Greenfood combines tech and vertical indoor farming to grow food as close to consumers as possible.
Vegetables grown locally in a vertical urban environment - in closed water systems without access to sun or acres of land. Greenfood is collaborating with food tech startup Agtira to create the future of urban farming. Agtira will build urban cultivation systems in ten strategic locations around Sweden. The goal is to meet the growing demand for sustainable, locally produced food - during both summer and winter.
As the Earth's population increases, so does the amount of land under cultivation. Vertical farming methods, combined with technology such as artificial intelligence, are one solution to meeting the challenge of future food production. Crop growing can be established in urban areas and provide consumers with vegetables locally and efficiently, around the clock and all year round. Now the food group Greenfood and food tech startup Agtira are taking a big step together towards more resource-efficient and sustainable food production. The companies have signed a letter of intent to establish urban cultivation systems in ten strategic locations around Sweden. These urban farms will satisfy Swedes' increased interest in locally produced and sustainable food.
"This technology is part of a sustainable future. By combining tech with vertical crop growth, these ten urban cultivation systems will both reduce food transportation, reduce water consumption, and increase the degree of self-sufficiency locally," Ted Stenshed, CEO of the Greenfood Fresh Produce business area, said.
Vertical cultivation in urban environments is based on height. There are several advantages to this type of cultivation; for example, direct sunlight is not needed, as cultivation is supplied with LED lighting; in addition, 95 percent less water is used compared to conventional farming. The new cultivation systems are being developed and built by Agtira. The company has the task of establishing and operating the production units which then, via Greenfood's established distribution network, supply customers with vegetables.
"With the help of modern technology, we can, together, produce healthier and more sustainable food, around Sweden. Smart farming systems will play a central role in Sweden's future development of sustainably produced food," said Mattias Gemborg, CEO of Agtira.
"Innovation has never been more important. The entire food industry needs to take important steps towards sustainable development. Therefore, we continue to establish collaborations and partnerships to strengthen and share our ability to innovate and contribute to sustainable growth," said David von Laskowski, President and CEO of Greenfood Group and Picadeli.
The Group's food tech company, Picadeli, for example, has developed an ordering system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create sharp, accurate forecasts and reduce food waste in its salad bars. The new cultivation system from Agtira also uses AI, but to optimize growth, quality and control of the products grown. The system's sensors analyse data with great precision and can predict any problems with the harvest.
For more information or an interview, please contact
Lisa Isakson,Head of Marketing & Communication
Lisa.isakson@greenfood.se
+46 70-241 14 00
ABOUT GREENFOOD
We absolutely love healthy food. Making it better. Easier. Healthier. And more accessible. That passion has made Greenfood one of northern Europe's leading food groups in healthy food and we have a history that stretches back 50 years. Our business is broad and, with our three business areas, we are part of the entire food chain - from cultivation, processing and delivery to the moment when the consumer puts the fork in his mouth. Greenfood's business areas are divided into; Picadeli, Food Solutions and Fresh Produce. Brands within the group are, for example: Picadeli, a leading European take-away chain with a focus on healthy fast food, Greendeli, Scandinavian leader in healthy and tasty food-to-go products, Daily Greens, a challenger consisting of fruit and vegetables directly from farms , as well as SallaCarte, the time saver that allows chefs to spend more time on creativity in the kitchen by offering a wide range of fresh, prepared vegetables and fruits. Read more at www.greenfood.se
ABOUT AGTIRA AB
Agtira, headquartered in Härnösand, today offers food chains, shops and other stakeholders its FaaS (Farming as a Service) approach. This means that Agtira itself, or together with a third party, invests, builds, and then operates its cultivation systems to produce a variety of vegetables and fish species, while the store or chain undertakes to buy the entire volume produced over a certain contract length at pre-determined prices. A common factor of Agtira's cultivation system is that they produce low water consumption food in closed environments, without any emissions to the local environment, or a need for agricultural land or sunlight. Growing next to the store / customers also means that you minimize the need for transportation and that waste is reduced as well.
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