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.
Unlike most other vertical farms that grow produce on flat planes, Plenty’s 3D system uses vertical towers nearly two stories high, which it claims allows them to yield up to 350 times that of a conventional farm.
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.”
The company’s emphasis on unit economics makes sense, particularly in light of the struggles of the vertical farming industry over the past year. High upfront capital expenditures have made it difficult for companies like App Harvest to stay afloat, which means investors are increasingly focused on high-volume production of margin-positive produce going forward.
The opening of a high-tech farm in Compton is a milestone for a city with historically high poverty and unemployment. The city’s mayor, Emma Sharif, emphasized over 30% of the farm’s employees hail from Compton during the announcement.
“Plenty’s farm can serve as a model for improving access to fresh, locally grown food for urban populations while fostering cities’ economic growth,” said Sharif.
According to Plenty, the Compton Farm grows 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).