January/February 2022 - 18

INNOVATION
VERTICAL FARMING
packaged directly. Using special cutting
equipment, the different herbs and leafy
greens can be harvested automatically
and conveyed directly to a packing
machine, explained Grinspan.
Not having to wash the harvested
product offers an additional benefit, too:
freshness and longevity. In an in-house
test, Future Crops found that their leafy
greens remained fresh for 28 days, much
longer than product produced outside.
Grinspan attributes the longer shelf
life to being able to grow, harvest and
package in stable temperatures ideal
for each end product.
" Of course, it has to be kept at the
 Future Crops CEO and co-founder Gary Grinspan.
parameters, including morphology,
shape, size and color. Grinspan said
Future Crops has control over 70-80
parameters that impact production,
depending on the crop grown. They
have tested the different variables
and are in the process of optimising
variables for each crop.
The plants are grown in a unique
substrate that uses a nutrient-enriched
soil-like recipe. The aim is to keep it
as close to nature as possible. " We
learned from nature and did not want to
change its rules, " he said. " Our system
can consistently grow a comprehensive
range of herbs and leafy microgreens
throughout the year, completely free of
any pesticides or biological substances,
and with zero dependence on climate
conditions. "
Grinspan said growing indoors under
controlled conditions offers several
benefits. Because the crops are grown
without the use of chemicals, they do
not need to be washed once they reach
maturity. They can simply be cut and
right temperature because if there is
big temperature fluctuation it won't
help the product, " he said. " But when
you keep it at the right temperature,
the crispiness and the freshness and
the shelf life is amazing. "
Being located in the heart of an
urban center shortens the distance
from " farm " to consumer, too.
" It's a very exciting journey, " said
Grinspan. " It's a tough industry, it's a
young industry, and I think that there
are huge challenges. But I have no
doubt that we will see more and more
vertical farms in the future. "
Future Crops currently runs supply
contracts with a leading grocery retailer
in the Netherlands and with additional
retailers in Europe.
Our automation solutions are solving the
most pressing challenges in the Produce
Processing industry-one pick at a time.
softroboticsinc.com
Scan to see how we helped the largest grower of
small potatoes fuel growth while staying competitive.
18 JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2 02 2

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January/February 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January/February 2022

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