Nature’s Miracle has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with “UFO” (Urban Farm Organization) to open indoor farms with stores in urban areas of America. Under the MOU, Nature’s Miracle will provide technical expertise to design and build vertical farms as well as offer hardware and software to complete the construction within an urban setting. The UFO organization is identifying urban locations suitable for indoor farms and advising on obtaining private and public financing to build such facilities. Both sides are working on a pilot project with USC/Keck Hospital at Verdugo Hills as the first vertical farm at a hospital.
Nature’s Miracle Holdings Inc. stated that it has established an MOU with UFO to develop indoor farms and stores in metropolitan regions of America that provide the inhabitants with fresh veggies straight from the farm to their plates. According to the MOU, Nature’s Miracle will supply hardware and software as well as technical know-how to design and install vertical farms in an urban environment.
Tie “James” Li, founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Nature’s Miracle, stated: “We are pleased to join with UFO in bringing vertical farming solutions to urban America. “Fresh and reasonably priced veggies will be available in local markets thanks to a vertical farm situated in America’s cities and population hubs. These facilities are designed to lower the cost of transporting food to metropolitan regions in America and lower carbon emissions.”
The UFO group is helping to locate metropolitan areas that are suited for indoor farms and is offering advice on how to get both private and governmental funding to construct such facilities. Initial prototype projects involve transforming a 50,000-square-foot building in Los Angeles and a 15,000-square-foot retail space into vertical farms and stores with the UFO brand. Additionally, a pilot project with USC/Keck Hospital is being developed by both parties which may constitute the first vertical farm in a hospital.
“We believe we would be better able to realize our goal by collaborating with Nature’s Miracle, a top Controlled Environment Agriculture firm,” stated George Goldstein, the UFO’s founder, and CEO. “We intend to raise the value of the commercial assets as well as provide urban residents with sustainable food supply by introducing the vertical farm to underutilized commercial real estate.”
Image provided by Rauf Allahverdiyev
