Land Betterment And anu™: Innovating Sustainable Agriculture
25TH JUNE 2024
2 MINUTES READ
Key Takeaways
Innovative Partnership: Land Betterment and anu™ have announced a partnership to commercialize autonomous fresh produce growing systems using up-cycled shipping containers.
Technology Integration: The collaboration combines ekō Solutions’ modular construction expertise with anu™’s Rotary Aeroponics® technology.
Sustainable Agriculture: The Pure Produce® Container Farms aim to offer sustainable solutions with reduced water usage, energy consumption, and carbon emissions.
Addressing Food Insecurity: The initiative seeks to combat global food insecurity by enabling fresh produce growth near the point of consumption.
Scalability and Impact: The partnership is positioned to scale up production and donate surplus produce to local food desert relief programs.
Land Betterment and anu™ Announce Partnership to Develop Sustainable Agriculture Solutions
Land Betterment, a Certified B Corp focused on environmental solutions, and anu™, an ag-tech innovator, have announced a partnership to build and commercialize autonomous fresh produce growing systems. These systems will be housed in customized, up-cycled 20-foot shipping containers provided by ekō Solutions, a Land Betterment portfolio company.
A Fusion of Expertise
ekō Solutions, known for its modular construction through up-cycling shipping containers, is collaborating with anu™ to develop the Pure Produce® Container Farms. Peter Rodriguez, President of ekō Solutions, is leading the ramp-up of production for these farms. anu™, led by CEO Scott Massey and CTO Ivan Ball, along with VP of Research Dr. Sven Nelson, brings its Rotary Aeroponics® technology, which has been refined over seven years and supported by nearly $2 million in grants from various agencies.
Advancing Agricultural Technology
The goal of this partnership is to facilitate the autonomous growth of fresh produce in controlled environments, using less energy and space. “We are very excited to bring this partnership to the marketplace,” stated Kirk Taylor, Co-Founder and President of Land Betterment. “Together, we can enable users to grow fresh produce near or at the point of consumption on a smaller footprint.”
Scott Massey, CEO of anu™, emphasized the broader impacts: “This venture represents a significant step towards addressing the nutritional deficiencies driving our nation’s healthcare expenditure.”
Addressing Food Insecurity
According to the United Nations, approximately 13% of food produced globally is lost between harvest and retail, often due to spoilage. This partnership aims to reduce such losses by enabling the growth of fresh produce closer to consumers. “Global food insecurity is on the rise,” noted Ivan Ball, anu™ Co-Founder. “Food loss is often due to spoilage that occurs before crops reach the market.”
Sustainable Farming Solutions
The Pure Produce® Container Farms aim to offer superior nutrition, flavor, and food safety. Using anu™’s technology, these farms are designed to reduce water usage by 90%, eliminate the need for pesticides and preservatives, and significantly cut carbon emissions. The use of up-cycled shipping containers also contributes to sustainability by reducing energy and construction-related emissions.
Scaling Up Production
With significant funding, anu™ is scaling up automated seed pod production. The first Pure Produce® Container has been delivered to anu™ headquarters in Evansville, Indiana, with plans to donate surplus harvests to local food desert relief programs.
Future Prospects
Scott Massey highlighted the potential impact: “Our technology enables communities, especially those in food deserts, to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of locally grown, nutrient-rich fresh produce.”
ekō Solutions is expanding its range of sustainable and energy-efficient structures, including mobile workstations, bathrooms, dog grooming units, containerized food stands, farms, hunting retreats, and homes. This partnership signifies an advancement in sustainable agriculture and environmental solutions.