Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator Selects Five Early-Stage Sustainable Indoor Agriculture Companies
Summary
Indoor agriculture provides several environmental and operational benefits, but these processes typically produce more greenhouse gas emissions than field-grown systems, said Trish Cozart, IN2 program manager at NREL. This year, IN2 is focused on validating technologies that address key challenges in the indoor agriculture industry, including environmentally and financially sustainable ways to deliver light, control growth environments, evaluate environmental impacts and solve the need for crop varieties that are well-adapted for indoor environments, said Claire Kinlaw, director of Innovation Commercialization at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.Originally nominated by program Channel Partners, the companies underwent in-depth review by Wells Fargo, NREL, IN2, and Donald Danforth Plant Science Centers expert industry advisory board. Improving lighting efficiency through its patented fiber optics technology, which saves energy and increases crop yield and quality to make indoor agriculture more economically viable and environmentally sustainable. We need to accelerate technology innovation and invest in new ideas to improve food security and sustainability worldwide, said Jenny Flores, head of Small Business Growth Philanthropy at Wells Fargo. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health and a low-carbon economy.