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How Urban Farms Are Changing City Life

How Urban Farms Are Changing City Life

Urban agriculture plays a crucial role in addressing the challenges of modern city life. As urban populations grow, the demand for fresh, locally sourced food becomes more pressing. By bringing food production closer to consumers, urban farms reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting food over long distances and enhance food security in densely populated areas.

Additionally, they transform underutilized spaces into green productive hubs, contributing to community well-being and environmental sustainability. Urban agriculture not only enhances access to fresh produce but also fosters a deeper connection between people and their food sources, paving the way for healthier and more resilient urban communities.

Raiz Vertical Farms is taking advantage of this trend and harnessing the power of vertical farming to revolutionize how we grow food in city centers. They are on a mission to change how we think about food. Imagine yourself stepping into an urban oasis where fresh vegetables and herbs flourish right in the middle of the city—this is the vision behind Raiz. Their standout project, Vertical Farm Eden, combines natural light with smart LED systems to create a vibrant ecosystem that thrives all year round.

At the forefront of this initiative is Emiliano Gutiérrez, CEO of Raiz Vertical Farms, who believes in the power of community and sustainability. In this interview, he discusses Raiz’s journey and the goals and challenges behind transforming neglected urban spaces into lush and productive farms.

Supertrends: Can you share the inspiration behind establishing raised vertical farms and what motivated you to focus on urban farming?

Emiliano Gutiérrez: The key inspiration or motivation was a desire and an ambition to help fight world hunger and to improve food security. That’s at a visceral, personal level. At a company level, one key inspiration was on a rooftop in the Bronx, where I saw hydroponic technology being used in a social impact setting, which really opened my eyes to how we can use technology for good and to focus on urban farming. I think it was an intuition, and I saw something that is very clearly able to impact communities at a world level because everybody eats, right? Everybody needs food. And that was something that was interesting and that I was passionate about. That's why we ended up building Raiz.

Supertrends: And how does Raiz Vertical Farms’ approach to vertical farming differ from other urban farming initiatives?

E.G.: At Raiz, we're leveraging technology, but we are also very focused on design and experiences. I think that's one key angle in which we are focusing on using, yes, technological approaches but also focusing on energy efficiency and the design for our farms to be located in different city spaces. So instead of only having some urban farming plots in the city with no technology, or, at the other extreme, having fully automated factory-sized farms, we're somewhere in the middle — applying this new concept of hydroponics-controlled environments but also focusing on very energy-efficient methods to grow food our key differentiators are energy efficiency, design, and biotechnology.

Supertrends: Can you explain the hybrid energy model that you employ and how it contributes to sustainability?

E.G.: Long story short, we are using both natural light and LEDs to grow inside our farm. The sun is the most powerful element in our world, so we think that it's crucial to use it both for photosynthesis but also to power our farms with solar panels. This is something that really allows us to grow more and use less energy, which is a key constraint in the vertical farming industry, normally a huge energy consumer. By leveraging both natural light and LEDs to supplement the sun, we can grow all year long and optimize our energy consumption.

Supertrends: You emphasize the principles of a circular economy. How do you incorporate this into your farming processes and business operations?

E.G.: Circularity is definitely something on the top of our minds for us. There's a couple of ways we're doing that, and we're aiming to implement more in our processes. One of them is water recycling. We circulate the water, and that way we're able to save around 90% of water compared to traditional agriculture. That is really making us more efficient in terms of food production and water circularity. Another one is we're composting every ton of root waste. We're also aiming to recycle our roots into mushrooms, upcycling them so we can close the loop in food production. Then we have the energy angle. We aim to use the heat that's generated to power the lights and, of course, from the solar panels—so that creates a closed loop energy system as well. That's something we're currently working on. Beyond that, I think it's just a matter of how we fit these farms into different ecosystems, and what we're looking at, for example, is being able to use the excess heat of a building generated to power our HVAC or our LEDs. So it's also a matter of which clients we partner up with to deploy these farms and to embed them as a circular system within the whole partner and smart city system.

Supertrends: What role does advanced software integration play in the day-to-day operations of your company?

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E.G.: Software is something that really allows us to reduce errors and automate processes. At the moment, we have different sensors measuring temperature, humidity, light, CO2 levels, timings of irrigation, and so on. The way software influences our operations is basically by allowing us to set fixed parameters and gather data from the operations of our farms. This way, we are able to ensure that our harvest and our plants are always growing, and that helps us to ensure that the quality and the yield of the crops are at a certain level—standardized. Plants are still a living element, so operations are not fully automated. But software allows us to at least have strong visibility on how these farms are behaving and how the plants are growing.

Supertrends: Could you describe the interactive experiences and educational workshops that you offer? What impact do they have on community engagement, the level of awareness of sustainable agriculture, and so on?

E.G.: Community is super important. We host different experiences, and we participate in markets, so that allows us to really showcase what we're doing in terms of how they work. It's basically workshops for people who can be all the way from students at primary school to even corporate workers. It's a wide range of people who can join our experiences, and then they can sow the seeds, for example, or transplant seeds and really learn how the process of growing is done right so they can get to experience a day in the life of a vertical farm. And yes, as you said, it creates an impact in the community in terms of education and opening eyes to new agricultural practices. Especially for new generations, we know that we are currently disconnected from what we eat. Most of the food we buy is from the supermarket, in plastic bags. If you can get a chance to learn how plants can grow and if you get a chance to even harvest your own food, that really opens the doors for future generations to new learnings and new ways of thinking.

Supertrends: How do you ensure that Raiz farms contribute to local food accessibility in urban areas with limited fresh food options?

E.G.: Yes, that is something we're increasingly looking more into—i.e., how to deploy the farms in food deserts, for example, or in places that lack access to water or food resources. It's a matter of working together with partners, as we can't remotely run a standalone farm there. We're looking for partners that allow us to have a place, and we also aim to deploy near to developing communities. On the one hand, we're aiming to collaborate with real estate developers, for example, or social housing developers who can deploy these farms right where people live—and that's important. On the other hand, it is about evaluating which markets have communities that are at risk or food deserts, places where we can launch a farm and build a business model out of it. At the moment, we're still a startup, we're a for-profit company, so we need to focus on it making sense for us to run the farms and make it sustainable financially. But as we grow, we're also looking to expand our product mix and our reach to be able to service more communities in need, even if it's not only for profit. So how do we enable other communities to grow their own food? It's something that we're increasingly looking into, and I do believe it's a lot about partnerships, like working with the UN, the World Food Program, or with NGOs that are helping address these topics and with whom we can deploy farms together to reach these communities. That's the way we're going at it, and, of course, from a technological standpoint, we're able to grow food all year long. We're able to grow food in a climate-resilient way. It doesn't matter about the weather; it doesn't matter about the time of the year or geography. It’s something that enables us to grow food wherever it's needed.

Supertrends: How do you see these farms evolving over the next five to ten years in terms of technology expansion and sustainability?

E.G.: In terms of technology, we're transitioning from a container-based model to something more advanced. We are huge believers in bio-design and nature-inspired design in biomaterials, so we can transition to adopting that as well. We have one new product that's 3D printed and we're going to launch it on the market of biocomposite materials. In the future, we also want to launch farms with biodegradable or degradable materials—or some kind of biomaterial that allows us to move beyond the iron structure of containers and make it easier to recycle once the time comes in 10 to 15 years: something that’s also more beautiful to deploy across cities and in rural communities. So I think that's where technology is going—towards biotech, bio-design, and also enabling it to be more easily deployable, modular, and prefabricated. It will still be a controlled environment, still data-driven, but easier to deploy, more aligned with nature, and more about advanced design that eventually allows us to have a self-sustainable form. Our vision is to have, in 10 years, a farm that can run fully off-grid, fully by itself. We can really imagine just deploying it in the middle of the desert and letting it capture its own water and grow sustainably with minimum input from the outside. That's where we're going.

Supertrends: What are the innovations from a technological perspective that have been critical to the success of your project?

E.G.: I would say the energy angle—being able to be super energy-efficient by integrating natural light with LED and solar panels—that's one of them. Another one is the hydroponic systems that we've been using as well. That allows us to grow food with minimum space. We briefly mentioned software and the IoT. The Internet of Things sensors allow us to really operate with minimal human effort. That also allows us to standardize crops, even though it has been challenging and it's not like every harvest is perfect. It has allowed us to keep a standard and be able to grow, comfortably. So I would say these technologies, and then there’s also the decentralized funding side, like Web3.0. This has opened the doors to new models of funding for our farms and allowed us to capture capital and distribute it to deploy new farms.

Supertrends: Could you share how the automation, AI, or IoT technologies that you have mentioned are being implemented to improve your operational efficiency and crop yields in your farms?

E.G.: A few of them are, as mentioned, the way we keep the temperature and the humidity alike within certain parameters. There's data analysis that allows us to know when one thing is on or off, and we can always react proactively. Another one is measuring the yield data of the plants—per plant, per unit, per harvest. That allows us to always keep an eye on how we're doing in terms of efficiency. In the future, in terms of AI, we're developing predictive analysis models and machine learning models that allow us to not only react but predict how the weather, for example, is going to change how the crops are going to grow. We can then actually program the farm to be ready for when something is going to happen. If we have extreme weather events coming, we can prepare the farm to be able to not only react but be ready for when that extreme weather event comes, or even know that we have to accelerate the yield for this specific time. Then we just accelerate it with more lights or more nutrients, et cetera. That's something that is coming that will allow us to be proactive in the optimization of the controlled environment.

Supertrends: In your view, what emerging technologies do you think will have the most transformative impact on urban farming? Let's say in 10 years. 

E.G.: A few come to mind. For example, bio fertilizers and nano bubbles, things like that, allow us to optimize the nutrient solutions of the farm. There's algae and different biotech that allows the farm and the crops to be much more efficient, more resilient, and that minimizes the need to clean. If you're able to implement these to prevent pathogens and create a more robust ecosystem within the farm, I think that will be game-changing. Also, modular production—modules or farms or production mechanisms that allow us to really scale up easily. That will be transformative. We already spoke a bit about AI and the power it can have in improving crop yields. Let's see how that plays out. Not to overhype AI, but it could have some beneficial effects in terms of the yield or the control environment for the farms. There’s also the reducing costs of both LEDs and sensors technology. We do find that the large investment in a vertical farm is a blocker for, for example, some partners or some people to deploy a farm. So, as technology advances and the hardware mechanisms costs fall, I think that will open a huge number of doors to deploy farms in different places worldwide. 

Supertrends: How do you as a company stay ahead in terms of technological trends, and how do you balance innovation with maintaining an affordable model?

E.G.: It's a lot of R&D. It's like always being informed in terms of super trends. We need to be super informed, and at the forefront of research and innovation across different fields. I think it's important not to be siloed into just urban farming, but to stay open minded in terms of what the advances are in energy, what the advances are in different food technologies, what has been done previously in robotics, et cetera. By having a wide perspective and also a wide team that can bring different perspectives and knowledge into the equation, I think that's a way that we can stay ahead. And then also just by running experiments or by really providing a playground for innovative ideas. That's what we can do to stay ahead in terms of what's coming, so that’s why we are also always implementing new technology, but without losing focus. I think it's a strong position in terms of, yes, being open to testing new stuff, yes, being open to optimization, but always with a clear view about innovation—which, in our case, involves asking how we build the most climate positive and efficient vertical farms that make sense when leveraging technology, but also with a focus around nature and communities.

Supertrends: You mentioned partnering with technological companies. How do you do that with tech partners or R&D institutions? How do you drive innovation into your practices?

E.G.: It's a lot of back and forth in terms of reaching out or receiving invitations. Maybe a clear example is the way we're partnering up with the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon. We're establishing a farm there and we're using it as our R&D facility. That's a very clear example of how we can collaborate with other universities or public or government institutions. That allows us to take forward our R&D, but also to give back to the community and to transmit our knowledge. So, it's a matter of being open for collaboration, being well aware of what we can bring to the table, and what different partners could provide to strengthen our mission.

Supertrends: What would you like to see from your company? Let's say in 10 to 20 years. What kind of milestones would you like to have reached by then?

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E.G.: In 10 to 20 years, I would love to have 1,000 farms. So, that's the vision, say by 2050 or a bit earlier, hopefully we’ll have 1,000 farms spread out in the world. We want to have farms in universities, hotels, real estate developments, and also be able to take these farms where the world needs them the most. We spoke about developing countries and communities that have a lack of access to food resources or water. So that's the vision we aim to move forward. Taking this controlled environment agriculture forward is beautiful. Farms that feed people that need it the most: that's what we accomplish.

Supertrends: What are the main trends you see in vertical farming?

E.G.: One trend we see in vertical farming is a shift towards energy-efficient farming. We are aware we need to be more energy-efficient to make this happen. Well, it's one of them. Also, the hybrid farms model, using greenhouses combined with vertical farming, the rise of software and AI to automate our processes and have more efficient farming processes, and, finally, the decentralization of farms. We are seeing a wide network of farms spread out globally that are transitioning from huge, large-scale farms to more modular farms deployed across different spaces.

Supertrends: What's the biggest milestone vertical farming is poised to achieve in, let's say, 10 years as a sector?

E.G.: The vertical farming sector needs to achieve wide-scale profitability, so we need to show the market and the economy that vertical farming makes sense economically as well. As we scale and we reach certain milestones in terms of profitability, we'll be able to say that vertical farming is here to stay and be really considered as a key part of the solution for global food security.

Supertrends: What's the biggest challenge you need to face right now to achieve that milestone? 

E.G.: The biggest challenge is to reach product-market fit globally. You want to reach scale in a way that is both profitable for the company and for the clients to thrive and reach a wider market adoption.

Supertrends: The last question would be, as an investor, why should someone invest in vertical farming?

E.G.: As an investor, it would make sense because vertical farming addresses a key need for humankind, which is supplying fresh, local food. We see a rise in demand all the way from business-to-business to families and communities looking for local food. So if you find the right team with the right technology and go to market, it's a perfect place to make a bet and help that company penetrate the market and scale up to be a winner in the industry.

This text is a transcript of an interview conducted on 18 September 2024. The interview was conducted as part of Supertrends' 'Interviews with Experts' series. Please note that the transcript may have been lightly edited for editorial reasons.

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