vGreens – The most sustainable strawberries around

A sustainability boost for agriculture and the agri-food industry through vertical farms

„For the first time, old industrial halls or office buildings can be used to produce food sustainably. Due to the short transport routes, the end consumer benefits from unprecedented freshness while simultaneously conserving the climate.”
- Maximilian Hartmann, vGreens

vGreens want nothing less than to establish a whole transformation of the way we produce and harvest strawberries to date. You can find out exactly how this looks like and what advantages this way of operating has for consumers, producers, and society as a whole in our interview. Enjoy reading!

• Company name: vGreens
• Company Industry: Vertical Farming
• Founded in: 2022
• Located in: Witten, Germany
• Team members: 5
• Website: https://v-greens.com/

Who are you? And what do you stand for with vGreens?

My name is Maximilian Hartmann and I am one of the founders and the CFO of vGreens. vGreens represents one of the first vertical farming providers to address the sustainable, year-round production of strawberries.

For this purpose, vGreens has developed its own cultivation system that is capable of producing premium fruits independent from climate and season - reducing land requirements by 99%, water consumption by 95% and refrains from pesticide use. The technology is made accessible to B2B customers under a licensing model, enabling customers around the world to use the technology for their own direct sales or further processing.

The food industry and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals have not yet fit together – where do you see the industry’s biggest failures?

The food industry is faced with a variety of problems. Agriculture represents a starting point for the solution. Agricultural production over-uses fresh water, fertiliser and land. We need innovative concepts, such as vertical farming, that address these problems precisely.

What do you want to improve? What is your solution?

We have developed our own hydroponic cultivation system, which allows the reduction of agricultural land by 99 percent, the use of fresh water by 95 percent, and fertilizers by 95 percent. In addition, the cultivation system is characterized by an innovative energy concept, in which wind turbines and other alternative energies can be integrated. Moreover, the use of rain water spares the exploitation of fresh water resources.

The licensing business enables all players in the value chain to benefit - from farmers to retailers, who can produce strawberries in urban areas for the first time.

How does vGreens contribute to a livable future?

The system can be installed in existing premises. As a result, it is not only possible to produce in urban areas, but additionally works without subduing new land. For the first time, old industrial halls or office buildings can be used to produce food sustainably. Due to the short transport routes, the end consumer benefits from unprecedented freshness while simultaneously conserving the climate.

Why do you believe in vGreens? What particularly encourages you on a personal level?

Not only does vGreens address a forward-thinking industry with disruptive technology, we also formed a team with both the know-how and the commitment to drive the business forward. We are ready to face the major competitors in the industry, learn and expand operations in the long run.

For which challenges are you looking for support right now?

We are currently building up our team, driving the company forward. For our market validation, we will sell our strawberries for the first time in the coming weeks. Furthermore, we are in contact with a major customer to build a fully automated strawberry farm in Germany. This farm will produce around 80t of strawberries per year.

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