“Grow-RI came together to help the vertical farming space by putting the grower first and finding pain points to develop industrial controls,” says Brian Rajotte, vice president of engineering at Grow-RI.
Grow-RI is an agtech company providing affordable automation systems for greenhouses and indoor farms. The company’s flagship product line is GENESIS, which includes the patent-pending GENESIS Satellite, Insight and mini, all of which offer growers an easy-to-integrate computer control and data monitoring system. Grow-RI was established in 2020 and is led by Robert Zailckas (CEO), Bill Burke (CFO), Tony Ball (CSO) and Brian Rajotte (VP Engineering).
The men behind it all, (f.l.t.r.) Bill Burke, Robert Zailckas, Anthony Ball and Brian Rajotte
GENESIS systems
GENESIS Satellite is an ultra-compact control panel that can be installed in a greenhouse or indoor farm to control sensors, HVAC, irrigation, humidity and lighting among other systems. Satellite connects to other GENESIS series product to further improve user control and experiences.
The system comes complete with all required software and user screens ready to operate, although the Grow-RI team provides additional programming and engineering services if needed. The Insight system is a patent-pending multi-touch display available in 40” or 21” sizes.
The display allows the grower to easily visualize the operational status of farm systems and control the systems accordingly. As its name implies, GENESISmini is a freestanding, compact equipment control and monitoring systems with a cabinet measuring 14” wide, 8” deep and 48” high.
The GENESIS product line is capable of tracking a number of growing systems as well as video surveillance, pests and pathogens, worker productivity, supply chain management, packaging and system back-up.
“The GENESIS line ensures that processes are optimized and controlled. The systems provide customers with different ways of computing the data in real time which facilitates diagnostics and increases accuracy, both of which are crucial to controlled environment agriculture,” explains Tony Ball, chief science officer at Grow-RI.
Tony also explains that industry equivalent entry models of such systems cost roughly 50,000 USD each but Grow-RI provides its systems at a fraction of the cost to ensure that growers can access the technology. The GENESIS line is also designed to pay itself back in a short period of time.
Additional offerings and future developments
Complementary to its GENESIS line is Grow-RI’s offering of customized solutions, equipment and consultancy. The company also sells the Endurance Bio-Barrier which controls and prevents the spread of mold when applied to seed trays, hydroponic equipment, etc. The laboratory- and military-tested coatings are water-based and low-friction, forming a clear and impermeable barrier that prevents the adherence of organic material to the equipment surfaces.
For more information:
Grow-RI
270 Bellevue Ave, #388
Newport, RI 02840
+1 (401) 735-2335
https://sites.google.com/view/grow-ri/home