The only way is up for ingenious vertical farming system growing in Yandina
The indoor system produces leafy greens indoors on a multi-level growing system
Ashley Thomson and John Leslie formed Vertical Farm Systems
Is vertical farming the future of food production? A Yandina business is certain of it.
Vertical Farm Systems recently signed a $55 million contract with a Canadian grower who will use their automated technology to grow leafy greens indoors on a multi-level, indoor growing system - the XA Warehouse System.
Vertical Farm Systems is the only equipment seller in Australia providing fully automated growing systems to produce nutritious fresh food at scale, indoors, year round, without relying on skilled labour, favourable weather, high soil fertility or high-water use.
The industry is only just in its infancy in Australia. But with news from the Rural Bank Report (2020) showing a 25% increase in land prices in some states of Australia, vertical farming looks like a very astute business decision.
Ashley Thomson and John Leslie formed Vertical Farm Systems in 2009 to allow producers to grow crops indoors year-round with no need for chemicals or pesticides and significantly lower water use.
The technology allows producers to grow a wide range of leafy greens and herbs indoors, 52 weeks a year and it’s almost entirely automated. In fact, it’s so automated, it can be operated by just one person.
The system allows growers more control over their bottom line thanks to reliable harvests, minimal overheads, low labour costs and low water use, and lower transport costs.
Vertical Farm Systems Managing Director Ashley Thomson says the future looks bright for their “overnight success”.
“It may seem like we’ve come out of nowhere, but we’ve been working on this technology for almost a decade,” he said. “Now we’re able to take it to market we can see the massive global potential. In addition to our Canadian customer, we have sold units to growers in New Zealand, the UK and we’re currently negotiating multi-million dollar deals in the UAE and the USA.”
The company is also investigating the potential to tap into the multi-billion-dollar medical cannabis market and the development of another leafy greens unit for residential use.