3007: The Tech Behind Eden Green's Innovative Approach to Vertical Farming

[00:00:03] [SPEAKER_01]: Quick question for you all, how can we revolutionise the way we farm and feed the world while tackling

[00:00:11] [SPEAKER_01]: some of the biggest sustainability challenges of our time?

[00:00:16] [SPEAKER_01]: Well today I'm going to be joined by the CEO of Eden Green.

[00:00:22] [SPEAKER_01]: His names are Eddie and Eden Green is a company that's transforming agriculture with their

[00:00:28] [SPEAKER_01]: innovative vertical greenhouse technology. But Eden Green is not just growing produce,

[00:00:34] [SPEAKER_01]: they're redefining how fresh, affordable and sustainable greens can reach our tables.

[00:00:41] [SPEAKER_01]: So I want to learn more about their cutting-edge microclimate technology, how it customises

[00:00:47] [SPEAKER_01]: the growing environment for each individual plant to a streamlined distribution model that

[00:00:53] [SPEAKER_01]: delivers produce from farm to shelf in 48 hours.

[00:00:59] [SPEAKER_01]: And Eden Green is also setting a new standard for the future of farming.

[00:01:03] [SPEAKER_01]: And in today's conversation, Eddie's going to be sharing his vision for a network of

[00:01:08] [SPEAKER_01]: greenhouses that can significantly reduce food waste, lower emissions and make food produce

[00:01:15] [SPEAKER_01]: more accessible than ever.

[00:01:17] [SPEAKER_01]: What does this mean for the future of agriculture and our ability to sustainably feed a growing

[00:01:24] [SPEAKER_01]: population? Well these are a few areas that I invite you to join me in discussing today.

[00:01:30] [SPEAKER_01]: I want to take a time out to express my gratitude to everyone who supports my mission of delivering

[00:01:35] [SPEAKER_01]: daily content to you in 165 countries. I couldn't do it without you and I couldn't

[00:01:40] [SPEAKER_01]: do it without my sponsors. And today I want to give a quick shout out to Kiteworks

[00:01:46] [SPEAKER_01]: who recently told me that defence contractors are facing immense pressure to comply with things

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[00:01:57] [SPEAKER_01]: that meets those guidelines can be a big challenge.

[00:02:01] [SPEAKER_01]: So quick shout out to any defence contractors listening out there.

[00:02:05] [SPEAKER_01]: CMMC 2.0 compliance doesn't have to be a headache.

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[00:02:15] [SPEAKER_01]: they cover nearly 90% of CMMC 2.0 level 3 requirements.

[00:02:21] [SPEAKER_01]: For you that means less time, less effort, less cost and while others struggle with DIY approval

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[00:02:35] [SPEAKER_01]: Simply visit Kiteworks.com to get started.

[00:02:38] [SPEAKER_01]: That's Kiteworks.com to learn more about Kiteworks' secure content platform for

[00:02:43] [SPEAKER_01]: CMMC compliance.

[00:02:45] [SPEAKER_01]: But with my thank yous out the way it's now time to jump right into today's interview

[00:02:49] [SPEAKER_01]: with a fantastic guest.

[00:02:52] [SPEAKER_01]: So buckle up and hold on tight as I beam your ears all the way to Dallas, Texas

[00:02:58] [SPEAKER_01]: where Eddie's waiting to join us.

[00:03:01] [SPEAKER_01]: So a massive warm welcome to the show, Eddie.

[00:03:04] [SPEAKER_01]: Can you tell everyone listening a little about who you are and what you do?

[00:03:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Sure. Great to be here.

[00:03:10] [SPEAKER_00]: My name is Eddie Badrina.

[00:03:11] [SPEAKER_00]: I am the CEO of Eden Green out of Fort Worth, Texas.

[00:03:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, it's a pleasure to have you on the podcast today.

[00:03:20] [SPEAKER_01]: There's so much I'm excited to talk about because every day I try and get people

[00:03:24] [SPEAKER_01]: thinking differently about technology and areas they don't associate with

[00:03:28] [SPEAKER_01]: technology, certainly not vertical indoor greenhouses, but we'll get to that in

[00:03:32] [SPEAKER_01]: a minute. So to begin with Eddie, can you share the inspiration and vision

[00:03:37] [SPEAKER_01]: behind Eden Green and what motivated you to venture into this realm of vertical

[00:03:41] [SPEAKER_01]: indoor greenhouses?

[00:03:43] [SPEAKER_00]: Sure. So Eden Green was founded by two South Africans, actually,

[00:03:49] [SPEAKER_00]: Jacques and Eugene Bamber and they're still on staff as my CTO and CIO.

[00:03:55] [SPEAKER_00]: And really what they were trying to do was trying to grow

[00:04:00] [SPEAKER_00]: greens and just nutritious produce in an area of the world that was

[00:04:05] [SPEAKER_00]: austere, both in terms of environment as well as in terms of finances.

[00:04:10] [SPEAKER_00]: And so they they invented this tech out of their garage.

[00:04:13] [SPEAKER_00]: Actually, it's classic technology story,

[00:04:17] [SPEAKER_00]: trialing probably a hundred different ways to grow produce

[00:04:21] [SPEAKER_00]: in a controlled and environment.

[00:04:23] [SPEAKER_00]: So they started that in 2010, brought it to the States in 2016.

[00:04:30] [SPEAKER_00]: And I came on board in 2020 after they had,

[00:04:34] [SPEAKER_00]: I would say, proven their technological proof of concept.

[00:04:38] [SPEAKER_00]: I came on board to help bring it to market and to commercialize it.

[00:04:43] [SPEAKER_01]: And the rest, as they say, is history.

[00:04:46] [SPEAKER_01]: And for people that are listening and hearing about Eden Green for the very

[00:04:49] [SPEAKER_01]: first time, how does Eden Green's technology and distribution model

[00:04:53] [SPEAKER_01]: significantly differ from, let's say, traditional farming and supply chain methods?

[00:04:58] [SPEAKER_00]: The vision of Eden Green really is to sustainably farm and feed people.

[00:05:05] [SPEAKER_00]: I want more people to eat more greens.

[00:05:08] [SPEAKER_00]: And the only way that we can do that is to make it more affordable,

[00:05:14] [SPEAKER_00]: more accessible, you know, available to everyone.

[00:05:18] [SPEAKER_00]: And then finally to have it to be more safe.

[00:05:21] [SPEAKER_00]: And so how we do that is through this technology.

[00:05:26] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a vertical growing platform, but within a greenhouse.

[00:05:31] [SPEAKER_00]: And so I'll stop right there because for anyone inside of Ag or Ag Tech,

[00:05:38] [SPEAKER_00]: that that puts a lot of questions in their mind for folks outside of Ag Tech.

[00:05:44] [SPEAKER_00]: They're like, oh, great, it's a greenhouse.

[00:05:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[00:05:46] [SPEAKER_00]: But to grow vertically in a greenhouse is very much a new thing.

[00:05:52] [SPEAKER_00]: It's an innovative thing, so innovative that it is actually patented here in the United States

[00:05:58] [SPEAKER_00]: in about 20 other countries.

[00:06:00] [SPEAKER_01]: And just how big are these greenhouses?

[00:06:02] [SPEAKER_01]: Just for scale purposes that we try to think in our heads right now and visualize.

[00:06:07] [SPEAKER_00]: So an acre and a half, I can't convert that to hectares.

[00:06:11] [SPEAKER_00]: You'd think I would know that by now.

[00:06:13] [SPEAKER_00]: But it's an acre and a half of these greenhouses that's equivalent to

[00:06:18] [SPEAKER_00]: anywhere from 40 to 50 acres of conventional farming.

[00:06:24] [SPEAKER_01]: That's a little bit bigger than the one in my garden there.

[00:06:26] [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, but yeah.

[00:06:28] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[00:06:29] [SPEAKER_01]: And I was also when I was doing a little research,

[00:06:31] [SPEAKER_01]: I looked at the recently launched a flagship herb program.

[00:06:36] [SPEAKER_01]: So tell me a little bit more about that and what any challenges

[00:06:39] [SPEAKER_01]: faced in creating a complete herb suite all under one roof?

[00:06:43] [SPEAKER_01]: Anything you can share around that?

[00:06:45] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, absolutely.

[00:06:46] [SPEAKER_00]: So herbs is, you know, a multi-billion dollar industry.

[00:06:53] [SPEAKER_00]: But like the greens industry, the lettuce industry,

[00:06:56] [SPEAKER_00]: it's predicated on some very, I would call shaky supply chain

[00:07:02] [SPEAKER_00]: foundations.

[00:07:04] [SPEAKER_00]: And so what we really wanted to do was to penetrate that herb market

[00:07:09] [SPEAKER_00]: and provide a way for all the major herbs to be grown under one roof

[00:07:15] [SPEAKER_00]: in one facility and adjacent to this distribution network

[00:07:21] [SPEAKER_00]: that we have here in the United States and then beyond.

[00:07:24] [SPEAKER_00]: And so I can give you an illustration of just one herb,

[00:07:28] [SPEAKER_00]: which will be, you know, a very, very illustrative of just

[00:07:33] [SPEAKER_00]: the problem that we're having.

[00:07:35] [SPEAKER_00]: So basil here in the United States is by far and large

[00:07:40] [SPEAKER_00]: the largest generator of revenue in the herbs industry.

[00:07:45] [SPEAKER_00]: And to this point, 99% of basil is grown either in Hawaii

[00:07:51] [SPEAKER_00]: or in South America.

[00:07:54] [SPEAKER_00]: So you're really looking at if you want to have basil on your pizza

[00:07:59] [SPEAKER_00]: or in pesto, you're really looking at air freight to make that happen

[00:08:05] [SPEAKER_00]: for the entire United States.

[00:08:08] [SPEAKER_00]: And thinking about all the inputs to that air freight,

[00:08:13] [SPEAKER_00]: the jet fuel, the infrastructure degradation,

[00:08:19] [SPEAKER_00]: you know, all the shipping past the air freighting into a

[00:08:24] [SPEAKER_00]: distribution center, not to mention just the food safety

[00:08:28] [SPEAKER_00]: aspects getting basil from overseas and then bringing it here.

[00:08:34] [SPEAKER_00]: You're really just tacking cost upon cost upon cost.

[00:08:38] [SPEAKER_00]: And so what ends up happening is your basil is super expensive

[00:08:43] [SPEAKER_00]: just to get a sprig of it here.

[00:08:45] [SPEAKER_00]: That is just one of a dozen major herbs here in the United States

[00:08:51] [SPEAKER_00]: and almost all of them go through some sort of air freight

[00:08:54] [SPEAKER_00]: mechanism to get to your dinner table or to your restaurant table.

[00:09:00] [SPEAKER_00]: So if we can shrink that down into, you know, two miles away,

[00:09:06] [SPEAKER_00]: a mile away and in some cases, we're 200 yards away

[00:09:11] [SPEAKER_00]: from the distribution center.

[00:09:13] [SPEAKER_00]: We really cut down the cost on that.

[00:09:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Plus everyone knows where it's coming from

[00:09:19] [SPEAKER_00]: and we can trace our harvests right down to the plant spot.

[00:09:26] [SPEAKER_00]: And so if there's ever any case of having to wonder where your

[00:09:29] [SPEAKER_00]: where your basil leaf came from, we can do that.

[00:09:33] [SPEAKER_00]: Trace that with astonishing clarity and granularity.

[00:09:37] [SPEAKER_01]: So many important points that you raise there.

[00:09:40] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, from wanting to people to eat more greens

[00:09:43] [SPEAKER_01]: and knowing that you've got to make it more accessible,

[00:09:45] [SPEAKER_01]: more affordable, and then you look at something like basil

[00:09:49] [SPEAKER_01]: that you mentioned, they got the overseas costs and also

[00:09:52] [SPEAKER_01]: environmental impacts.

[00:09:54] [SPEAKER_01]: And right now sustainability and reducing food waste,

[00:09:58] [SPEAKER_01]: critical issues, big talking points.

[00:10:00] [SPEAKER_01]: So how does your approach extend the shelf life of produce

[00:10:03] [SPEAKER_01]: and mitigate food and waste and those emissions

[00:10:07] [SPEAKER_01]: from flying all this stuff around the world?

[00:10:11] [SPEAKER_00]: That's a great question.

[00:10:12] [SPEAKER_00]: So off the bat, whether we're growing herbs or lettuce,

[00:10:16] [SPEAKER_00]: which we grow both, you're seeing around 40 percent waste

[00:10:21] [SPEAKER_00]: in the supply chain.

[00:10:23] [SPEAKER_00]: A lot of it actually, the vast majority of that 40 percent

[00:10:26] [SPEAKER_00]: is actually on the harvest field.

[00:10:29] [SPEAKER_00]: Much of it doesn't even get, you know, passed into a truck

[00:10:33] [SPEAKER_00]: past the field.

[00:10:35] [SPEAKER_00]: So we shrink that 40 percent waste down to about two to three percent.

[00:10:41] [SPEAKER_00]: And so when you think about food waste, reducing food waste

[00:10:45] [SPEAKER_00]: before it even gets to the table, you're already looking at,

[00:10:49] [SPEAKER_00]: you know, a massive, massive reduction in just the food

[00:10:53] [SPEAKER_00]: that's left spoiled on the ground.

[00:10:55] [SPEAKER_00]: And once it gets to the table, because we harvest anywhere

[00:11:00] [SPEAKER_00]: from 24 to 48 hours before it's shipped,

[00:11:04] [SPEAKER_00]: what ends up happening is it lasts on your table much longer.

[00:11:08] [SPEAKER_00]: So when you come here in February and you, you know,

[00:11:13] [SPEAKER_00]: we give you ahead of lettuce that's just harvested

[00:11:18] [SPEAKER_00]: like we would any other head of lettuce, I can almost

[00:11:21] [SPEAKER_00]: guarantee you that lettuce will last in your fridge

[00:11:24] [SPEAKER_00]: for anywhere from two and a half to three weeks.

[00:11:28] [SPEAKER_00]: Wow.

[00:11:29] [SPEAKER_00]: That is way different than the consumer's experience right now.

[00:11:34] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know about in the UK, but here there's this horrible

[00:11:38] [SPEAKER_00]: cycle of buying bagged lettuce or a whole head lettuce

[00:11:43] [SPEAKER_00]: putting it in the fridge and then four days later

[00:11:45] [SPEAKER_00]: throwing it out without ever opening it

[00:11:47] [SPEAKER_00]: and then replacing it with another bag of lettuce.

[00:11:50] [SPEAKER_00]: And so that is the epitome of food waste.

[00:11:57] [SPEAKER_00]: And honestly, it's also, you know, in my view,

[00:12:00] [SPEAKER_00]: it's the epitome of arrogance of, you know, a developed

[00:12:05] [SPEAKER_00]: country that we can even think that's remotely all right to do.

[00:12:10] [SPEAKER_01]: 100% with you.

[00:12:12] [SPEAKER_01]: And everything that you said there, Resnan, I would

[00:12:13] [SPEAKER_01]: say, is the same here in the UK and we have people listening

[00:12:17] [SPEAKER_01]: all around the world.

[00:12:18] [SPEAKER_01]: And I suspect they have very similar stories to share too.

[00:12:20] [SPEAKER_01]: So it is phenomenal what you've achieved here

[00:12:24] [SPEAKER_01]: and what problems you've been able to solve.

[00:12:26] [SPEAKER_01]: And you've been able to do this largely because of this

[00:12:28] [SPEAKER_01]: innovative micro climate technology, Eden greed.

[00:12:32] [SPEAKER_01]: And can you expand on that?

[00:12:36] [SPEAKER_01]: And also how it contributes to the customized

[00:12:38] [SPEAKER_01]: growth environment for each individual plant?

[00:12:42] [SPEAKER_01]: Incredibly cool what you're doing here.

[00:12:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Sure.

[00:12:45] [SPEAKER_00]: So really, you know, when we talk about this micro climate

[00:12:49] [SPEAKER_00]: technology, what we're talking about is the ability

[00:12:52] [SPEAKER_00]: to control the three main factors for a plant,

[00:12:55] [SPEAKER_00]: which is water, light and air, but to control it in such a way

[00:13:01] [SPEAKER_00]: that it's totally directed at each individual plant spot.

[00:13:05] [SPEAKER_00]: So in a typical greenhouse or in a typical indoor vertical

[00:13:10] [SPEAKER_00]: farm, you control the ambient environment around the plants.

[00:13:16] [SPEAKER_00]: So in an acre and a half facility of a similar competitor,

[00:13:22] [SPEAKER_00]: whether it's a greenhouse or indoor farm, you're

[00:13:25] [SPEAKER_00]: controlling that whole cubic volume of the acre and a

[00:13:29] [SPEAKER_00]: half facility.

[00:13:30] [SPEAKER_00]: For us, we're really only concerned about the 12 inches

[00:13:35] [SPEAKER_00]: around each plant spot.

[00:13:37] [SPEAKER_00]: And so that's how we control it.

[00:13:38] [SPEAKER_00]: So what we end up effectively doing is only really worrying

[00:13:43] [SPEAKER_00]: about and controlling one fifth of the cubic volume

[00:13:46] [SPEAKER_00]: of that greenhouse.

[00:13:47] [SPEAKER_00]: So in that one, that four fifth savings, if you will,

[00:13:52] [SPEAKER_00]: that's four fifth savings of light electricity.

[00:13:56] [SPEAKER_00]: It's, you know, savings of water and it's the

[00:14:00] [SPEAKER_00]: savings of having to direct the air and control the

[00:14:04] [SPEAKER_00]: humidity, the carbon dioxide level, the temperature of the air.

[00:14:10] [SPEAKER_00]: So that's fundamentally how we can achieve such great

[00:14:14] [SPEAKER_00]: savings.

[00:14:15] [SPEAKER_00]: And you know, from a sustainability perspective,

[00:14:18] [SPEAKER_00]: we are economically as well as environmentally

[00:14:22] [SPEAKER_00]: sustainable.

[00:14:23] [SPEAKER_00]: And so that's how we can do that as well is just

[00:14:25] [SPEAKER_00]: because it's at the plant level being able to just

[00:14:29] [SPEAKER_00]: focus on the micro climate around each plant spot.

[00:14:32] [SPEAKER_01]: So if we look at your vertical greenhouse model

[00:14:36] [SPEAKER_01]: and your technology, if we zoom out for the moment,

[00:14:39] [SPEAKER_01]: what kind of impact does it have on the traditional

[00:14:41] [SPEAKER_01]: agricultural supply chain, especially concerning

[00:14:44] [SPEAKER_01]: things we've already mentioned like food miles

[00:14:46] [SPEAKER_01]: and packaging waste, et cetera?

[00:14:48] [SPEAKER_01]: I would imagine there's a pretty big impact there too.

[00:14:51] [SPEAKER_00]: It is.

[00:14:52] [SPEAKER_00]: You know, we have currently focused just on herbs,

[00:14:57] [SPEAKER_00]: which is a multi-billion dollar industry, and then

[00:14:59] [SPEAKER_00]: lettuce, which is twice maybe three times the size

[00:15:03] [SPEAKER_00]: of the herb industry depending on how you want to

[00:15:05] [SPEAKER_00]: measure it.

[00:15:06] [SPEAKER_00]: And that's just the start.

[00:15:09] [SPEAKER_00]: So we aim to have a huge impact on those two industries

[00:15:14] [SPEAKER_00]: just because we can grow those almost better than

[00:15:18] [SPEAKER_00]: anyone else.

[00:15:19] [SPEAKER_00]: I will say we're not a silver bullet.

[00:15:21] [SPEAKER_00]: I think some of our competitors in the past,

[00:15:25] [SPEAKER_00]: other folks in the controlled environment ag industry,

[00:15:28] [SPEAKER_00]: CEA have claimed to be the one-stop shop and we're not it.

[00:15:35] [SPEAKER_00]: We want to be laser focused on the things that we can

[00:15:37] [SPEAKER_00]: grow really well, that we have our competitive advantage in.

[00:15:41] [SPEAKER_00]: We should then allow other farmers to focus on things

[00:15:45] [SPEAKER_00]: where they might have a competitive advantage.

[00:15:47] [SPEAKER_00]: So I think the net net of it, Neil, is that by us

[00:15:51] [SPEAKER_00]: focusing on these two or three or four major areas,

[00:15:56] [SPEAKER_00]: it allows other parts of the industry to find their

[00:16:00] [SPEAKER_00]: competitive advantage and be more efficient and effective

[00:16:03] [SPEAKER_00]: and ultimately more affordable to the consumer.

[00:16:06] [SPEAKER_01]: And a big powerful stat here I was reading before you came

[00:16:08] [SPEAKER_01]: on the podcast to join me today is 40% of food waste occurs

[00:16:13] [SPEAKER_01]: before even reaching consumers.

[00:16:16] [SPEAKER_01]: So how am I again?

[00:16:17] [SPEAKER_01]: What role do you see Eden Green playing in reshaping

[00:16:21] [SPEAKER_01]: the broader agricultural industry and being ultimately

[00:16:24] [SPEAKER_01]: more efficient, more sustainable?

[00:16:26] [SPEAKER_01]: Because I think there's a huge, excuse the public,

[00:16:29] [SPEAKER_01]: it's a huge appetite for this right now, isn't it?

[00:16:31] [SPEAKER_00]: It sure is.

[00:16:33] [SPEAKER_00]: We think that the way that we're pioneering this technology

[00:16:38] [SPEAKER_00]: and pioneering the use of distribution systems

[00:16:43] [SPEAKER_00]: in a much more efficient way is actually going to push

[00:16:46] [SPEAKER_00]: the rest of the industry forward.

[00:16:49] [SPEAKER_00]: We would love for them to look at us and say,

[00:16:51] [SPEAKER_00]: hey, we realize that Eden Green is not a one-stop shop

[00:16:55] [SPEAKER_00]: and it's not an end all be all.

[00:16:56] [SPEAKER_00]: But we like the way that they're thinking about

[00:16:59] [SPEAKER_00]: farming and feeding people.

[00:17:01] [SPEAKER_00]: We like the way that they're thinking about affordability,

[00:17:05] [SPEAKER_00]: accessibility, and food safety.

[00:17:09] [SPEAKER_00]: And we want them to look at their own technological models,

[00:17:13] [SPEAKER_00]: whether it's a conventional farm or otherwise,

[00:17:16] [SPEAKER_00]: and say, okay, how can we pattern ourselves

[00:17:19] [SPEAKER_00]: after Eden Green in terms of the directives

[00:17:21] [SPEAKER_00]: that they want for their company and for the consumer?

[00:17:26] [SPEAKER_00]: And I would say the other way is just pushing

[00:17:29] [SPEAKER_00]: the boundaries of the technology itself.

[00:17:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Like we've not even explored what it would look like

[00:17:36] [SPEAKER_00]: to have a vertical farm like ours,

[00:17:40] [SPEAKER_00]: but in a non-CEA environment.

[00:17:42] [SPEAKER_00]: What does it look like to have it on the traditional farm?

[00:17:45] [SPEAKER_00]: Can farmers who are usually out in rural areas

[00:17:50] [SPEAKER_00]: and the next generations who may want to be closer

[00:17:53] [SPEAKER_00]: to urban populations, but they still love farming,

[00:17:57] [SPEAKER_00]: can we empower them to bring farms closer

[00:18:02] [SPEAKER_00]: to these urban populations?

[00:18:05] [SPEAKER_00]: Because of that, we're limiting food waste

[00:18:08] [SPEAKER_00]: and we were lessening emissions.

[00:18:12] [SPEAKER_00]: And we are making labor shortages more of an issue of the past.

[00:18:19] [SPEAKER_00]: So I think those are the big ways

[00:18:22] [SPEAKER_00]: that we can help push the industry forward as a whole.

[00:18:26] [SPEAKER_01]: And if we look into that future already, only a few months

[00:18:31] [SPEAKER_01]: from 2024 really, and how do you envision

[00:18:34] [SPEAKER_01]: the future of sustainable farming and distribution?

[00:18:37] [SPEAKER_01]: How do you see that continuously evolving?

[00:18:39] [SPEAKER_01]: And are there any teasers that you can share around your plans

[00:18:42] [SPEAKER_01]: for expanding Eden Greeds footprint

[00:18:44] [SPEAKER_01]: and the impact that you will continue to have

[00:18:47] [SPEAKER_01]: on this agricultural industry?

[00:18:49] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, we're continuing to expand in an industry

[00:18:54] [SPEAKER_00]: that has seen a little bit of, I wouldn't say contraction

[00:18:57] [SPEAKER_00]: but stagnation because of, I would say,

[00:19:00] [SPEAKER_00]: investors have been burned by past promises

[00:19:03] [SPEAKER_00]: of other companies.

[00:19:04] [SPEAKER_00]: But in our case, we broke ground on a $40 million expansion

[00:19:09] [SPEAKER_00]: project last year and it's continuing to move on.

[00:19:14] [SPEAKER_00]: We expect to triple our overall growing capacity

[00:19:18] [SPEAKER_00]: in less than 12 months.

[00:19:21] [SPEAKER_00]: More than half of the growing space will be dedicated

[00:19:25] [SPEAKER_00]: towards expanding our ERB program.

[00:19:28] [SPEAKER_00]: And then overall, I would say in the next five years,

[00:19:31] [SPEAKER_00]: my goal is to have 20 production facilities

[00:19:33] [SPEAKER_00]: built here in the United States.

[00:19:35] [SPEAKER_00]: And as that grows, we'll have, I would say,

[00:19:39] [SPEAKER_00]: aggregately 80% ERBs, 20% lettuce.

[00:19:43] [SPEAKER_00]: And so with that amount of volume,

[00:19:46] [SPEAKER_00]: we're able to expand existing partnerships.

[00:19:49] [SPEAKER_00]: And you know, I would love, I'm totally open to overseas

[00:19:53] [SPEAKER_00]: partnerships as well.

[00:19:54] [SPEAKER_00]: And so we're actively looking at those.

[00:19:57] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, one of the reasons I love recording this podcast

[00:19:59] [SPEAKER_01]: every day is I get to learn from brilliant people

[00:20:01] [SPEAKER_01]: like you every year.

[00:20:02] [SPEAKER_01]: How you're making a difference with technology in the world,

[00:20:06] [SPEAKER_01]: not just in your immediate location in the US

[00:20:09] [SPEAKER_01]: and looking at expanding overseas.

[00:20:11] [SPEAKER_01]: It's phenomenal what you've achieved.

[00:20:12] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to see if there's something we can do for you

[00:20:14] [SPEAKER_01]: in return for sharing your story here.

[00:20:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Because some of the biggest names in business,

[00:20:19] [SPEAKER_01]: VC, funding and tech have either been guests

[00:20:21] [SPEAKER_01]: or maybe on occasion listened to this podcast.

[00:20:24] [SPEAKER_01]: So is that a person you'd love to have

[00:20:26] [SPEAKER_01]: a private breakfast or lunch with?

[00:20:28] [SPEAKER_01]: And why?

[00:20:30] [SPEAKER_01]: Because he or she might just get to hear this.

[00:20:32] [SPEAKER_01]: So let's see what we can manifest together today.

[00:20:34] [SPEAKER_01]: Who would it be?

[00:20:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, it would hands down, it would be David Friedberg.

[00:20:39] [SPEAKER_00]: He's one of the hosts of the All in Podcasts

[00:20:41] [SPEAKER_00]: which is fantastically popular here in the United States,

[00:20:45] [SPEAKER_00]: especially on the West Coast with the VCs

[00:20:48] [SPEAKER_00]: that they're all the hosts of the All in Podcasts or VCs.

[00:20:52] [SPEAKER_00]: But David Friedberg in particular,

[00:20:54] [SPEAKER_00]: he's a venture capitalist and investor

[00:20:56] [SPEAKER_00]: and he's the CEO of Oholo Genetics.

[00:21:00] [SPEAKER_00]: And they're doing some really, really groundbreaking work

[00:21:04] [SPEAKER_00]: on plant genetics.

[00:21:06] [SPEAKER_00]: And to be able to break bread with him

[00:21:09] [SPEAKER_00]: and trade notes would be fantastic.

[00:21:12] [SPEAKER_01]: What a great choice.

[00:21:14] [SPEAKER_01]: I will throw that out into the universe,

[00:21:16] [SPEAKER_01]: into the ether.

[00:21:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Let's see what we can manifest together.

[00:21:19] [SPEAKER_01]: And of course this is an audio podcast

[00:21:21] [SPEAKER_01]: and the size and scale of what you're doing here

[00:21:24] [SPEAKER_01]: is difficult for people to visualize, I think.

[00:21:27] [SPEAKER_01]: So for anyone listening wanting to find out more information,

[00:21:30] [SPEAKER_01]: maybe you want to see images, videos

[00:21:32] [SPEAKER_01]: and just find out more information.

[00:21:34] [SPEAKER_01]: And they could be located anywhere in the world

[00:21:35] [SPEAKER_01]: wanting to take you up on your offer

[00:21:37] [SPEAKER_01]: of expanding this overseas.

[00:21:40] [SPEAKER_01]: Where would you like to point them?

[00:21:42] [SPEAKER_00]: So edengreen.com, so edengreen.com is our website

[00:21:47] [SPEAKER_00]: and we actually have a new video up on YouTube

[00:21:51] [SPEAKER_00]: if you look at our Edengreen YouTube channel.

[00:21:54] [SPEAKER_00]: There's a great video on herbs.

[00:21:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Actually in the voiceover of mimicking David Attenborough.

[00:22:04] [SPEAKER_00]: So for all the UK, British accents folks out there,

[00:22:11] [SPEAKER_00]: it's actually quite amusing.

[00:22:14] [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, I will be checking that out at the end of this podcast.

[00:22:17] [SPEAKER_01]: And then also be a blog post on my website,

[00:22:19] [SPEAKER_01]: techbloggeri.co.uk.

[00:22:21] [SPEAKER_01]: I will embed that video on that

[00:22:24] [SPEAKER_01]: when I promote this episode.

[00:22:25] [SPEAKER_01]: So I urge everyone to check that out.

[00:22:28] [SPEAKER_01]: And I just love chatting with you today hearing more

[00:22:31] [SPEAKER_01]: about these vertical indoor greenhouses

[00:22:33] [SPEAKER_01]: that are transforming the way that you sustainably form

[00:22:37] [SPEAKER_01]: and ultimately feed people fresh, affordable produce.

[00:22:41] [SPEAKER_01]: I think with the arrival of supermarkets in the world,

[00:22:43] [SPEAKER_01]: we kind of lost our way over the last decade or more.

[00:22:47] [SPEAKER_01]: And the fact that you're using new technology

[00:22:50] [SPEAKER_01]: to efficiently grow safer, more sustainable lettuce,

[00:22:53] [SPEAKER_01]: using less water, energy and carbon emissions.

[00:22:56] [SPEAKER_01]: I just want to shout this stuff from the rooftop.

[00:22:58] [SPEAKER_01]: So thank you for shining a light on it today.

[00:23:00] [SPEAKER_01]: Really appreciate it.

[00:23:02] [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for having me Neil.

[00:23:04] [SPEAKER_01]: Wow.

[00:23:04] [SPEAKER_01]: Massive thank you to Eddie for sharing his fascinating insights

[00:23:08] [SPEAKER_01]: that provide a glimpse into a future

[00:23:10] [SPEAKER_01]: where farming is not just more sustainable,

[00:23:13] [SPEAKER_01]: but more efficient and more accessible.

[00:23:16] [SPEAKER_01]: We've all walked in supermarkets

[00:23:18] [SPEAKER_01]: and there's a whole heaps of junk food

[00:23:20] [SPEAKER_01]: that is cheaper chips as they would say here in the US,

[00:23:23] [SPEAKER_01]: but fresh organic, but fresh produce is typically very expensive.

[00:23:29] [SPEAKER_01]: And that's just one of the reasons why

[00:23:30] [SPEAKER_01]: Eden Green's approach to vertical greenhouse farming

[00:23:34] [SPEAKER_01]: feels like a real game changer

[00:23:36] [SPEAKER_01]: because it's addressing everything from food waste

[00:23:39] [SPEAKER_01]: to carbon emissions,

[00:23:40] [SPEAKER_01]: while also ensuring that that fresh produce

[00:23:42] [SPEAKER_01]: reaches consumers faster than ever before

[00:23:45] [SPEAKER_01]: so that you're not throwing a lettuce out of the fridge

[00:23:48] [SPEAKER_01]: every four days and replacing it with another one.

[00:23:51] [SPEAKER_01]: We need to do something different.

[00:23:53] [SPEAKER_01]: And as Eddie shared there,

[00:23:55] [SPEAKER_01]: the potential for this technology

[00:23:56] [SPEAKER_01]: to transform the agriculture industry is immense.

[00:24:02] [SPEAKER_01]: It's also great to hear their plans to expand across the US,

[00:24:06] [SPEAKER_01]: but beyond.

[00:24:07] [SPEAKER_01]: And if you're listening inspired by today's discussion

[00:24:10] [SPEAKER_01]: and you want to learn more about Eden Green's innovative work,

[00:24:14] [SPEAKER_01]: please visit their website,

[00:24:16] [SPEAKER_01]: connect with Eddie.

[00:24:17] [SPEAKER_01]: If you've got any questions or any viewpoints you want to offer,

[00:24:20] [SPEAKER_01]: please email me tech blog writer at outlook.com,

[00:24:24] [SPEAKER_01]: DM me on the socials at neil c hues

[00:24:27] [SPEAKER_01]: if you want to tell me more about how your organization

[00:24:30] [SPEAKER_01]: or how you will embrace the future of sustainable farming.

[00:24:34] [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you for listening today,

[00:24:35] [SPEAKER_01]: but stay curious, stay engaged,

[00:24:38] [SPEAKER_01]: keep exploring the possibilities of technology

[00:24:41] [SPEAKER_01]: to create a better world.

[00:24:43] [SPEAKER_01]: You might say I'm a dreamer,

[00:24:44] [SPEAKER_01]: but hey, I'm not the only one.

[00:24:47] [SPEAKER_01]: And on that note,

[00:24:48] [SPEAKER_01]: I will bid you a fond farewell,

[00:24:50] [SPEAKER_01]: but I'll be back in your podcast feed with another guest

[00:24:52] [SPEAKER_01]: right in early tomorrow.

[00:24:54] [SPEAKER_01]: Bye for now.