Vertical Farming Podcast - Conversations with CEOs, Founders & Leaders in AgTech & CEA

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of LettUs Grow, Charlie Guy. LettUs Grow brings affordable food growing to the modern city through their patent-pending aeroponics technology. With a background in renewable energy consultancy and engineering design, Charlie is a proponent of tech for good and is passionate about all manners of sustainability. In this episode, Harry and Charlie discuss the work Charlie is doing at LettUs Grow to connect greenhouses with vertical farms. They talk about some of the benefits of aeroponics and technological advances that have been made in recent years. Finally, Charlie speaks to the connection between our food systems and our energy grids and shares what he’s most excited about for the future of LettUs Grow and the overall AgTech industry.Episode SponsorCULTIVATDKey Takeaways02:37 – Harry welcomes to the show Charlie Guy, CEO and co-founder of LettUs Grow, who talks about the personal and professional impact of Covid-19 and what inspired him to get involved in vertical farming09:49 – How Charlie shares the origin story of LettUs Grow and their current offerings13:03 – Charlie expounds on their Drop & Grow platform and opportunities for growth19:50 – Charlie talks about the work he’s doing to connect greenhouses with vertical farms23:24 – Charlie explains the various benefits of aeroponics and speaks to the advances in aeroponics technology27:50 – Changing trends Charlie has noticed in the vertical farming industry31:47 – Charlie discusses the connection between food and energy grids36:01 – What excites Charlie the most about opportunities for innovation in vertical farming and at LettUs Grow44:35 – Challenges Charlie has faced and lessons he’s learned as a leader at LettUs Grow45:55 – Charlie opens up about what community means to him and a tough question he’s recently had to ask himself50:31 – Harry thanks Charlie for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can learn more about LettUs Grow and connect with CharlieTweetable Quotes“My background is in sustainable systems thinking and renewable energy. And just taking a look at the potential innovation in food was really exciting for me because there’s a whole raft of areas of innovation we could bring to the industry.” (11:29)“We take a very open approach to working in academia. We take an open approach to try to push the boundaries of the industry and move things forward for everyone.” (19:40)“For me, there’s a big disconnect between our food systems and our energy systems. Be that electrical energy or energy that goes into transporting produce around the world or the actual food item. I think if we want to address the big problems that we need to in climate and environmental issues then we need to start looking at food and energy in a more joined up way.” (32:09)“We’ve seen some of the recent large investments into greenhouses and you can’t deny that’s linked to the growth of the vertical farming industry. And both the learnings from those that have been growing greenhouses for a long time and the trickle down technologies that can come from vertical farming into that space are really exciting.” (41:37)“Community is that sense of collective belonging and collective connection. That connection with people and what that brings and enriches your life with.” (46:09)Links MentionedCharlie’s LinkedInLettUs Grow WebsiteLink to Charlie’s Blog Post on Energy GridsLink to UK Urban AgTechSponsor Info:Cultivatd WebsiteCultivatd InstagramCultivatd’s TwitterCultivatd’s Facebook🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show serial entrepreneur, Dave Dinesen. Dave is the CEO of CubicFarm Systems, a local chain agtech company that provides unique automated onsite commercial-scale food and livestock feed technologies. Dave is committed to applying technology to address global challenges like food security and climate change. In this episode, Harry and Dave discuss the impact the pandemic has had on the vertical farming industry, why Dave places such a high value on equity in the workplace and the critical tipping point we’ve arrived at for the future of our food supply.Episode SponsorCULTIVATDKey Takeaways02:37 – Harry welcomes to the show Dave Dinesen, CEO of CubicFarm Systems Netled, who talks about the effects of the global pandemic and how the vertical farming industry has evolved throughout the years06:33 – What inspired Dave to launch CubicFarms Systems and early stages of the company09:53 – Dave talks about why he believes so many are leaving their fields to work in AgTech13:31 – Dave discusses his strong belief in equity, treating his employees the best he possibly can and where this vision originated from21:40 – Dave speaks to the evolution of CubicFarms Systems’ offerings, current offerings and the markets they serve29:53 – Dave talks about CubicFarms Systems winning the Dairy Farmers for Nexus Innovation Award31:22 – What excites Dave the most about the future of vertical farming33:33 – Positive trends Dave hopes to continue post-pandemic world35:46 – Challenges and opportunities that CubicFarms faces in the near future36:48 – A tough question Dave has had to ask himself recently37:54 – Dave provides best practices for leadership and who he looks to for inspiration41:08 – What Dave does to unwind at the end of the workday and what’s something Dave has changed his mind about recently43:22 – What has Dave excited about the future of CubicFarms Systems45:25 – Harry thanks Dave for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can learn more about CubicFarms Systems and connect with DaveTweetable Quotes“We are looking for people that get really, really jazzed by what we are doing. So, literally the mission and vision of our company that share our values that know that something has to change. And it’s going to take a collection of entrepreneurial, visionary, courageous people to come into work every day and create this industry.” (10:29)“Yes you want to invest in a company that’s helping to feed the planet, localize food production, save water and reduce greenhouse gases. And at the same time, treat the people doing the work as well as you possibly can.” (15:38)“If our company succeeds, all of our employees succeed. If our company fails, it’s gonna be partly everybody’s fault. And I think when you’ve got skin in the game, you’re just gonna make sure it doesn’t fail.” (20:16)“If you just talked about the greenhouse gas issue, HydroGreen significantly decreases greenhouse gases.” (30:45)“I’m hoping that when the pandemic sort of ends that a lot of this doesn’t change. We still need to meet people and share a meal, but there’s a lot that’s good about this as tragic as it’s been.” (33:07)“You’ve gotta have great people who are better at what they do than you are and you’ve gotta have that great, trusting relationship. And know that you’re not gonna have a blind spot. There’s that saying, ‘Nobody’s perfect, but a team can be.’ And I just so subscribe to that.” (39:39)Links MentionedDave’s LinkedInCubicFarm Systems WebsiteDave’s BandSponsor Info:Cultivatd WebsiteCultivatd InstagramCultivatd’s TwitterCultivatd’s Facebook🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show co-founders of Vertical Harvest, Nona Yehia and Caroline Croft Estay. An architect and entrepreneur, Nona conceptualized and built Vertical Harvest, the first vertical hydroponic greenhouse in the world. Combining her expertise in behavioral health and experience in training and case management, Caroline crafted and implemented the innovative “Grow Well” employee model at Vertical Harvest. In today’s episode, Harry, Nona and Caroline discuss the inspirational work they are doing to bring architectural, economic, and social innovation to communities nationwide. Their mission is to bring meaningful employment to underserved populations and educate communities on how good jobs help differently abled individuals to thrive.Episode SponsorCULTIVATDKey Takeaways03:05 – Harry welcomes to the show, Nona Yehia and Caroline Croft Estay, who share the story of how they met and the work they’re doing at Vertical Harvest09:27 – The origin story of Vertical Harvest15:39 – Caroline talks about her vision for diversity and inclusion at Vertical Harvest19:22 – How Nona and Caroline became ‘unexpected farmers’24:07 – Caroline talks about the ‘Grow Well’ model they’ve developed at Vertical Harvest28:02 – Caroline and Nona reflect on the passion they share for working with those with disabilities35:44 – Nona talks about a powerful life lesson she learned early on37:51 – Caroline shares why her father was such an influential person in her life41:01 – Nona and Caroline talk about the importance of representation in the vertical farming industry49:43 – What excites Nona and Caroline the most about the future of Vertical Harvest56:33 – A little known fact about Nona and Caroline58:34 – Harry thanks Nona and Caroline for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can learn more about Vertical Harvest and connect with Nona and CarolineTweetable Quotes“We like to say at Vertical Harvest that necessity is the mother of invention. And it does bring people together to think innovatively, as Caroline has always done, and to come together to really focus on solutions.” (06:17)“When it was just about food, I was like, ‘This is a cool idea. I’m excited to be a part of it.’ But when it was about food and futures, something that is so personal to me and to so many people in our country, it really became a must. It wasn’t an option anymore; we had to follow through on it.” (08:35)“We’re talking about things that aren’t typically talked about in a workplace all the time. And we’re talking about it with an inclusive, integrated workforce, which is even more mind-blowing.” (25:16)“We say, ‘different abilities’ and ‘people with disabilities.’ And I want to explain that. This summer we were really digging into our language and labels and I thought, ‘why am I picking what it is. I’m gonna poll all of our employees with disabilities, which do you prefer being called?’ And it was a fifty-fifty split.” (29:20)“If you take the time, if you slow down, if you pay attention, everybody can teach you something.” (32:14)“What is equity for people, whether it is disabilities or people of color? where are these barriers? They’re everywhere.” (45:41)“What we are doing at Vertical Harvest has the potential to change so many lives, and not in the warm and fuzzy feeling way. It’s a solution for a history of inequities, and no opportunities, and keeping people victimized.” (52:44)Links MentionedNona’s LinkedInCaroline’s LinkedInVertical Harvest WebsiteVertical Harvest FacebookVertical Harvest InstagramSponsor Info:Cultivatd WebsiteCultivatd InstagramCultivatd’s TwitterCultivatd’s Facebook🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Niko Kivioja. Niko is the CEO of Netled, an organization that designs and builds the high-tech platform for the world's smartest vertical farms. Niko spent the first part of his career in controlled-environment-agriculture as a grower and has spent the last decade in high-tech closed-environment and vertical farming technology development. In this episode, Harry and Niko discuss the Niko’s familial history of entrepreneurship and the inspiration to start Netled. Niko speaks to the proprietary Vera vertical farming platform development that he’s recently been managing, how the global pandemic impacted the food supply chain and what excites him the most about the future of Netled and the vertical farming industry as a whole.Episode SponsorCULTIVATDKey Takeaways05:49 – Harry welcomes to the show Niko Kivioja, CEO of Netled, who talks about his educational background and the work he’s doing at Netled12:59 – Niko speaks to his family’s history of entrepreneurship16:30 – The inspiration to launch Netled and how vertical farming changed the traditional idea of greenhouses21:28 – Niko expounds on Vera Instore solutions24:23 – Companies that expressed early interest in Netled26:03 – Niko talks about expanding and building their first vertical farm in North America and how the pandemic has impacted his business30:40 – Netled’s partnership with Vertigo Farms35:59 – Shifting trends in demand that Niko has noticed38:04 – Niko speaks to Netled’s growth and his own personal growth as a leader40:58 – Niko discusses challenges and opportunities for growing his team44:32 – A difficult question Niko has had to ask himself recently47:26 – What excites Niko the most about the future of vertical farming48:54 – Harry thanks Niko for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can learn more about Netled and connect with NikoTweetable Quotes“The climate conditions are, of course, quite challenging part is what’s challenging. If you look at the map of where Finland is located, we are the northern-most agricultural country in the world. That means that even though he have mild weather thanks to the gulf stream, still the light conditions are challenging during the winter.” (09:09)“If you come from an entrepreneurial family, it’s really difficult not to go there yourself as well.” (15:17)“I think that the best advantage of closed environment growing and vertical farming is the fact that you can actually control the conditions perfectly.” (20:55)“It has been quite rewarding to actually see that our solutions have pulled through. We’ve learned a lot along the way and we’ve seen how the technology environment has developed, which has allowed us to offer better products.” (38:50)“That leads into this dilemma that there are a lot of companies who start as farmers but then they find out that they have to become technology companies as well in order to get financed.” (45:43)Links MentionedNiko’s LinkedInNetled WebsiteNetled TwitterNetled YouTube ChannelNetled FacebookVertigo Farms WebsiteSponsor Info:Cultivatd WebsiteCultivatd InstagramCultivatd’s TwitterCultivatd’s Facebook🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Eric Levesque. Eric is the co-founder and VP of Business Development and Sales at Cultivatd, an organization that works with a wide range of industry-proven technology partners to provide the best fit for a project’s needs. Cultivatd also offers farming guidance, design consulting, and lending and leasing services to its clients. In this episode, Harry and Eric talk about how the pandemic has impacted our food supply chains and the desperate need for our society to solve these issues. They discuss Eric’s time at ZipGrow, the need for indoor and outdoor Ag to coexist and what the future holds for Cultivatd and the AgTech industry.Episode SponsorCULTIVATDKey Takeaways03:29 – Harry welcomes to the show Eric Levesque, co-founder of Cultivatd, who talks about his organization, how the pandemic has impacted his business and how he got involved in vertical farming08:44 – Eric reflects back on his time at ZipGrow and expounds on his sales background11:58 – Eric talks about what was different about working for ZipGrow and learning the industry on the fly14:59 – The inspiration to start Cultivatd and what the business model looks like18:13 – Eric breaks down the three different types of clients that Cultivatd services21:05 – The work Cultivatd is doing to educate the world on opportunities in AgTech and other offerings the provide to their clients27:28 – How controlled environment agriculture and traditional agriculture co-exis32:42 – Eric talks about some of the partnerships between Cultivatd and other companies34:19 – Eric speaks to Cultivatd’s plans for growth, strategies he utilizes to grow his team and how Cultivatd is approaching the future of AgTech36:44 – How Eric keeps up with the changing trends of AgTech38:47 – Mentors who have helped Eric along his journey40:46 – A tough question Eric has had to ask himself recently43:21 – What excites Eric the most about the future of vertical farming43:56 – Harry thanks Eric for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can connect with himTweetable Quotes“People are really realizing now, there is an issue and the world has to trend in this direction. Obviously the lack of irrigable land and water is an issue. But something like this pandemic sheds light on what the world needs in terms of fresh supply of food.” (06:14)“It’s strange, it always kind of came natural to me. It’s my favorite thing. I think I just really like connecting and making new relationships and bonding with people. There’s something to it. There’s a really personal aspect. Obviously with this, there’s a bonus of you’re selling something that’s actually helping to heal the world.” (10:53)“There’s something romantic about this industry where when you see the plants growing indoors it’s the same feeling. I fell in love right away when I saw it and I feel like there’s a lot of that.” (20:22)“I think we’ve got some pretty ambitious goals but we want to hit the full spectrum where we can support you head-to-toe regardless of your plan.” (23:50)“Indoor Ag was never meant to replace outdoor Ag. It’s something that needs to work in conjunction with outdoor Ag so that we can all get to the common goal of saving the planet and growing more food and being healthier and fixing food supply chains.” (27:56)Links MentionedCultivatd WebsiteCultivatd’s InstagramCultivatd’s TwitterCultivatd’s FacebookZipGrow WebsiteEric’s LinkedInReadwise AppBlinkistInstapaperLink to Houdini’s Biography🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Nicholas Dyner. Nick is the CEO of Moleaer, an organization that produces commercial nanobubble generators to deliver sustainable, chemical-free water quality improvement for agriculture, reservoirs, lakes, ponds, and more. In this episode, Harry and Nick discuss Nick’s extensive background working in the water treatment industry. Nick expounds on nanobubble technology, what it is and how it can be used to improve vertical farming and the agricultural industry as a whole. Finally, Harry and Nick talk about the ongoing struggle for universal access to safe water and how advancements in technology can help restore and improve the quality of sea life.Episode SponsorCULTIVATDKey Takeaways03:22 – Harry welcomes to the show Nick Dyner, CEO of Moleaer, who talks about his organization, the benefits of nanobubble technology and how the pandemic has impacted his business10:53 – Nick discusses Moleaer’s entry into the agriculture space14:41 – Nick’s background in water18:31 – Nick provides his opinion on the best water to drink on a daily basis20:59 – Challenges surrounding global access to water and the amount of water that is required for farming and agriculture24:23 – Nick breaks down horticulture, aquaculture and food safety27:52 – How technology can help restore and improve the quality of sea life29:26 – Nick recalls the moment he met the founders of Moleaer and reflects on the journey to his first executive leadership role as CEO35:50 – How Nick has grown as a leader and how he approaches growing his team38:54 – Other opportunities for nanobubble technology40:20 – Nick talks about the most interesting thing he learned about the vertical farming industry42:27 – A tough question Nick has had to ask himself recently44:35 – Harry thanks Nick for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can connect with himTweetable Quotes“The value proposition of transferring oxygen or air very efficiently, particularly in shallow water, caught the attention of a few folks in the greenhouse horticulture space. The first greenhouse we ever did was in Dallas, Texas, a very small greenhouse where high temperatures in the summer would bring the water temperatures north of 90 degrees Fahrenheit. What happens when water temperatures rise is the amount of oxygen that water can hold goes down. It’s Henry’s Law; it’s a function of physics.” (11:34)“I think people should be paying more attention to their tap water and what they consume.” (19:33)“It’s one of those things that you hope everybody in some way or another becomes more aware of or gets to see is just the privilege that those in developed economies like the United States, Canada, Europe have when it comes to simply open your faucet and have fresh, clean water come out.” (21:44)“Aquaculture is a bit different. We really focus primarily on salmon farming and shrimp farming, salmon being the larger of the two.” (26:01)“America’s rivers are sort of under threat in a very big way. People see it from just looking at it; they’re yellow and green. That’s a big area where we’re keen to focus on and really start thinking about how do we restore the aquatic health of these fresh water bodies across the world.” (28:53)“We’re learning everyday around the fundamental properties of nanobubbles and what you can do work with a number of different industries. And leaders of industries are consistently showing that nanobubbles create value and it’s unique value and it’s surprising in terms of how they behave.” (38:36)Links MentionedMoleaer WebsiteMoleaer InstagramMoleaer TwitterMoleaer YouTube ChannelNick’s LinkedIn🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show founder, leader and author, Robert Laing. Rob is the Founder and CEO at Farm.One, an organization that has reinvented specialty farming, and now supplies some of the best chefs in New York. In this episode, Harry and Rob discuss Rob’s background in design and how Rob’s entrepreneurial drive led him to launch Farm.One. Rob talks about how the pandemic impacted his business and how he was able to pivot to different business models to combat those challenges. Rob shares the work he and his organization are doing to help underrepresented groups as well as the work they’re doing with Google to address sustainability.Episode SponsorCULTIVATDKey Takeaways03:22 – Harry welcomes to the show Rob Laing, Founder and CEO of Farm.One, who talks about his roots and his passion for food13:56 – Rob speaks to his background in design and his entrepreneurial spirit18:54 – The origin story of Farm.One25:10 – Rob talks about the strategic decision to pursue higher end restaurants as customers27:57 – What Rob would do differently about building Farm.One if given the chance31:49 – Rob speaks to the incredible response he’s received on his products from New York City chefs37:10 – Rob shares sustainability work he’s been doing with Google to address plastics in the environment40:35 – Challenges Rob and his organization had to overcome amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and how the pandemic changed his business approach54:00 – Rob speaks to what inspired him to start his podcast and what excites him about future initiatives of Farm.One56:35 – Harry thanks Rob for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can connect with himTweetable Quotes“There’s so much creativity around food in New York City.” (13:38)“Design is often about defining the problem that you want to solve rather than rushing ahead and doing the perfect sketch. Discovering what are we really trying to do here and trying to think through in a thoughtful way is something that designers do really well. And I really enjoy that part of the practice.” (16:25)“I really couldn’t really see how you could make this business work if you’re just growing leafy greens and selling them in a supermarket.” (21:21)“The idea was to just test things out really small. Can we grow stuff that tastes good? Can we get people excited about that flavor? Can we sell it for a price that might possibly mean we make money? Can we deliver it? That sort of stuff.” (24:49)“All chefs have different tastes. But, the people who are operating with the highest standards are desperate for good, reliable ingredients. It’s their Holy Grail.” (26:49)“I do some work with Google on a sustainability-focused angle. And what that led me to was to learn more about plastics and plastics in the environment.” (37:31)“We try to support businesses of color. We try to support underrepresented groups. And we try to support good social impact causes.” (46:26)Links MentionedFarm.One WebsiteFarm.One InstagramRob’s LinkedIn🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show speaker, investor and entrepreneur, Allison Kopf. Allison is the Founder and CEO of Artemis, the market-leading Cultivation Management Platform serving the fruit, vegetable, floriculture, cannabis, and hemp industries. Allison was named one of Forbes 2019 30 Under 30 as well as one of New York Business Journal's 2019 "Women of Influence." In this episode, Harry and Allison discuss Allison’s background in physics and what influenced her to enter into the field of AgTech. They talk about Allison’s time at the startup BrightFarms, lessons she’s learned throughout her entrepreneurial journey and her passion for developing software that can help the overall AgTech industry.Episode SponsorCULTIVATDKey Takeaways03:22 – Harry welcomes to the show Allison Kopf, Founder and CEO of Artemis, who talks about her passion for science and what inspired her to work in agriculture14:56 – Allison talks about the supportive role her mother played in her entrepreneurial journey and what she loves about mentoring other founders18:01 – Allison recalls her time working at the startup BrightFarms and provides best practices for aspiring entrepreneurs32:14 – The inspiration to launch Artemis and the need to leverage new technologies and systematize processes47:21 – What excites Allison the most about the future initiatives of Artemis50:40 – Allison’s role at the investment firm XFactor Ventures56:49 – A tough question Allison has had to ask herself recently58:23 – Harry thanks Allison for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can connect with her Tweetable Quotes“My mother always tells me, ‘A girl can dream.’ She loves to let me dream and always has supported my brain and the weirdness that comes with that.” (15:12)“I love mentoring. I really love coaching other founders, if only just to avoid all the mistakes that I’ve made and to speed up their paths to success. It’s a lot of fun. There’s something infectious about founders and entrepreneurs in that, it’s being around that energy of ‘I can do something that has a meaningful impact on this world and can make a dent and secure my place in this universe.’” (17:02)“You really have to just go out there and do it. You have to go out there and sell stuff and talk about your vision.” (25:35)“I started becoming obsessed with this idea that software could broaden the [AgTech] industry, could help it expand, could help operators do it in a sustainable and profitable way.” (35:16)“We’re not gonna build fast just for the sake of building fast. We’re gonna build good products, get them out to the market fast and work with our customers to always improve.” (44:30)“There is something to say about understanding the founder and the founder mentality and trying to find that and invest in that. And that is something that you can do as a founder because you know what the day-to-day is like so you can recognize that.” (54:27)Links MentionedArtemis WebsiteAllison’s LinkedInAllison’s Investment Blog🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show speaker, futurist and Chief Sustainability Officer at SweGreen, Sepehr Mousavi. Sepehr is a sustainability strategist, innovation catalyst and a passionate futurist with an international and multicultural background. His organization, SweGreen, is the number one AgTech company in Sweden and is revolutionizing the vertical farming industry by providing futuristic, smart and circular solutions for controlled-environment growing systems. In this episode, Harry and Sepehr discuss Sepehr’s unique background and vertical farming origin story. They delve deep into the concepts of symbiosis, smart real estate solutions and the importance of Research and Development. Finally, Sepehr speaks to the importance of educating the world on vertical farming and what excites him the most about the future of SweGreen and the AgTech industry.Episode SponsorCeres Greenhouse SolutionsKey Takeaways03:22 – Harry welcomes to the show Sepehr Mousavi, Chief Sustainability Officer and Founding partner at SweGreen, who discusses his background and roots, what brought him to Sweden and how he got involved in vertical farming and AgTech11:38 – What Sepehr learned from his time at Plantagon, one of the early pioneers in AgTech20:15 – Sepehr expounds on the concept of symbiosis24:18 – Sepehr talks about farming as a service30:47 – Sepehr expounds on SweGreen’s smart real estate solutions34:37 – The importance of Research and Development (R&D)36:41 – Sepehr speaks to why he identifies as a futurist, where he looks for inspiration and what excites him about the future of AgTech44:42 – The importance of educating consumers and those looking to enter a career in AgTech or vertical farming47:46 – Sepehr shares the SweGreen initiatives he’s most excited about53:11 – Harry thanks Sepehr for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can connect with him Tweetable Quotes“If you’re going to scale down the innovation from a city function to something that could feed neighborhoods, then you could look at smart buildings and how you could build up symbiosis.” (21:09)“The logistics of food is very difficult to handle.” (25:28)“From the very beginning I was very interested in history. And what I learned from history is that if you look at the process of how we got here, you could speculate where we’re going to end up in the future because we always repeat these evolutionary trends.” (37:52)“When I look at our farmers today, they are people in their twenties coming to work in their hoodies, listening to their hip-hop music, planning things on their iPad and then doing the practical work. And this is the future of our farmers.” (46:07)“If you talk about how we conceive food as a concept that ends up in our shopping bags, people have got more used to technology solving the issue. So the reaction is ‘wow, this is really cool,’ rather than, ‘I’m a skeptic.’” (51:02)Links MentionedSweGreen WebsiteSepehr’s LinkedInPlantagon WebsiteSepehr’s Blog🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Founder of Heron Farms, Sam Norton. It is the mission of Heron Farms to create a sustainable agricultural system and restore the marsh using earth’s most abundant resource: seawater. In this episode, Harry and Sam talk all about sea beans, Sam’s fact-finding mission to Bangladesh to learn more about how seawater crops are grown, and the work Heron Farms is doing with other brands to help rebuild salt marshes across the globe.Episode SponsorCeres Greenhouse SolutionsKey Takeaways03:22 – Harry welcomes to the show Sam Norton, founder of Heron Farms, who speaks to his passion for environmental studies and what inspired him to get involved in AgTech10:07 – Sam discusses why he chose to focus on seawater agriculture, the startup competition he entered and won and the mission of Heron Farms15:17 – Mentors who have motivated and inspired Sam 20:30 – Sam speaks to the various challenges that he faced when moving to indoor farming23:47 – The most eye-opening part of Sam’s trip to Bangladesh26:35 – Sam shares some of the tech stack he’s utilizing with Heron Farms and the skillset necessary to succeed in AgTech30:18 – Sam discusses some of the benefits and nutritional value of sea beans34:35 – Marketing challenges with sea beans38:28 – What Sam would do differently in building his team if given the chance41:52 – Sam talks about the work he’s doing with Dalai Sofia45:13 – How Sam has grown as a first-time CEO, what excites Sam most about the future and a tough question Sam has had to ask himself recently49:19 – Harry thanks Sam for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can connect with him Tweetable Quotes“The mission of Heron Farms is to tap into the largest resource on the planet, which is seawater. And if we can do that while rebuilding the planet, that’s really a win-win.” (12:44)“We’re fixing the car as we drive it down the road. We have the good kinds of problems. We have more demand than we can grow for so we’re fixing it as we go and trying to get ready to scale.” (14:55)“Monocultures are scary at scale, but diverse agriculture at a smaller scale is very interesting and seems to be working over in Bangladesh although it has caused great loss in the natural environment.” (26:19)“We’re basically copying the model that the avocado did. If you boil it down, all we’re really doing is asking, ‘why have you ever eaten an avocado?’ All those plants went through similar cycles. People didn’t know how to eat an avocado, when it was ripe, what a fair price was. And all of those are true of sea beans.” (35:10)“These systems, they’re not like a fine wine. Indoor AgTech and your grow room do not get better with time.” (41:15)“We pitched this idea with Dalai Sofia where we asked them to put our logo on their can and, in exchange, we’ll replant one square foot every time they sell one of these cans. And within three weeks it was their best-selling SKU.” (43:10)“If we can team capitalism up with restoration then this planet is going to overflow with biodiversity.” (44:42)Links MentionedHeron Farms WebsiteSam’s LinkedInDalai Sofia🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show co-founders of Babylon MicroFarms, Alexander Olesen and Graham Smith. Alexander and Graham met at the University of Virginia where they first designed a low-cost micro-farm to provide nutritious produce for food-insecure refugees in the Middle East. They were initially inspired by the desire to bring benefits of sustainable hydroponic farming to those who need it the most. In this episode, Harry talks to Alexander and Graham about the genesis of Babylon MicroFarms, why AgTech and vertical farming are critical to the advancement of our society and technological developments that have been made in vertical farming.Episode SponsorCeres Greenhouse SolutionsKey Takeaways03:22 – Harry welcomes to the show Alexander Olesen and Graham Smith, co-founders of Babylon, who share their intriguing origin stories05:41 – Alexander and Graham discuss their initial educational pursuits and what led them to AgTech11:41 – Where the inspiration came from to start Babylon MicroFarms and challenges and obstacles Alexander and Graham faced along the way18:46 – How Alexander and Graham decided where to focus their resources in vertical farming22:38 – Alexander and Graham share how they’ve grown their team and why they chose to set up shop in Virginia25:17 – The impact COVID-19 has had on Alexander and Graham’s business27:17 – Alexander and Graham discuss Networking in AgTech29:09 – Graham talks about his passion for making products that make people happy and Alexander explains why vertical farming is so important in today’s society38:06 – What excites Alexander and Graham the most about the future of AgTech41:36 – A tough question Alexander and Graham have had to ask themselves recently and mentors in the AgTech space that they admire43:48 – Harry thanks Alexander & Graham for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can connect with themTweetable Quotes“We were just genuinely interested and motivated by the sustainability methods of hydroponics.” (07:53)“I think pretty early on we saw that for these smaller scale farms to succeed they required a very different set of problems to be solved than that of a large-scale commercial farm.” (17:50)“We have really benefited from being in a smaller startup ecosystem. Charlottesville and Richmond both have very supportive networks and we’ve benefited from that.” (24:41)“Food has always been a really important thing to me.” (30:47)“I really think that there is a global opportunity to grow the majority of highly perishable produce indoors. And wouldn’t it be amazing to be one of the companies doing that?” (33:38)“I think one of the technology advancements that I’m particularly excited about is using cameras to automate the collection of what we call ‘target variables.’” (38:46)Links MentionedBabylon Micro-Farms WebsiteAlexander’s LinkedInGraham’s LinkedIn🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Agricultural Officer at FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Melvin Medina. The FAO is an organization that is striving for zero hunger, a sustainable planet and a future of food for all. In this episode, Harry and Melvin talk about Melvin’s passion for horticulture, the numerous roles Melvin has held in the AgTech industry and the impactful work Melvin has done in Jamaica, Tanzania, Cambodia and Italy. They touch on specific projects Melvin and his team have worked on throughout the years as well as the message Melvin would like to leave about the future of AgTech and vertical farming.Episode SponsorCeres Greenhouse SolutionsKey Takeaways03:22 – Harry welcomes to the show Melvin Medina, who shares his passion for horticulture and how he initially got involved in AgTech  10:02 – Melvin recalls the decision to join Fintrac and the work he did building greenhouses in Jamaica15:02 – Challenges Melvin and his team faced in constructing greenhouses in an area where hurricanes are commonplace17:46 – Other projects Melvin worked on during his time at Fintrac20:43 – Melvin discusses the culture shock he experienced while working in places such as Tanzania and Cambodia24:04 – Melvin opens up about the challenges of raising a family while traveling so extensively for work and what eventually led his to FAO28:38 – Melvin discusses the common issues he sees among farmers across the globe and what opportunities he sees for technology to address these issues38:42 – Melvin provides a brief history of FAO, their mission and the important work they do42:08 – Melvin speaks to how the global pandemic has affected how we all view agriculture and the overall supply of food44:31 – Melvin speculates on the future of his career and shares a message with the overall community about AgTech48:59 – Harry thanks Melvin for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can connect with himTweetable Quotes“In 2005 I was moved to Jamaica to replicate what we were doing in El Salvador. And it was a great experience because we were establishing the first greenhouses in Jamaica.” (12:36)“What I wanted to really do was instead of being in one place and assisting farmers in one place, my vision was to be at a place where I could reach more people. And FAO has offered me that opportunity.” (27:07)“The issues that are common between countries and regions are, for example, the lack of access to funds, the access to high quality extension services.” (29:17) “We need these systems to be affordable for small-scale farmers. It will be very good to come up with low-cost systems so farmers can afford to invest in these systems without losing efficiency.” (33:17)“I have seen farmers growing crops on their adapted systems, even low cost systems. And they are able to send their kids to school. They are able to pay for better healthcare services. And they are able to buy better and more food. So it’s possible.” (38:01)“I think during this pandemic the world has realized the importance of food and the supply of food.” (42:37)Links MentionedFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations WebsiteMelvin’s Division: Plant Production & Protection DivisionMelvin’s LinkedIn🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show founder of Ponic Jobs and co-host of the CropTalk Podcast, Kyle Barnett. Kyle is currently serving as Account Manager in the horticulture division at WestRock, focusing on helping growers create superior packaging, labels and merchandising solutions. In this episode, Harry and Kyle discuss the varying facets of ponics, from deep water culture and NFTs to vertical farming and aquaponics. They talk about the vital role distribution plays in the AgTech industry, what inspired Kyle to create the Ponic Jobs website, as well as his collaboration with CropTalk Media. His podcast segment, Kyle Talks AgTech, focuses on CEA, vertical farms, greenhouse technology as well as industry leaders.Episode SponsorCeres Greenhouse SolutionsKey Takeaways03:22 – Harry welcomes to the show Kyle Barnett, who shares his personal journey to AgTech12:14 – How Kyle’s love of cooking inspired him to pursue a career in agriculture and the importance Kyle places on pivoting20:42 – The work Kyle did with the Farm Tech Society and the inspiration to create the site, Ponic Jobs29:22 – Educating future generations on AgTech and how Kyle got involved in the CropTalk Podcast  38:30 – How Kyle has grown as a podcast host and what excites him the most about the potential and the future of AgTech45:30 – Kyle speaks to the work he is doing at WestRock52:37 – A little known fact about Kyle that most people don’t know54:51 – Harry thanks Kyle for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can connect with himTweetable Quotes“My segment [on the CropTalk Podcast] was ‘Kyle Talks AgTech.’ And it’s been great. I’ve had over thirty-five episodes now and it’s really given me a lot of clarity into what the industry needs. As I said in the beginning, it’s been an eclectic journey but I’ve been so grateful.” (10:41)“A common theme I’ve seen is the idea that ‘if you grow it, they will come’ is not a reality, unfortunately.  You need to sell your food and then grow it. So, if I had one piece of advice for anyone looking to get into this is know your market and know where your food’s going, because we’re working with a perishable.” (15:23)) “I saw some of the most amazing ingenuity by a lot of these growers. And I saw people prosper that you might not expect because they pivoted.” (17:57)“I like aquaponics. I fell in love with it because of the idea of it and the closed loop, but it’s a tough one.” (26:51)“When working with anyone in sales I think it’s really about trust and fostering a relationship. And if you can develop a friendship out of it, more power to ya.” (33:45)“If I was gonna give any advice to someone starting a podcast it would be to remember who your podcast is about. It’s not about you, it’s about your guest and shedding the spotlight on that guest.” (38:59)Links MentionedPonic Jobs WebsiteKyle’s PodcastKyle’s LinkedInFarm Tech SocietyCropWalk Website🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Chief Science Officer (CSO) of AeroFarms, Ed Harwood. It is the mission of AeroFarms to grow the best plants possible for the betterment of humanity. With over forty years of agricultural and engineering experience, Ed founded GreatVeggies before transitioning to AeroFarms. In this episode, Harry and Ed share a discussion on the difference between hydroponics and aeroponics, the merits and disadvantages of both and Ed’s never-ending quest to change the world for the better through education, technology and science. Episode SponsorCeres Greenhouse SolutionsKey Takeaways03:22 – Harry welcomes to the show Ed Harwood, who shares new hobbies he’s picked up during the pandemic, the benefits of living in Ithaca, NY and his affinity for poker and reading11:44 – What sparked Ed’s interest in biology, agriculture and AgTech17:08 – Ed shares lessons he learned from founding his own company, GreatVeggies, and the path that led him to AeroFarms30:40 – The importance of having Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in place and obstacles Ed encountered as he transitioned into the role of CSO of AeroFarms34:15 – Ed expounds on the difference between aeroponics and hydroponics and the pros and cons to both36:31 – Advances in aeroponics technology that Ed has witnessed throughout the years38:49 – Ed speaks to the importance AeroFarms places on taste43:08 – The work Ed is doing with schools in New York and New Jersey to combat food deserts and improve access to food49:51 – Ed speaks to AeroFarms’ involvement with the Lettuce Project initiative51:39 – What excites Ed most about the future of aeroponics, a tough question Ed has had to ask himself recently, and what he thinks of being compared to the Wright Brothers56:22 – Harry thanks Ed for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can learn more about AeroFarms Tweetable Quotes“Serendipity – if you’re ready for it – will really help you out. If you’re persistently curious, curiosity c an really take you a long way. So, if you want to start a new business, stay curious and be ready for serendipity.” (19:14)“The whole idea here is to do something consistently so that the customer gets the same product over, and over, and over again no matter what time of the year.” (31:06)“Hydroponics is work with water. So, as opposed to growing in soil, you now move to soilless culture. And I think of it as being broken up into three different parts. In all cases, if you don’t have sufficient oxygen with the water, the plants will die.” (34:32)“If you understand what the spectral needs of the plant are to give you the chemistry that you want, then you can manipulate the plants to become little factories of stuff that is valuable.” (37:50)“Taste is everything. It’s the reason the customer comes back. If you can impress a person’s pallet, they’ll keep coming to find you.” (39:07)“You can’t count on what you learned in high school to get you through the next sixty years of employment. It’s just not gonna happen.” (53:09)Links MentionedAeroFarms WebsiteEd’s LinkedInLearn More About The Lettuce Project🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Ceres Greenhouse Solutions, Marc Plinke. Ceres designs and builds advanced, energy-efficient greenhouses that grow year-round while saving energy and water.In this episode, Harry and Marc dissect Marc’s career trajectory, from his time at Synergistic Building Technologies to his current role with Ceres. Marc breaks down his passion for bringing about positive change in the world, the inspiring work he’s doing with Ceres and the state of food in our society.Episode SponsorCeres Greenhouse SolutionsKey Takeaways03:22 – Harry welcomes to the show Marc Plinke, who discusses his natural curiosity, growing up in a family of engineers and the inspiration to launch Ceres Greenhouse Solutions13:37 – Marc reflects on his early career, including his time at Synergistic Building Technologies16:17 – Challenges Marc had to overcome as the founder of Ceres24:04 – Marc expounds on what it means to design and reinvent greenhouses38:02 – Marc shares a unique perspective about food deserts and the state of our food46:25 – What excites Marc most about the future of AgTech53:29 – Marc recalls his first invention56:19 – Harry thanks Marc for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can learn more about CeresTweetable Quotes“The world is waiting for you to change the world. That’s what I want to tell kids. You have the power and all you need to do is pay attention and ask yourself, ‘Why is that happening?’” (09:59)“Every decision that we make we ask, ‘Is that better for everyone or is it just better for me?’ And that better for me is not the option that we often choose. We look for the win on the bigger scale.” (19:09)“We’re an engineering and architecture office in essence. We’re not actually producing the steel itself. The beauty of this is we’re quite flexible to change according to customer demand.” (29:06)“People that grow things generally have a certain amount of patience, because it takes time to go from a tiny seedling to the full plant and production.” (39:01)“COVID has helped us and really everybody to think more about, ‘Where does my food come from and how do I stay healthy?’” (43:23)“To see things grow is an enormously satisfying feeling. It is healing to grow.” (45:36)“I just learned last week that a tomato that is stored under fifty degrees – meaning in your fridge – loses half of the nutritious value in less than a week.” (51:20)Links MentionedCeres WebsiteMarc’s LinkedIn🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show co-founder and Chief Science Officer (CSO) of Plenty, Nate Storey. Plenty is on a mission to bring fresh, local produce to communities everywhere in a way that’s better for the environment. In this episode, Harry and Nate discuss Plenty’s local field-scale indoor farms, the importance of having supportive infrastructure for vertical farming and the work Nate is doing at Plenty to promote social responsibility and better food for all.Episode SponsorCeres Greenhouse SolutionsKey Takeaways03:22 – Harry welcomes to the show Nate Storey, who shares his thoughts on the impact of COVID-19, what piqued his interest in vertical farming and what inspired him to start his first business, Bright Agrotech12:18 – Nate speaks to mentors who have influenced his career, lessons he’s learned and why vertical farming is truly his calling16:19 – Nate tells the story of how he met fellow Plenty co-founder, Matt Barnard as well as common misconceptions towards indoor agriculture21:18 – How Plenty’s mission has evolved and innovated throughout the years24:20 – The importance of having a supporting infrastructure for vertical farming27:59 – How Plenty decides on where to locate its farms and where they are focusing their growth34:13 – Nate discusses the work Plenty is doing to advance social responsibility38:43 – Nate expounds on his roles and responsibilities as Chief Science Officer42:54 – Harry and Nate discuss the unique technologies that Plenty utilizes49:33 – A tough question Nate has had to ask himself lately and a hobby that keeps Nate busy53:00 – Harry thanks Nate for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can learn more about Plenty Tweetable Quotes“Covid has been a bit of a reckoning for the world in a lot of different spheres. But certainly in the sphere of managing long-distance supply chains and keeping things on the shelf – things that people have always taken for granted.” (04:23)“I believe that great design starts with intent.” (10:51)“The thing that I’ve learned over the years is that brilliant, talented, motivated people can do just about anything.” (14:20)“We need to double to triple the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables in the world just to feed people the right amount that doctors recommend for your diets.” (19:08)“The thing about having things magically show up on retail shelves for decades without interruption is that you start to take for granted the complexity and the difficulty of making those things show up on the shelf.” (24:50)“I believe that most business problems are basically feedback problems. The further away you get from your customer, the less you can understand their needs.” (26:50)“It would be a travesty if we built farms in food deserts without solving the food desert problem.” (36:01)“I think when we think about this industry and what’s going to hold it back is access to capital.” (45:58)“It lands on our shoulders to go out into the world, manufacture as much land as possible, conserve as much water as possible and put food on people’s plates.” (49:24)Links MentionedPlenty WebsiteNate’s LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show physicist, entrepreneur and self-proclaimed tinkerer, Henry Sztul. Henry is the Chief Science Officer at Bowery Farming, a modern farming company on an ambitious mission to transform the future of food and change the face of agriculture.In this episode, Harry and Henry discuss the promise that vertical farming provides to the world and why it resonated so soundly with Henry. Henry shares his personal career journey, his thoughts on the current state of agriculture and what excites him most about the future of hydroponics and the AgTech industry in general. Episode SponsorCeres Greenhouse SolutionsKey Takeaways03:22 – Harry welcomes to the show Henry Sztul, who shares his origin story, inventions he’s collaborated on and his earliest recollection of the AgTech industry  09:39 – Henry speaks to the promise of vertical farming and why it resonated with him11:34 – Henry recalls how he met Irving Fain, the Founder and CEO of Bowery14:49 – Digging into the technology that Bowery utilizes and their commitment to do better22:26 – Harry and Henry discuss Bowery’s extensive Research and Development process27:28 – How Covid-19 has affected Bowery’s approach to building resilient food systems30:04 – Henry speculates on Bowery’s future growth in the AgTech space34:46 – A tough question Henry has had to ask himself lately, something Henry has changed his mind about recently and mentors who have influenced Henry’s career39:05 – What excites Henry about the future of vertical farming41:51 – Harry thanks Henry for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can learn more about Bowery Farming Tweetable Quotes“What really clicked with me about vertical farming is that it’s not just feeding people now. It’s feeding people to come in the future.” (09:47)“People on this planet are moving towards urban areas. And, the agriculture system at large is just taking more and giving less. I think what really strikes a nerve with me is the need to find new ways of doing things.” (10:03)“At Bowery we’re very committed to constantly doing better – doing better from a yield point of view, from a quality point of view and a sensory point of view.” (17:07)“There’s a lot that goes into building a modern vertical farm and it’s really exciting.” (21:48)“How we think about doing research at Bowery is a real differentiator.” (26:16)“If you approach a problem that you can’t solve, how can you change the problem to one that you can solve. That’s something that I’ve carried with me everywhere I’ve gone.” (37:51)Links MentionedBowery Farming WebsiteHenry’s WebsiteHenry’s LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show President and CEO of Unfold, Dr. John Purcell. John has dedicated his life to helping farmers safely and sustainably grow food using less of the earth’s natural resources.In his new role as President and CEO of Unfold Bio, John is continuing this same mission to improve the food ecosystem with more sustainable, fresher, and better-tasting fruits and vegetables. In this episode, Harry and John discuss John’s previous work at Bayer and Monsanto, which led to innovations and diverse technologies for important global crops.John opens up about the passion he has for sustainability, the respect he has for farmers and his family ranching operation in Montana.Episode SponsorCeres Greenhouse SolutionsKey Takeaways02:29 – Harry welcomes to the show John Purcell, who shares his background in vertical farming, the impact of COVID-19 and the value he places on sustainability09:21 – What John learned from his time working at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and highlights from his career overall16:12 – Leaders and mentors who have influenced John’s career20:17 – John details his time at Bayer and the transition to his current role as CEO of Unfold24:40 – John speaks to the challenges of growing a startup and building a team29:58 – John reflects on the many segments of vertical farming and where Unfold operates in this landscape36:45 – John defines the term ‘germplasm’ and talks about how he decides which crops to work on43:28 – John provides his thoughts on preparing for unforeseen circumstances44:59 – A tough question John has had to ask himself lately, something John has changed his mind about recently and what excites John about the future of vertical farming51:45 – Harry thanks John for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can learn more about UnfoldTweetable Quotes“Any definition of sustainability also has to include the economic sustainability for the farmer.” (09:01)“It’s great to have incredible science – and we need incredible science – but if you’re using that science to come up with a solution that actually tackles a really big challenge we have, that’s just so rewarding.” (14:51)“The missing ingredient has been genetics; it’s really been the biology side of things. And I think that they’ve done an amazing job of building these production facilities and are able to control the environmental parameters so exquisitely.” (28:34)“A lot of the time and resources you spend to have that seed that works well – in open field for example – is to build in resistances to diseases or pests…so you have to have seed that withstands all of this variability from an environmental perspective.” (37:52)“Anytime you can shave days off of how long it takes to get to the store and then to the consumer, that’s huge.” (42:23)“One of the things I hope the industry does is don’t disparage other ways of producing foods cause everybody’s working their butts off trying to do things right. My mom always said, ‘don’t raise yourself by pushing other people down.’ And, I always took that to heart.” (49:27)Links MentionedUnfold WebsiteUnfold TwitterUnfold LinkedInJohn’s LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Founder of New Age Provisions, DeMario Vitalis. New Age Provisions is an urban farm that uses state of the art hydroponic technology to farm the freshest culinary herbs, lettuces, leafy greens, and cannabis. In this episode, Harry and DeMario discuss DeMario’s inspirational story, the success he’s achieving and how he’s bringing awareness to possibilities for minority farm owners. DeMario speaks to challenges he’s had to overcome, how ‘food deserts’ are affecting communities throughout the world and the importance of having a supportive family and community.Special thanks to our Season 2 SponsorCeres Greenhouse SolutionsKey Takeaways03:09 – Harry welcomes to the show DeMario Vitalis, who shares his entrepreneurial journey, what attracted him to greeneries and the importance of having a supportive family and community12:12 – How DeMario decides what he plants in his greenery and what the demand looks like in his market19:33 – DeMario speaks to the negative impact that ‘food deserts’ have on local communities23:38 – The value DeMario places on giving back to his community and lessons he’s learned in the vertical farming space32:56 – DeMario take the audience through a typical day in the life and what he has learned as a business owner36:30 – DeMario discusses what has influenced his grit, drive and determination and other relationships that have inspired DeMario’s life and career 41:14 – A tough question DeMario has had to ask himself lately, what excites DeMario about the future of hydroponics and a little known fun fact about DeMario49:03 – Harry thanks DeMario for joining the show and the work he’s doing for his community and let’s listeners know where they can learn more about New Age ProvisionsTweetables:“It was very important for me not only knowing how to grow crops but knowing how to control nutrients and to control the electronic connectivity.” (08:31)“I’m trying to get things that consumers will appreciate. If I’m growing greens, they’re Top Bunch Collard. If I’m growing mint, it’s not the common mint that you can get in the stores; it’s the spearmint, the peppermint.” (14:52)“What it [food desert] means is that, within a certain population, people need to travel five or more miles to get to a place of food, like a store.” (21:07)“I’ve always made a motto that you leave something better than how you found it and always try to make an impact on the world. Whatever you do, make a positive impact, whether it’s on someone’s life, whether it’s by creating something. Things aren’t going to get created by themselves, so they have to have people that will do it. And I’m one of those doers.” (37:04)“I think having a support structure of friends and family is very important in whatever business you do, no matter if it’s farming, real estate or just life.” (40:27)“I think local farmers are gonna have more of an important role in the future, especially within the next three to five years.” (44:25) Links Mentioned:New Age Provisions’ EmailNew Age Provisions’ WebsiteFarm Share Program WebsiteDeMario’s LinkedInCeres Greenhouse SolutionsWebsite | Facebok | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show CEO of Eden Green, Eddy Badrina. Eden Green is a vertical farming technology company dedicated to changing the way we farm our food, and feed our communities. In this episode, Harry and Eddy discuss Eddy’s entrepreneurial journey, from working in politics, to launching his own start-up, to becoming CEO of Eden Green. Eddy speaks to his background in digital marketing, his thoughts on risk-taking and his longtime personal and professional goal of creating exponential positive social and cultural change.Special thanks to our Season 2 SponsorCeres Greenhouse SolutionsKey Takeaways03:00 – Harry welcomes to the show Eddy Badrina, who shares his first memories of entrepreneurship, his former role at the State Department and how his faith and the Bush family impacted his career11:43 – Eddy discusses his first start-up, Buzzshift, trends he’s observed in the vertical farming industry, and the origin story of Eden Green26:45 – Eddy speaks to Eden Green’s business model, current offerings and future target markets42:28 – The value Eddy places on social and cultural change and growing an organization built on purpose44:23 – How Eddy leveraged his background in digital marketing to help grow Eden Green52:19 – A hard question Eddy has had to ask himself lately and Eddy’s thoughts on the future from 2021 and beyond1:00:51 – Harry thanks Eddy for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can learn more about Eden Green Tweetables:“I wanted to leave a social and cultural impact that was a multiple of my level of effort. So, for one unit of energy or effort I was giving out, I wanted it to produce – through a company – 10 or 12x of that unit.” (08:53)“I remember distinctly H.W. Bush who has since passed away. But, I had a chance to sit down with him and he said to me, ‘I love that you’re interested in public service, but I’d encourage you to establish a career for yourself and make that mark and then, either in tandem or after the fact, go into public service. Because then you’re not necessarily beholden to a salary from that service.” (09:44) “My parents, what they had taught me in work and in faith is that in everything do it with excellence.” (12:30)“We have this duel thing at Eden Green of being plant-centric – our greenhouses are plant-centric – but our business is consumer-centric.” (19:35)“Our foundation [at Eden Green] is scrappy. Our foundation is entrepreneurial. And so, the way that we’re now positioned is these greenhouses are economic units unto themselves. And we just want to provide folks with the opportunity to use them to their benefit.” (25:00)“That’s really important to me. It’s one of my primary goals, back to this thing that was set in my heart even before I found Eden Green, was I wanted to make a huge social and cultural impact that was exponential to my own level of effort.” (43:01)“Begin with the end in mind and then reverse engineer.” (46:30)“To me, the company is the people. Products come and go, but the people are what make the company.” (52:40)“I want us to be able to thrive on volatility. Most people thrive on stability. I’m training our staff, I’ve focused our team, our company to thrive in chaos.” (57:53)Links Mentioned:Eddy’s EmailEden Green WebsiteEddy’s LinkedInEden Green FacebookEden Green TwitterEden Green InstagramCeres Greenhouse SolutionsWebsite | Facebok | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show co-founder and CEO of Square Roots, Tobias Peggs. Square Roots is an indoor urban farming company that connects people in cities to local, real food. In this episode, Harry and Tobias discuss the growing demand for a more efficient global food system. Tobias speaks to the importance his organization places on transparency and visionary thinking as well as future initiatives he and his team are currently planning. Special thanks to our Season 2 SponsorCeres Greenhouse SolutionsKey Takeaways01:34 – Harry welcomes Tobias Peggs to the show to share his background as a data scientist, the genesis of his company Square Roots, and the impact Covid-19 has had on the industry08:17 – Tobias recalls the vertical farming landscape back in 2016 when he initially launched Square Roots and how his past experience helped him to scale his business16:24 – The value Tobias and Square Roots place on transparency and forward-thinking22:21 – Trends Tobias has observed from the overall AgTech industry, including collaboration between organizations and the role of technology and software32:18 – The evolution of Square Roots’ Farmer Training program36:52 – How Tobias has grown personally and professionally during his tenure at Square Roots and mentors who have influenced him throughout his career43:38 – Tobias speaks to the differences in how Americans and Europeans receive and consume their food47:27 – What is something Tobias has changed his mind about recently and a tough question Tobias has had to ask himself recently50:33 – What excites Tobias most about the future of vertical farming and where listeners can learn more about Square Roots Tweetables:“It became very obvious quite early that the world really needs this [vertical farming]. And that has acted as a very galvanizing and energizing focus through what, to your point, has been the craziest year any of us could ever possibly imagine.” (03:43) “Plants are not just widgets; they don’t just grow on demand. You need a person in there willing these plants to come to life.” (06:58)“The average age of a farmer in the U.S. is fifty-eight. The average age of a farmer in countries like Japan is sixty-eight. You’ve got this demographic time bomb that is about to detonate on the food system. We need to find pathways for young people to enter the agriculture industry and that’s what we decided to tackle first at Square Roots.” (07:26)“The wonderful thing is when you’re stressed in the software company, you stay stressed. When you’re stressed in the farming company, you just go wander around the farm for a half an hour.” (13:07)“There are probably lots of parallels with the sort of green or alternative energy industry. We are all in it to solve a massive problem for the planet.” (23:14)“Some days I do have to kind of stop myself because we are running at 150 miles per hour figuring all this stuff out.” (33:58)“You don’t have to be a bloody nutritionist to figure this shit out. If it smells great, and it tastes great and it looks great, it’s gonna be good for you.” (46:39)“There is a desperate need to figure out a more resilient food system where people are eating healthier food and doing it all year round. And indoor farming can be a big part of that solution.” (51:06)Links Mentioned:Tobias’ WebsiteTobias’ LinkedInSquare Roots TwitterSquare Roots InstagramCeres Greenhouse SolutionsWebsite | Facebok | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Interim CEO at Heilux, Michelle Bonahoom. In this episode, Harry and Michelle talk all about what’s happening in the world of lighting and it’s impact on the vertical farming industry. Michelle discusses her decision to take on the role of Interim CEO at Heilux, the impact Covid-19 has had on her consulting business and what excites her the most about the future of AgTech.Special thanks to our Season 1 SponsorIGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/Key Takeaways03:01 – Harry welcomes Michelle Bonahoom to the show to discuss her role at Heilux and the different technologies they develop for the vertical farming industry08:13 – How Heilux works to address their clients’ challenges12:39 – Michelle speaks to product development and the genesis of her entrepreneurial journey15:51 – Where Michelle developed her passion for helping small businesses21:36 – How Heilux operates within the vertical farming and indoor AgTech industry27:38 – Michelle talks about the upcoming Vertical Farming Congress, where she will be a guest speaker29:22 – Michelle discusses how Covid-19 has impacted her consulting business and Heilux34:35 – What excites Michelle the most about the future of vertical farming36:24 – A tough question Michelle has had to ask herself lately and where listeners can follow Michelle and HeiluxTweetables:“In 2016, the company [Heilux] was really, really good at knowing the science of light and how to leverage the science of light to be able to solve human problems.” (05:38)“Instead of building it and then hoping they come, you involve the customer along the way.” (13:21)“A lot of people, like seventy percent of the population – are afraid of change. And I love change.” (16:02)“There’s infinite possibilities with how you can use light. And so, we’re really focusing on building a system that allows you to leverage those infinite possibilities with light spectrum.” (23:39)“Covid-19 is an unfortunate event, but I think it’s bringing a lot of awareness to us in the industry or to others as to the need to solve some of the gaps in the food supply chain challenges.” (32:26)Links Mentioned:Heilux WebsiteMichelle’s LinkedInMichelle’s Consulting Group WebsiteLink to Vertical Farming Congress Intelligent Growth SolutionsWebsite | Twitter | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes back to the show CEO of Intelligent Growth Solutions, David Farquhar. In this episode, Harry and David talk all about the resounding economic and societal impact that Covid-19 has had on the AgTech industry and our daily lives. David shares the amount of science and scale that goes into every aspect of what IGS does as well as some of the latest projects they’re working on, including developing technologies to replicate the weather.Special thanks to our Season 1 SponsorIGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/Vertical Farming CongressKey Takeaways02:50 – Harry welcomes David Farquhar back to the show to discuss how Covid-19 has altered the AgTech industry and his business strategy specifically10:26 – David speaks to the initiatives and innovations that his organization, Intelligent Growth Solutions, has been working on lately15:42 – David breaks down the amount of science, development, processing power and scale that goes into AgTech20:42 – What Intelligent Growth Solutions is doing to give back to the community amidst Covid-1924:54 – David talks about promoting awareness among the next generation about the opportunities that vertical farming provides32:53 – New models in AgTech that are likely to manifest over the next few years38:46 – David speculates on the future of technology development at IGS and shares the work IGS is doing with weather and climate technologies47:56 – A tough question David has had to ask himself latelyTweetables:“I am not a fan of the phrase, ‘a new normal.’ I do think that we need to be flexible though. And I think that we’ve probably learned to do several things in a different way, and that’s good. But I am keen to see people actually socially get back together as soon as it’s safe.” (08:16)“I think if people put their hand on their hearts and were honest with you in this sector, they would probably admit that once you’ve cracked the lighting, the power, the automation and handling, and the irrigation, the thing that is left on the table that is the toughest nut to crack is around the area of ventilation.” (11:14)“And I have to say we also borrowed a couple of people’s garages. A couple of guys did some amazing work from home. I’d love to think of this as the AgriTech Garage Band.” (13:47)“You know from our last conversation that we’ve made this promise to the market that we will never grow crops for commercial sale. Our covenant is that we’re a tech vendor, you guys are the farmers, you’re the growers, you know how to do this stuff. We’ll just give you a better set of tools.” (19:52)“I think that governments have to make a choice between a societal focus or an economic focus and one or the other is going to suffer…I just hope that humanity comes to the fore because, at the end of the day, it’s people that make things happen. We need to look after people.” (24:17)“Everybody loves everything as a service, whether it’s software, or razor blades or ink cartridges. How about farming as a service?” (34:57“If there’s something that just works, then why not use it?” (40:06)“The ability to manage that – the ability to replicate a certain type of weather because that’s the weather that this crop needs – that is the thing that we’ve been working incredibly hard on.” (43:23)Links Mentioned:David’s WebsiteDavid’s LinkedInIntelligent Growth SolutionsWebsite | Twitter | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Tyink is the President of Fork Farms, an organization that started on the principle that growing fresh and healthy food is a vehicle for positive change in the world. It is their belief that having consistent access to the freshest, highest quality food is a human right. Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he and Alex discuss Alex’s unorthodox path to entrepreneurship, hydroponic farming and the impact Covid-19 has had on Alex’s business, Fork Farms.Special thanks to our Season 1 SponsorIGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ Key Takeaways02:54 – Alex expounds on the impact Covid-19 has had on his business, Fork Farms, and how he got involved in AgTech13:02 – Where Alex got his entrepreneurial drive and motivation and Alex’s experience moving to NYC20:12 – Alex breaks down the business model of Fork Farms, the curriculum package they offer and the idea behind Flex Farm32:28 – What Alex has learned throughout his entrepreneurial journey in AgTech37:55 – Challenges and obstacles Alex has had to overcome as he continues to grow his team and business43:14 – Alex talks about what excites him the most about the future of Fork Farms, AgTech, and a tough question he had to ask himself recently50:29 – Harry thanks Alex for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can connect and engage with Alex and Fork FarmsTweetables:“I started eating food that I was growing, and it completely changed my eating habits. I started eating better. I started feeling better. I started taking better care of myself.” (09:21)“Labor efficiency and energy efficiency is really what we [Fork Farms] are all about.” (12:26)“When I really started to dig into the industry, I learned how broken the food system really is. Sixty percent of all the food that we’re eating as Americans is ultra-processed. And we know – through all of these clinical studies – that ultra-processed food is directly linked to increase mortality due to all sorts of chronic diseases.” (18:25)“I would say the majority of our growth as a company is organic.” (25:46)“Every dime that we’ve made in the company we’ve put back into innovation. We are a for-profit company but we really act like a non-profit in a lot of ways. We have shareholders, but they understand what we’re trying to do and they’re willing to wait on the return in order to see something bigger than any one of us happen.” (33:08)Links Mentioned:Alex’s LinkedInFork Farms WebsiteFork Farms YouTube ChannelFork Farms LinkedInFork Farms FacebookIntelligent Growth SolutionsWebsite | Twitter | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Massey is the Founder and CEO of Heliponix, an organization that provides consumers with the GroPod, an aeroponic appliance that can yield a full head of leafy greens on a daily basis, or sizable harvests of dwarf varieties of larger plants. Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he and Scott discuss the business model of GroPods, challenges Scott had to overcome as an entrepreneur and pivots Scott had to make in order to scale and sustain his business amidst a global pandemic.Special thanks to our Season 1 SponsorIGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ Key Takeaways00:01 – Scott expounds on his education and background, how he got involved in AgTech and hydroponics and the origin story of GroPod, his rotary-aeroponics appliance15:41 – Scott speaks to the importance of understanding consumer habits and breaks down his business model25:32 – Scott talks about the vital role that form, function, design and aesthetic play in vertical farming31:51 – Scott dissects the impact the global pandemic has had on his business, his thoughts on scaling up and sustainability 38:27 – Challenges and obstacles Scott has had to overcome as an entrepreneur46:08 – Scott talks about what excites him the most about the future of AgTech and a tough question he had to ask himself recently50:18 – Scott speaks to what the future holds for GroPod 54:53 – Harry thanks Scott for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can follow and connect with Scott and GroPodTweetables:“As a young person, I realized that it’s a lot easier to build one small thing than to try and convince someone to give me funding for one big thing.” (08:22)“I firmly believe that no amount of capital will resolve fundamental flaws in business models. Those need to be and have to be addressed before you talk to those investors because it creates expectations of liquidity and profitability that if you’re anything but delivering on those deadlines, you have failed your fiduciary commitment to the investors who bought into that company.” (11:15)“I have a lot of respect for vertical farms, but I would also make the comment that grocers are the primary beneficiary in most vertical farming models.” (23:14)“I’m not gonna pretend that we made this decision to go directly to consumers in anticipation of any global pandemic happening. But I’m really glad we made the decision we did because I’m not interrupted. In fact, we’re having increased demand because more people want contactless food.” (31:51)“I think there was a statistic I read in the National Resource Defense Council doing a food waste analysis in the U.S. that twenty people touched your head of lettuce before you ate it. I hope none of those people had Covid along the way or were transmissible, but that’s a real and valid concern that a consumer is going to have.” (46:40)Links Mentioned:Scott’s LinkedInGroPodOfficial WebsiteGroPodOfficial TwitterGroPodOfficial InstagramGroPodOfficial YouTube ChannelIntelligent Growth SolutionsWebsite | Twitter | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Carter is the co-founder and CEO at Smallhold the first, and only, organic farm in NYC. Andrew is a greenhouse and vertical farming specialist, with extensive experience with baby cut greens, lettuce, basil, tomatoes, and mushroom production. Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he and Andrew discuss the intricate nature of mushroom farming, challenges that Smallhold has overcome in the wake of Covid-19 and myths and preconceived notions about mushrooms as a crop.Special thanks to our Season 1 SponsorIGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ Key Takeaways02:35 – Andrew expounds on his education and background in ecological design and environmental science, how he got involved in AgTech and the origin story of Smallhold16:44 – Andrew speaks to the extent he needed to educate himself on mushrooms as a crop and early challenges he worked through with Smallhold23:36 – Andrew discusses how he strategically expanded his container farms and the technology involved with Smallhold’s units  29:13 – Andrew breaks down Smallhold’s business model and client feedback he’s received37:07 – Andrew debunks some of the myths and preconceived notions about mushrooms41:15 – Andrew speaks to the growth strategy for the future of Smallhold and overcoming the challenges posed by Covid-1949:04 – What is something that Andrew has changed his mind about recently50:44 – Harry thanks Andrew for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can follow and connect with Andrew and SmallholdTweetables:“I think it’s an issue in the indoor Ag space – and just food in general – is people think that you can have the same solutions for every city. But I think that you need a mix of solutions because every city is different.” (14:38)“Anyway, I was like ‘Ok, three thousand dollars to play a song while walk down the aisle.’ And they’re like, ‘Yeah, great.’ So, I played Daft Punk at their wedding on the cello, they gave me three thousand dollars and, the following week, bought a shipping container and planted in Williamsburg. That was definitely the first money into the indoor company. And we were like, ‘Let’s definitely try to grow some mushrooms in there.’” (19:48)“We work with businesses and businesses don’t want to deal with this stuff. They like the idea and they love the quality. They want to deal with it in a sense that it’s there and they can sell the stuff. But they don’t want to be mushroom farmers, even if they tell you they do.” (31:02)“What’s so cool about these people [Smallhold’s partners] is not only that they’re really good at cooking and being creative, but they really believe in what we’re trying to do. And they understand it so well that they can help tell our story and help feed other people our product.” (36:05)“We’re seeing that we’re settling out with way higher numbers, like five to six times what we thought we would be at before Covid. So, we’re in a good position and we think that this can exist in all sorts of other places. And we’re getting that kind of response from all these big partners, and so we’re going for it. I don’t think that Covid is really going to stop us at this point.” (47:11)Links Mentioned:Andrew’s LinkedInSmallhold WebsiteFood + Tech Connect WebsiteIntelligent Growth SolutionsWebsite | Twitter | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Virginia Emery is an entrepreneur with a passion for insects and the founder and CEO of Beta Hatch, a company that grows insects as sustainable protein for animal feed. Virginia’s current mission is the save the world by breeding a bug that tastes like bacon. Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he and Virginia discuss the fascinating world of insect farming, its impact on the vertical farming industry and the importance of promoting diversity in this ever-growing market.Special thanks to our Season 1 SponsorIGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ Key Takeaways00:01 – Virginia expounds on her background as an Insect Entrepreneur, speaks to the many ‘bug banquets’ she’s attended and shares her passion for changing the world06:12 – Virginia speaks to how she educated herself about the indoor agriculture industry, the work she does with Beta Hatch and surprises she learned along the way13:37 – Other vertical farming business models that inspired Virginia during the early stages of Beta Hatch16:16 – Virginia breaks down the supply chain aspect of Beta Hatch and the impact of robotics technology on this industry24:55 – How Virginia has grown and evolved as a business owner and entrepreneur30:16 – Virginia shares her thoughts on opportunities for women and minorities in the AgTech industry and can be done to promote diversity40:43 – The decision to seek out funding through a third party investor and a hard question Virginia has had to ask herself and answer recently47:34 – Harry thanks Virginia for joining the show and let’s listeners know where they can follow and connect with Virginia and Beta HatchTweetables:“If you can identify what your passion is and you can use that to fuel your career, that means that work is not ‘work’ in a sense of something you’re not enjoying or something that’s burdensome but rather something that you feel passionate about.” (05:50)“The U.S. is a net exported of feed – because we produce a lot of soy – but we’re a net importer of aqua culture, seafood and aqua feed products. So, there’s some interesting geographical components to the food system that, again, most people are not realizing when they go to the grocery store and get their food.” (13:09) “Frass is your word of the day. Frass is insect manure, so bug poop. We have a saying at Beta Hatch that ‘Frass Happens.’” (17:18)“As an entrepreneur that’s one of the most exciting things I think about having a business is there’s always something new to learn. And that’s something that we really value at our company is we really work to hire lifelong learners.” (26:03)“I’ve always tried to pursue my interests with a real drive, and I think that naturally being an entrepreneur fits really well with that.” (30:07)“I think it’s the responsibility of anyone who’s working in an organization that’s not very diverse to really think about why that is.” (33:09)“What I’ve come to realize is that investors and the people that are helping to scale this industry, they invest in people. So I think that it’s important that you are authentic with people and that you’re really using that to motivate and drive what you do.” (46:22)Links Mentioned:Virginia’s LinkedInBeta Hatch WebsiteIntelligent Growth SolutionsWebsite | Twitter | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nikola Kerslake is a registered investment adviser and founder of Contain, a fintech platform for indoor agriculture that aids indoor farmers in finding lease funding for their projects. Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he and Nicola discuss common misconceptions about the indoor AgTech space, access to funding, and how her experience as a manager of private equity funds has contributed to her success in the vertical farming industry.Special thanks to our Season 1 SponsorIGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ Key Takeaways00:01 – Nicola shares her background in indoor agriculture and the origin story and goals of her FinTech company, Contain05:09 – Nicola expounds on how she got involved in finance08:42 – Nicola speaks to common misconceptions people have about the indoor AgTech space and lessons she’s learned from her work with Techstars15:54 – Nicola details the process of how Contain identifies new companies to work with20:21 – Trends and shifts in the indoor AgTech space that Nicola has noticed over the past few months and years27:45 – What excites Nicola the most about the future of indoor AgTech and vertical farming29:21 – What is something that Nicola has changed her mind about recently and where listeners can follow and connect with Nicola and ContainTweetables:“The biggest challenge that indoor farmers face is not necessarily technical or growing, it’s just they can’t finance their farms. So, that looked like a problem I could solve.” (03:03)“It’s been a fairly circumlocutious route, but I think every entrepreneur has to hustle. And we certainly do that every single day.” (06:41)“Lenders don’t work like equity investors or like private investors. They have checklists and black boxes that they use and you are not going to be able to charm them, or impress them with your vision, into committing earlier.” (16:55)“There are many more sources of funding than there were when we first started. And actually that’s great for us because you never want to be one hundred percent of a deal. You always want to get to share it with someone.” (24:56)Links Mentioned:Nicola’s LinkedInNicola’s WebsiteContain WebsiteContain’s EmailIntelligent Growth SolutionsWebsite | Twitter | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave Ridill is a hydroponic farmer as well as the owner and head of operations at Clawson Greens, an organization that supplies Teton Valley and surrounding areas with fresh clean greens, locally grown year-round. Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he and Dave discuss the learning curve of vertical farming, the impact that Covid-19 has had on the industry and the importance of being nimble as an entrepreneur. Dave tells the story of how he chose a career as a vertical farmer over that of a paramedic firefighter and the impact he wishes to make with his AgTech organization.Special thanks to our Season 1 SponsorIGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ Key Takeaways00:01 – Dave shares his background as a ski patrolman, his origin story as a vertical farmer and the work he’s doing at Clawson Greens09:55 – Dave speaks to the learning curve of vertical farming, the breakdown of his clientele and how he is assisting his local community16:35 – Dave expounds on the importance of remaining nimble as an entrepreneur in the AgTech space20:09 – Dave breaks down a typical day in the life as a vertical farmer and the challenges that emerged due to Covid-1927:32 – Best practices and insights Dave has learned from other hydroponic farms30:56 – Dave talks about his marketing plans for Clawson Greens35:49 – What Dave has learned about himself throughout his entrepreneurial journey38:27 – What is something that Dave has changed his mind about recently40:22 – Dave speaks to the trends that excite him about the future of vertical farming and where listeners can follow and connect with DaveTweetables:“You have to understand that it [vertical farming] is a business in that if you want to actually do this you have there has to be this idea that you want to be successful. And, failure was not an option.” (08:17)“I think that there’s a benefit for small farms like myself and all over the country – whether that’s indoor farming or just small scale farming in a community – is we have the ability to transition in a day or two from restaurants to a direct-to-consumer, to a drive-up.” (17:32)“Our competition was more of what’s going on in California – the transportation and water shortages and climate change. That’s our competition.” (28:45)“A lot of people still think their food just comes from the grocery store and they don’t have that connection that there’s actually farmers, there’s actually people who grow this food.” (37:02)Links Mentioned:Dave’s LinkedInDave’s WebsiteDave’s FacebookClawson Green’s Instagram – @clawsongreensIntelligent Growth SolutionsWebsite | Twitter | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jon Friedman is the COO and co-founder of Freight Farms, an organization that provides agricultural products and services that enable on-site commercial food production anywhere in the world. Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he and Jon discuss the growth of the AgTech industry, the value of marketing and the grant Jon and his team received from NASA to further their work with vertical farming.Special thanks to our Season 1 SponsorIGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ Key Takeaways00:01 – Jon shares his origin story of how he originally became interested in AgTech and the inspiration to start Freight Farms.13:19 – Jon speaks to the importance of educating those looking to enter the industry in order to scale agriculture 20:25 – The value of having Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and marketing plans in place25:58 – Jon expounds on Freight Farms’ latest model, The Greenery29:13 – Jon talks about the grant he and his organization received from NASA32:30 – Jon speaks to the trends that excite him about the future of AgTech38:23 – Where listeners can follow and connect with JonTweetables“Admittedly, I don’t have a green thumb, I would say, but I have a green mind.” (00:52)“The current food supply chain is not set up to support the entire globe, even though it’s a very centralized global system.” (10:05)“Our goal as a company is to continually lower the barrier of entry for anybody looking to get in or anybody looking to scale agriculture.” (13:48)“What a lot of folks in this space look at first is, ‘What’s my ROI? What’s the economics of growing?’ And, if it works at that scale, scaling gets a lot more realistic.” (22:46)“NASA’s a really interesting organization because you go there and they forget that they’re NASA sometimes. They forget how awesome the scope of work that they have worked on over the years is so they’re very casual about it. We tried to act cool but failed miserably.” (32:14)Links Mentioned:Jon’s LinkedInJon’s WebsiteJon’s Twitter – @JonFreightFarmsFreight Farms’ Instagram – @freightfarmIntelligent Growth SolutionsWebsite | Twitter | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Henry Gordon Smith is a global AgTech leader, speaker and founder of Agritecture, a global leader in urban agriculture consulting services. Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he and Henry discuss the business model of vertical farming and urban agriculture. They expound on the racial and socioeconomic divide within agriculture as well as the ongoing ‘food apartheid.’ Finally, Henry speaks to upcoming events and projects he and his organization are working towards.Special thanks to our Season 1 SponsorIGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ Key Takeaways00:01 – Henry shares his origin story and how he originally became interested in vertical farming and podcasting07:52 – The biggest challenges Henry has faced as an entrepreneur and how investments have shaped the vertical farming business model13:04 – Complex questions about vertical farming that Henry is seeking answers to20:23 – Henry shares his definition of vertical farming and solutions he suggests for the industry29:13 – Henry’s speaks to the mission of his company Agritecture, and some of its offerings36:15 – Henry’s unique perspective on race, the ‘food apartheid’ and urban agriculture42:49 – Upcoming vents Henry is launching with Agritecture45:29 – Henry expounds on what excites him about the future of vertical farming and AgTech in general50:25 – Where listeners can follow HenryTweetables“As I was exploring my interest in doing business solutions to sustainability challenges, I created three blogs to kind of test the market and to see what people responded to.” (03:38)“I’m not about hype. I’m happy to encourage and talk about the benefits of urban agriculture and vertical farming, but I really want to talk about the complex questions.” (12:49)“My definition is really about three dimensional farming. It could be one floor, it could be a container, it could be a basement. It’s really about saying, ‘Ok, when we think three dimensionally about agriculture and the potential to photosynthesize plants using LEDs, what could we do and what could we do with this space?’” (22:25)“We have the third urban agriculture director in the United States that was just put into place in [Washington] D.C., to join Atlanta and Philadelphia. That’s really exciting…I’m really excited to see how policy accelerates the industry and starts to structure it a little bit.” (48:00)Links Mentioned:Henry’s LinkedInAgritectureAgritecture DesignerAgritecture Event LinkHenry’s Instagram – @theagritectHenry’s Twitter – @TheAgritectBooks Mentioned:The Vertical The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century - Dr. Dickson DespommierIntelligent Growth SolutionsWebsite | Twitter | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show process improvement engineer and vertical farming expert, Stephen Pankhurst. In this episode, Stephen talks about the origin story of his wildly popular YouTube channel, Exa Cognition, which touches on all things technology including vertical farming. He expounds on the barriers of entry, profitability and evolution of vertical farming.Special thanks to our Season 1 SponsorIGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ Key Takeaways00:43 – Stephen shares his origin story and how he originally became interested in vertical farming09:25 – Stephen expounds on the time and energy that went into his YouTube channel dedicated entirely to vertical farming14:05 – Stephen breaks down the progress of technological advances in the industry and profitability of vertical farms20:29 – Stephen speaks to challenges, barriers to entry and the importance of light energy for vertical farming35:02 – The incredible growth of Stephen’s video series and his plans for the future of this channel49:24 – Where listeners can follow StephenTweetables“It’s very clear that it [vertical farming] does work and it’s working right now. There’s a lot of companies having success with it. And the question I wanted to answer was, ‘Can it really scale to the global level?’” (05:00)“I guess you could say I get obsessive about certain topics and I kind of go all-in on them.” (08:52)“A lot of things that really surprised me when I was doing the research is just how absolutely massive agriculture is. I mean it is truly vast. Of our habitable land, fifty percent of it is agriculture.” (24:25)“When you first hear something crazy for the first time, you say, ‘No.’ And then, the more you start to hear about it, at some point it doesn’t matter that much about the data you provide. At some point, once you’ve been exposed to an idea enough, people tend to go, ‘Yeah, yeah. Of course that was always going to happen.’” (33:59)“My initial idea for the channel…what I really wanted to do was to take the evangelists of a technology and the critics and put them together against each other so to speak.” (44:40)Links Mentioned:Stephen’s LinkedInStephen’s YouTube ChannelStephen’s EmailBooks Mentioned:Plant FactoryAbundanceBoldIntelligent Growth SolutionsWebsite | Twitter | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show AgTech journalist, Louisa Burwood-Taylor. As a journalist and editor, Louisa covers foodtech, agriculture, venture capital investment and corporate innovation within the indoor agriculture industry. In this episode, Harry and Louisa discuss the societal impact of indoor agriculture and vertical farming, the emergence of competition, and biggest threats and challenges currently facing this niche industry.Special thanks to our Season 1 SponsorIGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ Key Takeaways02:00 – Louisa’s background in AgTech journalism and how she became passionate about this topic07:06 – The origin story behind AgFunder News09:35 – Louisa shares her thoughts on the developments being made in vertical farming15:24 – Harry and Louisa discuss the emergence of competition and other players entering the indoor agriculture industry20:28 – Louisa speaks to why the timing is right for our society to embrace vertical farming and best practices companies are putting into place22:51 – The three biggest challenges facing indoor agriculture and what has Louisa excited about the future of the industry28:01 – Concerns with Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods31:03 – Where listeners can follow Louisa and AgFunder NewsTweetables“It’s hard to ignore the impact of climate change and the impact that humans have on this planet.” (05:59)“I think that the use of software programs, robotics – all of that technology which has, in itself, improved over the last couple of years – it’s now come to a point where I think it’s becoming effective indoors.” (11:30)“I think there’s absolutely potential for people to build new farms in smaller locations in more niche areas or products.” (16:19)“A lot of times a valuation of a company is dependent on their access to capital and not necessarily the stage at which their company is in terms of bringing in revenues and being a sustainable business.” (18:17)“I think we’ve proven that we do have enough food to feed the world. It’s not necessarily reaching the right places and the right people.” (27:28)Links Mentioned:AgFunder NewsLouisa Burwood-Taylor on LinkedInLouisa Burwood-Taylor on TwitterIntelligent Growth SolutionsWebsite | Twitter | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show serial entrepreneur and CEO of Intelligent Growth Solutions, David Farquhar. In this episode, Harry and David break down the emergence of vertical farming technologies, opportunities that have been created due to the current global pandemic, and projects that David and his team have been working on within his organization.Special thanks to our Season 1 SponsorIGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ Key Takeaways01:36 – David and Harry discuss the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the importance of leadership during this difficult time07:48 – Opportunities David sees in the marketplace for his organization, Intelligent Growth Solutions12:53 – David’s background in business and technology  22:16 – How the emergence of global technologies like vertical farming can impact the future of our society29:50 – David expounds on the direct impact that weather, handling and ventilation have on vertical farming41:54 – What is something David has changed his mind about recently43:46 – Where listeners can follow David and IGSTweetable Quotes“What we’ve tried to do is be clear, be concise and be decisive. I think, at times, that is exactly what you need.” (05:42) - David Farquhar“We think we can contribute. We want to do it in a non-cynical way. And we’re working with quite a lot of governments now on thinking about how this might happen.” (07:39) - David Farquhar“I think we may see a shift in some habits. Things like how we get to work, where we work, what we choose to work on, how we shop, the reduction of waste, our diet, all kinds of different things.” (22:53) - David Farquhar“Particularly with vertical farming, we are right at the start gate. This is the beginning of a marathon. And anyone who tells you otherwise, frankly, is lying.” (23:39) - David Farquhar“So, I would say urban farming, governments, and the retail wholesale food production end of the consumer-facing piece, that’s where we’re seeing most of our activity at the moment.” (32:08) - David Farquhar“The first really crucial thing is to have total control of that climate. And, if you’re growing vine tomatoes and basil, then you had better be able to replicate real weather in Tuscany between May and July.” (35:00) - David Farquhar“When it comes to things like climate, you also have to think not just about the diurnal pattern from night to day, but you also have to think about seasons and you also have to think about geography.” (41:01) - David FarquharLinks MentionedDavid Farquhar on LinkedInCIAT WebsiteIntelligent Growth SolutionsWebsite | Twitter | YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this trailer episode I share the origin story of the Vertical Farming Podcast, including what inspired me to start the show, as well as a preview of the upcoming guests for Season 1. Visit to https://verticalfarmingpodcast.com/ to be notified as soon as new episodes are published.