Chris Michlewicz, Author at Hydroponic Container Farms and Mushroom Farms - Farmbox Foods

Why Are We Wasting So Much Food?

We need to move the farms and not the food. It’s better for our environment, and growing near the end-user means the food arrives in refrigerators and on plates much quicker.

Let’s get right to the point: large-scale food waste in this day and age is completely unacceptable.

Around one-third of all food produced worldwide is lost or wasted, which is equivalent to around 1.3 billion tons of food each year. Why? With our complex logistics systems, tracking abilities and near-infinite means of communicating, how is this issue still so widespread?

Food waste happens everywhere, whether it be at the consumer level, in transit or during production. And this comes at a time when we need more food than ever to support Earth’s rapidly growing population. Many have heard that, according to the United Nations, the world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, which means that food production will need to increase by about 50 percent to meet demand. But this estimation is based on the assumption that people will continue to consume a similar diet to what they do today.

So, what can we do to resolve these long-standing issues?

Dietary changes could drastically impact food demand. As incomes rise, people often consume more meat and dairy products, which require more resources to produce than plant-based foods. If the world’s population continues to shift toward a more Western-style diet, food production will need to increase even more.

Second, grow plant-based foods NEAR THE CONSUMER! We need to move the farms and not the food. It’s better for our environment, and growing near the end-user means the food arrives in refrigerators and on plates much quicker. In short, the more time people have to eat their veggies, the less of it will be thrown away.

Third, we should be working with food recovery agencies — almost every major city has one — to make sure the food that has been produced reaches someone who can eat it.

Last year, the Feeding America network and its partners rescued 3.6 billion pounds of groceries that otherwise would have been wasted. That food went directly to meals for people facing hunger. FarmBox Foods has worked with We Don’t Waste in Denver to repurpose what the company wasn’t able to sell.

There’s little doubt that we need sizable shifts in how we do things, but the roadmap for improvement is there. We just need to follow it.

Transforming a Neighborhood with an Indoor Garden

What if traditional community gardens were expanded into indoor spaces, eliminating seasonal barriers from the equation?

Imagine for a moment having a weekly farmers’ market in your community throughout the entire year.

Most can only dream of such a scenario, as typical community gardens take root in May and close for the season in October (depending on where you live). Additionally, demand for space is persistently high and waiting lists can be years long. But what if the community garden was expanded into indoor spaces, eliminating seasonal barriers from the equation?

Residential community developers — as well as those who serve on boards that oversee the neighborhoods — know that acreage is at a premium, and dedicating enough space for a traditional farm can be a challenge.

But what if the farm took up only 320-square-feet of space?

If you’ve ever considered bringing indoor growing to your community, read on. A controlled-climate container farm could be what you’ve been looking for.

Automated container farms can be placed in urban areas, close to consumers, meaning produce can be delivered quickly, thereby reducing the carbon footprint associated with food transport and increasing accessibility to fresh, locally grown produce.

Accessibility improves the diets and overall health of property owners, and because it’s protected inside, the produce is grown without the use of harmful pesticides.

Container farms use less water and energy than traditional farms. They can operate year-round, regardless of weather conditions, by using efficient LED lighting and controlled environments to optimize growing conditions. This can result in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and water usage when compared to traditional farming methods. To take it a step further, tree seedlings can also be started in Vertical Hydroponic Farms made by FarmBox Foods and planted in the community later on, providing a full, get-your-hands-dirty experience for residents to play a part in bettering their subdivision.

Container farms can also provide educational opportunities for children and adults in the community. They can learn about sustainable farming practices, the benefits of locally grown produce, and how to grow their own food. The farms can create jobs in the community, and provide opportunities for entrepreneurship and small business development. They can also provide a new source of revenue for local farmers.

Aside from the aforementioned, a farm that operates year-round is a differentiator for housing developers who want to stand out from the rest. It shows a willingness to think critically about infrastructure that bolsters a neighborhood’s status, and it can be done for relatively little upfront cost. The farms can also be wrapped with a high-resolution design that makes it fit in with its surroundings.

Given the lengthy lifespan of container farms — 25 years or more — it’s an amenity that can become a community gathering place for decades to come.

Meeting Food Production Challenges in the Middle East Head On

Where extreme heat, water scarcity, and limited arable land pose challenges for traditional farming methods, indoor farming presents opportunities for sustainable agriculture and food production. That includes countries like In Saudi Arabia.

One of the biggest advantages of indoor farming in Saudi Arabia is the ability to grow crops year-round, regardless of the outdoor climate. With controlled environments, crops can be grown without being dependent on external weather conditions, making it possible to cultivate a wide variety of crops consistently throughout the year. This can help reduce the country’s reliance on imported fruits and vegetables and increase local food production.

Water scarcity is a critical issue in Saudi Arabia, as the country has been challenged by limited freshwater resources for decades. Indoor farming techniques such as hydroponics and aeroponics, which use significantly less water when compared to traditional soil-based farming, can be particularly advantageous in a water-scarce environment. These methods allow for precise control over water usage, leading to higher water-use efficiency and reduced water waste.

Another benefit of indoor farming in places like Saudi Arabia is the ability to cultivate crops in a pesticide-free environment. By using controlled environments, pests and diseases can be minimized or eliminated without the need for chemical pesticides, reducing the reliance on harmful chemicals and resulting in cleaner, healthier produce.

Indoor farming can also help mitigate the challenges of limited arable land in Saudi Arabia. With vertical farming, crops can be grown vertically, maximizing the use of limited space and enabling higher crop yields per square meter compared to traditional farming methods.

Perhaps the best part is container farms can be deployed where they’re needed, a move that decentralizes food production and limits emissions associated with transporting large amnounts of harvested food over long distances.

There are already some initiatives and projects in Saudi Arabia that are exploring the potential of indoor farming. The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has established the Center of Excellence for Green CEA Technologies, which focuses on research and development of indoor farming technologies. Additionally, several private companies are investing in indoor farming facilities in the country, utilizing advanced technologies and sustainable practices.

The Green Riyadh Project also offers opportunities for indoor growing, this time for trees as part of one of the “most ambitious afforestation projects in the world,” according to the government’s website. The plan is to plant more than 7.5 million trees throughout the city of Riyadh, and FarmBox Foods’ Vertical Hydroponic Farm allows for scalable tree propagation. The tree program is expected to improve air quality, reduce temperatures in the city, and encourage residents to practice a more active lifestyle, helping to meet the goals of the kingdom’s Saudi Vision 2030 initiative.

Advancements in science and technology have brought us to this point, and increased awareness of the benefits of indoor farming in the Middle East mean it will continue to gain traction in the coming years.

Farmers Adapting to Changing Times and Conditions

The shifting climate is having a big impact on the agricultural sector, and farmers around the world are being forced to adapt to numerous challenges. Here are some of the challenges that farmers are facing due to climate change:

Changing weather patterns: Climate change is causing shifts in weather patterns, leading to extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, heatwaves, and storms. These changes can damage crops, reduce yields, and affect the timing of planting and harvesting.
Water scarcity: Changing rainfall patterns can result in water scarcity, making it harder for farmers to irrigate their crops. This can lead to reduced yields and even crop failure.
Increased pests and diseases: Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns can lead to the proliferation of pests and diseases that can damage crops and reduce yields.
Soil degradation: Climate change can cause soil degradation, making it less fertile and less able to support healthy crops. This can result in lower yields and reduced food quality.
Reduced biodiversity: Climate change is causing shifts in ecosystems, which can reduce biodiversity and disrupt natural pollination cycles, leading to lower crop yields.
Financial pressures: Climate change can lead to increased costs for farmers, such as higher irrigation costs, increased pest management expenses, and greater investments in technology and infrastructure to adapt to changing conditions.

What Can We Do?

Promote sustainable farming practices: Encouraging sustainable farming practices such as conservation agriculture, crop rotation, and agroforestry can help to improve soil health and reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides. This can also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
Develop and promote drought-resistant crops: Developing crops that are more tolerant of drought conditions can help farmers adapt to changing rainfall patterns and reduce water usage.
Improve water management: Improved water management techniques, such as drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting, can help farmers to conserve water and reduce the impact of droughts.
Expand access to climate information: Providing farmers with access to reliable climate information can help them make better decisions about when to plant, what crops to grow, and how to manage their farms.
Support research and development: Investing in research and development to improve agricultural productivity, develop new crop varieties, and enhance soil health can help farmers adapt to changing conditions and improve their resilience.
Provide financial support: Providing financial support, such as subsidies or insurance, can help farmers to manage the financial risks associated with climate change and adopt new practices.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture through practices such as conservation tillage, improved nutrient management, and the use of renewable energy can help to mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture.

Innovating and Advancing Through Diversity

The word “diversity” has taken on new meaning and greater significance in recent years, with businesses incorporating goals related to diversity and inclusion into their operations. But what does it really mean, and how is it influencing the trajectory of certain industries?

While some corporations pay lip-service to the idea and implement strategies simply to check a box, its role in CEA (controlled-environment agriculture) is outsized, and there’s widespread recognition that paying closer attention to ensuring diversity in all aspects can be an asset throughout the indoor ag community via job creation, food security, education and bridging long-standing equity gaps.

A diverse workforce, for example, brings together individuals with different backgrounds and experiences, bringing fresh and unique ideas and solutions to the table. This results in increased adaptability, and a broader range of perspectives, which can undoubtedly drive business growth and success while making a positive impact.

Varied backgrounds can help identify potential risks and opportunities that may have otherwise been overlooked. Diverse teams are also more likely to engage in constructive debates and discussions, leading to more well-rounded decisions. To take it a step further, employees today seek inclusive work environments where they feel valued and respected, and such environments are more likely to result in higher levels of employee engagement and retention. In turn, those employees are also more likely to be motivated, loyal, and committed to the success of the business.

When FarmBox Foods was in its infancy, it recognized the value of bringing different perspectives to its board room, and hired Derrick Holmes, who serves as the company’s chief diversity officer. His role, in part, is to help guide our strategies and establish closer ties with communities that have traditionally been underserved and underrepresented. Providing those communities with access to nutritious food has been at the forefront of FarmBox’s business plan; the company recognizes that providing something as fundamental as food security allows a community to thrive in other ways. This is something the company wants to be a part of.

As a privately-owned company, FarmBox has flexibility to pursue projects that it feels will have generational impacts, even if they’re not as lucrative as other projects. Each individual project is meaningful in its own way, and it would be foolish to conduct operations with a one-size-fits-all approach. The technology that FarmBox Foods has developed has a unique ability to transform communities and bridge the wealth gaps that persist in the U.S. and elsewhere. Deploying container farms where they’re needed most is, in FarmBox’s estimation, not only good for business, but good for the world.

FarmBox Foods talks container farming at Indoor Ag Con

A debate that distinguished FarmBox Foods as a leader in controlled-environment agriculture drew hundreds of attendees at Indoor Ag Con in Las Vegas on Feb. 28.

Organizers for the annual indoor growing convention invited FarmBox Foods Executive Vice President Joseph Cammack to debate the pros and cons of container farming and greenhouse-based vertical farming with a representative from AeroFarms. The debate was moderated by Freight Farms’ former CEO and co-founder Brad McNamara.

While FarmBox Foods, a Colorado-based manufacturer of containerized farms, has made its name with a tech-driven Vertical Hydroponic Farm, it’s increasingly gaining attention for its start-to-finish Gourmet Mushroom Farm.

The 320-square-foot portable farms bring food production close to the consumer and incorporate sustainable growing practices into the cultivation processes. Software and specialized sensor technology enable users to program the ideal conditions for growing nutrient-dense produce.

The Gourmet Mushroom Farm is attracting considerable attention because few companies are using upcycled shipping containers to grow fungi, including lion’s mane, reishi, oysters and king trumpets. The farms are used to support grocery stores, restaurants, wholesale suppliers, community-supported agriculture programs and more.

“I’m glad people see the value in adding mushrooms to their list of offerings,” Cammack said. “Mushroom cultivation is a growing business that generates significant revenue for operations of all sizes.”

Lion’s mane mushrooms found to stimulate nerve growth, according to study

Researchers from Australia and South Korea have discovered an active compound from lion’s mane mushrooms that improves brain cell growth, enhances memory and boosts nerve growth.

The researchers purified and identified biologically new active compounds from lion’s mane — known in science circles as Hericium erinaceus — based on their ability to promote neurite outgrowth in hippocampal neurons.

If you really want to get into the weeds, take a look at the study published earlier this year in the Journal of Neurochemistry.

Other studies have identified strong neurotrophic effects, along with the identification of numerous bioactive components, including polysaccharides, erinacines, hericerins, alkaloids, steroids and many others, according to the study. Those studies showed that lion’s mane can help regulate blood sugar and reduce high blood pressure, as well as other mental and brain health applications including treating depression and improving recovery after a traumatic brain injury, according to an article in Popular Science.

Humans can consume lion’s mane in a variety of ways; Manna Restaurant in Castle Rock, Colo., recently made pulled pork sliders out of it. Powder extracts and tinctures are exploding in popularity, and compounds found in lion’s mane are even being used in skin care products.

According to the study, a promising nootropic fungus from lion’s mane has been used to treat ailments such as stomach aches and as prophylactic treatment of cancers. More research is needed to fully understand the implications of lion’s mane consumption, but advances such as the ones announced in the Journal of Neurochemistry are giving hope across multiple fields of medical study.

Lion’s mane, a mushroom that bears shaggy spines and has a crab-like consistency, traditionally grows on old or dead broadleaf tree trunks, but commercial scalability of lion’s mane is now attainable with controlled-environment agriculture. Repurposed shipping containers, in which the entire cultivation process takes place, provide the means to yield 300-400 pounds of the fungi per week. FarmBox Foods outfits the containers with a substrate mixer, steam cabinets for sterilization, a HEPA lab, incubation room and a fruiting chamber with a misting system.

Recent events highlight need for localized food production

A series of recent events have demonstrated the need for more localized food production.

Bad weather in Spain and Morocco has caused shortages, prompting several British supermarket chains to limit the amount of some fresh fruits and vegetables that customers can buy. Likewise, in the U.S., some restaurants and stores have had difficulty sourcing leafy greens due to a disease that wiped out thousands of acres of crops in California. Prices have predictably climbed to the point where people are seeking out replacement veggies. Meanwhile, severe drought continues to plague traditional farming operations.

The vulnerabilities of the worldwide supply chain were exposed for all to see when the pandemic hit in February/March 2020. CSAs — community-supported agriculture programs — quickly gained in popularity. The veggies came from nearby farming operations, and consumers were glad to support local businesses while reducing the carbon footprint associated with transporting goods.

The USDA has put renewed focus on fledgling farms and recently opened up $133 million in grant funding to support the planning and implementation of regional and local farms. The Local Agriculture Market Program — or LAMP — intends to generate “new income for small, beginning and underserved farmers and improve food access for rural and urban communities.

Decentralized food production will be a larger part of our future, and investing in the infrastructure now will help stave off the types of crises we’re currently seeing. Agtech solutions enable people with no agricultural background to begin farming in the areas where nutrient-dense food is most needed.

What Happens When There’s Not Enough Water to Go Around?

Water conservation in agriculture is a big topic of conversation as seven southwestern states try to figure out how to curb their water

Decades-old water compacts didn’t account for prolonged extreme drought conditions or the level of population growth. We need to be better about capturing and storing rain and snowmelt, but it’s obvious that cutting usage where we can is going to be key to ensuring the survivability of communities throughout the southwest. This is a very real challenge, and it’s one we’re faced with right now, before we encounter a dead pool situation that would have a catastrophic domino effect.

We’ve spent recent years figuring out how to grow food with fewer natural resources. As much as 50 percent of the water we use outdoors is lost due to wind, evaporation, and runoff caused by inefficient irrigation methods and systems. A household with an automatic landscape irrigation system that isn’t properly maintained and operated can waste up to 25,000 gallons of water annually.

The Vertical Hydroponic Farms we build are designed to limit water loss to evaporation and to get the most out of every drop of water. We capture, filter and recycle it back through our system, and you can water your outdoor plants with any nutrient-rich water that’s left over. It’s not the entire solution, but it’s one way that technology can help ease the burden on our fragile water supply.

Educating Future Generations Using Innovation, Hands-On Learning

Is there any greater gift than bestowing life-changing knowledge to younger generations?

For schools that focus on science, technology, engineering and math — or those that simply think outside the box when it comes to how they educate their students — it’s a no-brainer. The trend of implementing curriculums that emphasize hands-on learning is on an upward trajectory, and it shows no signs of slowing.

The Governor’s School of Science and Mathematics in South Carolina is a prime example of how to promote greater interest in learning among all students, including those who struggle in a traditional, straight-out-of-the-textbook setting. The high school recently began growing in a Vertical Hydroponic Farm made by FarmBox Foods that will serve as an interactive classroom for years to come. It’s housed inside an upcycled shipping container that’s been outfitted with all of the plumbing, electrical components and sensor technology needed to grow food.

Oftentimes, engagement is the key that unlocks the door to improved attentiveness, and producing something tangible hammers home the potential impacts. When a student is able to hold, say, a fresh head of lettuce that was grown via ingenuity, it can spark something greater: intense motivation to learn more. They suddenly — and satisfyingly — have used both existing and newfound knowledge of science and technology to grow fresh, nutritious food, perhaps for those who face hunger in their community. The students can literally hold the real-world impact in their hands.

GSSM’s Hydroponic Research Lab, however, isn’t necessarily centered on what it can produce, but how it produces, and, perhaps more importantly, why. It’s a venue for all-encompassing lessons in everything from civics and social responsibility to inventing new indoor farming techniques and creating avenues for environmental stewardship that previously didn’t exist. The educational promise is boundless, as are the practical applications that result.

In many respects, encouraging initial failure provides interdisciplinary opportunities for critical thinking and problem solving. GSSM’s students will have the ability to experiment with different controlled environments, study the research findings, and help answer questions about its effects on the agricultural community in its region, state and beyond. The lab will also help students to develop and standardize hydroponic research protocols for model plants used in plant science, plants of interest and plants beneficial to the area.

“The GSSM Hydroponic Research Lab provides unprecedented opportunities for students to engage in meaningful research on issues of worldwide significance right here on the GSSM campus in Hartsville, SC,” said GSSM Director of Research and Inquiry, Dr. Josh Witten. “Because this lab represents a unique research resource, it will also be a platform for GSSM students, faculty, and staff to collaborate with researchers beyond our campus. These innovative and immersive experiences are a hallmark of the GSSM education, which prepares students to become the problem solvers of tomorrow.”

The container farm contains elements of — and applications for — biology, chemistry, environmental science, engineering, computer science, robotics and economics, and is ‘being used as a teaching tool to engage their creativity,” the school said.

Creating a curriculum

Within the next 1-2 years, FarmBox Foods plans to roll out a curriculum specific to each controlled-climate farm it manufactures. The Colorado company is fortunate to be surrounded by educators of all types who have offered to contribute their expertise to the endeavor, largely because they can see the enormous potential. The goal is to create plug-and-play lesson plans that fit with current science and technology curriculums.

User-friendly automation within the Vertical Hydroponic Farm puts control in the hands of the students and teachers. For example, they can tweak the watering schedule or crank up the humidity and witness first-hand its effects on the plants, and learn precisely why it has such a big influence on the growing process. They can also explore how plants that historically haven’t been able to grow in low humidity can survive.

Higher learning

One of FarmBox Foods’ prototype hydroponic container farms was delivered to the campus of Delaware State University in Fall 2022. Consider for a moment all of the different academic disciplines and tracks that a single farm can touch, from marketing and business development to mechanics and horticulture.

“We have a lot of interested clients looking for ag-tech solutions to bring to schools,” said Michael Choi, owner of Ponix, which equips indoor farms with specialized software. “It offers a compelling story for schools — how they can work with the community, and offer things like workforce training. It’s how you program around it.”

Choi, who sold the used farm to Delaware State University, said they will use it for both food security and educational purposes.

“I’ve been working with a network of schools for many years, and that particular school wanted to move forward quickly,” he said.

Valor Christian High School, in Highlands Ranch, Colo., has a project-based learning environment that is helping to lead the next generation of agriculturists to the greener pastures of the future.

The Applied STEM Program, led by director Rick Russon, enables students to put into practice what they learn in the classroom, preparing them for successful careers in a number of industries, including agriculture. Members of Valor’s agriculture club, in particular, have an infectious enthusiasm for ideas that combine brain power with a desire to make a positive impact on the world, and it’s already leading to groundbreaking results. For their capstone project, Russon and the club members built a four-tube vertical hydroponic unit using prototype parts donated by FarmBox Foods.

The Applied STEM Program is aiming to modify the four-tube hydroponic system and build several models to bring them into food deserts to feed people in need. Valor Christian sends nearly 40 teams throughout the world each year on missions, and Russon’s hope is that they can help deploy a workable system in areas with little arable land and few natural resources.

The Valor-based vertical hydroponic setup continues to draw interest from students and faculty who want to grow their own farm-fresh greens and help others learn the science behind the hydroponic growing process.

By the numbers

The farms are housed inside an insulated, 40-foot-long shipping container
A Vertical Hydroponic Farm — or VHF — produces 200-250 lbs. of veggies each week; a Gourmet Mushroom Farm yields around 400 lbs. of mushrooms per week
The farms have a 320-square-foot footprint
A Vertical Hydroponic Farm can grow approximately 8,000 plants in various stages of growth simultaneously (4,100 in the grow walls, 3,800+ in the seed table)
Because of its ability to capture, filter and recycle water, the Vertical Hydroponic Farm uses around 5 gallons of water per day
The VHF yields the equivalent of approximately 2.5 acres of farmland annually
The VHF grows peppers, grape/cherry tomatoes, microgreens, tree seedlings, as well as a variety of leafy greens, like lettuce, kale, cabbage and culinary herbs
Estimated labor required for a VHF is 15-20 hours per week. Labor for the Gourmet Mushroom Farm is about 30 hours per week