One of the country's first movers in the vertical farm industry is growing ambitious with its global market expansion, first across the Middle East, Mongolia, and other Central Asian countries and ultimately the United States and Canada, according to the CEO of PlanTFarm, Monday.
This kind of farming involves growing crops in vertically stacked layers in a controlled environment, often using soilless farming techniques, such as hydroponics.
CEO Kang Dae-hyun told The Korea Times that alongside the market expansion, the company is now diversifying its products from leafy produce to fruit, plant-based biomaterials and animal feed. Following tests, the company will ship out produce not just for salads and other edible purposes but also ingredients for medicines and cosmetic products as well.
The company's latest overseas asset expansion is a new vertical farm now being erected in Al Ain, the United Arab Emirates, which is scheduled for completion in September. The 2,314-square-meter farm by the company's joint venture with the UAE's local smart farm operator, Pure Harvest, took five months for the complete construction of the main structure and another eight months for the indoor facilities. With PlanTFarm investing 6 billion won ($4.4 million), the new farm will grow barley grass, strawberries, and leafy plants, each in a separate facility.
Read more at koreatimes.co.kr