Fact Vs. Fiction: How To Choose A Vertical Farm Provider
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been exploring the options faced by prospective growers. Ultimately, comparing systems means crunching the numbers and understanding your market, your community, and the “why” behind your project.
Here are a few takeaways from each week.
Week 1: Turnkey vs. DIY container farms
With modular farming your project can be up and running in as little as four months. But the timeline (and associated costs) depends on your existing knowledge, and whether you are designing the farm on your own, or partnering with a vendor who offers a turnkey option.
Do-it-yourself options usually require more knowledge, more time, and have the potential to be less expensive (or the inverse, much more expensive). Every aspect of a do-it-yourself option can be customized but there is also more risk involved, especially when it comes to the electrical or carbon dioxide elements.
Turnkey modular farms bring more quality assurance to the table. Often created as a “plug and play” option, these are backed by the provider’s research and development, as well as support teams. While sometimes more expensive than their DIY counterparts, turn-key providers (that’s us!) are a better choice for first-time farmers, or those who will need to hire less skilled labour to run day-to-day operations.