Infarm officially opened its Bedford farm on Monday in the UK. This will be their first high-capacity Growing Centre in the country. The facility is 10,000m2 and has up to 40 Infarm units, each 10m high, which are all cloud-connected farming units. Each unit can grow more than 500,000 plants annually.
Jeremy Byfleet (Regional Director of UK Operations at Infarm), Mohammed Yasin (MP for Bedford), Jo Churchill (MP, Minister for Agri-Innovation), and Erez Galonska (CEO and co-founder of Infarm) are about to cut the ribbon of the Bedford facility (Photo credits: Jamie Lau/Infarm)
The opening celebrations at the facility included addresses from Jo Churchill, MP, Minister of Agri Innovation and Climate Adaption at the Department of Food and Rural Affairs, and Mohammad Yasin, Member of Parliament for Bedford, both recognizing the importance of ensuring a domestic food production that goes with the security of offering UK's population fresh produce while caring for the environment by means of innovative and outstanding technology.
And the farm is officially opened (Photo credits: Jamie Lau/Infarm)
Minister for Agri-Innovation and Climate Adaptation Jo Churchill said: "Infarm is capable of producing up to 20 million plants across the UK every year, and its new facility in Bedford will be a fantastic boost for the local economy. We want to be world leaders when it comes to innovation. Our Food Strategy is committed to boosting food production in sectors including horticulture, and we are spending £270 million on unlocking innovation in agriculture. With each unit having the potential to grow over 500,000 plants per year, Infarm is a great example of innovation being used to enhance productivity – and I am delighted to support the opening of this facility today."
Jo Churchill gave a speech during the opening (Photo credits: Jamie Lau/Infarm)
Danger of imports
Mohammad Yasin, MP for Bedford, said: "The UK is overly dependent on food imports leaving us dangerously exposed to food insecurity and soaring food prices, so I'm really excited that Bedford is now home to one of Europe's largest vertical farming facilities at the forefront of new ways to grow more food domestically. The prospect of growing food with a low carbon footprint, without the need for chemical pesticides, using the latest in green technologies is very promising, and it's great that Bedford can play its part in bringing food closer to the people on a scale that might one day feed the nation."
Mohammad Yasin during his speech (Photo credits: Jamie Lau/Infarm)
Erez Galonska, CEO and co-founder of Infarm, said, "The Infarm Growing Centre in Bedford enables us to increase the amount of fresh produce grown locally in the UK significantly. Fully equipped, we will be able to deliver up to 20 million locally and freshly produced plants to our UK partners every year."
Erez Galonska gave a speech to all visitors (Photo credits: Jamie Lau/Infarm)
He said that Infarm is grateful to contribute to safe and sustainable food production in the UK are acknowledged and supported by Jo Churchill and Mohammad Yasin, who the company is honored to welcome in Bedford. The opening of this UK facility is aligned with Infarm's goal to change the food system for the better by improving the safety, quality, and environmental footprint of our food.
The entire growing process was covered during the tour (Photo credits: Jamie Lau/Infarm)
The Minister for Agri-Innovation in front of a modular farm unit (Photo credits: Jamie Lau/Infarm)
In the UK, Infarm's herbs and leafy greens are also offered at Whole Foods Market, Selfridges, Marks & Spencer, Fortnum & Mason, Budgens, as well as at the online retailer Getir. In addition, Infarm's fresh produce can be tasted at restaurants in London, including Michelin Star locations, Pied a Terre, Sabor, and Hide.
Erez made sure to explain every aspect of the farm (Photo credits: Jamie Lau/Infarm)
A peek view of the facility (Photo credits: Jamie Lau/Infarm)
The new Growing Centre in Bedford will be part of Infarm's expanding global network of vertical farms. By the end of 2030, Infarm plans to expand to 20 countries. Every vertical farm is connected to a central farming brain that gathers data constantly to improve plant yield, taste, and nutritional value, while further reducing the use of natural resources.
For more information:
Infarm
[email protected]
www.infarm.com