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Today indoor ag startup Plenty announced what it claims is the world’s most advanced vertical farm. Located in Compton, California, the company says the farm is designed to yield up to 4.5 million pounds of leafy greens annually, occupying just a city block’s worth of space.
Using a highly-automated robotic system in what the company describes as a 3D vertical design, Plenty claims its patented technology will yield up to 350 times that of a conventional farm. Unlike most other vertical farms that grow produce on flat planes that mimic the field, Plenty’s 3D system uses vertical towers nearly two stories high. Plenty believes that their design architecture makes indoor farming more efficient by allowing them to grow more produce in less space.
The company also uses robotics in nearly every step of the process, from planting to harvest. You can see the system in action in the video below:
“After investing nearly a decade into research and development, Plenty has cracked the code on a scalable platform for indoor farming,” said Plenty CEO Arama Kukutai. “With Plenty’s first commercial farm, we’re proving that our uniquely vertical indoor farms can deliver a reliable, year-round supply of fresh produce with positive unit economics.”
Kukutai’s emphasis on unit economics makes sense, given the focus on the vertical farming industry’s struggles over the past year. High upfront capital expenditures have resulted in companies like App Harvest struggling to stay afloat, so high-volume production of margin-positive produce will be expected for controlled environment agriculture projects in the future.
The opening of such a high-tech farm in Compton is a milestone for the city, which has historically had high poverty and unemployment. Mayor Emma Sharif pointed out that over 30% of the farm’s employees hail from Compton. “Plenty’s farm can serve as a model for improving access to fresh, locally grown food for urban populations while fostering cities’ economic growth,” she said.
According to Plenty, the Compton Farm will grow four types of leafy greens: Baby Arugula, Baby Kale, Crispy Lettuce, and Curly Baby Spinach. Plenty says the Curly Baby Spinach is one of the world’s only vertically grown, pesticide-free spinach products.
Plenty’s leafy greens can be found in Northern and Southern California locations, including Bristol Farms, Northern California Whole Foods Market stores, and local grocers in Compton and Southern California Walmart stores. Plenty’s greens are also featured as a meal ingredient on Singapore Airlines flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
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