It’s not too easy to grow lettuce in Williamsburg, after all. Upward Farms begs to differ. “Upward Farms holds the deep conviction that the food we eat should come from well-functioning ecosystems and microbiomes—not from artificial fertilizers, pesticides, or growth hormones,” said Ari Stiegler, whose venture capital firm, Flux Capital, is an investor in Upward Farms.
Stiegler explained that Upward Farms’ model replicates complicated ecological processes within a controlled facility, sustainability producing food on the doorstep of the communities for whom it is intended.
“Upward Farms are centered around fisheries, which sustainably farm mercury, pesticide, and hormone-free bass,” said Stiegler. “The unique microbiome that results from the interactions between the fish and the plants boosts production yields for both making Upward Farms more sustainable and more productive than alternative methods of farming.”
“Many existing aquaponic operations continue to rely on synthetic nutrients and chemicals to enhance plant growth,” Stiegler said. “Yet, only about 1 percent of the beneficial bacteria and microbes produced in soil can be replicated in the lab—leaving plants in many aquaponics operations without the nutrients they need. Upward Farms’ model creates the comprehensive natural microbiome that nature intended, leaving its plants better nourished, healthier, and chemical-free. This is of course appealing to grocers, who demand significant yields, and consumers, who are increasingly reticent to consume synthetic substances.”
Read more at The Environmental Magazine