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Vertical Farming
Overview
Vertical farming, a key subsector of the indoor farming industry, refers to growing crops in vertically stacked beds or shelves inside controlled-environment buildings or containers. The process uses artificial lights and soilless growing techniques to simulate a crop’s optimal growing environment and control the desired outcome in terms of yield, texture, size, and other characteristics.
Indoor farming allows growers to grow pesticide-free crops year-round, regardless of weather conditions and the availability of arable land. Demand from growing urban populations and limited arable land drives the industry. The industry's main obstacle is the limitations of proprietary technologies for mass production. As a result, vertically farmed food products currently on the market command a significant price premium due to high capital and operating costs.
Industry Updates
Market Sizing
The US vertical farming market is estimated to reach USD 1.3 billion–3.5 billion by 2027
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Market Mapping
Hydroponic farm operators account for nearly half of our list of disruptors and total funding in the range USD 1.4 - 1.6 billion. These companies follow a soilless growing method that places crops’ roots directly in containers filled with nutrient-enriched water without the need for fish farming tanks (as in aquaponics) or air sprinklers (as in aeroponics). Due to ease of use, lower costs, and higher ROI, hydroponic farms are the most popular growing system in the vertical farming industry.
In contrast, less than 10% of our disruptors operate aquaponic or aeroponic growing systems to vertically produce crops. The average funding per start-up in these segments ranges between USD 35 - 60 million.
Farm Operators: Aeroponics
Farm Operators: Hydroponics
Farm Operators: Aquaponics
Growing System Producers
The Disruptors
Hydroponic farm operators are the highest funded
Plenty Unlimited, Bowery Farming, and Infarm are the top three vertical farming (VF) players in terms of funding with a combined haul of over USD 1.4 billion. These three players are hydroponic vertical farming operators that produce similar products—primarily leafy greens, microgreens, and herbs—and compete on price, volume, location, and efficiency.
Small and independent farmers and less well-funded VF startups tend to operate vertical farms in shipping containers so they can position crops near a point of sale to capitalize on freshness and reduce distribution costs. Given the high cost of purchasing a shipping container facility, often over USD 100,000 per unit, independent farmers cannot easily compete with large VF operators or easily attract mainstream consumers.
Funding History
Competitive Analysis
Incumbents
Supermarket giants show interest in on-site vertical farms
The vertical farming industry has not significantly attracted the attention of large conventional vegetable producers such as Bonipak Produce, Tanimura & Antle, and Duda Farm Fresh Foods. Tanimura & Antle has meanwhile only developed a hydroponics greenhouse in Livingston, California to accommodate consumer demand for fresh and locally-grown foods. However, the industry is seeing large supermarket chains partnering with startups to either set up vertical farms at stores or source vertically-grown produce for their customers. For instance, Kroger, Sobeys, and Publix partnered with startups to set up on-site vertical farms and source fresh produce for consumers. Companies like McCain Foods also invested in startups to support the development of vertical farming technologies.
Notable Investors
