Canadian vertical farming company Growcer has announced that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Growtainers, the U.S.-based container farming firm founded by Glenn Behrman.
The announcement comes shortly after Growcer's acquisition of Freight Farms' assets in July, a move that brought more than 500 growers worldwide under its support network.
© Growcer
Growcer CEO Corey Ellis shared the news in a detailed LinkedIn post, framing the alliance as a way to combine strengths while setting realistic expectations for the industry.
Corey Ellis's full statement, published publicly via LinkedIn:
"Now more than ever, the vertical farming industry needs to be about collaboration, not competition.
This next step for Growcer is in harmony with that: Growcer and Growtainers have teamed up to give people interested in vertical farming the best opportunity to grow year-round.
Growcer will continue to be a trusted source for modular vertical farms.
Growtainers will offer their expertise in custom builds in containers for customers who are investigating speciality crops or conducting research projects. The Growtainers team will also support large-scale projects in warehouses and other environments in cooperation with Growcer.
Both Glenn Behrman and I have talked about how we see this industry, and we're aligned in what it takes to be successful in vertical farming: sound economics, sustainable growth, and clarity on what customers really want.
1. We want to set realistic expectations for customers about what vertical farming technology can achieve.
2. We are building businesses for the long haul, not for short-term gain.
3. We see controlled environment agriculture as a tool for growers when used in the right way with the right expectations. Controlled environment agriculture is not for everyone, but it is a great tool that does achieve incredible things when used correctly.
Finally, we've observed the hype cycles within our own industry, and we want no part of it. We're always transparent about what container farming is and what it isn't.
Yes, we want to get people excited about entering vertical farming. We've seen real examples of where this type of technology makes a meaningful difference, but not at the cost of over-inflating what's possible.
Vertical farming is not a silver bullet, but it can still add a lot of value. Growcer and Growtainers are entering into a strategic alliance to leverage our respective strengths, learn from past mistakes, and move forward in a way that we can feel good about while delivering authentic results to our customers."
Growcer's official profile reposted Ellis's announcement, adding:
"A siloed vertical farming industry is our past. Here's to more collaborations with partners who share our pragmatic (and optimistic) vision for the future of indoor agriculture."
Glenn Behrman, Founder of Growtainers, commented on the announcement:
"Well said. This is exactly what the container farming industry needs. Both Growcer and Growtainers operate with honesty, integrity, and a commitment to our clients' success. No BS, no HYPE, no empty promises. Just dedication, sustainable business practices, unique industry experience, expertise, and excellence. Collaboration, not competition!"
© Growtainer
For more information:
Growcer
Corey Ellis, CEO
www.linkedin.com/in/coreywellis
www.thegrowcer.ca
Stephanie Gordon, Content and Communications Manager
[email protected]
www.thegrowcer.ca
Growtainers
Glenn Behrman, Founder
[email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/glennbehrman
www.growtainers.com
