Plans unveiled to build next-generation circular “GigaFarm” in Upstate New York
Empire State Greenhouses (ESG) will partner with vertical farming technology provider, Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), to deliver 100 Growth Towers capable of sustainably producing 6.4 million pounds of produce per year
Edinburgh, UK, and New York, USA – [16 December 2024] Plans to construct a state-of-the-art circular “GigaFarm” in Cobleskill, New York, have been announced by Empire State Greenhouses, LLC (ESG) in partnership with vertical farming technology provider, Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS).
The 385,000 square-foot, carbon-negative facility will take a revolutionary circular approach to crop production. This means its 100 vertical farming Growth Towers, provided by IGS, will be integrated into a network of on-site facilities including renewable energy generation and Food-Energy-Waste (FEW) systems, thereby eliminating a third of the cost of food deriving from energy.
When fully operational, the 100-tower GigaFarm farm will be capable of producing more than a billion plants each year and generating 6.4 million pounds of produce annually with another 1.6 million pounds of produce grown in greenhouses, totalling over 8 million pounds annually. As many as 50 different crop types will be grown in the next-generation Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) facility, with the vertical farm ensuring that consumers receive high-quality, fresh produce with minimal food miles, year-round.
This sustainable crop factory will be up to 98% water efficient and will utilize the following proven renewable technologies: Gasifier; Solar PV; LED grow lights; Energy Storage; and Combined Heat & Power.
“The state of global agriculture is at a crossroads between climate change, land and water resources, and rising populations, posing an increasing challenge to our ability to feed ourselves,” said Louis Ferro, president and chairman of ESG.
“Agriculture and energy are inextricably linked, and until energy for CEA farming becomes predominantly renewable, agriculture will continue to be a leading cause of climate change – representing part of the problem rather than the solution.
“Working closely with IGS, we are building a new paradigm in agriculture, integrating our on-site renewable energy Food-Energy-Waste systems with state-of-the-art advanced technologies. This is a new type of farming, built on a circular economy model, creating a resilient food system with a carbon-negative footprint.”
Andrew Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer of Intelligent Growth Solutions, commented: “IGS is delighted to be working in partnership with ESG. From the offset, the ESG team’s system-wide, circular ethos has been a close match with our own. In particular, the careful consideration of on-site energy generation hits at the Achilles heel of vertical farming, ensuring the business has resilience against market fluctuations by taking control of the supply.
“Moreover, the Cobleskill site’s positioning in rural upstate New York delivers IGS, as a relatively new name on the vertical farming scene in North America, an exceptionally strong foothold to partner with ESG in the potential development of future sites. We have seen how our GigaFarm model works in markets such as the Middle East and are excited to use this expertise to develop the model to fit the market requirements for North America and beyond.”
The facility is also co-located alongside SUNY Cobleskill, one of the nation’s top colleges of agriculture and technology. ESG plans to bring over 150 full time jobs and more than 600 indirect jobs to the area, including internship, research and employment opportunities for SUNY Cobleskill students and members of the campus community.
For more information and interview requests, please contact Jim Feldman, jimfeldman@empirestategreenhouses.com.
About Empire State Greenhouses (ESG)
ESG is focused on building a network of fully integrated facilities consisting of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technology with on-site renewable energy and Food-Energy-Waste (FEW) systems, thereby eliminating 1/3 of the cost of food spent on energy.
Without the costs of energy, ESG’s margins are far greater than grid-energy-reliant operations, benefiting investors and consumers alike. ESG’s systems are scalable and can be replicated worldwide. A carbon-negative, renewable energy circular model is not only good business, it is essential for the health of the planet.
For more information, visit: www.empirestategreenhouses.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.
About Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS):
For more information about IGS, please contact Georgia Lea, IGS, on georgia@igs.farm / +44 77483 361 630.
Founded in 2013 in Scotland, Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) is an award-winning global vertical farming technology provider with over a decade of industry experience. IGS partners with growers to address and overcome real-world challenges with science-backed, proven technology, enabling them to produce consistent, high-quality plants.
Headquartered in Scotland, IGS launched its Crop Research Centre in Invergowrie, Dundee, in 2018 and Engineering Innovation Centre in Inverkeithing, Fife, in 2021. The business has active customers in North America, Europe and the Middle East.
IGS holds more than 25 granted patents for its unique vertical farm technology, blending science and agriculture by using smart technology to automatically apply recipes to create the perfect environment for crop growth. Currently, more than 250 crops can be successfully grown inside an IGS vertical farm.
For more information visit www.intelligentgrowthsolutions.com or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
