The sweet future of vertical farming | Hiroki Koga
Nov 8, 2024
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Hiroki Koga, co-founder and CEO of Oishi, is pioneering vertical farming using AI and robotics to grow strawberries. He discusses how indoor farming can produce sweeter, year-round strawberries, challenging traditional agriculture. The conversation dives into the potential for resource efficiency and how this innovative approach could address global food security. They also explore the hurdles of scaling AI technologies in farming, emphasizing the importance of cohesive strategies to maximize the benefits of this sustainable solution.
Vertical farming, combining technology like AI and robotics, optimizes crop yields while drastically reducing environmental impacts compared to traditional agriculture.
The economic landscape for vertical farming is shifting, making it a increasingly viable alternative to traditional farming through decreased costs and year-round production.
Deep dives
The Rise of Vertical Farming
Vertical farming has emerged as a revolutionary approach in agriculture, allowing crops to flourish in urban environments without the dependency on traditional land and weather conditions. This method, originally developed by Dr. Dixon de Pommier, utilizes innovative techniques such as hydroponics and aquaponics to grow produce in controlled indoor settings. Vertical farms can drastically reduce the need for pesticides and conserve water, addressing some of the most pressing challenges faced by traditional agriculture. The scalability of vertical farming, as evidenced by successful projects like Oishi, suggests it has significant potential to transform food production sustainably.
Innovations in Pollination and AI
A key advancement in vertical farming is the use of artificial intelligence and robotics to improve pollination and crop yields. Rather than relying on outdoor conditions for bee pollination, farms have developed an environment where bees are effectively managed to optimize their activity, achieving a pollination success rate exceeding 95%. AI-powered systems analyze data to monitor plant health and determine optimal pollination needs, resulting in more efficient production processes. This integration of technology allows farms to experiment with various environmental conditions year-round, facilitating rapid improvements in crop yield and quality.
The Economic Viability of Vertical Farming
Although vertical farming has been criticized for its high initial costs, the economic landscape is evolving as efficiencies are realized over time. With increased production capabilities and reduced prices for consumers, the cost of vertically farmed produce, such as strawberries, has significantly decreased, demonstrating that viability can be achieved. Additionally, vertical farms can continuously produce crops year-round, ensuring a steady supply and higher revenue per plant, in contrast to seasonal traditional farms. This trend points to the potential for vertical farming to not only become competitive but also to possibly surpass conventional farming in cost-effectiveness in the near future.
Can strawberries grown inside a building taste sweeter than those grown in a field? Farming entrepreneur Hiroki Koga explores how his team is combining solar-powered vertical farms with AI, robotics and indoor bee colonies to grow delicious strawberries year-round — and how this practice, if widely adopted, could deliver a harvest of benefits for the future of food. After the talk, Sherrell dives deeper into the impact of vertical farming.