PREVIEW

The world’s first vertical farm using AI to grow strawberries at scale has officially opened its doors.

Based in Richmond, Virginia, Plenty Unlimited Inc. promises to deliver strawberries with peak-season flavour all year round, thanks to a cutting-edge system that adapts to the plants' needs using advanced technology.

Plenty's innovative AI analyses over 10 million data points daily across 12 different grow rooms. This enables the farm to adjust to each environment dynamically, meeting the evolving requirements of the strawberry plants. According to the company, this system is designed to thrive almost anywhere on the planet, making it possible to produce high-quality strawberries consistently throughout the year.

A hallmark of Plenty's vertical farm is its sustainability. The farm claims to use 97% less land and up to 90% less water compared to traditional farming methods. Additionally, Plenty has developed a unique, patent-pending pollination technique using controlled airflow over strawberry flowers, which they describe as “more efficient and effective pollination than using bees.”

The Richmond facility stands out with its towering 30-foot structures, allowing strawberries to be grown vertically in a compact space. With just under 40,000 square feet, the farm is projected to produce over 4 million pounds of strawberries annually. The farm’s production will be dedicated exclusively to Driscoll's brand strawberries, expected to hit supermarket shelves by 2025.

Unlike most vertical farms that focus on leafy greens, Plenty has spent ten years developing a patent-pending modular system that can support diverse crops, including strawberries. “Growing on vertical towers enables uniform delivery of nutrients, superior airflow, and more intense lighting, delivering increased yield with consistent quality,” the company said.

Arama Kukutai, CEO of Plenty, emphasised the broader implications of their work: “This farm is a model for the positive impact climate-agnostic agriculture can have, and proof that vertical farming can deliver the crop diversity, scaled and local production needed to future-proof the global food system.” He further highlighted that the Richmond facility is the result of 200 research trials over the past six years, aiming to perfect indoor strawberry cultivation with consistent, peak-season flavour.