2023 Vertical Farming World Awards finalists announced

The awards are organised by global food and drink experts Zenith Global. Celebrating excellence and innovation across the global vertical farming industry, entries were invited in 10 award categories spanning crops, technology, sustainability and commercial initiatives.

The Finalists

Best Crop Innovation

• Planet Farms – Pestooh
• Soli Organic – Soli Organic Spinach
• UrbanKisaan – Bred Okra seeds to be grown in vertical hydroponics, other plants include tomato, chilli and brinjal
• Vertical Future – High Protein Amaranth Leaf

Best Crop Enhancement

• Philips Horticulture LED Solutions – Boosting young plants for a better start
• Spread – Techno Fresh
• Vertical Future – Ameliorating Tip Burn

Best Yield Improvement

• Artechno Growsystems – AVF+ Automated Vertical Farming – Artechno Growsystems
• Freight Farms - The Greenery™ S
• Ljusgårda/Supernormal Greens – Game-changing yields: Doubling harvests while reducing the carbon footprint
• Vertical Future – 24% increase in energy conversion efficiency for whole head lettuce production

Best Technology Development

• ELLEPOT A/S – Ellepot Sleeve System
• Nippon Koi Farm Pte Ltd– Singapore SG Aquaponic
• TTA – bHarvest: high tech harvester for indoor-grown crops
• Vertical Future – ChronoTherm Technology for Real Time Plant Monitoring

Best AI/Automation Development

• KETOS – KETOS SHIELD
• SMARTKAS - SMARTKAS

Best Farm Design Innovation

• Agritecture Designer - The world's only CEA design software
• Artechno Growsystems – AVF+ Automated Vertical Farming – Artechno Growsystems
• Nippon Koi Farm Pte Ltd – Singapore SG Aquaponic
• Vertical Future - INFT

Best New Vertical Farming Facility

• 80 Acres Farms – 80 Acres Farms’ 200,000 square foot next generation facility in Florence, Kentucky - increasing total production by more than 300% and bringing the company's produce to consumers across the American Southeast
• Bowery – Bowery Bethlehem
• Nippon Koi Farm Pte Ltd – Singapore SG Aquaponic
• Soli Organic – Soli Organic’s Anderson Facility, one of the largest indoor organic farms in the world, producing millions of fresh, 100% USDA certified organic produce annually.

Best Product Marketing

• AeroFarms – Everything Tastes Better with AeroFarms Microgreens
• Bowery – The New Bowery
• Innovation Agritech Group - The GrowFrame360™ by Innovation Agritech Group
• Ljusgårda/Supernormal Greens – A completely normal salad grown in a Supernormal way.

Best Business Diversification/Development

• Bowery – Bowery Salad Kits
• CEA Advisors – Hydrofarm Strategic Alliance

Best Sustainability Initiative

• ELLEPOT A/S – 18.4 Tons Plastic Reduction with Ellepot System for Hydroponic Farm
• Ljusgårda/Supernormal Greens – Proven - 50% CO2e reduction in an independent LCA
• Spread – Techno Fresh
• Vertical Future – Energy Efficient Light Diets

The 2023 Vertical Farming World Congress will be held in London from 9 to 11 October. Livestream access is also available. For full programme and booking details please visit www.zenithglobal.com/events/vfwc2023.

Photo: Vertical Future

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