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Press Release05 April 2023Digital IndustriesNuremberg
Scaling vertical farming: Siemens ensures perfect plant growth
Digitization and automation ensure optimal plant growth in indoor farming
Optimal plant growth through indoor farming
Indoor farming – often referred to as vertical farming – refers to food production in enclosed spaces. In contrast to conventional greenhouses, however, with indoor farming the environmental influences that the plants are exposed to can be precisely determined. The environment where the plants grow is monitored around the clock: LEDs control how much light the plants receive and the temperature, humidity, CO2 content in the air, and nutrient content in the soil can be modified to foster ideal plant growth. It’s also called vertical
farming, because the plants are grown in a type of hydroculture called
hydroponics in (vertical) pallets stacked on top of each other. This allows the
same amount of food to be produced on a much smaller area, and the yield is significantly
larger compared to a traditional agricultural area of the same size.
Vertical farming defies climate change
People's environmental
awareness is increasing due to the already obvious consequences of climate
change. Today many people are much more attentive to how and where their food
is produced. Transparent guarantees of origin and a low CO2
footprint are playing an increasingly important role in purchasing decisions.
Using blockchain technology, indoor farming makes it possible to transparently
trace the path of a plant over its entire lifecycle, from the farm to the
kitchen. Indoor farming can also be practiced year-round, unhindered by weather
changes, cold snaps, and heat waves. And with indoor farming, production can shift
to the immediate vicinity of consumers. As the long transport routes from the
cultivation area to the consumers are eliminated, we’ll not only receive
fresher products, the supply chains will also become more resilient. At the
same time, the reduced transportation results in fewer climate-damaging
emissions. In addition, indoor farming can be practiced anywhere in the world,
regardless of the local climatic conditions. Until now, food has only been
produced where the climatic conditions are favorable and sufficient space is
available.
The usable areas for
traditional agriculture are limited. Many regions on the planet simply aren’t
suitable, including deserts, polar regions, and areas that are too mountainous.
But we already need to increase our agricultural activity to ensure food
security for the growing population. Meanwhile, the soil quality of many
conventional agricultural areas is deteriorating as a result of overuse.
Climate change and the associated impacts are leading to more and more crop
failures. These conditions are creating a downward spiral whose momentum continues
to grow.
Indoor farming, on the
other hand, has recorded an annual market growth of 25 percent. The market
potential for automation and digitalization solutions for indoor farming alone
amounts to roughly €3 billion euros.
In vertical farming, a much higher yield can be achieved on a smaller area than in traditional farming
Scaling vertical farming: 80 Acres Farms and Siemens
The benefits of digitalized
vertical farming are even more evident in a recent project conducted by Siemens
and 80 Acres Farms, a leading indoor farming company based in Ohio (USA).
Through indoor farming, 80 Acres Farms can produce 300 times more food per
square meter than a comparable piece of agricultural land using traditional
arable farming methods. Compared to conventional agriculture, the plants
require 95 percent less water. Of course, indoor farming consumes significantly
more energy than growing in an open field. However, the company uses 100
percent renewable energy to run their farms.
Siemens is helping 80 Acres
Farms digitalize and scale their indoor farms. Specifically, the project’s focus
is on developing the loop platform on which all the company’s farms are based.
The platform was developed by its subsidiary, Infinite Acres. A holistic approach
was a prerequisite for scaling the indoor farms. Siemens provided power
distribution equipment and energy and building management technologies that monitor
the fire, security, and power distribution systems via a single interface. Our
automation and digitalization solutions are also being used to optimize the indoor
farms’ cultivation and harvesting processes. Robotics and automation optimize
production, while edge devices and human-machine interfaces monitor crop
management and control the environmental conditions. The project is supported
by equity financing from Siemens Financial Services (SFS).
More information about
indoor farming:
https://www.siemens.com/global/en/markets/food-beverage/agriculture.html
https://www.siemens.com/global/en/markets/food-beverage/agriculture.html
More information on
Siemens project with 80 Acres Farms:
https://www.siemens.com/global/en/company/stories/industry/2023/vertical-farming-controlled-environment-agriculture-cea-digital-transformation-sustainability-80-acres-farms.html
https://www.siemens.com/global/en/company/stories/industry/2023/vertical-farming-controlled-environment-agriculture-cea-digital-transformation-sustainability-80-acres-farms.html
Press release about 80
Acres Farms and Siemens:
https://press.siemens.com/global/en/pressrelease/siemens-and-80-acres-collaborate-scale-vertical-farming
https://press.siemens.com/global/en/pressrelease/siemens-and-80-acres-collaborate-scale-vertical-farming
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Siemens Digital Industries (DI) is an innovation leader in automation and digitalization. Closely collaborating with partners and customers, DI drives the digital transformation in the process and discrete industries. With its Digital Enterprise portfolio, DI provides companies of all sizes with an end-to-end set of products, solutions and services to integrate and digitalize the entire value chain. Optimized for the specific needs of each industry, DI’s unique portfolio supports customers to achieve greater productivity and flexibility. DI is constantly adding innovations to its portfolio to integrate cutting-edge future technologies. Siemens Digital Industries has its global headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany, and has around 72,000 employees internationally.
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare. From more resource-efficient factories, resilient supply chains, and smarter buildings and grids, to cleaner and more comfortable transportation as well as advanced healthcare, the company creates technology with purpose adding real value for customers. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers its customers to transform their industries and markets, helping them to transform the everyday for billions of people. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a globally leading medical technology provider shaping the future of healthcare. In addition, Siemens holds a minority stake in Siemens Energy, a global leader in the transmission and generation of electrical power.
In fiscal 2022, which ended on September 30, 2022, the Siemens Group generated revenue of €72.0 billion and net income of €4.4 billion. As of September 30, 2022, the company had around 311,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
In fiscal 2022, which ended on September 30, 2022, the Siemens Group generated revenue of €72.0 billion and net income of €4.4 billion. As of September 30, 2022, the company had around 311,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.