US-based 80 Acres Farms has secured an additional $115 million in funding, bringing its total investment to over $370 million. As part of its expansion strategy, the company has acquired Israeli biotechnology firm Plantae Biosciences to advance plant genetics for indoor agriculture.
“Now that we’ve figured out how to control a plant’s environment and give it a perfect day every day, we think the next big unlock for vertical farming is in plant genetics,” said Jed Portman, senior manager of public affairs at 80 Acres, in an interview with AgFunderNews.
Traditional crops have been bred for outdoor conditions, prioritizing traits such as drought and pest resistance, as well as durability for long supply chains. However, these factors are less relevant in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Through its acquisition of Plantae Biosciences, 80 Acres aims to develop new crop varieties specifically optimized for indoor farming in a fraction of the time it would take using conventional breeding methods.
Plantae Biosciences specializes in metabolomics to engineer plants with novel characteristics and uses genome editing to accelerate natural evolution processes. The company has been collaborating with the Weizmann Institute of Science since 2020 on plant breeding innovations.
Following the acquisition, Plantae will become part of Infinite Acres, the technology arm of 80 Acres, and will operate as Infinite Acres Israel.
“Crops tailored for controlled environment agriculture can be a major unlock for the industry,” said Tisha Livingston, CEO of Infinite Acres and co-founder of 80 Acres. “Using advanced plant breeding technology, we can truly differentiate produce by optimizing for flavor, texture, and nutrition—creating a market offering unlike anything available today.”
80 Acres Farms Secures Investor Confidence Amid Industry Challenges
80 Acres Farms’ latest $115 million fundraise underscores strong investor confidence in its vision and execution, even as the vertical farming sector faces significant headwinds. Several high-profile indoor farming companies have struggled in recent years—AeroFarms filed for bankruptcy, Plenty saw its valuation decline, and Bowery ceased operations.
Despite these challenges, 80 Acres remains one of the few major players in the space. Co-founder and CEO Mike Zelkind emphasized that the company’s ability to secure funding in this climate “speaks to the confidence investors have in the need for controlled environment agriculture and our vision and execution.”
Scaling Operations and Expanding Innovation
The new capital will support 80 Acres’ expansion into retail, the development of an ingredients channel, and the completion of its farm expansion in Kentucky. According to company spokesperson Jed Portman, additional farm locations are expected to be announced soon.
80 Acres farms are powered by Infinite Acres, the company’s technology arm, which integrates advanced lighting technology, proprietary airflow and water controls, data analytics, and automation. The system leverages robotics for seeding, transplanting, and harvesting, enhancing efficiency and sustainability.
In 2024, Infinite Acres launched a research center in The Hague, Netherlands, in collaboration with Siemens, Signify, SICK, and TTA. “That dedicated R&D space allows us to trial new growing techniques and technologies together—paving the way for even more efficient and sustainable farming,” said Portman. “It’s a project that should benefit the whole industry.”
Rising Demand for Fresh, Local, and Pesticide-Free Produce
Another factor fueling 80 Acres’ growth is increasing consumer demand for fresh, local, and pesticide-free produce. The company’s ability to meet this demand with cutting-edge controlled environment agriculture (CEA) solutions has solidified investor confidence.
The latest funding round saw participation from both new and existing investors, including General Atlantic, Siemens Financial Services, The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Barclays Climate Ventures, Virgo Investment Group, Blue Earth Capital, and other leading Midwestern financial institutions.