Christine Zimmermann-Loessl at AgriFuturee Conference Bangkok

Chairwoman and Founder

December 2019

The Transforming Power of Vertical Farming

Global challenges and trends

Association for Vertical Farming e.V.

The AVF is a globally active non profit organization registered 2013 in Munich Germany to foster the successful implementation of Vertical Farming /indoor agriculture by building a network of

Companies

Universitys and Research Institution

Experts

We organize events around the world

We apply for funds to do research,

We gather information and conduct training

We are based on annual membership fees and donations.

AVF Map: Inspiring Collaboration Through Awareness

Why Vertical

Farming?

Global challenges

● Climate change

● Urbanization

● Population Growth

● Resource finiteness

● Ecological destruction

Four Global Agriculture Challenges We Need to Solve

Explore our infographic to learn

more about vertical farming and

the problems it can solve:

vertical-farming.net/info/

Phosphorus a resource vital for food production.

Phosphorus and nitrate seep into the groundwater after they are used in fertilizers,

nitrate exceeding the legal limit at

28 percent of almost 700 measuring points across Germany!

Phosphorus was above the line at 65 percent of all points set up at rivers and lakes, while also affecting algae in the North and the Baltic Seas.

Vertical Farming

closed loop

systems need

approx.

68% less

nutrients

HOW are we going to sustainably produce

enough food in the future?

Food crisis?

●We basically produce enough food for

10 Billion, but

●estimated one-third of all food

produced for human use, valued at $1

trillion, is lost or wasted each year.

Food waste the

third biggest

emitter in the

world of GHG

agriculture, produces

a third of the world’s

greenhouse gas

emissions……..,

farming ourselves out

of food

We need equal

access to food

nutritious food

sustainable production

2.5 billion people to the

world’s urban population by 2050,

with nearly 90 per cent of the

increase concentrated in Asia and

Africa.

2016

28 mega cities with more than 10 million

inhabitants.

By 2030, the world is projected

41 mega-cities

Continuing population growth and urbanization

Urban density can actually create the possibility for a better quality of life and a lower carbon footprint through more efficient infrastructure and planning. Less land use and space for nature

Cities can be the solution for climate change Today, nearly 10,000 climate change actions are in effect in C40 Cities, with over 78% of actions reported in 2015 planned for expansion.

Innovative Food production pushed by resilient city concepts Food related actions are gaining priority in the agenda of cities, but they still remain a challenge as they require the integration of many segments of society, various levels of governance and collaboration between different policy areas

Vertical Farming plays an important role in this process

Cities can be the solution - VF is a catalyst

Aeroponics Hydroponics Aquaponics

The Future of Agriculture: Growing Soilless

Vertical Farming Definition

Vertical farming is the practice of growing food and/or medicine in vertically

stacked layers, vertically inclined surfaces and/or integrated in other

structures.

The modern idea of vertical farming uses Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technology,

where all environmental factors can be controlled in a closed system

These facilities/plant factories/vertical farms utilize

1. artificial light and the control of light,

2. environmental control (humidity, temperature, gases,..) and fertigation

Some vertical farms make use of techniques similar to greenhouses, where natural sunlight can be

augmented with artificial lighting.”

Year-round production independent of:

o Climate

o Season

o Region

o Pesticides

Less food waste

Less land use

Less food miles

Faster to consumer (fresher)

Guaranteed food safety

No heavy metals/pesticides

Up to 98% less water

2-3x faster growth rates

High vitamin and mineral content

Uniform and exceptional flavor

Uniform yield

Vertical Farming Benefits

Each indoor hectare is more productive than 10 outdoor hectare

Vertical Farming is accelerating

Source: State of Indoor Farming 2017 (USA), Agrilyst

Different reasons, local

adaptation

17

EUROPE

Local

Production

Traceability

SINGAPORE

Food security

Independency

UNITED

STATES

Startups

Innovatio

ns

Non

GMO

CHINA

Air and soil

pollution

JAPAN

Space

saving

Independ

ency

Climate

AFRICA

Local

Production

Innovation

Safe,healthy

Food

Impact by Innovation and Technology

Answering the needs of global challenges

Technology driven –resource efficient

Attracting young people into agriculture

Creating green jobs in urban regions

Attracting investment into agriculture

Impact by Demand of Fresh Produce

Bagged salads and value-added vegetables have posted particularly strong sales over the past year, following consumer demand for healthier and more convenient food.

Organic produce is contributing to strong growth in the department, with sales up 7.6% in Q3 2017

Fresh herbs are among the top 10 of fresh vegetables in German consumer spending (AMI, 2014). In 2013, German households spent an average of €4.25 on fresh herbs. In total, German households spent around €150 million on herbs, (€31 million are spent on basil).

Convenience in eating is an important trend in Germany.

Brightbox in NL

open innovation in high-

tech horticulture

A collaboration between

education, research and

market on a global level

London Underground Production of Microgreens for retailer and restaurants Expansion plans of the existing tunnels.

Plant Factory

● Taiwan 2018

● Yes Health

● Daily production 20.000 salads,

herbs, vegetable

●Expansion plans for Europe

Medicinal plant production

State of the Art Vertical

Farm by

IME Fraunhofer Institut,

Germany

OrbiPlant and new designed Vertical Farm Germany Fraunhofer Institut

Ute Stickel

Sananbio

Chinas

biggest

Vertical

Farm

Home VF appliance to build in and harvest directly

By agrilution GmbH Munich

Obstacles for Vertical Farming implementation

● High investment at first stage

● Knowledge and understanding of the business models Customized solutions for local setting

● Lack of clear policy and integration between the agricultural

and industry/manufacturing sectors (urban/rural separation)

● Well trained staff

Our Integration Typology: A Path to Standardization

Industry output and drivers

Industry output worldwide in 2015 estim. US$2 billion

Estimated in 2025 US$12 billion

Drivers to support the development :

more advanced technology for enabling mass production

Supportive legal framework

Successful business models to attract investment

AVF Vision + Mission Mission

The Association for Vertical Farming is the leading global

non-profit organization for raising awareness and connecting

stakeholders to advance the implementation of vertical

farming.

Vision

The AVF acknowledges that vertical farming in its current

state can provide access to fresh, safe, and sufficient food,

independent of climate and location. In the decades to come,

where overpopulation and severe planetary changes

challenge our current way of life, vertical farming will become

a necessary solution in global food production.

Christine Zimmermann-Loessl (Chairwoman)

Peter Lane UK (Vice Chair)

Prof. Joel Cuello USA (Vice Chair)

AVF is supported by a global network of 10+ volunteers in Munich, Brussels, USA, India, Kenya and UK Learn more at vertical-farming.net/about-us/

AVF Team and volunteers Anne Pelisse Flour, European Affairs Manager, Zurich Switzerland

◦ Highly motivated EU Project Manager with substantial experience in agriculture and environment ◦ Based in Brussels

Kyle Baldock ,Marketing and Communication Manager, UK London

◦ Self-employed entrepreneur and Vertical Farming expert, based in the Netherlands ◦ Now supporting GROWx Amsterdam ◦ Between 2014 and 2017 Gus was responsible for Vertical Farming at Philips and Philips Lightning

Ramin Ebrahimnejad, Project and Science Manager, Denmark

◦ Vertical Farming specialist, already involved with AVF ◦ Degree in Agricultural Engineering ◦ Iranian, based in Denmark

◦ Petr Kripeit, IT and Backend , Germany ◦ Marvin Spence Project Manager, Germany ◦ Margaret Morgan USA, Graphic design

Policy Advocacy Initiative – EU

The AVF advocacy and policy initiative aims to represent

the interests of the emerging industry and its stakeholders

EU Commission: Vertical Farming mentioned for the 1st

time as part of the Common Agricultural Policy

Agricultural sector and the EU rural areas can

contribute to the EU environmental and climate objectives

Innovations developed in Vertical Farming to

achieve these objectives

EU Policy Goals

Increase the ambition on a new integrated food strategy that will involve the entire food supply chain, from farm to supermarket shelves.

Climate resilient agriculture practice

Resource efficient agriculture

Policy Advocacy Initiative – US

A new Farm Bill (renewed every 5 years) has been adopted in 2018/19.

The AVF advocacy and policy initiative aims to represent the interests of the emerging industry and its stakeholders in the US with its partner VHS.

for explicit recognition of Vertical Farming

in U.S. agriculture, food and farm policy.

to channel federal policy change down to

the state and local level,

...And more than 60 other businesses at vertical-farming.net/members/

Featured Business Members

Featured Institutional Members

...And more institutions at vertical-farming.net/members/

C O L L A B O R A T E A N D L E A D

www.vertical-farming.net

@averticalfarm

@verticalfarm

facebook.com/averticalfarm

www.linkedin.com/company/association-for-vertical-farming/