Key Takeaways
- CEO Marc Oshima emphasized the importance of customer experience and tailored support to drive product adoption.
- Babylon Microfarms is focusing on four key verticals: healthcare, education, corporate dining, and hospitality.
- The company operates over 350 farms across five countries, including high-profile locations like the Mayo Clinic, LinkedIn, and JW Marriott.
- Automation and human interaction are balanced to enhance user engagement and simplify farm operation.
- Partnerships and educational outreach are central to Babylon Microfarms’ long-term growth and industry positioning.
Marc Oshima Highlights Babylon Microfarms’ Growing Global Footprint
Expanding Reach Through B2B Partnerships
Speaking on the Vertical Farming Podcast, CEO Marc Oshima outlined Babylon Microfarms‘ expanding footprint. Operating in five countries with over 350 farms, the company focuses on B2B clients across key sectors. These include senior care, where installations in dining rooms have boosted leafy greens consumption by 35%, as well as corporate offices, hotels, and educational institutions.
From Whole Foods to Cruise Ships
Oshima also referenced his past experience at AeroFarms and how lessons learned have shaped his current leadership approach. Notably, the company’s technology now powers farms in diverse environments, including cruise ships, emphasizing operational autonomy and flexibility.
Marc Oshima Discusses Product Innovation and Customer Experience
Combining Automation with Human Touch
While automation plays a critical role, Babylon Microfarms integrates user-friendly interfaces to foster human engagement. Customers receive guidance on planting and harvesting through the Babylon IQ platform, ensuring successful growing experiences.
“At the end of the day, it’s about creating a connection to food,” said Oshima. He emphasized the farm-to-table experience, citing real-world examples from school cafeterias to hotel bars where herbs are grown on-site for immediate culinary use.
Product Pipeline Includes Tomatoes and Specialty Peppers
Oshima shared insights on product development, noting commercial recipes for 45 crop varieties including leafy greens, herbs, microgreens, and edible flowers. Tomatoes and peppers are expected to be added soon, while customer requests for additional crops, such as strawberries, are being considered with a focus on scale and feasibility.
Marc Oshima on Leadership, Strategy, and Industry Collaboration
Emphasizing Focus and Streamlined Operations
As a new CEO, Oshima has prioritized aligning the organization around clear objectives. He noted the importance of focus in emerging companies and has refined the company’s mission and values while reinforcing OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to improve cross-departmental collaboration.
“Our approach is about focus and impact,” he explained. “We’re concentrating on the verticals where we have demonstrated success.”
Investing in Sales and Customer Support
With a 40-person team, Babylon Microfarms is increasing investment in sales to capitalize on growth opportunities. Customer acquisition cost and lifetime value analysis revealed room to scale, especially through deepening relationships with large food management companies.
Industry Collaboration and the Future of Indoor Farming
Partnering to Scale Awareness and Policy Support
Oshima also addressed the broader controlled environment agriculture (CEA) landscape. As a founding member and former chair of the CEA Alliance, he underlined the importance of collective industry voices in discussions with policymakers. Babylon Microfarms recently hosted government representatives as part of its engagement strategy.
Building the Next Generation of Farmers
Oshima stressed workforce development as a critical challenge. He pointed to internship programs and partnerships with global organizations to help address talent pipeline needs for horticulture and agtech.
Marc Oshima Looks Ahead to International Expansion
Scaling Globally and Engaging Communities
Looking ahead, Oshima shared that Babylon Microfarms will continue expanding internationally, with upcoming events planned in Chicago and Dubai. The company also aims to grow its presence in culturally relevant markets, citing examples of schools growing ingredients for dishes like Vietnamese banh mi and culturally relevant produce for diverse student populations.
“The closer we get to food, the more excitement we can create,” he said, highlighting hyperlocal growing and community engagement as key themes in the company’s vision.
