Flex Farming, based in the UK, focuses on vertical farming by integrating energy systems with crop production. Co-founded by Ahmad Mohseni, the company's unique business model addresses two pressing global challenges: food security and renewable energy intermittency. Through its "farm as a battery" concept, Flex Farming uses energy flexibility to stabilize energy grids while growing high-quality produce in totally controlled environments.
A different approach to vertical farming
While traditional vertical farming focuses on crops like leafy greens, Flex Farming has concentrated its efforts on growing strawberries. The idea emerged from Ahmad's background in energy and technology, which led him to view vertical farming as a subset of energy systems rather than a purely agricultural endeavor.
"From our point of view, vertical farming is an integral part of energy systems rather than just agriculture," says Ahmad. "Flex Farming's strawberry-growing method directly facilitates the balancing of grid fluctuations, particularly during periods of renewable energy supply surpluses or shortages. This innovative approach ensures that energy is utilized efficiently, aligning with the needs of modern energy systems.
The company's "farm as a battery" concept involves adjusting energy loads in response to grid supply levels. By modifying growing conditions within their facilities—such as simulating cloudy or sunny days—Flex Farming aligns its operations with energy demands. This allows them to absorb excess energy when there is an overproduction, reducing strain on the grid and contributing to a more stable energy system.
An Australian case study
Flex Farming's integration of vertical farming with energy management systems is particularly valuable in regions with renewable energy utilization. One such region is South Australia, where renewable energy generation, especially from wind and solar, often leads to overproduction, causing electricity prices to dip below zero.
"In South Australia, the grid can experience oversupply up to 30% of the time," explains Ahmad. "When prices are negative, we use that electricity to grow strawberries, generating revenue while helping to stabilize the grid."
With weather-driven energy supply patterns, forecasting and energy management are very important. Flex Farming uses energy management systems that enable them to predict energy availability, optimizing energy consumption for strawberry production. This model not only helps balance the energy grid but also reduces the costs of energy procurement, improving the company's overall financial sustainability.
Local food supply challenges
Flex Farming's business model seeks to address local food supply issues that many regions face. In the UK, for instance, strawberries are typically imported from October to February, which introduces both logistical challenges and carbon emissions. More importantly, the imported strawberries do not taste as good as locally grown produce. By developing vertical farming systems locally that produce strawberries year-round, Flex Farming aims to eliminate these concerns.
Flex Farming team is aiming to integrate the supply chain by merging the energy and fresh produce industries into a cornerstone of a sustainable, net-zero economy. "We have developed a growing method that ensures our plants remain healthy and productive throughout the year," says Ahmad. "Our customers are already asking us to scale up production."
Despite this demand, Flex Farming is taking a cautious approach to scaling. The company has seen other vertical farming businesses fail due to unmanageable operational costs and unsustainable scaling strategies. "A lot of companies were overly optimistic about scaling up," Ahmad notes. "They thought that once they scaled, profitability would follow. But growing fruits requires tight control over costs."
Technical and operational challenges
Overcoming the technical challenges of growing strawberries year-round in a closed environment has been a major hurdle for Flex Farming. Flex Farming developed a growing method that allows for consistent production while maintaining high plant health. "We had to balance the energy levels appropriately for the plant and ensure that we could get the right yield with consistent quality," Ahmad explains.
Different strawberry varieties also present unique challenges. Flex Farming works with everbearing varieties, which produce fruit continuously, as opposed to June-bearing varieties which produce one large flush of fruit. The goal is to ensure that production is smooth and continuous, meeting the needs of retailers and food services. "It's very much driven by the strategy and the commitments to the customer, but you can actually grow any variety indoors," Ahmad says.
Scaling and expansions in 2025
Looking ahead to 2025, Flex Farming's main goal is to scale up its operations. Currently, the company can produce up to 20 tons of strawberries annually, which represents a fraction of the UK's market, which demands over 180,000 tons annually. The challenge now is expanding production while maintaining operational control.
"The next step is optimizing our operations and scaling carefully," Ahmad states. "We need to complete our detailed design, secure investment, and hopefully begin construction in 2026." Flex Farming is focusing on building larger facilities that can handle significant volumes of strawberry production while maintaining profitability.
In addition to expanding within the UK, Flex Farming is exploring opportunities in international markets, including Australia and Europe.
For more information:
FlexFarming
Ahmad Mohseni, CEO & Co-Founder
[email protected]
www.flexfarming.co.uk