Boston agricultural science and technology start-ups Freight Farm converting for frozen goods container Farm, reuse of LED lamp and other high-tech auxiliary, in limited space planted crops of acres of farmland.
Vertical development with energy saving technology
Into the Freight container inside the Farm, the oncoming is comfortable temperature, damp air filled with the smell of the earth. Each 320 - square - foot container configuration 256 vertical placement of planting, lettuce on the shelf, vanilla, and green leafy vegetables are enjoying a pink soft lighting.
In addition to article 128 of the LED lamp belt, container and circulating water system, 8 gallons of liquid fertilizer groove, and provide the carbon dioxide propane tank, the device only need 10 gallons of water daily and 80 degrees of electricity. In normal circumstances, the vegetables from seed to harvest only six weeks. According to the Freight Farm, according to data from each container can be harvested in a year on average 48568 sales of miniature cabbage lettuce, equivalent to the output of 2 acres of farmland.
Freight Farm since founded in 2010 received a $5 million investment. According to the report of agricultural investment platform AgFunder, 2015 food and agriculture science and technology start-ups have won a $4.6 billion investment, increase from $2014 in 2.36 billion to nearly one times. For many agricultural startups, sell products is a big problem, but Freight business model is a far cry from the Farm, the company did not set up the commercial farms, but provide the technology needed to grow vegetables infrastructure and tools. The container Freight Farm can be a series of data, such as temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide back to the central server of the company.
Container Farm because many buyers are a novice farmer, Freight Farm provides the buyer for a period of 2 days training course, can also use internal BBS, online discussions with other buyers crop selection and marketing concepts such as the subject.
Freight Farm has sold more than 60 container, 22 states across the United States and two Canadian provinces, location from winter long Ontario to hot Texas. Freight to estimate this year is expected to sell 150 container Farm Farm, each priced at $80000. Make Freight Farm surprise, container gradually into the traditional Farm, and many buyers when buying a container as crop growth season for additional income.
Fresh-cut vegetables more gold than organic
Most container farm in the city's lonely space, sometimes even with an adjunct to the restaurant. Hydroponic vegetables industry Green Line Growers co-founder of issue (Bobby Zuker) said: "we planted in the morning, usually at noon has become consumers of salad on the plate."
To the Green Line Growers to buy cabbage lettuce, kale, spinach, and vanilla Boston private chef Bates (MikeBetts) said, "container sweetness higher farm planted out lettuce, sesame leaves more flavor than packaged products wholesale market." However, fresh-cut vegetables fresh prices higher, GreenLineGrowers mini cabbage lettuce each for $1.25, more than 1 times more expensive than general organic shop.
Since container farm is not restricted by geographical environment and climate, whether can replace the traditional agriculture for days? Gotham Greens co-founder and chief executive officer in (Viraj Puri), said very regret, indoor farm and cannot replace traditional agriculture.
In said: "hydroponics and greenhouse agriculture only applies to some vegetables and fruits, such as perishable green leafy vegetables, salad vegetables and herbs, and the vines, such as tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplant. If planted grain, root vegetables and tropical fruit, will not cost effective."
