Our founder, Nicola Kerslake, recently joined Nick Greens and Joe Swartz of Contain vendor AmHydro to talk all things vertical farm funding.
Eyeing food trends for 2021
If there was an on-trend word for 2020, it would have been “unprecedented.” The word was often used by on-air talking heads and writers to describe the events we witnessed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trending produce items Produce-based snacks. Snacking in place of meals is a rising trend among …
Organic produce sales, led by bagged salads, up 14.2% in 2020
Organic produce sales finished with a 14.2% increase in 2020 over the previous year, outpacing conventionally grown produce in both sales and volume gains, according to the 2020 Organic Produce Performance Report released Jan. 20 exclusively by the Organic Produce Network and Category Partners. Organic fresh produce sales in 2020 were $8,542,355,756, …
Ag Lending Update: Fewer New Loans to Farmers
Fewer new loans to farmers continued to drive a pullback in agricultural lending activity. A historically low number of new loans contributed to an increase in average loan size and drove a slight decrease in the overall volume of non-real estate loans at commercial banks in the fourth quarter. Stronger …
There is abundant liquidity but a lack of solid business cases
“I come across many vertical farming concepts. There are some very interesting developments going on in the market. Especially for investors, because vertical farming is future-focused,” says Jobbe Jorna, Founder and Managing Partner at Upstream Capital. The Amsterdam-based organization advisory boutique is specialized in helping companies realize their full potential …
2020’s Indoor Farm Venture Capital Bonanza
In the face of a dismal year, indoor agriculture saw record fundraising from venture capital and other private investors in 2020. The industry raised US$565mm in 2020. This figure excludes several notable rounds where the amounts raised were not publicly disclosed. New Jersey-based vertical farmer AeroFarms was one of four …
Bowery Farming adds new farm in Bethlehem, PA
“The addition of our new farm to the network is a critical next chapter in our growth,” said Irving Fain, founder and CEO of Bowery Farming. “It will expand our reach and ability to be a reliable source of local produce for more communities. We’re leading the next frontier of …
Vertical farms are not going to create venture level returns
“There is a theory that we have enough food and produce enough food on the planet to feed 10 billion people. The problem is that people don’t know where to put it at what time. I think that the technology that we can bring to bear is all about growing …
Ag Banks Trim Farm Lending
BACK TO NEWS “Farm loans outstanding at commercial banks declined in the third quarter and non-performing loans edged slightly higher.” — Kansas City Fed READ MORE AT KANSAS CITY FED
Global CEA Census report shows continued positivity despite COVID-19
BACK TO NEWS “Data captured over an 8-week period show 95% of growers have an optimistic outlook for the next 12 months with all types of operations including greenhouses, shipping containers, tunnel and vertical farms showing profitability.” — Global CEA Census READ FULL REPORT