"Ideally, we envision a radical system shift, one where we feed the world through food forests and permaculture," says John van der Sluis, Co-founder of Sustainable Indoor Farming, a Dutch initiative based in the Netherlands. While acknowledging this may take another fifty years to achieve, he's convinced it's, eventually, feasible.
"We still need significant R&D investment before implementing it. For now, we're focused on exploring its potential." Together with partners Willem Kemmers and Jeffrey van Noord, he is dedicating time and resources to developing 'out-of-the-box' solutions. At their Bergen op Zoom facility, the founders aim to demonstrate the possibilities, and beyond, of indoor farming.
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Willem Kemmers and John van der Sluis pictured at the Bergen op Zoom facility
With multiple undergoing trials, SIF is poised to impact the industry at a new level. "We're focusing on the crop potential rather than the cost price." Currently, growing catnip on peat-free substrate, chrysanthemums benefiting their own waste streams, jack beans are trialed for the home dialysis of kidney patients, and other tests are based on salt-tolerant vegetables. Despite the warehouse being used at full capacity, John explains that they are running out of space already. "Yet, companies are still welcome to reach out." They've already received an offer to establish a location elsewhere. "I see only more opportunities on the horizon," John adds.
Yet, on a realistic note, "We're dependent on government policies too," John says. "If they keep cutting back on pesticides, for instance, as well as the ongoing fluctuating energy prices." Such developments can either support or challenge projects, as they add to the overall cost of the business case.
Chrysanthemums
Technicality vs costs
In comparison to 'most research labs', SIF first dives into the technicality of a research trial. "Is it technically possible to grow crop A or B is the first question we ask ourselves, rather than the financial picture of it." With a preference for food crops, the founders are mainly zooming in on the production of active plant compounds. Lowering the threshold for small-scale research is the main reason that motivates John and Willem to keep pushing this initiative. For ornamental plant research, SIF is not primarily increasing production, but instead finding ways to grow with less artificial fertilizers and pesticides.
The SIF founders chose to use regular vertical farming techniques instead of super-high-tech to stay 'realistic'. Deploying systems from various suppliers such as Bever Innovations, Logiqs and more, "SIF can run tests at a low-profile scale," John claims, referring to their facility as the 'playground'.
An ongoing sea banana trial
"Our largest setup is a small setup"
Willem points out that it's precisely the choice for large-scale, high-tech setups that resulted in vertical farms going bust over the past few years. "If you're a large operator, the current energy prices make energy costs skyrocket. Our largest setup is still a small setup."
The entrepreneurs currently work with 22 growing tables, each covering six square meters, which makes it ideal for decentralized cultivation or a hybrid approach with indoor propagation followed by outdoor cultivation. "Or vice versa, like with sea beans, which start their first phase outdoors and are then harvested indoors," John explains. Having conducted numerous trials, there's an obvious common thread: 'avoiding basic research on basic crops'. "Moving away from monocultures will demonstrate much more viable business cases," John stresses.
Talking with them reveals that they've already conducted numerous trials. The common thread: intentionally avoiding standard research on standard, larger crops. John says, "I think we need to move away from large monocultures."
Samphire grown indoors
Introducing community gardens as part of CSR
As John describes it, SIF aims to launch a community garden project to potentially extend the growing season in partnership with a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) business. Willem adds, "Indoor farming can be sensitive in such a community. With CSA, you could say we're trying to bring together the wizard and the prophet, much like the ongoing debates around the future of Dutch agriculture."
Moving away from 'traditional thinking'
"We're not hardcore system developers. Quite the opposite, really. Instead, we're keen to trial with various systems," Willem emphasizes. The Logiqs system used at SIF was formerly deployed at the Floriade Expore in Almere, the Netherlands. The largest chunk of the cultivation system uses LED lighting which was initially developed for strawberry cultivation, but as Willem notes, "The light intensity can easily be altered, and if required, we'll always have backup lighting."
"At SIF, they're likely more comfortable with simpler forms of vertical farming, like chicory sheds or mushroom cellars. Willem explains that, too, is vertical farming. "You can make significant progress with relatively simple techniques, yet, this approach requires encouraging people to think outside the box."
Chrysanthemums
Field-Lab-as-a-Service
The Bergen op Zoom setup runs smoothly without a lead grower. Surprising? Not really, considering that Sustainable Indoor Farming's goal is to create a foolproof system. A dedicated grower checks on the experiments daily, while lab support next door provides the expertise to closely monitor each trial.
The founders themselves are often among the crops, developing new ideas when not busy with other projects. "We're like a field lab as a service," says Willem. "We're also exploring the idea of a scale-up lab, which would allow companies to transition toward larger production or, in the case of sea beans, to increase output to meet market demand." John adds, "The current market is generally too focused on the grower and therefore on cost. But if the focus shifts to the buyer, it becomes more about reliable delivery and ensuring the product is consistently available."
As we later taste the sea beans and observe the jack beans, it's clear that their approach is working. The upgraded setup now allows independent control of lighting, watering, and fertilization across eight different segments. "Yes," Willem admits with a smile, "we still use a watering can sometimes." This practical touch aligns with their philosophy: they're cautious about overloading with high-tech solutions, particularly since they've invested their funds in the project.
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For more information:
Sustainable Indoor Farming
[email protected]
www.sustainableindoorfarming.nl