Agriculture is a vital aspect of human civilization. However, the modern agriculture industry has a significant impact on the environment. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in sustainable agriculture, and many organizations are looking for innovative ways to reduce the impact of farming practices on the environment. One such organization is Plenty international.
Plenty, a leading indoor farming company, has recently announced the construction of the world's largest vertical farming research center. This new center aims to redefine sustainable agriculture by exploring innovative ways for indoor crop cultivation with significantly reduced environmental impact. With this ambitious project, plenty aims to revolutionize the agriculture industry and contribute to creating a sustainable food system for the future.
In this blog post, we will dive into the details of Plenty's new vertical farming research center and explore how it can shape the future of sustainable agriculture.
The Story: Plenty's Ambitious Project
For nearly ten years, Plenty Unlimited Inc. has worked to advance the rapidly developing field of indoor agriculture technologies. On February 2nd, 2023, the company announced that it would be extending its R&D capabilities and expanding the indoor agriculture projects by creating the largest and most cutting-edge vertical farming research center in Laramie, Wyoming. The Wyoming Business Council, on behalf of the state of Wyoming, awarded a $20 million grant to the City of Laramie to support the project's infrastructure and construction expenditures. The City of Laramie and the Laramie Chamber Business Alliance (LCBA) are providing additional funds, land, and support for the project.
According to Plenty CEO Arama Kukutai, “the establishment of this new center of excellence significantly increases Plenty's capacity to revolutionize indoor agriculture.” He added, “in Wyoming, we've already constructed one of the best indoor agricultural research habitats in the world. We will be able to cultivate a wider variety of crops because of our new facility, which will help us to overcome a significant industry barrier and unlock the full potential of this category. The advancement of indoor farming and the availability of fresh food for all depend on this ongoing dedication to innovation.”
The LCBA donated 16 acres of property in the Cirrus Sky Technology Park in Laramie for the construction of Plenty's new research center, which will be more than 60,000 square feet in size. The new facility will quadruple Plenty's research space in comparison to the Laramie site it has been using since 2016, diversify its study conditions, and aid in the transition of new crops to commercial farms by including places that more closely resemble Plenty farm environments.
Governor Mark Gordon remarked, "Wyoming is happy to invest in the ongoing success of a firm that was initially invented right here in the state." "The efficiency with which Plenty will operate in this new facility will significantly boost Wyoming's standing as a leading international hub for indoor agriculture research. This center provides us with a fantastic opportunity to support a cutting-edge R&D cluster and further diversify the economy of our state,” he further added.
An R&D staff of over 75 scientists and 100 engineers is responsible for driving Plenty's innovation. More than 100 new patent applications have been filed as a result of Plenty's R&D effort just in the last two years alone, including discoveries as varied as new crop growing systems, a way to identify plant stress, and novel tomato plant kinds. Those at the University of Wyoming who are talented locals of Plenty will have the chance to be at the forefront of developing plant science because of this new research center. Over the next six years, 125 new positions will be added by Plenty at the new facility in a variety of sectors, including science, research, engineering, and data analysis. Plenty intends to stimulate future growth of the Wyoming indoor farming research ecosystem through partnerships with colleges, businesses, vendors, and others.
Dr. Nate Storey, chief science officer and co-founder of Plenty, said, "With the help of our research and development, Plenty has already produced leafy greens, strawberries, and tomatoes at industry-leading yields. We will speed up our pipeline with this new, cutting-edge facility, significantly enhancing yields and bringing more diversified crops to market sooner." He further said that A Wyoming native who has dedicated his career to advancing plant science here said, “I'm delighted to be a part of helping the State play a leading role in establishing a new profession.”
Doug Miyamoto, director of the Wyoming department of agriculture and president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), stated, “We need to diversify domestic agricultural production to increase the stability of the national food supply chain and ultimately to increase food security.” Wyoming is pleased to sponsor Plenty's important work because it will advance our knowledge of how indoor agriculture may increase local food production prospects and improve food security.
The project will enter the design phase after grant clearance, with plans to start building later in 2023 and to open the facility in early 2025. Once it is finished, Plenty's team and research projects will move from their current Laramie location to the new building.
Conclusion
Plenty's new vertical farming research center is undoubtedly an ambitious project that aims to revolutionize the agriculture industry. Plenty is taking a significant step toward creating a sustainable food system for the future by exploring innovative ways of indoor cultivation of crops. The center's advanced technology and sustainable farming practices have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of traditional agriculture, making it a game-changer in the quest for sustainable food production.
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