Grow Profitable and Sustainable Indoor Farm Ventures from Start to Finish
We provide business expertise and analytical advisory services to investors, entrepreneurs, industry partners, and community organizers to de-risk the process of building sustainable and profitable indoor vertical farms and greenhouses. We offer the following services:
Start-ups and Investors
- Venture Strategy
- Financial Feasibility, Risk Mgt and Due Diligence
- Market Research
Established Companies
- Farm Operations Sustainability and Optimization
- Training and Workforce Development
- Marketing Surveys and Promotion
Our expertise is grounded in data-driven knowledge, business modelling and evidence-based industry experience. We are tech agnostic and driven by a desire to realize profitability for our clients.
Eric W. Stein, Ph.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Venture Strategy
Not sure what your venture will look like? We can help you articulate your vision, assess your assets, and find a path from idea to farm.
Financial Feasibility and
Due Diligence
Will the farm venture generate sustainable profits and a reasonable return on investment? We will model and help you assess the economic feasibility of the project, from yields to capital costs to the costs of the operation. You will know if the project is a winner.
Direct to your inbox
Farm Operations Sustainability and Optimization
Are your farm operations efficient and sustainable? Using our assessment model, we can help you establish unit metrics and benchmark your farm operations relative to other producers.
Training and Education
Need help training employees to work on your farm? The Center and its partners provide a variety of training and education services. We can assess the need for training, develop a training and education plan, and help you develop a path forward.
We believe that the establishment of the Center of Excellence will propel the overall development of the indoor agriculture industry.
Market Research
What products are you selling? Lettuce, tomatoes, herbs or something else? We research the markets for your products at different price points and help you identify your target customers.
Marketing Support
Want to better understand your customer needs? We can design, implement, and analyze custom-built surveys of your client needs. Hoping to get the word out on your products and services? We offer promotional opportunities to increase your visibility in the marketplace.
Water Analysis and Managment
Need to check the quality of your water supply? The Center and its partners offer offer water testing and analysis services. Are you using water efficiently and sustainably? We can analyze and develop a water use plan for your farm operations.
Knowledge Center
Fast Company: Is the Vertical Farming Bubble Popping?
Summary: A recent article on indoor farming by Adele Peters ( "The vertical farming bubble is finally popping") was published on February 27 in Fast Company. The focus of the article is on the profitability of indoor farms. As noted at the beginning of the article:...
Top 10 Questions Answered by Effective Indoor Farm Business Planning
Thinking of starting a farm? You are not alone. Farms offer an opportunity to connect with nature, work with your hands as well as your mind, and serve your community by providing fresh and nutritious food. To be successful, however, requires a plan. There are two...
Top 5 Elements of a Successful Vertical Farm Building Retrofit
by Erika Summers, Guest Industry Expert So, you want to build a vertical farm or are thinking about it?In an industry sometimes referred to as the “wild west” of agriculture, once you have decided to commit to building an indoor farm, planning and implementation can...
What Is Indoor Farming?
Many Variations of Farms So you may have heard of a lot of different terms that refer to modern farming: Indoor farming Vertical farming Greenhouse farming Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Urban farming The goal of this post is to make sense of these different...
Sustainable Impacts of Indoor Farming
Abstract This article identifies the potential environmental effects large-scale indoor farming may have on air, water, and soil. We begin with an overview of what indoor farming is with a focus on greenhouses and indoor vertical farms (eg, plant factories). Next, the...
The Center’s Water Quality and Management Service
Media, PA – June 14, 2022. The Center of Excellence for Indoor Agriculture, a U.S. based company that supports the growth of the vertical and indoor farming industry, announced a water quality and management service headed by Dr. Erick Bandala, an environmental...