Australia’s Vertical Farming Systems Raises $1M to Engineer Labor Out of Growing Leafy Vegetables
Summary
Located in Queensland, and co-owned by Ashley Thompson and John Leslie, VFS has created an indoor agricultural production system that can bring plants from seeding to fully grown in only 28 days. Over the past nine years the company has developed an automated farming system in an eight-acre facility divided into three climate cells, or separate environments where produce is grown using bioponics – an organic alternative to normal hydroponic mediums. Bioponics uses beneficial microbes, bacteria, and fungi found in the richest soil, and combines them with pure, sustainable organic nutrients. Seeds are automatically planted in trays holding clay pods, which are then put on stackable racks under LED lights. “Our farmers are some of the most innovative in the world but we’re behind the pack when it comes to commercialising [sic] our food and farming technologies.” VFS is not only focusing on its own production of leafy greens and produce.