The smart modular indoor farms are powered by a patented IoT platform that remotely controls the farm’s ecosystem
The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) announced that CIT GAP Funds has invested in US-based on-demand indoor farming service provider Babylon Micro-Farms.
Based in Charlottesville of Virginia, Babylon Micro-Farms is involved in the development of advanced technology for a new generation of decentralised urban farms.
Established in 2017, Babylon Micro-Farms is working to help small growers and businesses access sustainable indoor farming by taking control of their fresh organic produce supply with a variety of scalable indoor farming modules.
Babylon to grow fresh produce two times faster and use 90% less water compared against traditional agriculture
Babylon is planning to use the investment for the expansion of its operations with new hires in product, sales, and marketing.
As per the data from the Organic Produce Network (OPN), the sales of organic fresh produce increased by 8.6% to total of $5.6bn in 2018.
Babylon’s micro-farms are said to grow fresh produce two times faster and use 90% less water compared against traditional agriculture. Its micro-farms also avoid the use of pesticides or harmful chemicals.
The smart modular indoor farms are supported by a patented IoT platform, which remotely controls the ecosystem of the farm and meets the customer requirements.
The firm’s easy to use application guides farmers through each step from starting with when to plant. It also offers live data and farm health alerts, as well as includes watering and harvesting schedule.
Babylon Micro-Farms co-founder and CEO Alexander Olesen said: “The idea for Babylon Micro-Farms was born in a social entrepreneurship class at UVA when a professor asked my co-founder Graham and I to develop a high impact, low-cost product that could help refugees. I quickly discovered and became interested in hydroponics, a way to grow plants without soil, use less water, and grow crops faster.
“Our mission is to develop technology that will inspire a new generation of urban farmers to grow their own fresh, affordable, sustainable produce at the push of a button. We are grateful for the support of CIT GAP funds at this stage of our development.”