Vertical farming company Growy is on a mission to feed the world
Amid global challenges of sustainability, food safety, and urbanisation, Growy, an Amsterdam-based vertical farming company, is on the quest to provide local and affordable food for all. Offering a glimpse into the future of agriculture, I amsterdam paid a visit to Amsterdam’s leading vertical farm to explore the journey of Ard van de Kreeke, founder and farmer of Growy, to delve into the world of next-level farming.
Next-level farming
As the world grapples with the challenges of sustainability, food safety, and human health, ensuring food security has become an increasingly pressing global concern.
Enter Growy, dubbed the "Next-Level Farm," where farming meets cutting-edge technology in the quest for sustainable food production. Here, in the industrial area of Amsterdam’s Zuid Oost district, an urban oasis is alive with microgreens, herbs and flowers, meticulously cultivated under closely monitored conditions.
So, what is Growy?
In 2019, Van de Kreeke seized the opportunity to take over an old vertical farm Growx, previously owned by AKF, transforming the space into a state-of-the-art vertical farming venture. Recognising the prospects of vertical farming to address future food needs, Van de Kreeke’s goal with Growy was clear: to provide the world with tasty, affordable, and healthy food for all.
Today, Growy operates as the first large-scale commercially viable vertical farm in the Netherlands. A farm where plants grow vertically, reaching for the sky instead of spreading out across fields. Powered by an all-Dutch, AI-driven, fully automated system, the farm operates seamlessly from seeding to packaging. With just one employee needed for occasional checks and maintenance, all operations are centrally monitored from Amsterdam.
With climate change affecting outdoor agriculture, Growy aims to offer high-tech but straightforward and inexpensive farming solutions.
Microgreens, macro mission
Ard began his career with a decade of experience in organic farming in Zeeland, in the southwest of Holland. Prior to founding Growy, he had ventures in biofuel trading and recycling companies that traded globally.
In fact, the goal is much more practical. Growy aims to tackle global food sustainability challenges while delivering accessible, high-quality and nutritious food. Specialising in salads, herbs, and microgreens, Van de Kreeke prioritises net-zero practices, growing pesticide-free produce using organic waste for water, nutrients, and energy.
Beyond this, the company invests in research and development to further advance their growing systems and technology. Imagine cameras on every plant, monitoring 24/7 for ideal nutrients and growth conditions. Teaming up with Wageningen University, they focus on improving growth, minimising waste, and improving energy efficiency.
“The only reason we build tech is to produce affordable foods for consumers, in mass.” Ard emphasises. Stressing the importance of research, he underscores the priority collaboration takes within Growy’s mission to work alongside leading research universities and tackle agricultural issues effectively.
Amsterdam: where good grows better
Since its founding, Growy has rapidly expanded from five to 70 team members in just two years, with plans to move into a new facility in the CTPark building at the Port of Amsterdam. This move represents a significant milestone for the company, signalling its next phase of growth, with plans to integrate robotics and vertical farming on a much larger scale.
Van de Kreeke highlights Amsterdam's creative and open-minded atmosphere, crucial to its thriving startup culture. According to him, Amsterdam's lifestyle culture attracts top talent, particularly in high-tech fields, facilitating competition for international talent.
A farmer’s mindset in every role
For Growy, culture is vital. The company values individuals who blend high-tech expertise with down-to-earth openness. For Ard, the importance of nurturing a farmer's mindset, even in high-tech roles is key. To uphold this grounded approach, Growy steers clear of C-level titles, with all employees bearing the title of "Farmer."
Growy's diverse team, comprising over 20 nationalities, includes AI data scientists and skilled electronic engineers, all collaborating on Dutch-designed technology in-house. Ard adds, “Here, the whole world is represented.”
"The sky’s the limit"
As we wrap up our conversation, it’s clear that over the course of its growth, Growy has matured through milestones and challenges into a disruptive model that has garnered attention and support from investors and industry experts worldwide.
A fusion of tradition and technology, Growy's commitment to affordable, healthy food remains unwavering, propelling its expansion and future growth in the landscape of vertical farming. Summing up, Laura Van de Kreeke, Growy farmer and Ard’s daughter, concludes:
