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Episodes

26
Feb. 26, 2021

S2E26: Sepehr Mousavi - Sustainability, Innovation and the Future of AgTech

Episode Summary Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show speaker, futurist and Chief Sustainability Officer at SweGreen, Sepehr Mousavi. Sepehr is a sustainability strategist, innovation catalyst and a passionate futurist with an international and multicultural background. His organization, SweGreen, is the number one AgTech company in Sweden and is revolutionizing the vertical farming industry by providing futuristic, smart and circular solutions for contro...
25
Feb. 20, 2021

S2E25: Sam Norton - Seawater Agriculture: Tapping into the Earth’s Largest Resource

Episode Summary Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Founder of Heron Farms, Sam Norton. It is the mission of Heron Farms to create a sustainable agricultural system and restore the marsh using earth’s most abundant resource: seawater. In this episode, Harry and Sam talk all about sea beans, Sam’s fact-finding mission to Bangladesh to learn more about how seawater crops are grown, and the work Heron Farms is doing with other brands to help rebuild salt m...
24
Feb. 16, 2021

S2E24: Alexander Olesen & Graham Smith - Farming for a Better Future

Episode Summary Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show co-founders of Babylon MicroFarms, Alexander Olesen and Graham Smith. Alexander and Graham met at the University of Virginia where they first designed a low-cost micro-farm to provide nutritious produce for food-insecure refugees in the Middle East. They were initially inspired by the desire to bring benefits of sustainable hydroponic farming to those who need it the most. In this episode, Harry talks ...
23
Feb. 7, 2021

S2E23: Melvin Medina - An Agricultural Globetrotter

Episode Summary Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Agricultural Officer at FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Melvin Medina. The FAO is an organization that is striving for zero hunger, a sustainable planet and a future of food for all. In this episode, Harry and Melvin talk about Melvin’s passion for horticulture, the numerous roles Melvin has held in the AgTech industry and the impactful work Melvin has done in Jamaica, Tan...
22
Jan. 29, 2021

S2E22: Kyle Barnett - Ponic Jobs, Podcasting & Paying It Forward

Episode Summary Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show founder of Ponic Jobs and co-host of the CropTalk Podcast, Kyle Barnett. Kyle is currently serving as Account Manager in the horticulture division at WestRock, focusing on helping growers create superior packaging, labels and merchandising solutions. In this episode, Harry and Kyle discuss the varying facets of ponics, from deep water culture and NFTs to vertical farming and aquaponics. They talk about...
21
Jan. 22, 2021

S2E21: Ed Harwood - Aeroponics, SOPs & Serendipity

Episode Summary Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Chief Science Officer (CSO) of AeroFarms, Ed Harwood. It is the mission of AeroFarms to grow the best plants possible for the betterment of humanity. With over forty years of agricultural and engineering experience, Ed founded GreatVeggies before transitioning to AeroFarms. In this episode, Harry and Ed share a discussion on the difference between hydroponics and aeroponics, the merits and disadvantage...
20
Jan. 18, 2021

S2E20: Marc Plinke - Rethinking Greenhouses and Our Approach to Growing Food

Episode Summary Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Ceres Greenhouse Solutions, Marc Plinke. Ceres designs and builds advanced, energy-efficient greenhouses that grow year-round while saving energy and water. In this episode, Harry and Marc dissect Marc’s career trajectory, from his time at Synergistic Building Technologies to his current role with Ceres. Marc breaks down his passion for bringing about posit...
19
Jan. 8, 2021

S2E19: Nate Storey - Long-Distance Supply Chains, Accessing Capital & Doing Meaningful Work through Vertical Farming

Episode Summary Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show co-founder and Chief Science Officer (CSO) of Plenty, Nate Storey. Plenty is on a mission to bring fresh, local produce to communities everywhere in a way that’s better for the environment. In this episode, Harry and Nate discuss Plenty’s local field-scale indoor farms, the importance of having supportive infrastructure for vertical farming and the work Nate is doing at Plenty to promote social respons...
18
Dec. 19, 2020

S2E18: Henry Sztul - Technology, R&D & Building Resilient Food Systems

Episode Summary Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show physicist, entrepreneur and self-proclaimed tinkerer, Henry Sztul. Henry is the Chief Science Officer at Bowery Farming, a modern farming company on an ambitious mission to transform the future of food and change the face of agriculture. In this episode, Harry and Henry discuss the promise that vertical farming provides to the world and why it resonated so soundly with Henry. Henry shares his personal...
17
Dec. 11, 2020

S2E17: John Purcell - Building a Sustainable Future by Falling In Love with the Solution, Not the Science

Episode Summary Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show President and CEO of Unfold, Dr. John Purcell. John has dedicated his life to helping farmers safely and sustainably grow food using less of the earth’s natural resources. In his new role as President and CEO of Unfold Bio, John is continuing this same mission to improve the food ecosystem with more sustainable, fresher, and better-tasting fruits and vegetables. In this episode, Harry and John discuss...
16
Dec. 3, 2020

S2E16: DeMario Vitalis - Leaving Hydroponics Better Than How He Found It

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Founder of New Age Provisions, DeMario Vitalis. New Age Provisions is an urban farm that uses state of the art hydroponic technology to farm the freshest culinary herbs, lettuces, leafy greens, and cannabis. In this episode, Harry and DeMario discuss DeMario’s inspirational story, the success he’s achieving and how he’s bringing awareness to possibilities for minority farm owners. DeMario speaks to challenges he’s had...
15
Nov. 20, 2020

S2E15: Eddy Badrina - Creating Exponential Positive Change

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show CEO of Eden Green, Eddy Badrina. Eden Green is a vertical farming technology company dedicated to changing the way we farm our food, and feed our communities. In this episode, Harry and Eddy discuss Eddy’s entrepreneurial journey, from working in politics, to launching his own start-up, to becoming CEO of Eden Green. Eddy speaks to his background in digital marketing, his thoughts on risk-taking and his longtime perso...
14
Nov. 12, 2020

S2E14: Tobias Peggs - Discovering a More Resilient Food System through Vertical Farming

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show co-founder and CEO of Square Roots, Tobias Peggs. Square Roots is an indoor urban farming company that connects people in cities to local, real food. In this episode, Harry and Tobias discuss the growing demand for a more efficient global food system. Tobias speaks to the importance his organization places on transparency and visionary thinking as well as future initiatives he and his team are currently planning. Spe...