Published on 29/03/2021
For good reasons, the greenhouse and vertical farm industry is booming, especially in ‘’newer’’ greenhouse crops. Such as leafy greens and herbs, the number of suppliers moving to this industry is high and still increasing. There is no lack of promises on high-performance growing systems. With a vision on the best greenhouse for lettuce production, and the next best spectrum growing light sales pitch. All initiatives are to feed future generations.
However, what most of these initiatives have in common is that they sell a promise they more than regularly cannot deliver. Unfortunately, there is an abundance of strong sales pitches. When you puzzle these promises, we see poorly informed decisions ranging from misunderstanding the market, different climate conditions not accounted for, wrongly calculated plant spacing and unsuitable materials actually impeding the growing of the crop. As a result, the promising numbers do not meet the expectations. In most cases, it is caused by some unfortunate overlooked things in the development of the business plan:
Market: Investigate the market, including its demands and expected prices. Did the market ask you directly to grow? Good! Do you want to grow without knowing the demand? Ensure you know beforehand where your product will be sold, its price, and the quality requirements.
Cultivation: Many systems are designed with a pure technology mindset. This is not inherently a problem. The problem arises when the technology does not benefit the crop. Designing a system without people who understand plants can lead to undesired results. More importantly, these are people who have experience growing plants, not just crops in production facilities. Growing facilities often look cool and flashy. For example, they may have multiple stacked layers illuminated with purple or white light. However, these designs are often unsuitable for economically feasible plant production.
System integration: A growing facility with components that are not well integrated causes inefficiencies, and sometimes quality issues and productivity losses. Buying a growing system and building a greenhouse around it may not be the biggest success when some pieces of the puzzle are missing.
The ROI: Because your ultimate high-tech facility cannot bring back the money you invest in it, producing a multitude of different crops does not automatically make the venture economically feasible. If you cannot grow something the market demands, with the right quality specifications and in sufficient quantities to recoup your investment, then the project is not viable. Before starting construction with the first spade in the ground, ensure that the economic figures are in place.
Knowhow: Do not go for companies (suppliers and consultants) that promise you the cheapest buy, or the fastest solution. Find people with the right mix of competences. The goal must be to develop the best, and the right growing facility for your situation: success by design.
People: You can have invested in the best climate control systems, the most labor friendly growing system, sensors, autonomous growing models, and management support tools. But most importantly of all, you will need motivated people with the right skills and mindset for your operation. Because without them, your project might not deliver the promised results.
Network: The greenhouse and vertical farming industry has many trustworthy technology suppliers. Find people that can bring you in contact with the right network of companies.
Cultivators developed courses and support services for growers, investors, AND technology suppliers. Our aim is to grow your business by realizing better projects everybody in the process needs the knowledge to make the right decisions. To bring this industry to the next level we need better understanding of the plant, the market and the demands. Our team of experts will guide you through the process of business idea, to the design phase of your leafy greens, herbs and potted herbs facility, and support you from construction to commissioning. And when needed, support or organize the daily operation of your facility. That is our commitment.
Tim van Hissenhoven
Interested to contribute to our mission and join our team?
Look at: https://www.cultivators.nl/vacancies/