"In India, saffron production has plummeted from 16-20 metric tons 25 years ago to less than 3 metric tons in 2023. This pattern is consistent globally. With traditional saffron cultivation struggling against increasing climate challenges and environmental degradation," says Avanish Goel, Founder and CEO of Vertigold Farms.
A small change for better yields
Battling the growing pain points for outdoor growing, Avanish is set to remedy the seasonality and fragility of the product by moving large chunks of production indoors. "Traditional saffron farming requires early flower plucking, often before sunrise, to avoid air pollution and direct sunlight. However, this hasty plucking reduces the stigma's full growth, directly impacting yield," he explains. Whereas with vertical farming, Avanish and his team can harvest saffron flowers at optimal maturity, about two days after blooming. "This small change has resulted in larger, thicker saffron stigmas, leading to a significant increase in yield."
As saffron harvesting is a rather tricky practice, the Vertigold founder has come up with a new kind of plucking method that avoids damaging the saffron bud. "Traditionally, the flower is cut horizontally, which blocks the path for a second flower to emerge." However, by pulling the flower gently, Avanish ensures the bud remains open for additional blossoms, further boosting productivity.
Post-flowering and bulb caretaking
However, saffron has to be dealt with carefully throughout its entire growing cycle. "In saffron farming, timing is critical, even after flowering." Avanish emphasizes that saffron bulbs must be re-soiled within two to four days after the flowering season ends to prevent weight loss, which negatively affects their growth for the following season. "Delaying this process causes the bulbs to lose weight rapidly, impacting their vegetative growth and next season's yield," he explains.
At Vertigold Farms, the teams have optimized the depth at which bulbs are replanted, ensuring they are buried 15-20 cm deep to promote proper development. These post-harvest practices are crucial for maintaining high productivity, especially as saffron bulbs are the key to future seasons' growth.
Market shifts
Globally, saffron production has continued to decline, Avanish has noticed, particularly in regions that are still reliant on traditional methods. Recognizing this as a great opportunity for aeroponic saffron farming, Avanish says, "The discrepancy between supply and demand presents a huge opportunity for indoor farming. The industry is still in its nascent stage, but the potential to meet this growing gap is tremendous."
On top of that, saffron is widely known for its medicinal properties. Therefore, Vertigold is slightly shifting focus toward promoting saffron as a health booster rather than just a culinary ingredient, given it has numerous health benefits. They've been focusing on marketing this health benefit heavily in the past periods. "As awareness grows, the market potential, both domestically and globally, will expand."
Maintaining quality
As competition in the saffron industry rises, ensuring the quality of saffron becomes paramount. Yet, Avanish believes that saffron grown in controlled, pollutant-free environments will always stand out. "Our saffron consistently meets or exceeds the high thresholds set for compounds like Crocin, Picrocrocin, and Safranal, which are key indicators of saffron's quality."
In addition to superior quality, Vertigold Farms has also made investments in branding and marketing. With a focus on saffron's health benefits, the company is positioning itself as a leader in the retail space, differentiating its products from those of traditional farmers.
A growing potential
Looking ahead, Avanish sees great potential in India's saffron farming industry, particularly with the rise of new technologies like vertical farming. While there are challenges, such as the availability of high-quality saffron bulbs, Avanish believes these can be addressed through government support and increased regulation.
"The future of indoor saffron vertical farming is bright. Kashmir saffron is considered the best in the world, but its declining productivity opens up space for indoor farmers to fill the gap. The demand for high-quality saffron is growing, and we have the opportunity to reinvent the saffron industry," Avanish concludes.
For more information:
Vertigold Farms 
[email protected]
www.vertigoldfarms.com