Grow Profitable and Sustainable Vertical Farm Ventures and Greenhouses 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.

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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We believe that the establishment of the Center of Excellence will propel the overall development of the indoor agriculture industry.

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

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.
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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.
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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.
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Knowledge Center

 

Fast Company: Is the Vertical Farming Bubble Popping?

Fast Company: Is the Vertical Farming Bubble Popping?

Summary: An 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: "Climate...

Digitization of Hydroponic Vertical Farms & Greenhouses

Digitization of Hydroponic Vertical Farms & Greenhouses

Publication Profile The following is a profile of a book chapter by Dr. Eric W. Stein on the Digital Transformation of Agriculture. Citation Source: Stein, Eric W. "The Digital Transformation of Agriculture: Industry 4.0 Advances in Hydroponic Vertical Farms and...

What Agtech Can Learn from Indoor Mushroom Farming

What Agtech Can Learn from Indoor Mushroom Farming

Over the last decade or so, advances in areas such as lighting, robotics, optical sensors, climate control, plant nutrition, genetics and data analytics have helped to launch a new high-tech industry - indoor agriculture. The race is now on to develop sustainable and...

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Strawberry Farming in NJ Using Robots and Artificial Intelligence

Strawberry Farming in NJ Using Robots and Artificial Intelligence

Publication Profile - Case Study The following is an excerpt of a book chapter by Dr. Eric W. Stein on the Digital Transformation of Agriculture. This excerpt features a case study of Zordi, Inc. , which is a greenhouse farm in New Jersey that uses robots and...

“Strategies for Cost-Effective Energy Management in CEA”

“Strategies for Cost-Effective Energy Management in CEA”

Summary: Dr. Eric Stein, Executive Director, Center of Excellence for Indoor Agriculture, moderated a panel on ways CEA companies can save energy in their operations. What, When and Where: Industry conference panel discussion October 1, 2024 CEA Summit East, IALR...

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Center of Excellence for Indoor Agriculture