INNOVASIE | INNOVATION
An innovative way
to grow plants
This article looks at a company called AeroFarms which considers data science as part
of their DNA. AeroFarms have developed their own patented vertical farming technology
to completely transform the way fresh, safe, healthy and tasty food is grown at scale.
By Martin van Zyl
Senwes Group Executive: Innovation
and Integrated Solutions
W
hile agriculture is one of the
most important industries
in the world, it is also one
of the largest contributors
to water contamination and global pollu-
tion. Overuse of pesticides and fertilisers,
degradation of healthy soil, water overuse,
shipping produce thousands of miles
across the world where it often spoils
before being eaten – these are all just
some of the hidden environmental costs
that need to be addressed quickly.
The aeroponic growing towers are a
16
closed-loop system, recycling the water
and nutrients with virtually zero waste.
The patented growing system mists the
roots of our plants with targeted nutrients,
water and oxygen. This system uses up to
95% less water than field farming to grow
high-quality produce faster and more effi-
ciently, with zero pesticides. After testing
hundreds of growth media for plants, a
patented, reusable cloth medium made out
of 100% recycled materials for seeding,
germinating, growing and harvesting have
been developed.
It takes about 12-14 days for baby leafy
greens to grow at AeroFarms’ facility, com-
pared to 30-45 days at an average outdoor
farm. That quicker growth means food can
SENWES SCENARIO | LENTE • SPRING 2019
be grown and supplied faster. They have
grown over 500 million plants over the last
year alone and over 300 different varieties,
celebrating a rich biodiversity and harves
ting not just the plants, but also the insights
to ensure high-quality throughput all year
round.
AeroFarms see themselves as a world-
class agriculture expert fundamentally
changing the way plants are understood.
At AeroFarms, horticulture intersects with
engineering, food safety, data science and
nutrition, giving them the unique capability
to understand plant biology in an unprece-
dented way.
Abbreviated from: https://aerofarms.com