January/February 2022 - 17

VERTICAL FARMING
INNOVATION
Vertical farm venture
addresses yield-cost-quality
equation
 Future Crops, a Dutch-Israeli venture, is expanding its ability to produce leafy greens and other herbs indoors and without the unpredictability of the
weather and pest. Photos: Future Crops
NETHERLANDS-BASED FUTURE CROPS MOVING
By Melanie Epp
Contributing Writer
FORWARD ON INDOOR LEAFY GREENS PRODUCTION
A NEW DUTCH-ISRAELI VENTURE
a growing global population, producers
have been forced to think outside of
the box. For some, that means moving
farming indoors.
will make it possible to grow high
quality herbs and leafy greens without
relying directly on Mother Nature.
Agri-tech startup Future Crops has
developed an indoor vertical farming
system where crops are grown in a
unique soil substrate composition under
controlled conditions. Future Crops CEO
and Co-Founder Gary Grinspan explains
how the enterprise addresses production
chal lenges whi le guaranteeing
maximum yield at minimal cost without
compromising on quality.
Consistent production of highyielding,
quality crops is often
cha llenged by env i ronment a l
variables, such as available moisture,
temperature, disease and pests.
Coupled with pressure brought on by
urbanization, declining arable land and
Using the algorithm,
" recipes " can be created to
cater to the plants, giving
them precisely what they
need at each stage of
development.
The indoor vertical farm developed
by Future Crops is a fully automated
8,000 square-meter facility situated in
the Netherlands in Westland, a region
often considered the greenhouse hub
of Europe. The nine-storey facility is
mostly powered by solar energy, and
uses precision technologies that make
it possible to grow herbs and leafy
greens in optimal conditions.
Grinspan said the facility offers
several benefits, including enabling
growers to deliver quality, fresh produce
that is free from pesticides. Using datadriven
technology, Future Crops is able
to tailor to each crop's needs by creating
the ideal growing conditions. The
technology controls everything from
humidity to temperature to lighting.
" Plants will draw what they need
from nature, " explained Grinspan.
" Our team of agronomists are able to
'listen' to each plant to determine its
individual needs in real time - how
much 'sleep' versus light, the type of
light, air quality, how much water,
specific nutrient needs, etcetera. "
Using the algorithm, " recipes " can
be created to cater to the plants, giving
them precisely what they need at each
stage of development. Plants express
nuances in response to the various
PRODUCE PROCESS ING
17

January/February 2022

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