Vertical farming breaks the limitation of growing crops and creates possibilities for food production everywhere. Supporting by LED tunable lighting and hydroponics system, vertical farms leverage their strengths to shrink the distance between growers and consumers, attracting strategic partners to launch innovative services.
Singapore Airline, for example, collaborated AeroFarms, a U.S.-based vertical farm startup, for realize the Airline’s “From Farm to Plane” concept. AeroFarms has begun to supply fresh produce for Singapore Airline’s flight since October 2019. Passengers taking the flight from New York to Singapore would be served with the vegetables grown at AeroFarms Newark farm.
AeroFarms joined Singapore Airline’s product in March and has raised US$100 million in the Series E funding round in July 2019.
(Image: AeroFarms)
On the other hand, InFarm from Germany partnered with America’s retailer Kroger to bring modular living produce farms into stores in the U.S. The living produce farms were launched in November 2019 at two of the 15 stores in Washington, U.S.A. Using hydroponic technology, the produce will grow on site at the stores, removing the need for extended transportation and storage.
"We want to make fresh, pure, tasty and nutritious produce available and affordable for everyone," said Erez Galonska, CEO and co-founder at Infarm. "Kroger's commitment to innovation, quality and flavor makes them the perfect partner with which to launch our business in the United States and for the first time in North America."
InFarm also raised US$100 million in its Series B funding round and has been working with 25 food retailers in Europe.
Kroger's partnership with Infarm is a model of innovation in the grocery industry, as the retailer has fully invested in its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan that aims to end hunger in local communities and eliminate waste across the company by 2025.
