Plans for a state-of-the-art circular “GigaFarm” in Cobleskill, New York, have been unveiled by Empire State Greenhouses (ESG) in collaboration with Edinburgh-based vertical farming technology provider, Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS).
The 36,000m² carbon-negative facility will annually produce three million kilos of fresh produce across 100 vertical farming Growth Towers, supplemented by an additional 700,000 kilos grown in on-site greenhouses.
Employing a circular approach, the Growth Towers, supplied by IGS, will integrate with renewable energy systems and Food-Energy-Waste (FEW) solutions to significantly reduce energy-related costs, which account for one-third of food production expenses.
Once fully operational, the facility will produce over a billion plants annually, encompassing up to 50 crop types. The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) system will ensure year-round delivery of high-quality, fresh produce with minimal food miles.
Andrew Lloyd, CEO of IGS, stated, “We are thrilled to collaborate with ESG on this transformative project, combining cutting-edge technology with renewable energy systems to redefine vertical farming.”