Key Takeaways
- GyroPlant reported results from a multi-year collaboration with Dole focused on substrate-free propagation.
- Trials covered lettuce, kale, strawberries, and blueberries in vertical and indoor farming systems.
- GyroPlant’s reusable GyroCup™ and GyroSnap™ technologies matched or outperformed traditional substrates.
- The project showed potential for waste reduction, improved root development, and lower carbon footprint.
- Dole and GyroPlant plan to continue collaboration through expanded commercial pilots.
GyroPlant Validates Substrate-Free Propagation in Collaboration With Dole
GyroPlant has announced results from a multi-year collaboration with Dole demonstrating that reusable, substrate-free propagation technology can support commercial-scale production across multiple crops. The work was conducted through Dole’s Future of Food team and focused on evaluating GyroPlant’s GyroCup™ and GyroSnap™ systems in vertical farming and indoor growing environments.
The collaboration involved four major trials comparing GyroPlant’s substrate-free approach with conventional substrates such as rockwool and coir. According to the companies, the results showed that substrate-free propagation can deliver comparable or improved outcomes while reducing waste and reliance on single-use growing media.
Key Findings Across Leafy Greens and Berries
The trials showed consistent germination rates for lettuce and kale grown without substrates, provided moisture levels were properly managed during early emergence. These results matched performance observed with rockwool and coir.
In strawberries, GyroPlant and Dole successfully rooted runners entirely substrate-free, growing them into both daughter and mother plants and bringing them through to fruiting inside Dole’s vertical farm. The companies described this as a significant milestone for substrate-free berry production.
Blueberry cuttings from two commercial varieties also showed strong early survival rates and root initiation using GyroCup™, indicating potential for peat-free propagation protocols in berry crops.
Across all crops, GyroPlant reported stronger root systems associated with the GyroCup™ design. Its open and flexible structure supported rapid root expansion, improved humidity retention, and resilience during irrigation cycles.
GyroPlant Develops Circular and Automation-Ready Propagation Workflows
In parallel with the horticultural trials, GyroPlant developed automation-compatible workflows to support large-scale indoor farming operations. These included robotic seedling transplanting, automated cleaning and reuse processes, and new tray systems tailored for leafy greens and berry crops.
The company also designed eight new GyroCup™ variants to support multi-crop workflows, ranging from leafy greens to fruiting crops and legumes. These developments position GyroPlant’s system as a circular, repeat-use propagation solution that can integrate into both small-scale and industrial automation environments.
Continued Collaboration and Commercial Pilots
Dole and GyroPlant plan to continue working together on next-phase commercial pilots. Planned activities include larger-scale vertical farm trials, further automation of cleaning and reuse cycles, development of regional berry propagation hubs, and evaluation of additional use cases across Dole’s broader business.
“This collaboration has shown the versatility and potential of GyroPlant’s technology across multiple crops and growing processes,” the Dole Future of Food team stated. “As we continue to explore substrate solutions, GyroCup aligns strongly with our innovation and sustainability objectives.”
