Vertical Farms and Indoor Cultivation News and Discussions

weatheriscool
Posts: 12971
Joined: Sun May 16, 2021 6:16 pm

Vertical Farms and Indoor Cultivation News and Discussions

Post by weatheriscool »

Controlled indoor cultivation without daylight comes of age

by Wageningen University
https://phys.org/news/2021-12-indoor-cu ... t-age.html
Interest in vertical farming is growing worldwide. This method of cultivation offers great advantages: local, fresh production that is possible at any location in a very sustainable way. On the negative side are the high electricity consumption and investment costs. Scientists from Wageningen University & Research, together with international colleagues, provide a balanced view of the current situation in a review article published in the renowned scientific journal Nature Food.

Vertical farming is an umbrella term for a method of growing in a variety of structures, such as empty buildings, specially constructed growth chambers or containers. The common characteristic is the closed nature of the system. This makes it possible to attune the conditions (light, climate, water, fertilizers) precisely to the needs of the crop. As a result, the crop grows evenly and can be planned. It is also possible to control the level of healthy nutrients in the crops.

"Vertical farming is still a specialized niche, but the potential is great. Interest is growing all over the world. Initially, there were some critical comments about its feasibility, but we have really moved beyond that phase. That is why we've honestly listed the pros and cons of vertical farming," says Sander van Delden, first author of the article in Nature Food.

The article was written at the journal's request. The Wageningen researchers involved many colleagues at home and abroad to produce a complete picture of all aspects of this growing method. This ranges from cultivation and technology to sustainability, health, social aspects and related policy.
User avatar
caltrek
Posts: 6509
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 1:17 pm

Re: Veritcal farms and indoor cultivation news and discussion

Post by caltrek »

Upward Plans to Open a 250,000 Square-foot Vertical Farm in Pennsylvania Early Next Year
by Brian Heater
January 18, 2022

https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/18/upwar ... next-year/

Entire Article Less Photographs:
(TechCrunch) Brooklyn-based Upward Farms this week unveiled plans to launch a massive 250,000-square-foot vertical farm. Set for an early-2023 opening, the site will be located in Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Luzerne County. It’s a massive footprint for a vertical farm — particularly for a category that prides itself on limited land use. The roughly six acres of land puts the farm at multiple times the size of the competition’s space. The location is Upward’s third farm.

The farm will specifically focus on microgreens — a popular choice for indoor farming, due to its flexibility and limited spatial requirements versus other crops. Rather than the hydroponic or aeroponic growing method used by most of the competition, Upward relies on aquaponics, a looped system that utilizes fish to grow plants through the production of natural fertilizer.

The interesting twist to the system is that the company also sells its farm-grown bass. In December, the company announced that — in addition to selling produce at select New York Whole Foods locations — it would begin selling striped bass at Greenpoint Fish and Lobster in Brooklyn.

“With this new facility, we’ll be able to reach some of the most populous areas of the US, and nearly 100 million Americans, within a single day of distribution versus the week it can take to receive products from the west coast,” co-founder and CEO Jason Green said in a release. “This is a local success story with massive global implications for how and where food is grown, and the next generation of manufacturing technology.”

After getting up and running, Upward plans to begin sales from the farm in early 2023. The company, which raised a $121 million Series B last year, also plans to expand to additional markets in the coming year.
Don't mourn, organize.

-Joe Hill
User avatar
caltrek
Posts: 6509
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 1:17 pm

Re: Vertical Farms and Indoor Cultivation News and Discussions

Post by caltrek »

Bowery Opens New Vertical Farm in Pennsylvania
by Brian Heater
May 26, 2022

Entire Article (Less Photograph):
(TechCrunch) When I wrote my big TC1 on Bowery Farming late last year, there was a lot of talk of the company’s third commercial farming site in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Today the facility finally comes online after a big press unveiling. The New Jersey–based vertical farming startup says the facility, built on a former brownfield lot, is its most technologically advanced to date.

The commercial farm is Bowery’s third, including the initial location in Kearny, New Jersey, that I visited, as well as one in Nottingham, Maryland. Baby steps, but the company says it plans to double those three by next year. The company won’t offer official word on the farm, though real estate reports from the last few years put it at around 156,000 square feet. It’s a large site from the sound of it, though others have outlined details for even larger facilities.

There are some ongoing questions around the environmental impact of vertical farming, of course. There’s plenty of upside, including a far smaller footprint and decreased water use, though the efficacy of relying on LEDs instead of natural lighting is often cited by detractors. Bowery says its new farm will be powered by 100% renewable energy coupled with water capture and filtration designed to cycle runoff back into the system.

“If we’ve learned anything from the past two years it is that we are in a period of unprecedented disruption and uncertainty across our climate and geopolitical circumstances, which unfortunately is going to persist. We are also seeing firsthand that our global food system is inextricably tied to these dynamics,” founder and CEO Irving Fain said in a release. “At Bowery, wherever food is needed, we can grow it. We are addressing the challenges in our system by growing food smarter for more people in more places — and that work, securing food for our future, continues today with the opening of our Bethlehem Farm.”

The new farm is also set to bring 70 jobs to Bethlehem, which is located next door to Allentown and is an hour and a half drive from Philadelphia. The location is designed to serve a 200-mile radius, according to Bowery, courtesy of retailers like Whole Foods, Giant of Landover and Albertsons.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/26/bower ... nsylvania/
Don't mourn, organize.

-Joe Hill
User avatar
funkervogt
Posts: 1171
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 3:03 pm

Re: Vertical Farms and Indoor Cultivation News and Discussions

Post by funkervogt »

Lean times hit the vertical farming business
Not long ago, vertical farming seemed unstoppable. Big tech was going to supercharge agriculture, one of the oldest industries in the world, and the revolution would start with salad leaves.

Warehouse-grown greens, flourishing in trays neatly stacked beneath row upon row of glowing LEDs. It was lettuce - but sci-fi.

US-based AeroFarms considered itself to be one of the leaders in the industry.

"We are so far above everybody else in this technology," AeroFarms' chief executive David Rosenberg boasted to the New Yorker in 2017. "It will take years for the rest of the world to catch up."

Hard times caught up with AeroFarms instead. In June, the firm filed for bankruptcy protection in the US and Mr Rosenberg stepped down.

It is all part of a "reset" or "pivot", insists co-founder and chief marketing officer Marc Oshima: "We're growing product every day, we're shipping product every day."

But lately, AeroFarms has struggled to find enough capital to fuel its soaring ambition. "The money just has not been there," admits Mr Oshima, though he adds that the firm still has some investors who are supplying "millions of dollars".

AeroFarms famously designed its own indoor growing systems. "We think it has served us well, we have unique technology," adds Mr Oshima.

When asked whether initiatives, such as one targeting low income communities in Jersey City, New Jersey, will continue, he adds that these are currently "being evaluated".

A spokeswoman for Jersey City says, "We do not anticipate our operations to be interrupted in any way."

A long list of other vertical farms have run into trouble in recent months.

French firm Agricool went into receivership earlier this year, Pennsylvania-based Fifth Season shut down in late 2022, Iron Ox of California has laid off nearly half its workforce and Infarm has closed its operations in Europe - making 500 staff redundant.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66173872

Edit by caltrek: I have deleted a portion of what was quoted from this article. Due to copyright considerations posts should be no longer than five paragraphs and no more than 375 words in length. (This number of 375 is a rule of thumb I employ, and not otherwise an official or legally proscribed limitation). I allowed more than five paragraphs because each paragraph was so short, but it would have been even better to confine your citation to the first five paragraphs. It is an interesting article, so I hope readers check out the link to finish their read.

Size limitations do not apply to news releases and government documents that are considered part of the public domain.
User avatar
funkervogt
Posts: 1171
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 3:03 pm

Re: Vertical Farms and Indoor Cultivation News and Discussions

Post by funkervogt »

Vertical farm company run by Elon Musk's brother lays off workers
Square Roots, a tech farming startup that was cofounded by Elon Musk's brother, Kimbal, shut down the majority of its remaining locations on Tuesday and laid off most of its staff, two employees who were laid off as a result of the closures told Insider.

The vertical farming startup was founded in 2016 and quickly grew to five locations, announcing a partnership with Gordon Food Service in 2019. Square Roots grows herbs and salad greens using shipping containers and artificial light and aims to localize food sources, making farming a year-round process.

The "smart farm" company had over $90 million in total funding as of April 2022, and some of its backers include close friends of Elon Musk, including David Sack's Craft Ventures, according to Pitchbook.
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/elon ... 18136.html
User avatar
wjfox
Site Admin
Posts: 8732
Joined: Sat May 15, 2021 6:09 pm
Location: London, UK
Contact:

Re: Vertical Farms and Indoor Cultivation News and Discussions

Post by wjfox »

Gloucestershire vertical farm is one of UK's 'most advanced'

2 hours ago

One of the UK's "most technically advanced" indoor farms has opened in Gloucestershire.

The so-called vertical farm can grow salad three times as fast as traditional outdoor agriculture thanks to its controlled, consistent climate.

Lettuce, basil and other herbs are grown under special lights, in a warm humid atmosphere.

"It's turned farming into a high-tech factory," said head grower, Glyn Stephens.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-g ... e-68341208


Image
User avatar
Time_Traveller
Posts: 2105
Joined: Sun May 16, 2021 4:49 pm
Location: Clermont, Indiana, USA, October 7th 2019 B.C.E

Re: Vertical Farms and Indoor Cultivation News and Discussions

Post by Time_Traveller »

wjfox wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:22 am Gloucestershire vertical farm is one of UK's 'most advanced'

2 hours ago

One of the UK's "most technically advanced" indoor farms has opened in Gloucestershire.

The so-called vertical farm can grow salad three times as fast as traditional outdoor agriculture thanks to its controlled, consistent climate.

Lettuce, basil and other herbs are grown under special lights, in a warm humid atmosphere.

"It's turned farming into a high-tech factory," said head grower, Glyn Stephens.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-g ... e-68341208

Image
Wow, how did I miss this?
"We all have our time machines, don't we. Those that take us back are memories...And those that carry us forward, are dreams."

-H.G Wells.
User avatar
wjfox
Site Admin
Posts: 8732
Joined: Sat May 15, 2021 6:09 pm
Location: London, UK
Contact:

Re: Vertical Farms and Indoor Cultivation News and Discussions

Post by wjfox »

Time_Traveller wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 10:35 am
Wow, how did I miss this?
Since you live in Gloucestershire, maybe you could go and visit them. Ask for a tour. :D
User avatar
Time_Traveller
Posts: 2105
Joined: Sun May 16, 2021 4:49 pm
Location: Clermont, Indiana, USA, October 7th 2019 B.C.E

Re: Vertical Farms and Indoor Cultivation News and Discussions

Post by Time_Traveller »

wjfox wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 10:59 am
Time_Traveller wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 10:35 am
Wow, how did I miss this?
Since you live in Gloucestershire, maybe you could go and visit them. Ask for a tour. :D
Perhaps, I shall depending on the location.
"We all have our time machines, don't we. Those that take us back are memories...And those that carry us forward, are dreams."

-H.G Wells.
weatheriscool
Posts: 12971
Joined: Sun May 16, 2021 6:16 pm

Re: Vertical Farms and Indoor Cultivation News and Discussions

Post by weatheriscool »

Vertical garden corkscrews its way to the top of Hollywood tower
By Adam Williams
March 22, 2024
https://newatlas.com/architecture/star- ... -partners/
Described as a workplace of the future by designer Sir Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the Star, Hollywood office tower will be wrapped in a series of ascending garden areas, providing generous outdoor space for the workers within.

The project brings to mind a Helter Skelter with its unusual spiraling exterior and will be located on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. It replaces another proposal by MAD of the same name that was originally slated for the site but is now no longer going ahead.
Image
We've no word on its exact height yet, but it'll consist of 22 floors, so this is a relatively modest tower, not some supertall skyscraper set to dominate the skyline. Most of the interior will be dedicated to flexible office space for creative Hollywood types and it will offer excellent 360-degree views of the local area and maximize natural light inside with generous glazing. There will also be a lot of outdoor work spaces and terraces, which should make for a pleasant work environment. Additionally, it will include a rooftop terrace area, plus restaurants and public space down on the ground floor.
Post Reply