Inside Indoor Ag’s Next Wave: How Partnerships Are Powering Growth

Hello Indoor Farmer Readers! Welcome to this next issue, where we spotlight the game-changing partnerships and smart technologies shaping the future of indoor farming. As new alliances drive deeper integration and unlock growth worldwide, indoor farmers are at the forefront of an ecosystem being transformed by innovation and collaboration.

Recent insights from the iGrow Market Dashboard highlight a continued wave of partnerships reshaping the AgTech and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) ecosystem. In Europe, alliances are increasingly centered on data integration and automation—for example, Viemose DGS partnered with Ledgnd to merge gutter systems with real-time analytics, while Grodan with Hoogendoorn and Priva with Blue Radix are embedding AI-driven insights directly into climate control systems. These collaborations illustrate how the industry is moving toward fully connected growing environments and standardized performance management.

In Asia and the Middle East, partnerships are fueling regional expansion and technology localization. The Agroz–Harvest Today collaboration in Malaysia aims to deploy modular vertical farming units across schools, hotels, and restaurants, strengthening ASEAN food resilience. Similarly, ReFarm Global and IGS’s GigaFarm in Dubai and Silal’s collaboration with Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group in the UAE show how joint ventures are enabling large-scale CEA projects through cross-border expertise and capital alignment.

Educational and research partnerships—such as those between Vertical Harvest and the University of Wyoming, and Harvest Today and the University of Toronto Scarborough—highlight a growing focus on talent development and applied research in sustainable food production. Together, these collaborations signal a maturing sector emphasizing execution, automation, and measurable outcomes over experimentation.

📊 This analysis is based on live data from the iGrow Market Dashboard, which tracks global AgTech activity across funding, partnerships, and innovation.
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What happened in the world of Indoor Farming

Grodan, Limgroup, and Delphy Report Record Strawberry Yields - Grodan, Limgroup, and Delphy’s Innovative Soft Fruit Center (ISFC) have achieved strawberry yields exceeding 20 kilograms per square meter in an ongoing trial launched in January 2025. The study combines Limgroup’s hybrid seeds with Grodan’s stone wool substrates to test data-driven growing and direct seeding methods as alternatives to traditional tray systems. The trial concludes in October 2025.

Agroz and Harvest Today Partner to Advance Vertical Farming in ASEAN - Agroz and Harvest Today announced their collaboration at the Future Food-AgTech Festival 2025 in Malaysia. The partnership will introduce the Agroz Groz Wall, a localized, pesticide-free vertical farming solution designed for farms, hotels, restaurants, and schools. Together, the companies aim to enhance food security and sustainability across ASEAN markets.

Premier Tech Expands PRO-MIX® AGTIV® Portfolio to Empower Controlled Environment Agriculture Growers - Premier Tech Growers and Consumers has expanded its trusted PRO-MIX® AGTIV® product lineup to better serve Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) growers. The enhanced portfolio improves crop productivity and quality while reaffirming Premier Tech’s commitment to excellence in CEA. The official unveiling will take place at the Canadian Greenhouse Conference on October 8th and 9th, 2025, in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

KUBO Trials Emission-Free Strawberry Production in Ultra-Clima Greenhouses - KUBO is testing large-scale strawberry cultivation in its Ultra-Clima greenhouse using an emission-free CO₂ dosing strategy. The trial, which explores yields, quality, substrates, and climate strategies, has drawn international interest, with new projects underway in Canada and Saudi Arabia. A key focus is ensuring healthy young plant supply to enhance grower success, while KUBO’s trial centers serve as global knowledge hubs for sustainable and efficient production.

Raiven Capital Invests in Vertical Harvest to Advance Smart Farming - Raiven Capital has invested in U.S.-based vertical farming company Vertical Harvest, whose Maine flagship produces the equivalent of 250 acres of crops on just half an acre. The partnership integrates AI, Siemens digital systems, and Elevated Signals technology to enhance food security, sustainability, and inclusive employment. Future expansion plans target smart city projects and global climate resilience initiatives.

REWE Green Farming Berlin Reaches Milestone with Topping-Out Ceremony - REWE Green Farming in Berlin-Lankwitz has celebrated its topping-out ceremony for a 2,760 m² facility set to produce over 900,000 salad mixes annually for up to 700 REWE stores. Designed around circular principles, the farm utilizes sunlight, waste heat, rainwater, and existing logistics infrastructure. Its timber structure will store more than 700 tonnes of CO₂, earning the project first place in the “Climate Protection Partner Berlin 2025” competition for innovative planning.

New in Startups

Gooddrop Ltd, a vertical farming company specializing in sustainable cotton, announced the creation of the first garment made from cotton grown in the UK. The fibre was harvested at the company’s research and development facility at the University of Nottingham’s Sutton Bonington campus in mid-August 2025.

Arlington, Virginia-based Area 2 Farms has closed a $9 million funding round to expand its network of local, soil-based indoor farms. The round was led by early-stage venture firm Slow Ventures and tech-focused Seven Seven Six, with additional participation from ANIMO Ventures.

Dubai-based vertical farm Greeneration, founded by Roman Ulyanov, has formed a strategic partnership with agritech firm Harvest IQ. The collaboration focuses on enhancing the UAE’s food security, expanding premium ingredient offerings, and improving the nation’s culinary supply chain. Greeneration supplies hyperlocal edible flowers, specialty leaves, and microgreens to Michelin-starred chefs and 5-star hotels, while Harvest IQ brings expertise in scaling innovation and distribution.

Burro announced the expansion of its fleet at Petitti Family Farms in Lake County, Ohio. The farm will increase its number of Burro Grande robots from 10, deployed earlier this year, to 25 by the end of 2025. The Burro Grandes are currently used to tow heavy payloads of plants and materials across the farm’s 400-acre Ridge Manor site. New workflows, including autonomous spraying, are being introduced to further reduce manual labor demands.

Forever Feed Technologies (FFT) announced that JR Automation (JRA) has made a $4 million strategic investment to fund eight FFT Grow Systems™, with key components ordered in the fourth quarter of 2025. Each system is designed to produce up to 50 tons of ForeverFeed™ sprouted grain daily, reducing water use by 95% compared to traditional alfalfa production.

Grønt fra Nord announced the successful completion of a USD 1.2 million convertible financing round. The investment marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth strategy and reinforces support from both existing and new partners.

UbiQD announced the publication of peer-reviewed results from a landmark greenhouse study funded by the USDA through its National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Conducted at the University of California, Davis, the study shows that UbiQD’s luminescent QD-laminated glass significantly enhances plant growth, nutrient uptake, and energy efficiency in CEA systems—without electricity or mechanical input.

Conference Season In Full Swing - Meeting points for the Industry

AgraME 2025 Concludes with Strong Industry Participation and Knowledge Exchange

AgraME 2025, held from October 6–7, gathered a diverse mix of AgTech companies, government agencies, researchers, and agribusiness professionals in Dubai. The event featured discussions and exhibitions on next-generation farming technologies, including AI-powered systems, smart irrigation, and precision agriculture.

The AgroFarm Middle East segment presented technical showcases and live demonstrations focused on livestock management and animal health, while the Regenerative Agriculture Conference addressed soil health and climate-resilient farming practices suited to arid regions.

Throughout the two days, attendees participated in meetings, product presentations, and knowledge-sharing sessions centered on food security, sustainable production, and local agricultural development.

According to organizers, AgraME 2025 recorded strong attendance and engagement, reflecting continued regional interest in technology adoption and sustainable farming practices across the agriculture value chain.

Following the first day of AgraME 2025, a reception was hosted by the Consulate of the Netherlands, gathering leading Dutch companies involved in AgTech and horticulture. The event, co-organized by Giovanni Angiolini of Dutch Greenhouse Delta and Nienke Gelderloos, Agricultural Advisor at the Dutch Embassy/Consulate in the UAE, created an excellent platform for dialogue on innovation, collaboration, and sustainable food production.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Consulate for their warm hospitality and continued efforts to strengthen international cooperation in agriculture and technology.

After AgraME concluded, we were invited by Flora Engineering Services, TTA-ISO, and Priva for a boat tour in Dubai, where we had the opportunity to connect with key leaders and companies shaping the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry in the UAE. Special thanks to Olav Scholte of TTA-ISO and Yamen Alkodmani of Flora Engineering Services for their generous hospitality and for hosting a memorable evening of conversation, networking, and collaboration.

Readworthy:

• Feasibility of a joint agricultural data space operated by established service providers: a Bavarian perspective - A participatory feasibility study in Bavaria explored creating a “Bavarian Agricultural Data Space (ADR.BY)” to enhance data exchange among agricultural service providers, finding broad openness to new data management but emphasizing the need for standardized frameworks.

• Whitepaper by TTA-ISO: Food Safety in Vertical Farms - Integrating design, standards, and practicality for maintaining a safe food production environment in vertical farms.

• Vertical farming: productivity, environmental impact, and resource use. - A critical review of vertical farming’s productivity, resource efficiency, and environmental impact, finding that while it achieves high yields and water efficiency for leafy greens, its high energy use and resulting greenhouse gas emissions limit its large-scale sustainability compared to traditional systems.

Conclusion

These recent partnership trends make it clear: AgTech’s momentum now hinges on real-world integration, measurable performance, and scaling up what works. Whether building smarter farms in Europe, enabling regional expansion in Asia, or fostering research-driven innovation in North America, collaborative strategies are turning vision into impact. As the sector consolidates, those able to harness data and alliances will be best positioned to lead the future of sustainable agriculture.

📅 Interested in understanding market trends or accessing high-quality data for your company?
👉 Schedule a 15-minute call to discover how we can help you navigate the AgTech landscape.