Sep 16, 2021
Editor’s Note: The following blog post was written by LettUs Grow. LettUs Grow is the first UK container farm to join the Agritecture Partner Network; they’re also the only technology provider on the platform so far that specialises in aeroponic irrigation systems. Agritecture Designer is the first digital platform for planning controlled environment farms.
The history of LettUs Grow
LettUs Grow started with a simple question: “How can we reduce food waste?”
Unraveling this answer turned out to be far more complicated. In fact, we’re still working on it.
LettUs Grow’s founders, Charlie Guy, Ben Crowther and Jack Farmer started working on solutions in 2015, after the three met at the University of Bristol. In the early days, their focus was on bringing the power of aeroponic technology into consumers’ homes, in an attempt to prevent bagged salad waste. Aeroponics is a method of growing food without soil, using a mist to irrigate plant roots. It uses minimal water and there is no need for any pesticides. However, this project quickly generated its own problems and they realised that selling this technology in a domestic setting could potentially create an entirely new stream of waste.
How many kitchen gadgets were already sitting in the back of cupboards or in landfill? During the development of this grow-at-home product, they realised that the power of the aeroponic technology they were developing could have far more impact on a larger scale and inspire systematic change.
From food waste to food systems
At this point, the conversation had expanded beyond just food waste. When implemented correctly, LettUs Grow realised that vertical farms and aeroponic technology could create lasting, positive change to our food systems. This can include improving the sustainability of food by growing far more in less space, reducing the amount of water and pesticides used, and strengthening our local food security and supply chains.
So, what started as a small grow-at-home kit transformed into DROP & GROW: a 40ft container farm.
These container farms are designed to create an easy step into vertical farming for existing farmers, growers or new entrant entrepreneurs. They use aeroponic technology to maximise growth rates inside either 24m² or 48m² of vertical growing space.
Meanwhile, our software platform, Ostara, supports new growers by allowing them to remotely control, automate and manage their vertical farm. Ostara also provides access to optimised crop recipes, so growers new to indoor farming don’t have to worry as much about crop development.
LettUs Grow & Agritecture Designer
LettUs Grow cares deeply about the success of our DROP & GROW container farms, our customers and their businesses. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Agritecture to list the DROP & GROW container farm on the Designer platform.
In order for these farms to reach their full potential and create a positive impact, there’s a lot of work that needs to go into building a business case. As a relatively new industry, this can seem daunting and as though there are a lack of resources or established best practices.
Designer allows budding urban farmers to plan their venture from the early stage vision to a high-level economic model. The tool also allows users to learn best practices, calculate a fair market value for their crops, and, now, connect with financing and equipment partners like us! LettUs Grow provides the first aeroponic container farm listed on the platform. And there’s more to come - we’re currently working with the Agritecture team to set a new standard of transparency for technology suppliers by giving Designer users detailed reports on LettUs Grow’s market history, sustainability standards, and performance projections.
With the Designer platform, customers are empowered to conduct economic modeling and are best placed for success by using the knowledge and insights provided by Agritecture.
The industry is still relatively new, but growing rapidly. At this stage, it’s really important to us that we’re delivering farms to people and projects with a good business case. We want our customers to be successful, so we’re going to be honest about where our container farms are best placed to really make a positive impact.
Tools like those created by Agritecture are key to delivering a good understanding of the logistics and economics behind running a vertical farming business early on. So we’re really excited that we’re able to offer this level of education to prospective customers through Agritecture.
