Richmond, Virginia, United States--Indoor vertical-farming company Plenty Unlimited Inc. confirmed plans with the city of Richmond to build a 120-acre farming campus in Virginia with a $300 million investment in Chesterfield County’s Meadowville Technology Park, utilizing its 200 patent assets to grow produce year-round in grow towers that will be more than 30 feet tall thus setting the new world record for the World's Largest Indoor Vertical Farming Campus, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.
"Indoor vertical-farming company Plenty Unlimited Inc. confirmed plans with the city of Richmond to build the world’s largest indoor vertical farming campus in Virginia with a $300 million investment in Chesterfield County’s Meadowville Technology Park," The Packer says.
"Plenty recently secured $400 million in financing, the largest investment to date for an indoor farming company, according to a news release. Plenty plans to complete its Richmond Farm Campus over the next six years, utilizing its 200 patent assets to grow produce year-round in grow towers that will be more than 30 feet tall.
"What’s more, the first farming site slated for the expansive, 120-acre campus will be a Driscoll's berry farm that will grow the first indoor, vertically farmed strawberries at scale."
"Plenty Unlimited Inc. announced it has secured up to 120 acres of land near Richmond, Virginia, to build the largest, most advanced indoor vertical farm campus in the world," the official press release says.
"The centrally located Plenty Richmond Farm Campus marks Plenty’s expansion beyond the U.S. West Coast and will bring fresh, healthy produce to the East Coast year-round.
"Plenty plans to deploy several large-scale vertical farms on the campus in the coming years, with a potential annual production capacity exceeding 20 million pounds across multiple crops including strawberries, leafy greens and tomatoes."
"The Plenty Richmond Farm Campus will expand over time to include farms growing additional produce, such as Plenty’s signature pesticide-free leafy greens, using Plenty’s patented platform," the official press release says.
"Plenty’s controlled indoor growing environments optimize produce for flavor, texture and size by tailoring nutrients, water and light to the needs of each individual plant. Through this advanced technology and customized approach, Plenty can produce yields of up to 350x more per acre, using a fraction of the water, compared to conventional farms.
"Over the next six years, $300 million will be invested into the new campus, which is slated to bring more than 300 jobs to Virginia."
"This farm will combine Driscoll’s patented berry varieties with Plenty’s patented indoor vertical farming technology,” said J. Miles Reiter, Driscoll’s Chairman and CEO. “We are excited to take the next step in the journey to understand what it takes to bring fresh, flavorful berries locally grown all year-round.”
“Plenty’s decision to establish its first major east coast vertical farming campus in Virginia shines a spotlight on the advantages that make the Commonwealth the best location in the nation for companies growing our food safely and sustainably indoors,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
“This transformational project further bolsters Virginia’s agriculture and technology industries and positions the Commonwealth as a leader in this next generation of agriculture. I am pleased to welcome Plenty to Virginia and look forward to the company’s growth and success in Chesterfield County.”
About Driscoll’s
Driscoll’s is the global market leader of fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage, Driscoll’s is a pioneer of berry flavor innovation and the trusted consumer brand of Only the Finest Berries™.
With more than 900 independent growers around the world, Driscoll’s develops exclusive patented berry varieties using only natural breeding methods that focus on growing great tasting berries.
A dedicated team of agronomists, breeders, sensory analysts, plant pathologists and entomologists help grow baby seedlings that are then grown on local family farms. Driscoll’s now serves consumers year-round across North America, Australia, Europe and China in over twenty-two countries.
About Plenty
Plenty is rewriting the rules of agriculture through its technology platform that can grow fresh produce anywhere in the world, year round, with peak-season quality and up to 350x more yield per acre than conventional farms.
Plenty’s proprietary approach preserves the world’s natural resources, makes healthy produce available to all communities and creates resilience in our food systems against weather, location, pests and climate.
Plenty operates the largest of its kind indoor plant science research facility in Laramie, Wyoming, and is currently building the world’s most advanced, vertical, indoor farm in Compton, California, and the world’s largest indoor vertical farm campus near Richmond, Virginia.
Photos: Facebook/Plenty
Related world records:
Most giant vegetable varieties cultivated in one garden: world record set by Patrick Teichmann
Longest French Fries Cooking Marathon: Luc Driesen
