LED lights, a small patch of land, and zero emissions provide the formula for making the agriculture of the future a reality, sprouting superb basil and other greens in the most unlikely of places.
Two lauded entrepreneurs have crafted a cutting-edge approach for vertical greenhouse cultivation that mixes technology and flavor while putting the environment front and center. This unparalleled method produces flavorful, nutritionally balanced goods with a low environmental impact.
In two words, this is Planet Farms, a made-in-Italy agro-technological company founded by Daniele Benatoff and Luca Travaglini (on the left in the above photo). They recently received the National Award for Innovation from Confagricoltura, Italy's general confederation of agriculture. Their goal is ambitious, "To create a better world around our crops, safeguarding the environment, the palate and the health of consumers." Yeah, but how?
Attended by a sensor system that monitors their development from the seed, the plants of Planet Farms grow on a substrate of organic material designed specifically for each species, illuminated ad hoc by special modular LED lights. The water that nourishes the basil and other plants is filtered, purified, and enriched with mineral salts. This allows the crops to be grown anywhere, all year round, saving 90% of surface area and 95% of water compared to traditional crops, eliminating residues and pesticides.
This has brought success for the forthcoming opening of the largest European vertical farm, which will be in Cavenago, Lombardy, located in the province of Monza and Brianza, around 20 miles northeast of Milan. The farm, which spans over two acres, will produce 30,000 packs a day of aromatic plants and baby salads.
The project has also crossed into the haute cuisine sector. The Cerea brothers, for example, commissioned the company to create a special greenhouse for their Da Vittorio restaurant in Brusaporto. Located in the province of Bergamo, Da Vittorio holds three Michelin stars.