Anu™ (Heliponix LLC) has received a $175,000 Phase I SBIR grant from the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), aimed at supporting small businesses with innovative agricultural solutions. The company may qualify for an additional $600,000 Phase II grant to further expand this project.
The grant will be used to develop and commercialize anu's Pure Produce® Containers. "The containers utilize anu's proprietary technology," said Massey, anu's CEO. "They provide a modular, compact solution for growing fresh produce from compostable, Self-Nurturing™ Seed Pods which contain the nutrients for each individual plant." Massey said the grant and support from the Applied Research Institute enable Anu and ekō Solutions to develop climate-smart, efficient systems.
Innovative tech for a sustainable future
Massey said anu's technology enables production of up to 3,920 plants in a 20-foot shipping container. "The USDA grant allows us to refine our modular system and ensures our system remains an effective solution for urban, rural and remote settings, including military bases, schools, health care centers and community gardens."
"Peter Rodriguez, president of ekō Solutions, emphasized their R&D focus on maximizing yield, efficiency, and enabling profitable crop differentiation, particularly for fruiting varieties." . Anu's Rotary Aeroponic system consistently reduces infrastructure and supply-chain demands, making it a very accessible. Our partnership accelerates this technology's market entry."
Pilot programs and community impact
Anu's Pure Produce pilot container farm in Evansville showcases the technology's capacity to produce several tons of fresh produce annually. With rapid deployment and short harvest cycles, this system demonstrates significant ROI benefits over traditional vertical farms and contributes to food security by donating surplus produce to food desert relief groups."
Support and recognition
In addition, anu has received funding from the National Science Foundation, with matching funding from Elevate Ventures and the Applied Research Institute. Conexus Indiana provided a $200,000 Grant to scale up its seed pod production.
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