Our mission
A desire for the future and progress, responsibility for comprehensive sustainability, a new integrative definition of indoor farming - these are our drive and motivation.
To this end, we have dedicated ourselves in our Start-up to the development of an innovative and modular vertical farming technology that turns this still young field of technology on its head.
Our goal is a plant construction system that enables our customers to produce top-quality plant products with unprecedented efficiency 365 days a year at any location worldwide, regardless of the season and climate. Would you like to find out what you can grow indoors, or even set up your own farm? We have the know-how! Sustainability and resource conservation are our maxims, and sophisticated technological unique selling points pave the way.
Our team in Karlsruhe and our Germany-wide partner network are made up of motivated and inquisitive experts from various natural and engineering sciences from industry and academia. This enables us to continuously combine the latest findings from botany and engineering in the highly interdisciplinary technology of vertical farming in such a way that strikingly sustainable and economically attractive solutions result, leading to disruptively new business models.
What is Vertical Farming?
Vertical farming is basically the cultivation of plants on vertically stacked growth surfaces - a method that makes possible many times the plant yield per square meter of floor space. When this is done under fully controlled conditions in enclosed growing spaces, it is referred to as indoor (vertical) farming. Such farms can be operated year-round under optimal, consistent growing conditions regardless of location, climate and season.
Plants are usually supplied with nutrients entirely without soil using hydroponic systems. The roots are supplied with everything they need via a carefully formulated nutrient solution. Thanks to the resource-saving circulation of the liquid, only a fraction of the water is required compared to conventional outdoor cultivation (95% water saving).
With the individual adjustment of the light spectrum for photosynthesis and the ambient climate, optimal conditions can be created for the healthy flourishing of various species throughout all growth phases. Plant products from indoor farming therefore usually contain a higher concentration of ingredients, vitamins or flavorings than those from conventional agriculture.
In addition, they can be grown completely without pesticides and are therefore free of any dirt and pollutants from the outset, even in the lowest concentrations.
How do we stand out?
To take Vertical Farming to the next level, you don't need yet another standard salad plantation. It needs new ideas!
Medical plants
We focus on pharmaceutically, cosmetically and biochemically relevant plants whose populations are endangered by wild collection and which are, among others, urgently needed for phytopharmaceuticals and cosmetics. In addition to the plant mass, the quality and concentration of the active ingredients come into focus.
Perennials
Our cultivation system is designed for growing perennial plants, which are not only harvested once, but yield repeatedly in many growth cycles. This allows different parts of the plants to be harvested over and over again, from flower to root. For the different growth phases, the plants can be placed in separate parts of the plant with adapted conditions.
Increased yield
For optimal, healthy growth, in addition to light and nutrient supply, the use of various natural growth stimuli (tropisms) is implemented in a technologically novel way and individually adapted to the respective plant species. Here, gravitropism is clearly in the foreground, which promises significantly increased growth and increased production of ingredients.
Automation
Thanks to the modular design and a well thought-out intralogistics structure, our farm plants of any size can be operated in a fully automated manner. In the course of their life cycle (from germination station to harvest), plants can be extracted in individual batches via special carrier systems to be processed and returned to the growth cycle.
Medical plants
We focus on pharmaceutically, cosmetically and biochemically relevant plants whose populations are endangered by wild collection and which are, among others, urgently needed for phytopharmaceuticals and cosmetics. In addition to the plant mass, the quality and concentration of the active ingredients come into focus.
Perennials
Our cultivation system is designed for growing perennial plants, which are not only harvested once, but yield repeatedly in many growth cycles. This allows different parts of the plants to be harvested over and over again, from flower to root. For the different growth phases, the plants can be placed in separate parts of the plant with adapted conditions.
Increased yield
For optimal, healthy growth, in addition to light and nutrient supply, the use of various natural growth stimuli (tropisms) is implemented in a technologically novel way and individually adapted to the respective plant species. Here, gravitropism is clearly in the foreground, which promises significantly increased growth and increased production of ingredients.
Automation
Thanks to the modular design and a well thought-out intralogistics structure, our farm plants of any size can be operated in a fully automated manner. In the course of their life cycle (from germination station to harvest), plants can be extracted in individual batches via special carrier systems to be processed and returned to the growth cycle.
Roadmap
We want to reach high! Literally.
2023
R&D project
Funded by the Bioeconomy Innovation Program "BIPL-BW" of the Ministry of Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection, ideal growth conditions for various plant species are determined and our innovative vertical farming system is put through its paces and perfected.
2024
Demonstration Plant
Based on the uniquely interdisciplinary know-how gained and the market-ready development of our plant engineering technology, a demonstrator plant will be built to serve as a proof of concept on an industrial scale and as a showcase for future customers.
2025
Market Acquisition
With sophisticated engineering and botanical “user manuals” in our pockets, we offer our unique growth factories to the market as turnkey solutions. Our R&D modules are used for comprehensive services for customized botanical and process plant design for the customer.
The VFT Team
Dr. Reinhard Bott
Company director & leading figure, process engineer, marketing expert
Reinhard has already founded a process engineering company and made it internationally successful, long before the term "Start-up" was born. He is the man for team spirit and corporate development.
Marc Galley
Head of interdisciplinary engineering, technology integrator, research & development
As a civil and environmental engineer, Marc has always been obsessed with the idea of sustainability and progressive solutions for the future. With his master's thesis on Aquaponics, he has previously presented a stellar start to the topic as a booster.
Daniel Trippe
Energy & air conditioning technology, automation, sales
Daniel is broadly positioned thanks to his master's degree in general mechanical engineering. Specializing in energy and building technology as well as automation, he brings important pieces of the puzzle into play and represents the startup at trade fairs, lectures or science slams.
Dr. Reinhard Bott
Company director & leading figure, process engineer, marketing expert
Reinhard has already founded a process engineering company and made it internationally successful, long before the term "Start-up" was born. He is the man for team spirit and corporate development.
Marc Galley
Head of interdisciplinary engineering, technology integrator, research & development
Als Bau- und Umweltingenieur ist Marc seit jeher besessen von der Nachhaltigkeitsidee und fortschrittlichen Zukunftslösungen. Er bringt die Botanik und die Technik zusammen und macht etwas Großes daraus.
Daniel Trippe
Power & Air Conditioning, Automation
Vertrieb
Daniel is broadly positioned thanks to his master's degree in general mechanical engineering. Specializing in energy and building technology as well as automation, he brings important pieces of the puzzle into play and represents the startup at trade fairs, lectures or science slams.
Juri Lüth
Plant planning and construction, project management
As a mechanical engineer with experience in international plant engineering, Juri takes on project responsibility and drives the targeted implementation from the first sketch to the handover of the keys to a finished farm.
Manuel Amann
Botanist, phytochemist of plant constituents, developer of botanical growth formulas.
The plant whisperer. As a biologist and phytochemist, Manuel brings the scientific know-how around plant well-being and the ingredients around which everything revolves.
Helena Telle-Jiménez
Bioengineering, plant health, experimental design
The health of the plants has top priority in indoor farming. Protecting the green gold from disease without the use of pesticides is a challenge that requires know-how and finesse and which Helena has already acquired in her final thesis with us and can now contribute as a fully-fledged team member.
Juri Lüth
Plant planning and construction, project management
As a mechanical engineer with experience in international plant engineering, Juri takes on project responsibility and drives the targeted implementation from the first sketch to the handover of the keys to a finished farm.
Manuel Amann
Botanist, phytochemist of plant constituents, developer of botanical growth formulas.
The plant whisperer. As a biologist and phytochemist, Manuel brings the scientific know-how around plant well-being and the ingredients around which everything revolves.
Helena Telle-Jiménez
Bioengineering, plant health, experimental design
The health of the plants has top priority in indoor farming. Protecting the green gold from disease without the use of pesticides is a challenge that requires know-how and finesse and which Helena has already acquired in her final thesis with us and can now contribute as a fully-fledged team member.
Pascal Meinzer
Finance, strategy, sales planning
Pascal is an analyst with a clear view and structure. Originally from a technical background, he has now fully immersed himself in the world of numbers and finance by studying entrepreneurship and is taking us from start-up to scale-up.
Noah Priesnitz
Prototype construction, assembly
Turning plans from paper into reality requires talented craftsmen who can get stuck in. During his civil engineering studies, Noah supports the production and assembly of prototypes and in-house designs of all kinds.
Edit Gössel
Buchhaltung, Personal, Administration
As a numbers person, Edit is at home in the world of accounting and administration. She has the team's back in all administrative matters.
Our partners
Business and development partners, supporters & networks
Botany
Mechanical Engineering
Textile & Fiber Technology
Energy and Climate
Research Grants
Research Grants
Research Grants
Bioökonomie-Network
Substrate
VC - Network
Medical plants
Pharma
- Vertical Farm Tech GmbH, 2024
Other
Contact
-
Vertical Farm Tech GmbH
Seubertstraße 10
76131 Karlsruhe - +49 721 467 178 90
-
info@vertical-farm.tech
Contact
-
Vertical Farm Tech GmbH
Seubertstraße 10
76131 Karlsruhe - +49 721 467 178 90
-
info@vertical-farm.tech
Other
- Vertical Farm Tech GmbH 2024