AeroFarms is a sustainable indoor agriculture company based in Danville, VA[1] and uses a patented aeroponic growing system to grow produce.
| Industry | Agriculture |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 in Finger Lakes, New York, U.S. |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
| Products | Aeroponic technology |
| Website | aerofarms |
History
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AeroFarms began in 2004 in the Finger Lakes area of New York. In 2015, the company relocated its headquarters to Newark, New Jersey. The company was co-founded by CEO David Rosenberg,[2] CMO Marc Oshima, and CSO Edward Harwood.[3]
In 2015, AeroFarms started a growing space in a 30,000 square-foot former paintball and laser tag arena in Newark, New Jersey.[4]
In September 2016, the AeroFarms Global Headquarters opened in a 70,000 square-foot facility in Newark, which is the largest indoor vertical farm in the world based on annual growing capacity.[5] The farm was built in a 75-year-old former steel mill facility and has the capacity to produce up to two million pounds of leafy greens per year.[6]
In 2022, AeroFarms opened a farm in Danville, Virginia, where the company is now headquartered.
On June 8, 2023, AeroFarms filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[7] AeroFarms emerged from its bankruptcy in September 2023 following the court’s approval of its restructuring plan involving major investors such as Grosvenor Food & AgTech and Doha Venture Capital,[8] and stated that it was once again nearing profitability. The company has ceased spending on all of its projects excluding its Danville farm as part of its post-bankruptcy turnaround plan.[9]
Product
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AeroFarms uses aeroponic technology in their farms. Unlike hydroponics, aeroponics utilizes a closed loop system to mist the roots of the greens with nutrients, water, and oxygen. The growing cloth medium is made out of BPA-free, post-consumer recycled plastic. The cloth can be fully sanitized after harvest and then reseeded with no risk of contamination. Acting as a barrier between the mist and the plants, the cloth allows for a clean, dry and ready to eat product.[10] LED lights are engineered to have specific spectrum, intensity, and frequency which controls the physical and flavor components of the produce.[11] The controlled indoor environment disrupts the normal cycle of indoor pests. This pest-resistant design does away with the need for pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.[12]
References
edit- ^ McKay, Betsy; Anselm, Bryan (2017-05-15). "A Farm Grows in the City". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
- ^ "Events". Agri Investor. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
- ^ Rothman, Lauren (2015-03-24). "The World's Largest Indoor Vertical Farm Is Coming to New Jersey". Vice (in Dutch). Retrieved 2019-07-03.
- ^ Zucker, Jason (November 7, 2016). "A converted laser tag arena doesn't need sun or soil and it's the future of urban farming". Circa.
- ^ Zuppello, Suzanne (April 26, 2016). "The World's Largest Vertical Farm Is in Newark". Edible Manhattan.
- ^ Staff, Fast Company (2017-04-17). "Announcing The United States Of Innovation 2017". Fast Company. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
- ^ "AeroFarms files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection". Produce Blue Book. June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ Achard, Sepehr (2023-09-03). "AeroFarms News: Exits Chapter 11". iGrow News. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- ^ "AeroFarms emerges from Ch. 11 with new CEO, focus on VA farm". AgFunderNews. September 18, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ Alexander C. Kaufman (2016-04-26). "Inside The High-Tech Farm Growing Kale In An Old Paintball Arena". HuffPost. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
- ^ Spanne, Autumn. "Will There Be Enough Food?". Ideas & Insights. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
- ^ Garfield, Leanna. "Inside the world's largest vertical farm, where plants stack 30 feet high". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-07-03.