Key Takeaways
- Stefan Hey, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer, explains how the company develops technology and software to support large-scale strawberry production.
- vGreens specializes in vertical farming of strawberries, using controlled environments to optimize yield and quality.
- vGreens partners with engineering companies and retailers, providing expertise in crop management and farm operations.
- The company plans to expand into Singapore, focusing on tissue culture and plant material production to ensure year-round supply.
- Hey discusses future opportunities in vertical farming, including potential new crops such as melons, blueberries, and raspberries.
A Conversation With Stefan Hey: vGreens Focusing on Strawberries in Vertical Farming
In a conversation with Harry Duran on the Vertical Farming Podcast, Stefan Hey, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of vGreens, shared insights into the company’s focus on indoor strawberry farming.
Unlike many vertical farms that focus on leafy greens and herbs, vGreens saw an opportunity to develop fruiting crops in controlled environments. The decision to specialize in strawberries was based on:
- Compact plant structure – Suitable for vertical farming.
- High perishability – Indoor-grown strawberries ensure fresher produce with a longer shelf life.
- Non-climacteric ripening – Strawberries do not ripen after harvest, making proximity to consumers essential.
“We didn’t want to be another company growing leafy greens where others were already far ahead. Instead, we focused on fruiting crops, and strawberries made perfect sense.”
The Role of R&D in Farm Development
Building a Prototype Farm for Research
Hey detailed vGreens’ early experiments with strawberry cultivation, explaining that the company built a small-scale R&D farm to test:
- Different strawberry varieties.
- Optimal growing conditions.
- Environmental controls and plant response.
This prototype facility, with a production capacity of four tons per year, served as a testing ground before scaling up to a commercial operation.
“You saw our very first prototype—a farm we built using whatever materials we could find. It was a crucial step in developing our approach.”
Key Learnings from the R&D Farm
One of the biggest challenges of indoor strawberry farming is maintaining the right balance between vegetative and generative growth. Hey emphasized that:
- Strawberries require precise environmental control to prevent the plants from becoming too vegetative or too generative.
- Growing systems must be flexible, allowing farmers to adjust plant conditions as needed.
- Every engineering decision is made with the plant in mind, rather than simply optimizing the system for efficiency.
“The plant is at the center of everything we do. We design our growing systems around its needs, not the other way around.”
Scaling Up: vGreens’ Business Model & Expansion
How vGreens Works with Partners
vGreens operates on a B2B model, collaborating with:
- Engineering companies – They handle the design and construction of vertical farms.
- Retail partners – Large supermarket chains distribute and sell the strawberries grown in vGreens farms.
- Farm operators – These are businesses that run the farms, using vGreens’ expertise and software.
“We provide layouts and software solutions, while engineering firms build the farms. The operators—often retailers—handle production and sales.”
Education & Training for Farm Operators
Hey emphasized the importance of training partners to manage vertical farms effectively.
- vGreens provides detailed onboarding and education on managing strawberry growth cycles, environmental controls, and farm logistics.
- The company works closely with retailers to ensure that the strawberries meet quality and freshness expectations.
- As indoor strawberry farming is a relatively new field, collaboration between engineers, plant scientists, and business experts is essential.
“It’s a learning process for all parties. We have to understand retail needs, and they have to understand the intricacies of plant cultivation.”
The Role of Farm Management Software
Optimizing Growth with Data & Automation
A key component of vGreens’ model is its farm management software, designed to:
- Automate key growing decisions, ensuring optimal plant growth.
- Provide real-time data on plant health and environmental conditions.
- Help operators fine-tune variables such as light, temperature, and irrigation.
“Man and machine need to work as a unit. Our software ensures farmers make the right decisions to maintain plant health and productivity.”
This data-driven approach enhances efficiency, scalability, and profitability in vertical strawberry farming.
Expanding into Asia: vGreens’ Singapore Initiative Explained By Stefan Hey
Developing Year-Round Plant Material
One of the biggest challenges in indoor strawberry farming is securing high-quality plant material year-round. To address this, vGreens is:
- Launching a research facility in Singapore, focusing on tissue culture and plant propagation.
- Developing a sterile plant material pipeline, making it easier to transport starter plants internationally.
- Ensuring that strawberry farms worldwide have access to disease-free, high-yield varieties.
“Without a stable supply of starter plants, year-round strawberry production is impossible. Our work in Singapore will solve this problem.”
Why Singapore?
- Strategic location – A gateway to the broader Asia-Pacific market.
- Favorable regulatory environment – Easier to establish R&D operations.
- High demand for premium produce – Strong potential for locally grown strawberries.
“Singapore is our entry point into the Asian market. It allows us to scale tissue culture production and supply high-quality plants globally.”
Future Growth & Industry Outlook According To Stefan Hey
What’s Next for vGreens?
Hey outlined key milestones for the company over the next 12-24 months:
- Expanding large-scale production to exceed 100 tons per year.
- Refining plant propagation methods for consistent yields.
- Exploring new fruit crops, with melons, blueberries, and raspberries as potential candidates.
“We want to scale up our farms while maintaining quality and efficiency. Expanding to 100+ tons per year is a major goal.”
The Role of Collaboration in Vertical Farming
Hey believes that collaboration across the industry will drive innovation in vertical farming.
- More partnerships with breeding companies could lead to new strawberry varieties optimized for indoor farming.
- Increased data sharing between farms would accelerate best practices and technology development.
- A broader industry shift toward fruiting crops could expand the role of vertical farming beyond leafy greens.
“The industry would benefit from more knowledge-sharing. If we collaborate, we can accelerate progress and make vertical farming more viable.”
