There is a new concept in farming that has recently been commenced in Richmond, Virginia, United States, which would go a long way to define another new direction in Agribusiness. The Plenty Richmond Farm is the world’s first vertical berry farm that produces, harvests, and stores berries on a very large scale.

This new technique which has scientists around the world supporting it proclaims to hold the ability to ensure that food production is abundant without producing adverse effects on the environment. The farm-based approach growing of strawberries is accomplished by constructing very large towering structures in a controlled environment requiring considerably less land than traditional farming.

vertical berry farm
Image Source: iFarm

The strawberries, harvested in partnership with the multinational corporation Driscoll’s, are expected to be available in grocery stores in early 2025. Technically, this development offers a scaled-up solution in vertical farming that has to date been focused mainly on producing crops like lettuce.

Governor Glenn Youngkin stated "With agriculture serving as the Commonwealth's largest private sector industry, Plenty choosing Virginia for the world's first farm to grow indoor, vertically farmed berries at scale reinforces Virginia's leading role in the controlled environment agriculture industry. Plenty's farm will boost local agriculture production and drive economic development, all while diversifying against risks and protecting the environment. We look forward to supporting their innovative approaches to revolutionizing the industry, and know that Plenty's success will be Virginia's success." 

By regulating temperature, light, and humidity, the firm can ensure that the plants are healthy and that pollination is efficient hence achieving improved quality product. Such a new outlook is expected to assist in cutting wastage while at the same time boosting effectiveness in the agricultural business.

Arama Kukutai, the CEO of Plenty said "This farm is a model for the positive impact climate-agnostic agriculture can have, and that vertical farming can deliver the crop diversity, scaled and local production needed to future-proof the global food system.” He further added “The Plenty Richmond Farm is the culmination of 200 Research trials over the past six years to perfect growing strawberries with consistent peak-season flavor indoors year-round. Driscoll's sets an incredibly high bar for the quality of its berries and we're excited to join forces to consistently deliver an ultra-premium Driscoll's strawberry year-round."

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