Avisomo and Coop Norway have officially launched production at their new joint venture facility, which the companies describe as "Norway's first fully automated vertical farm." The project aims to improve food security and enable climate-resilient crop production in a country where most leafy greens are still imported.
The launch follows several months of collaboration between the two partners, including custom crop recipe development and both physical and digital system testing. According to Avisomo, a digital twin of the facility was used to simulate all operational stages, from seeding and irrigation to climate control and harvest logistics. "Developing the products and testing all the components was a true joint effort with the Coop team," the company stated. "Now we're excited to see it come to life."
A video shared by Avisomo shows the first automated seeding cycle, including how the system handles internal logistics and moves the seeded trays into the germination chamber.
All processes managed by a "digital agronomist"
© Avisomo
The production system is controlled entirely by Avisomo's proprietary software, which integrates third-party hardware and acts as the central command layer for all production processes. The system is described as a "digital agronomist," capable of adjusting environmental and operational variables in real time.
As a result, the industrial-scale facility operates with only two on-site technicians. According to the company, the first person to touch the produce is the end consumer. The crops are grown without pesticides and are packaged within one minute of harvest to maximize freshness.
Right: Cecilie Fossum, Avisomo's Product Owner and Front-End Developer of the company's software.
Retail-owned production
The project also introduces what Avisomo calls a "retail-owned production model," where retailers directly own and operate vertical farming facilities. "As major retailers look to secure their fresh produce supply, we're seeing growing interest in owning the production itself," said Martin Molenaar, CEO and co-founder of Avisomo. "This integrated approach streamlines logistics, reduces operational costs, and improves margins."
Flexibility in production planning was another reason Coop entered the partnership. "Traditional vertical farms are typically designed to grow a single crop at a fixed, maximum output," Molenaar explained. "Our system is fundamentally different, with flexibility built into every stage. For a retailer like Coop, this means production volumes can be scaled to meet seasonal demand or shifted to new crops as consumer preferences change."
Initial production includes arugula and a newly developed crispy baby leaf variety. The arugula line is expected to meet approximately 10 percent of Coop's national demand, reducing the need for imported greens.
© Avisomo
Scalability and standardization
The project was supported by funding raised over the past several years. With the pilot facility now operational, Avisomo plans to continue advancing its hardware and software platforms while preparing the system for broader commercial rollout. One of the key design priorities, according to Molenaar, was hygienic engineering. "Working with a partner like Coop set the bar extremely high," he said. "It enabled us to develop a system that satisfies the highest standards of industrial food production. This was a crucial lesson, and it means our entire model is now easily replicable for other top-tier partners."
The system is built on standardized, off-the-shelf automation components, making it compatible with a wide range of existing industrial solutions. "Avisomo has built their system on a foundation of common industry standards, which makes it very straightforward for us to automate," said Peter Rietveld of TTA-ISO, one of the company's technology partners.
The plug-and-play architecture allows the model to be scaled to different facility sizes and adapted to varying levels of automation. "We're optimistic about scaling this success," Molenaar added. "The model is built for strategic retailers who want tighter control of their fresh supply chains, and our system is designed to deliver that with proven, standardized technology."
For more information:
Avisomo
Endre Harnes, Chief Commercial Officer
endre@avisomo.no
www.avisomo.com