Key Takeaways:
- FarmBox, led by COO Jacob Savageau, pioneers shipping container farms designed for vertical hydroponic and gourmet mushroom cultivation, providing resilient food production solutions.
- FarmBox’s product lineup includes diverse models such as vertical hydroponic farms, gourmet mushroom farms, and fodder systems, tailored for sustainable and efficient agriculture.
- The company’s commitment to community impact and mission-led operations underpins its business, with a focus on education, sustainable food access, and job creation.
- FarmBox has expanded significantly through self-funding, building strategic partnerships like a recent licensing agreement with New Age that will facilitate scaling in the coming years.
Innovative Solutions for Vertical Farming
In a recent episode of the Vertical Farming Podcast, host Harry Durran spoke with Jacob Savageau, COO of FarmBox Foods, a company at the forefront of shipping container-based farming solutions. FarmBox, which began in 2017, originally explored using shipping containers as affordable housing but transitioned to agriculture after a warehouse tour inspired a shift towards modular farming. Since then, FarmBox has grown into a self-funded leader in modular agriculture, offering cutting-edge container farms that allow year-round crop production even in challenging environments.
Savageau elaborated on the range of products FarmBox offers. The company’s first model was a Vertical Hydroponic Farm (VHF), designed for crops like leafy greens and herbs, which has since seen multiple iterations. FarmBox also developed the Gourmet Mushroom Farm (GMF), an enclosed, climate-controlled unit tailored for mushroom cultivation, equipped with a specialized HVAC system and compartmentalized rooms. FarmBox’s Fodder System supports livestock feed production, yielding approximately 900 pounds daily and designed to address water scarcity, a critical challenge in agriculture.
Navigating Challenges and Scaling for Growth
Savageau shared that FarmBox’s journey has been one of adaptation and resilience. While the company faced typical startup challenges, COVID-19 presented additional hurdles. FarmBox’s reliance on a robust supply chain through its partnership with RK Mechanical, a major Colorado-based engineering firm, allowed the company to navigate these disruptions effectively. As a self-funded company, FarmBox has maintained control over its growth, choosing to scale at a manageable pace rather than chase external investment.
Reflecting on FarmBox’s future, Jacob Savageau mentioned an exciting licensing agreement with New Age. This partnership will enable the purchase of an increasing number of container farms annually, marking a significant scaling opportunity for FarmBox as it transitions from its current production capacity to a higher level of commercial output.
A Community-Centric Mission
More than just a business, FarmBox operates with a mission-led approach. Jacob Savageau emphasized that community impact is central to FarmBox’s ethos, including initiatives in under-resourced areas, educational outreach, and sustainable job creation. FarmBox works closely with local communities, schools, and even international partners, aiming to make a meaningful difference through food security and education. Recently, a FarmBox unit installed at a school inspired a high-risk youth to remain enrolled, a story that Savageau and his team regard as evidence of their broader social impact.
“Food education and access are at the heart of what we do,” said Jacob Savageau. FarmBox containers support these goals by providing fresh, organic produce in areas where access is limited. Through partnerships, FarmBox is also tackling reforestation, using its containers to cultivate trees for restoration projects—a new application that Savageau hopes will address environmental degradation.
