Episode SummaryJoin Alaric Overbey, Director of GreensideUp Farm, as he discusses the transformative potential of vertical farming in addressing food security issues in underserved communities. Through his experiences in traditional farming and his passion for education, Alaric shares valuable insights on healthy eating habits and the innovative micro-farm model developed by GreensideUp Farm. Discover how education, community involvement, and partnerships with local organizations and grocery stores play a vital role in creating a more equitable food system. This eye-opening podcast episode sheds light on the power of vertical farming as a tool for positive societal change and provides inspiration for those interested in sustainable and equitable food systems.Thanks to Our SponsorsCultivatd – https://cultivatd.com/Indoor AgCon '22 - https://indoor.ag/Use promo code 'VFP' to receive 20% your registrationKey TakeawaysDiscover how Alaric Overbey and Greenside Up Farm are tackling food security issues through vertical farming technology.Learn about the innovative micro-farm model that strategically places farms close to the demand for fresh produce.Explore the importance of education and community involvement in addressing food access challenges.Find out how Greenside Up Farms partners with grocery stores to provide fresh produce directly on their shelves.Gain insights into the Local Feed Purchase Program and its impact on local farmers and the community.Uncover the transformative project of converting a produce unfriendly grocery store into a vertical grocery farm.Understand the significance of education and partnerships with organizations like the Culinary Academy and Nevada Partners.Discover how Greenside Up Farms is making a difference in fighting food deserts and promoting a sustainable and equitable food system.Tweetable Quotes“I never really even had a real understanding or relationship with food desert. So really going out there and seeing a food desert and then really wanting to kind of do research on the cause of those things, I just started doing a lot of research on food security, what happens to these communities, how it happens to these communities, and then what's being done to fix these communities.”“Really for a lot of communities, it's really starting off with the education, understanding what food access is and then how do you start to reclaim that and developing a model around that. So it's not just saying, hey, you put a farm over here, you put a grocery store over here in this food desert, it's going to fix the problem. Harry Duran: Sure. And that's what a lot of people think from the outside looking in.”“And I don't think there's one system that fits all. I think it's a combination of utilizing all of these systems and really using that to address the issue of access to food because there's a very economic aspect of that that a lot of them is missed.”Resources MentionedAlaric's Website - https://greensideup.farmAlaric's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaric-overbey-27248594/Alaric's Twitter - https://twitter.com/slumgardensAlaric's Email - [email protected] With UsVFP - LinkedIn -

Episode SummaryJoin us for an engaging conversation with Jonathan Murray, co-founder, and CEO of Adapt Agtech, where we delve into his remarkable journey in the booming vertical farming industry. With a diverse background spanning banking, clean tech, defense, and Medtech, Murray shares how he leveraged his experience to navigate regulations and find solutions to complex problems. We explore Adapt Agtech's growth and its unique focus on producing gourmet mushrooms in hyper-local environments, including the company's hybrid business model and its plans for expansion into the US market. Jonathan also shares his thoughts on the future of urban agriculture, sustainability, and the importance of bringing new talent into the industry. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in the fascinating world of vertical farming and sustainable agriculture.Thanks to Our SponsorsCultivatd – https://cultivatd.com/Indoor AgCon '22 - https://indoor.ag/Use promo code 'VFP' to receive 20% your registrationKey TakeawaysDiscover how Adapt is leading the way in the booming vertical farming industry with their focus on mushroomsLearn about the journey of founding Forage Hyperfoods and the importance of local mushroom productionExplore how Adapt Agtech navigated complex regulations and developed a hybrid business model for vertical farmingFind out about the colorful packaging and recipes of Hardy Foods, Adapt Agtech's retail product lineUnderstand how Adapt Agtech is expanding into the US market and developing a platform for urban agricultureHear Jonathan’s thoughts on bringing new people into the industry to solve the world's biggest problemsTweetable Quotes"We activated a new restaurant in the city of Toronto called The Butcher Chef. As you can imagine, a lot of meat at The Butcher Chef, and they're using mushrooms as an entire dish. It looks like a bouquet of mushrooms, and it's a standalone main course. That's pretty incredible to see.""We're trying to advance access to sustainable food. That's the mission of the company. And we're supported from Impact funds, which is awesome because they believe that that's the ultimate goal.”“We are averaging zero food spoilage because if we overgrow, we're donating to community kitchens and food banks. So not only do we have space in our containers to grow and sell and be a commercial enterprise and make money, for sure, but we're also reserving portions of those growers to donate"Resources MentionedJonathan's Website - https://www.adapt.ag/Jonathan's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-murray-74747813/Jonathan's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/adaptagtech/Jonathan's Twitter - https://twitter.com/AdaptAgtechJonathan's Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/adaptagtechJonathan's Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@adaptagtechConnect With UsVFP - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/verticalfarmingpodcastVFP Twitter -

Episode SummaryIn this episode, Marcos Enriquez, Founder of ISIFarmer, discusses his passion for vertical farming and his company's innovative approach to urban farming. He focuses on the challenges and opportunities of their urban farmer co-working platform, SI Farmer, which aims to provide fresh, healthy, and locally grown produce to urban consumers. Marcos explains how ISIFarmer is leading the charge in the vertical farming movement by using a box theory to create a controlled environment for each farmer, partnering with suppliers, and training farmers for consistent quality. He also shares his vision for expanding the business and scaling it in different cities and places where there is a demand for locally grown products.Thanks to Our SponsorsCultivatd – https://cultivatd.com/Indoor AgCon '22 - https://indoor.ag/Use promo code 'VFP' to receive 20% your registrationKey TakeawaysDiscover how vertical farming can provide fresh and healthy produce to urban consumersLearn how ISIFarmer is leading the charge in vertical farming with its SI Farmer platformFind out how ISIFarmer is using a box theory to create a completely controlled environment for each urban farmerUnderstand the challenges and opportunities associated with vertical farming through Marcos Enriquez's insightsExplore the potential for growth and expansion in the vertical farming industryHear about ISIFarmer's consulting work with the city of Malaga and its plans for international investment and expansionTweetable Quotes"The latest probably was a blockchain company that I built to do the traceability of vegetables from seed to plate. And that didn't really have too much involved with sharing. But I did manage to see that there was a big, big problem with all the agri food supply chain from start to finish. And that made me look into it a lot further.""We started with a minimal viable product that we've produced ourselves in different places. And now we're working on the construction of the final or the first co-working vertical farming co-working in Madrid. It's about 400. It will have the capability of doing all four areas that we think are essential.""Well, obviously the biggest challenge is what you said basically is training the Duran farmers and making sure that the produce is high quality and comes out with the help of all these urban farmers, local uber farmers. So that's going to be the big challenge."Resources MentionedMarcos' Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcosenriquez/?locale=es_ESMarcos' Website - https://isifarmer.com/Marcos' Twitter - https://twitter.com/marcosenriquezMarcos' Email - [email protected] With UsVFP - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/verticalfarmingpodcastVFP Twitter - https://twitter.com/VerticalFarmPodVFP Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/direct/inbox/VFP Facebook -

Episode SummaryThis episode we are joined by Daphne Preuss, the founder and CEO of CarbonBook, on an inspiring journey to make the world a greener place. As an experienced entrepreneur and sustainability advocate, she shares valuable insights on reducing carbon emissions in the vertical farming space. Discover the secrets of sustainable agriculture, learn how to manage carbon footprints, and explore the opportunities available in this growing industry. From understanding soil health to rethinking fertilizer use, Daphne offers detailed guidance on making vertical farming more environmentally friendly. Tune in to hear her inspiring story and find out how you can get involved in creating a more sustainable future.Thanks to Our SponsorsCultivatd – https://cultivatd.com/Indoor AgCon '22 - https://indoor.ag/Use promo code 'VFP' to receive 20% your registrationKey TakeawaysLearn about Daphne’s passion for sustainable agriculture and reducing carbon emissionsDiscover how CarbonBook helps farmers measure and report on their carbon footprint, and how it can benefit the vertical farming industryExplore Daphne’s entrepreneurial background and successes in agriculture, AI, and softwareGain insights into the importance of reducing carbon emissions in the vertical farming space, and how the industry can take a leadership role in sustainabilityUnderstand the recent advances in research on soil health and fertilizer use, and their impact on carbon captureFind out how consumers may compare vertical farming to traditional outdoor farming in terms of carbon emissions when making purchasing decisionsLearn about CarbonBook's breakthroughs in the indoor farming space, as well as their partnerships and accoladesDiscover Daphne’s advice for scientists in the vertical farming community to not be intimidated by the business world, and how they have all the skills needed to succeedTweetable Quotes“Since the journey of finding my own business, I've also found it really interesting and exciting to help other entrepreneurs who are going through that same process.”“I often say it's really rewarding to help new founders avoid the mistakes I made over the years. The first time you do something, it's always a learning experience.”“I would say that early on there was huge exuberance for indoor farming, vertical farming especially. Lots of money being thrown at it. I think as it's matured now, we've seen some of those businesses operate successfully and some of them really struggle. So today reality is hitting people in the face.”Resources MentionedDaphne's Website - https://www.carbonbookinc.comDaphne's Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/daphne-preuss-26031bDaphne's Email - [email protected] With UsVFP - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/verticalfarmingpodcastVFP Twitter - https://twitter.com/VerticalFarmPodVFP Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/direct/inbox/VFP Facebook -

Episode SummaryIn this episode, Eric Levesque returns for Round 3 to share his journey of being a former gamer and professional player and the twists and turns that led him to the world of vertical farming. Eric emphasizes the importance of hyper-local food and why he’s excited about the potential for new crops like mushrooms to play an important part of in the future of indoor grown. Eric also highlights the significance of reflecting on one's goals and values, pivoting business models, and building a culture that values respect and flexibility. Cultivatd's unorthodox hiring process and emphasis on creating a culture of respect and flexibility make it a leader in sustainable and innovative business practices for a brighter future for the food industry.Thanks to Our SponsorsCultivatd – https://cultivatd.com/Indoor AgCon '22 - https://indoor.ag/Use promo code 'VFP' to receive 20% your registrationKey TakeawaysDiscover how Eric’s experiences in gaming and poker prepared him for the world of entrepreneurship.Learn why reflecting on one's goals and values is important for avoiding burnout and building a sustainable business.Find out why vertical farming is becoming a necessity for providing both human food and animal feed.Explore the movement towards hyper-local food, where food is grown and distributed within a 25-50 mile radius, and the benefits it offers over traditional local food.Understand the importance of pivoting business models and being introspective to avoid getting lost in success or blaming others for failures.Learn about Cultivatd's unorthodox hiring process and culture that values respect and flexibility.Get excited about the future of the food industry and the potential for mushrooms as a part of the future of food.Discover the growing interest in vertical farming and the potential for larger conferences and more attendees.Find out how Cultivatd is leading the way towards a brighter future for fresh, locally grown produce.Tweetable Quotes“You need some insane mental endurance. You would not believe how much focus it requires because in those games you're playing in real time against just one other person usually and the tiniest mistake can cost you a lot of prize money.”“It's always been go go, but I'm pretty good at reflecting back. I think it's really important for you to just not lose yourself in that process and to reflect on what it is you're doing, because your goals will change quite a bit throughout your life. And if you're not paying attention to that, I think you can get kind of lost in that rat race of you're just chasing something that never ends.”“These farms that reduce 90% to 95% of water, they will be encouraged and incentivized in ways that we can't think of right now because we just don't have a choice. Currently, about 25% of all the people on the planet already don't have access to clean drinking water. 25% is staggering. And that's getting worse and worse. There's over 1.5 million people a year that die just due to lack of water intake every year on the planet. So these problems are huge and they're only getting bigger.”“You have companies like Unfold and some of these newer ones that do seed genetics, that are working with seeds to make them have a better taste profile, a better crunch profile, better flavor, more nutrients.”Resources MentionedEric’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-levesque-a03a33163/?originalSubdomain=ca Eric’s Email –