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Plenty Unlimited, Inc., has launched the first indoor farming operation for berries in Richmond, Virginia, producing over 4 million pounds of strawberries annually for Driscoll’s. The 40,000-square-foot facility uses 30-foot towers to supply Driscoll’s exclusively, with the first strawberries expected to hit markets in early 2025. Plenty and its competitors are exploring ways to vertically farm a variety of crops on a large scale, moving beyond traditional lettuce cultivation.

“This farm showcases the positive impact of climate-agnostic agriculture and demonstrates the potential of vertical farming to provide diverse, scalable, and locally produced food to support the global food system,” said Plenty CEO Adams Kukutai. The Plenty Richmond Farm utilizes advanced technologies and proprietary software to optimize strawberry size, flavor, and shape by precisely controlling lights, temperature, and humidity. The engineered pollination eliminates the need for bees.

In another development, Ginkgo Bioworks is partnering with Novus International to develop cost-effective feed additives for livestock. The collaboration aims to create efficient enzymes to enhance the health of chickens, cows, and pigs in animal production systems. This initiative seeks to bring cutting-edge technologies to market to improve the efficiency and Sustainability of animal production.

Lastly, the Ag Innovation Campus in Minnesota closed down after less than a year of operation as a soybean crush facility in Crookston. Despite receiving significant funding, the facility faced challenges in meeting its production goals and sustaining operations. A fire incident in August further exacerbated the situation, leading to the decision to close the campus. Stakeholders are now evaluating the future options for the facility.

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