With day two of Indoor Ag - Con in the book , we take time to look back at one of the keynote sessions from the first day , “ betray Forward – Lessons Learned . ” As part of the Trends & Innovations Track , this session focused on why some vertical farms have failed and what today ’s upright farm can do to avoid the same fate . This keynote school term was moderated by Kyle Barnett of Indoor Ag - Con , with panelists Glenn Behrman , Erika Summers , and Chris Cerveny .
Three primary takeaways to keep your farm afloatThe panelists focused on three main moral that are essential to vertical farms ’ continued operation . These lessons are pre - launch preparations , optimise mathematical operation , and ensure product menstruation after harvest .
1 ) Pre - launch consideration : keep it realisticChris Serveny , co - founding father and United States President of Bridge City Global LLC , explains that upright farms need to be realistic in where they pick out to ramp up . While regenerate unused urban areas is a hot matter correct , vertical farming company should not underestimate the challenges that come with the terrain , such as city taxes , utilities , and acquirement or leasing .
“ You have to be price - efficacious first , especially if your main finish is to provide a low - cost product . You postulate to focus on a goal and align everything else to it , ” says Chris .
Adding to this point , CEA advisor Erika Summers explains that when repurposing idle buildings , vertical farm need to understand that their operations will be very dissimilar than distinctive commercial-grade or industrial usance and that these operations may require building reinforcements , power upgrade , high-pitched - capacity HVAC systems , power back - ups , municipal licensing , etc .
“ When look at commercial-grade real land , a good building may not be a good building for vertical agriculture , ” Erika says .
Beyond the building , CEA adviser Glenn Behrman also notice that prospective vertical farm need to do a thoroughgoing market analytic thinking , determine the grocery store potency of the harvest , find the budget , and do n’t bank on salesperson to say you what is best for your site .
2 ) operation : automation is great , but do n’t rely solely on itWhether enforce mechanisation solution or not , all panelists concur that it is super important for growers to get up penny-pinching and personal with the farm - you need to sympathize what is happening on your farm .
“ You have to be intimate with every aspect of your surgery , whether your farm is 28 hectares or 1.000 solid substructure . you could not sit back ; you postulate to get out and get your hand dirty , ” says Glenn .
“ mechanization is good , but I call back you need kick on the earth to formalize the technology . Get well before cause bigger , ” Chris notes .
As Erika note , there are numerous automation solutions on the marketplace , but she has n’t seen anyone get it right yet , with many farms still get the great unwashed mill around and incurring significant labor toll . She explains that there are some low - hang fruit that can help farms meliorate operational efficiency , such as automated seeders and harvesting machine .
3 ) Post - harvest efficiencyCrop harvest is like the conclusion line , but thing can still go wrong at this point . For one thing , harvesting consistence can be hampered by inconsistent harvesting methods resulting in leafy greens being harvested too eminent , for example , and reducing the total weight harvest . Also , improper harvesting and handling technique can result to browning , wilting , or the proliferation of grievous pathogen . To this upshot , Erika notes that it is really authoritative that upright farm transmit their message well , play up that proletarian call for to care about the products to forbid food safety issues that only taint the public ’s view of the farm but of the upright farming industry as a whole .
“ Workers demand to understand the sanitation process , why it ’s significant , what terms pathogens stimulate , and how to be proactive to potential challenges , ” says Erika .
outdoors of the farm , there is always the question of offtake and how the product will find the terminal consumer . The green groceries industry is very human relationship - driven , and as upright farming is raw to the game , it must contest well - shew relationships between vender , retail merchant , and greenhouse or field growers .
“ If a retailer has been working with agriculturalist that have 10 landed estate worth of product and have been make for with them for 10 days , they may be less inclined to work with a VC - funded vertical farm , ” Glenn excuse .
So , how can perpendicular farm avoid failure?The panelists reason out the session with overarching baksheesh for remaining successful in the erect farming industry , all of which centered around quislingism . Chris notes that it is of import to smother yourself with docile , curious hoi polloi who will recognize their mistakes and get a line from them . In a similar vein , Erika emphasise the importance of diving late into the farm mechanics with CEA experts , tycoon companies , technologist , etc . , before getting a new building so that the farm does not begin at a disadvantage .
For more information : Indoor Ag-Conwww.indoor.ag
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