In a revolutionary advancement for sustainable agriculture, the world’s first large-scale indoor vertical strawberry farm has opened its doors in Richmond, Virginia. This innovative facility, operated by Plenty Unlimited Inc., opened on September 24, 2024 and is set to revolutionize berry production and pave the way for a more sustainable future in agriculture.

An impressive feat from Berry

Plenty Richmond Farm is designed to produce over 4 million pounds of strawberries per year on less than an acre of land. This impressive production is achieved through cutting-edge vertical farming technology, with strawberries grown on 30-foot-tall towers in less than 40,000 square feet of precisely controlled environment.

Photography: Plenty

Sustainability at the core

One of the most striking aspects of this new farm is its environmental footprint. The farm uses 97% less land than conventional agriculture and consumes up to 90% less water. Plus, it produces strawberries without the unpredictability of Mother Nature, allowing for year-round production with peak-season flavor.

The technology behind berries

The success of this vertical farm is based on years of research and development. Plenty spent a decade designing a patent-pending modular growing system flexible enough to support a variety of crops, including strawberries. The farm uses artificial intelligence to analyze more than 10 million data points daily across 12 grow rooms, optimizing the environment for each stage of plant growth.

The farm represents a unique collaboration between Plenty's advanced technology and Driscoll's century-old berry expertise and proprietary genetics.

Photography: Plenty

This partnership aims to deliver consistently high-quality strawberries year-round, regardless of seasonal constraints. The first Driscoll's strawberries from this farm will be available to consumers in early 2025.

Economic growth and job creation

In addition to its agricultural innovations, the Plenty Richmond farm is also boosting the local economy. The facility is expected to create more than 60 jobs initially, with expansion plans that could bring the total to more than 300 jobs as part of a projected $300 million investment in the 120-acre agricultural campus.

Photography: Plenty

Looking Ahead

In a context of growing global population and shrinking arable land, vertical farming offers a promising solution to future food security challenges. The Plenty Richmond farm serves as a proof of concept for large-scale, sustainable indoor agriculture, enabling year-round production within a day’s reach of over 100 million consumers.

Kurt's key takeaways

The opening of the Plenty Richmond farm marks an important milestone in the evolution of agriculture. By combining cutting-edge technology with traditional agricultural knowledge, this facility demonstrates that it is possible to produce sustainable, high-quality food at scale, while minimising environmental impact. As we face the challenges of feeding a growing global population in an era of climate change, innovations like this vertical strawberry farm offer a vision of a more sustainable and food-secure future.

Photography: Plenty