Key Takeaways:
- ekō Solutions’ partnership with anu™ focuses on creating modular aeroponic systems housed in shipping containers, designed to help address food insecurity, food deserts, and disaster relief.
- The partnership with anu™ combines ekō’s manufacturing expertise with anu™’s advancements in plant science, particularly rotary aeroponics.
- Their prototype is already in its second harvest, with future revisions focused on automation, modularity, and improving performance in high-heat environments.
- The containers can grow a variety of crops and are targeted at universities, food banks, restaurants, and other large-scale organizations.
- The company aims to scale its units with a focus on mobility, easy setup, and affordability.
Addressing Food Insecurity through Modular Farming Solutions
In the face of growing concerns about food deserts, climate change, and disaster relief, ekō Solutions LLC, a subsidiary of Land Betterment, is collaborating with anu™ to create a scalable, modular farming solution. Their primary innovation is a self-contained aeroponic system housed in 20-foot shipping containers, which can be quickly deployed and set up in areas with food insecurity or disaster-stricken regions.
The system, developed over the last three years, is now in its second harvest and aims to provide a sustainable and efficient solution for growing a variety of crops. “Food banks, food deserts, and areas of need are where we see these containers having the biggest immediate impact,” said Peter Rodriguez, President of ekō Solutions LLC. He also noted the potential for deploying the units in disaster relief scenarios, especially as changing weather patterns create new challenges for food production.
Combining Expertise for Efficient Farming Solutions
The partnership between ekō Solutions and anu™ is strategic, leveraging each company’s strengths to create a robust, commercialized product. Ekō brings its extensive background in manu™facturing and construction, having worked on projects ranging from automotive manu™facturing to custom residential and commercial construction projects. anu™, on the other hand, contributes cutting-edge plant science, particularly their rotary aeroponics technology, which was significantly ahead of what ekō had originally developed.
“Our partnership with anu™ allowed us to take a giant leap forward,” Rodriguez explained, adding that ekō’s manu™facturing expertise and anu™’s advanced plant science “was a marriage written in the books.” The companies collaborated closely to build their first prototype, which took about 12 months from initial conversation to final product. This first iteration has already gone through two harvest cycles, some of which have been used for research and some donated to local need based organizations.
Next Steps: Scaling, Automation, and Diverse Crop Options
Following the successful prototype, ekō Solutions is refining its containers for more automated operations and improved performance in high-heat environments, such as Arizona, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. The team is also working on increasing the modularity of their systems to meet specific customer needs. The containers can grow a range of crops, including leafy greens, herbs, and even some flowering plants.
Rodriguez explained that each container can support up to 3,920 plant sites, making them well-suited for institutions like universities, food banks, and restaurants, which require large volumes of fresh produce. “It’s all about providing a product that is versatile and scalable for different needs,” he said. Ekō Solutions is currently working with distribution partners and strategic customers, aiming to develop partnerships with 20 to 50 initial clients by the end of the year.
Unique Position in a Competitive Market
In a competitive indoor farming market, ekō Solutions and anu™ are differentiating themselves through their modular, mobile units. Rodriguez highlighted that many competitors in the indoor farming space are heavily vertically integrated, which can sometimes slow down innovation. ekō’s modular system, which can be deployed within an hour, offers flexibility that many others don’t.
“Our unit can be set up on a trailer and brought to a location, plugged in, and be ready to go within an hour,” Rodriguez said. This mobility is particularly important for disaster relief and remote areas. Additionally, ekō Solutions’ process saves on labor costs, as there is no need for transplanting—plants grow directly from seed pods developed by anu™.
Looking Forward: Expanding Reach and Product Development
ekō Solutions and anu™ have big plans for the future. By the end of 2024, they expect to have their next revision of the unit ready for the market, while also expanding their customer base. In the next year, the company aims to deploy 100 units and scale further from there. The focus will be on the Midwest and Southern regions of the U.S., where ekō already has established partnerships.
Looking ahead to 2030, Rodriguez envisions ekō Solutions deploying hundreds, if not thousands, of units globally. They also plan to further expand their product line to include smaller, more customizable solutions, such as five-tower units for smaller-scale operations.
With a growing demand for modular, sustainable, and efficient indoor farming solutions, the partnership between ekō Solutions and anu™ is well-positioned to address key issues in food production, both in the U.S. and around the world.