Key Takeaways:
- greenhub solutions GmbH publishes an introductory whitepaper for new vertical farming entrants
- Guide developed in collaboration with Rebekka Boekhout, Editor of Vertical Farm Daily and Founder of Phyto
- Aims to help aspiring growers make informed decisions before scaling operations
- Covers fundamentals including crop selection, climate control, market strategy, and economic assessment
- First preview (“Sneak Peek #1”) now available for free download at greenhub
greenhub’s Latest Whitepaper: Supporting the Next Generation of Vertical Farmers
greenhub solutions GmbH has released a new whitepaper titled “I Want to Start a Vertical Farm”, developed in collaboration with Rebekka Boekhout, a recognized expert in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and editor at Vertical Farm Daily. The resource is designed to provide practical guidance to those exploring or entering the vertical farming sector for the first time.
“Getting climate, lighting, and crop recipes right can be overwhelming – especially when you’re just starting out,” the company shared in its LinkedIn announcement. “And most importantly, it all starts with the product: how you’re going to sell it and to whom.”
Practical, Visual, and Designed for CEA
The guide blends greenhub’s hands-on expertise in system design and operations with Boekhout’s market insights to produce a resource that is:
- Beginner-friendly, offering clear explanations without technical jargon
- Visual, featuring charts, examples, and process diagrams
- Tailored to CEA, with content relevant to indoor farming environments
According to Isabelle van Doorn, co-author and plant scientist at greenhub, the collaboration was aimed at demystifying vertical farming and helping entrepreneurs start with a realistic, well-informed strategy. “Proud of what we made together,” van Doorn noted on LinkedIn. “The guide brings together Rebekka’s deep industry insight and our hands-on experience working with real growers and systems.”
Highlights from greenhub’s Guide: From Concept to Commercial Viability
The whitepaper outlines core concepts to consider when launching a vertical farm, including:
- Crop selection and climate matching
- Technical and economic assessments
- Business models and go-to-market strategies
- Yield expectations and KPI benchmarks
- Proof-of-concept planning before scaling
A key theme throughout is starting small with a proof-of-concept to validate assumptions before making large investments. This allows growers to troubleshoot early, better understand costs, and ensure their crops meet market demand.
“Most vertical farms didn’t fail because the concept was flawed,” the guide notes, “but because they scaled too fast without the right foundation.”
Resource for Farmers, Developers, and Agri-Entrepreneurs
In addition to technical guidance, the guide covers decisions around automation, system design, and operational trade-offs. It provides detailed breakdowns for:
- Matching crops to growing systems
- Calculating energy, water, and labor inputs
- Building brand and sales strategies across B2B, retail, and direct-to-consumer models
The document is intended not only for aspiring vertical farmers but also for researchers, suppliers, and agtech professionals evaluating commercial indoor farming projects.
Download and Next Steps
This is the first in a series of planned insights from greenhub, with more chapters to be released over time. Sneak Peek #1 of “I Want to Start a Vertical Farm” is available as a free download:
