Agriculture 4.0 in Austria — Vertic Greens Featured in ORF Documentary

The Future of Agriculture With Vertical Farming

Vertic Greens was established as part of the Heron Group and therefore can draw on our many years of experience in automation and industry. This, combined with expert knowledge from the air conditioning industry and farming sector, served as the main foundation for the development of our system.

Our goal was clearly defined from the outset: We want to make global food production more sustainable. Based on this approach, we have developed a system that overcomes the two biggest challenges in vertical farming: little automation and poor profitability.

The result is a profitable farming system that can be scaled at any time and makes it possible to grow food exactly where it's needed.

It all starts with understanding the plant. We collect and analyze data from the entire growing environment. Light, temperature, water, and nutrients are controlled with such precision that the plants can grow in perfect conditions. This allows us to turn organic growth into a predictable and precise result.

We produce food where people live. Since our plants grow indoors in a controlled environment, we don't need to use pesticides. We harvest 365 days a year — no matter what the weather is like outside. The result: high-quality food that is safe and available everywhere.

Cost is a decisive factor for the future of vertical farming. We have therefore optimized our facilities so that they are in good balance with our yields. This enables us to produce crops at prices that can compete with those of conventional farming. We produce first-class, pesticide-free food accessible to consumers — without compromising on price.

Did you miss the TV report on ORF 2?

We Combine Tradition and High-Tech Without Compromising our Values

The ORF report also makes it clear that digitization is not at odds with practiced values and tradition. Digitization provides a safety net for the future. GPS tracking to monitor sheep herds, smart harvesting equipment, or automated animal feed ration planning are examples of high-tech use on traditional farms that does not come with not mean a loss of identity. Thanks to state-of-the-art data analysis, seeds, fertilizer, and fuel are applied with precision. Resources are conserved, and the burden of physically-strenuous work is alleviated. This is a benefit for current and future generations.

The digital transformation calls on all of us to take action. We at Vertic Greens believe that technological progress and the concept of staying true to our roots in farming can coexist. After all, we're all working toward the same goal: Using the right tools to create a form of agriculture that both honors our traditions and provides future-proof solutions to the pressing challenges of our time.