponic greenhouse, in a trailer on land donated by Jesse and Keren Harder, is run by the Inuvik Community Greenhouse. Leafy veg like lettuce and herbs will grow using nutrient-rich water rather than soil.
“We have been working on this project for a long time, trying to get funding,” executive director Ray Solotki told Cabin Radio. “We want to be putting food in the community. We want to be hiring people in the community. We want to be doing things that are actually helpful to what our mandates are.
“This unit has been in the works with the hopes that we will produce enough food to see an actual tangible amount of difference in the communities, and also provide jobs here in Inuvik.”
Ray Solotki inside Inuvik’s community greenhouse in the summer of 2019. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
The greenhouse received more than $400,000 for the hydroponic facility from economic development agency CanNor last November. ColdAcre, a company that runs hydroponic greenhouses in Yukon, was contracted to construct it.
Another $100,000 from the territorial government will pay for a small solar farm to power the facility, which Solotki says will mean cheaper energy and lower-cost produce.
Solotki hopes the facility can grow as much as ColdAcre’s Whitehorse facility – about 500 lb of produce a month.
“If you consider how much spinach weighs, it’s not very heavy,” Solotki added. “That’s quite a lot of food to be bringing into the community.
Inside Inuvik’s hydroponic greenhouse. Plants are grown on shelves using nutrient-rich water that runs through a closed circuit. Meaghan Brackenbury/Cabin Radio
Kale, bok choy, Swiss chard, mizuna, and basil will be included in the greenhouse’s veggie box program, where members pay $20 a week and receive their share of the harvest. Some will be available at local grocery stores.
“I want this to be a case of once a week you get something that’s so fresh it was picked this morning, even when it’s minus-56 outside,” Solotki said.
Finding firm financial footing
The hydroponic unit will require a year-round staff member to operate it – a position Solotki said has been filled by an Inuvik resident – and offer more training opportunities for students and summer staff.
“We want to train kids from the ground up, literally, and teach them that this is a potential job,” she said.
The organization has received funding from the University of Saskatchewan for programs like bringing residents from smaller Beaufort Delta communities to teach them about hydroponics.
Shelving units inside the hydroponic greenhouse. Meaghan Brackenbury/Cabin Radio
“It doesn’t have to be in a shipping container,” Solotki explained. “You can take these out and put them in a school, you can put them in an office, you can do all sorts of things.
“But people need to understand how they work and see if it’s something they want to do.”
Meanwhile, produce sales from the hydroponic unit could help the greenhouse grow its commercial side.
Revenue that’s independently generated means less pressure to constantly fundraise, Solotki said, and could free up funding pots for other groups in the region.
“The amount of agricultural funding available per area is fixed, which means if I’m the one constantly tapping into it, other people can’t or might not have as many opportunities,” she said.
“If we could be utilizing it in better ways, and creating a better economy and creating more interesting things in the community, this is great for us.”
The greenhouse is currently seeking funding for an aeroponic facility – a system that suspends plants in the air and sprays them with nutrient-rich mist, which works well for heartier crops such as beans, potatoes, and peas.
Exploring what’s possible
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, agriculture and food security have become bigger discussions in the NWT.
Last June, a 50,000-pound donation of free potatoes to the NWT sparked debate about what northern food security should look like.
In February, three farmers in Hay River received funding for projects designed to help move the territory toward having an established agricultural sector. This month, the City of Yellowknife approved its latest food and agriculture plan after announcing a partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University to create a food hub in the city.
In Inuvik, Solotki concedes that leafy greens “won’t solve the problems of caloric intake and what you actually require for food security” – but she argues the hydroponic facility will allow the community to re-evaluate what is possible in the realm of Arctic agriculture.
“This is an idea that starts to change people’s mindsets: that we don’t have to buy from out-of-territory,” she said. “We don’t have to ship it in, we could actually do it ourselves.
“While the hydroponics is not going to be the be-all and end-all, wouldn’t it be cool to see community greenhouse hydroponics, sitting next to community greenhouse aeroponics, sitting next to the greenhouse chicken coop, sitting next to the pig barn, sitting next to the cow barn… having an actual agricultural sector that is utilizing what we need to work in our climates?”
New Freight Farms Greenery S Ushers In The Next Era of Smart Small-Space Farming
Five Specialized Systems Allow Farmers to Grow Food 365 Days a Year With Complete Control
Five Specialized Systems Allow Farmers
To Grow Food 365 Days A Year With
Complete Control
NEWS PROVIDED BY
April 21, 2021
BOSTON, April 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier this month, Freight Farms, the world's leading manufacturer of container farming, unveiled its new container farm, the Greenery S. This latest model is the tenth generation of the technology since the company pioneered the small space farming concept in 2013.
The Greenery S features an exceptional new farm design which, when paired with seamless automation, unlocks powerful performance for all users. The Greenery S combines specialized space, light, air, water, and control systems to make it possible to grow 2.5 acres-worth of food in 320 square feet anywhere in the world.
Always keeping the farmer in mind, the Greenery S implements feedback drawn from in-depth customer research to execute an exceptional new farm design which, when paired with seamless automation, unlocks powerful performance for all users. The Greenery S combines specialized space, light, air, water, and control systems to make it possible to grow food anywhere in the world, thereby empowering individuals to grow food locally within their communities to decentralize the global food system.
"The Greenery S brings an entirely new level of design, control, robustness, and ease of use to our already industry-leading growing platform. It is built upon the technology we have developed over the past ten years while introducing a fresh suite of features. This farm is not just a refinement of our past models – it redefines what it means to be a farmer," said Freight Farms co-founder and COO Jon Friedman. "With the Greenery S, we hope to further simplify the process of farming to make the profession as accessible as possible to people around the world."
Industry-Leading Features for Design, Automation, and Performance
Of all the Greenery S features, the most notable are the re-imagined workspace, the enhanced farmhand® automation software, and the dynamic new proprietary LED technology.
All-New Workstation - User-Centric Design
As Freight Farms continues to define and refine what a farm can be, the company focuses specifically on optimizing workflow for their farmers with an all-new Workstation, a sleek, self-contained, and multi-functional farm command center.
Technical components – water and nutrient tanks, dosing panel, pumps – are hidden from view yet easily accessible with a simple push-to-open mechanism for instant access.
The 'Tabletop Riser' separates the workstation into two workzones, and includes an integrated, multi-functional LED bar (for tabletop illumination, plant spacing guidance, and task timing) and four full-range Bluetooth speakers.
Farmhand® Recipes - Network Learning & Automation
The latest release of Freight Farms' companion farming software–farmhand®–takes automation to the next level with the new Recipes feature.
Recipes allow farmers to achieve consistent harvests with the touch of a button: Operators simply choose the crop they wish to grow and farmhand automatically adjusts in-farm settings to optimize for that crop production.
Recipes are built by aggregating farmer network data and determining patterns that lead to exceptionally successful harvests; meaning the list of recipes will grow as the global Freight Farmer community continues to expand.
Dynamic Lighting Control - Power & Precision for Performance
The Greenery S takes a huge leap in LED technology by allowing farmers to customize the lighting spectrum, intensity, and duration of light to achieve their desired plant yields.
The Greenery S features Freight Farms' proprietary LEDs, which emit light with 60% greater intensity and 50% better efficiency compared to off-the-shelf options.
Farmers have precise control over their lights with brand new Eco (prioritizing farm efficiency by reducing power consumption), Performance (prioritizing plant growth for greater yields, and Standard (balances the two) modes.
The Most Versatile Platform in the Indoor Farming Industry
The accessibility and versatility of the Freight Farms platform allow customers to use it in a diverse range of locations and applications. The Greenery S is built with the same specifications as a standard 40-foot shipping container, making it possible to bring and install the farm in any location, such as a city center, tropical island, or area experiencing food insecurity. Once at its location, the 320 sq. ft. container becomes a commercial growing space, capable of producing 2.5 acres worth of fresh food every year. The farm's elite design, in combination with farmhand®, robust training, and access to an elite support team, ensures anyone can run a successful operation without any prior farming experience.
Freight Farms currently services more than 500 trained farmers across 48 U.S. states and more than 32 countries. For more information, visit freightfarms.com.
About Freight Farms:
In 2013, Freight Farms debuted the first vertical hydroponic farm built inside an intermodal shipping container with the mission of democratizing and decentralizing the local production of fresh, healthy food. Now with the Greenery S and integral IoT data platform, farmhand®, Freight Farms has the largest network of connected farms in the world, with global customers in 32 countries and 48 U.S. states ranging from entrepreneurs and small business farmers to corporate, hospitality, retail, education, and nonprofit sectors. To learn more, please visit freightfarms.com, or visit us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
Media Contact:
5WPR
Carinna Gano, Account Supervisor
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SOURCE Freight Farms