Episodes

Prepare to set sail on a journey filled with adventure, art, and groundbreaking technology with our guest, Rob van Straten, CEO of Skytree. This episode dives deep into Rob's vibrant life, taking us from his childhood in the 80s, through his time in the army, his global sailing adventures, and leading us up to his stellar rise in the tech world. As a lover of art, Rob shares his memorable experiences from the Vermeer exhibition and the captivating stories behind some of the most iconic artworks....

Growing up in the rugged landscapes of Scotland, our guest Ralph Weir, CEO of Zayndu, has traversed a fascinating journey - from the world of semiconductors and mobile television to the cutting-edge realm of vertical farming. Ralph's story is not just a narrative of professional evolution, but a testament to the power of adaptability and innovation. Join us as we uncover how Ralph's Scottish roots, his father's profound influence, and a chance encounter with the world of agriculture shaped his i...

Have you ever wondered how the world of technology collides with the world of agriculture? Prepare to be spellbound as we sit down with Robin Vincent, the tech-savvy CEO and CINNO of Canobi Technologies. Robin takes us through his fascinating journey, from his early fascination with technology and his evolution from infrastructure architect to CEO. He paints a vivid picture of his personal project to reduce the mortality rate of stingrays and seahorses, a venture that guided him towards the crea...

Have you ever wondered about the unseen intricacies of greenhouse farming and the immense potential of vertical farms? Join us on a fascinating journey with our guest, Lotte Van Rijn, General Manager of Certhon, as she peels back the layers of her expansive knowledge and experiences in the industry. From the lush greenhouses of the Netherlands to the dream of circumnavigating the globe, Lotte’s life is as vibrant and varied as the crops she helps foster. Lotte takes us through his formative yea...

Like a modern-day agricultural alchemist, Mary Kathryn Scala co-founder of Freight to Plate, turns shipping containers into havens of verdant growth. In our conversation, Mary Kathryn walks us through her journey from the bustling restaurants of Chicago to the vibrant city of Austin, where she first discovered the potential of container farming. Her entrepreneurial spirit, ignited by this innovative concept, led her back to her roots in Chicago with a mission to revolutionize food systems. Hear...

Unlock the future of modern agriculture with Nick Bateman, Executive Chairman at GrowPura. Nick, a seasoned veteran in the high tech business sphere, uncovers the exciting blend of clean room technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence that's shaping vertical farming. He illustrates how this burgeoning field is not only responding to the shifting crop demands of customers, but also bolstering sustainability and food security solutions. This conversation takes an intriguing turn as we navi...

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Christine Zimmermann-Loessl, Chairwoman at Association for Vertical Farming. Association for Vertical Farming (AVF for short) is an internationally active nonprofit organization of individuals, companies, research institutions and universities focusing on leading and advancing the sustainable growth and development of the vertical farming movement. Today, Harry and Christine talk about how Christine’s entrepreneurial...

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Michael Sichenzia. Michael is the Managing Director at Go Global Advisors and today, he shares his passion for bringing food to communities and what led him to pursue work in the vertical farming industry. Specifically, Michael speaks to the intricacies of developing container farms, everything from getting zoning approval from the local or city government to what he looks for when building a team. Michael is highly ...

A fascinating voyage from the fashion capital of the world to the cutting edge of agricultural technology is what we have in store for you. We bring you the riveting tale of Sepehr Achard, the CEO of iGrow News. Raised in France and influenced by his experiences in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Sepehr found his calling in vertical farming—a far cry from the finance world he was initially a part of. Follow us as we traverse this intriguing shift in career paths, the risk and reward of heading a dedicated ...

Get ready for an enlightening conversation on vertical farming and food justice as we chat with Nona Yehia, CEO and co-founder of Vertical Harvest. Discover the growing importance of indoor ag tech and understand the significance of intersectional discussions within this evolving industry. Learn how fresh food access and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) are playing a crucial role in fostering positive change, and how technology is championing this transformation. Join us as we discuss V...

Can you imagine the metropolis of New York City as a thriving urban farm? Qiana Mickie, a passionate advocate for urban agriculture and food justice, joins us to share her experience of growing up in the vibrant city and how it has shaped her commitment to feeding New York's communities. We journey through the city's pulsating neighborhoods, reminiscing about the birth of hip hop, our shared experiences of Catholic schools, and the explorative thrills of the 80s. As we stroll down memory lane, ...

Join Samuel Bertram, the CEO and Co-Founder of OnePointOne and Willo Farm, on an inspiring podcast journey as he shares his vision for revolutionizing the way we grow and consume food through vertical farming. With a passionate drive to solve the world's poor nutrition problem, Samuel’s innovative approach includes a patented automated vertical farming solution called Opollo Farm and a direct-to-consumer marketing and sales business known as Willo. Discover the challenges faced by his companies,...

Join us on an exciting journey as we explore the groundbreaking world of indoor farming with Babylon Micro-Farms and their visionary CEO, Alexander Olesen. In this episode, Alexander shares his invaluable insights on sustainability, scaling, and customer satisfaction, while taking us through his remarkable entrepreneurial journey. Discover the incredible benefits of indoor farming, from its potential for local service operators and government involvement to its niche applications for self-suffic...

Join us on an exciting journey into the world of vertical farming with Gabriel Zarafonitis, the President and Founder of FarmAnywhere. As a self-taught entrepreneur, Gabriel shares his passion for sustainable agriculture and the challenges he faced in building an ultra-high-tech farming solution. He emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between technology and farming expertise, while also highlighting the significance of quality control and exceptional customer support. Delve into the ...

Join Alberto Aguilar, CEO of Plantaform, as he provides a captivating and insightful perspective on the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly growing vertical farming industry. Discover the secrets to creating a successful product through constant innovation and adaptation, and explore the potential of sustainable agriculture. Aguilar's expertise extends to exciting developments like the world's first fogponic vertical farm, showcasing the forefront of industry advancements. Gain valuable ...

Episode Summary Join 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 s...

Episode Summary Join 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, ...

Episode Summary In 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 f...

Episode Summary This 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 rethink...

Episode Summary In 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 b...

Episode Summary We kick off Season 8 of the podcast, with Sonia Lo, the CEO of Unfold AG and a prominent figure in the vertical farming industry. She shares her insights on the latest developments in indoor farming, including the role of genetics in improving crop yield and taste. We also discuss the importance of profitability for the industry's scalability and the potential of next-generation agriculture. Sonia’s background in law, management consulting, investment banking provides a unique p...

Episode Summary In this episode, David Farquhar, CEO of Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), delves into the potential of indoor agritech and how the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased interest in deglobalization and relocalization. He explains how IGS is providing the technology and expertise to enable farmers to grow crops with precision and accuracy, and how IGS is partnering with local councils, food banks, and educational institutions to develop innovative solutions. Learn how indoor...

Episode Summary Join us as we explore the exciting world of vertical farming with Alexander Kappes, the CEO of Greener Crop. He shares his passion for CEA and explains how Greener Crop provides comprehensive farm management solutions for clients. Alexander discusses the potential for hydroponic farming to address food security issues and his vision for Greener Crop to lead the charge in this growing industry. He also talks about the challenges and opportunities within the industry, the focus on...

Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll hear Zale Tabakman's inspiring journey of revolutionizing the way we think about farming. Zale shares his vision for providing locally grown, ready-to-eat salads to a global market, as well as his patent-pending technology for growing 60 different vegetables. He emphasizes the potential of vertical farming to create good-paying jobs, address the climate crisis, and provide consistent high-quality salads to McDonald's at all 35,000 locations worldwide. Thi...