Intelligent Growth Solutions & Empire State Greenhouses Announce Carbon-Negative “GigaFarm” in New York

Key Takeaways:

• Empire State Greenhouses (ESG) and Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) to construct a 385,000 square-foot, carbon-negative “GigaFarm” in Cobleskill, New York.
• The facility will integrate 100 vertical farming Growth Towers and renewable energy systems to produce over 8 million pounds of fresh produce annually.
• Up to 50 different crops will be grown using water-efficient and renewable technologies, minimizing environmental impact.
• The project will generate over 150 full-time jobs, 600 indirect jobs, and educational opportunities for students at nearby SUNY Cobleskill.

Overview of the GigaFarm Project

Empire State Greenhouses (ESG), in collaboration with vertical farming technology provider Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), has announced plans to build a state-of-the-art, carbon-negative facility in Cobleskill, New York. The 385,000 square-foot “GigaFarm” will employ advanced vertical farming technology and a circular production model to address the environmental challenges of modern agriculture.

The facility will house 100 IGS Growth Towers, integrated with on-site renewable energy systems, including solar PV, energy storage, combined heat and power, and a gasifier. These systems will reduce energy costs and help eliminate one-third of the cost of food production associated with energy usage.

Sustainable and Scalable Production

When fully operational, the GigaFarm will produce over 8 million pounds of fresh produce annually, including 6.4 million pounds from the vertical farm and an additional 1.6 million pounds from greenhouses. Up to 50 different crop types will be grown in a controlled environment, ensuring year-round availability of fresh, high-quality produce with reduced food miles.

The facility is designed to be 98% water-efficient and will leverage renewable energy and Food-Energy-Waste (FEW) systems to create a circular and climate-resilient agricultural model.

Leadership Perspectives

Louis Ferro, President and Chairman of ESG, emphasized the significance of this project: “The state of global agriculture is at a crossroads between climate change, land and water resources, and rising populations, posing an increasing challenge to our ability to feed ourselves. Agriculture and energy are inextricably linked, and until energy for CEA farming becomes predominantly renewable, agriculture will continue to be a leading cause of climate change—representing part of the problem rather than the solution. Working closely with IGS, we are building a new paradigm in agriculture, integrating our on-site renewable energy Food-Energy-Waste systems with state-of-the-art advanced technologies. This is a new type of farming, built on a circular economy model, creating a resilient food system with a carbon-negative footprint.”

Andrew Lloyd, CEO of IGS, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration: “IGS is delighted to partner with ESG on this groundbreaking project. From the outset, both our organizations have shared a holistic vision of vertical farming—one that unites cutting-edge technology with robust, renewable energy systems. By coupling IGS’s scalable vertical farming infrastructure with ESG’s circular approach and on-site renewable energy solutions, we’re creating a resilient, carbon-negative model for U.S. agriculture, capable of delivering fresh, local produce to communities year-round.”

Intelligent Growth Solutions Latest News

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Intelligent Growth Solutions has raised £22.5 million in a Series C funding round to expand its vertical farming technology globally. The funding was led by institutional investors and private shareholders. The company is collaborating with Dubai-based ReFarm to build a GigaFarm in the UAE, aiming to replace 1% of UAE’s food imports and recycle over 50,000 tonnes of food waste. The company is also undergoing leadership changes, with Andrew Lloyd taking over as CEO and Sonya Hotson joining as full-time CFO. The year ahead is expected to be transformational for IGS.

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IGS and ReFarm will build GigaFarm, a 900,000 sq. ft. facility in Dubai, using circularity, clean technologies, and six technologies for efficient resource use. The project aims to recycle food waste and grow over three million kilos of produce annually, contributing to UAE’s food security and reducing food imports by 1%.

Read more here.

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Image provided by IGS