Plant Factory Technologies

Plant Factory Technologies (PFT) operates as a research and development platform focused on generating business cases for various industries through vertical farming. The company leverages its expertise in engineering, construction, IT, biotechnology, and agriculture to develop these cases. PFT’s primary business model is not to be a direct manufacturer or supplier of produce; instead, it initiates joint ventures with manufacturers in the pharmaceutical, functional food, cosmetics, and perfumery sectors. This strategy allows PFT to ensure an uninterrupted supply of raw materials derived from vertical farms while retaining its intellectual property.

The company's history shows a significant pivot in its business model. Initially, between 2018 and 2019, the focus was on supplying fresh greens to the HoReCa (Hotel/Restaurant/Café) market. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company shifted to B2B consulting for farm construction in 2020. A further evolution occurred in late 2021 and 2022, when PFT began to focus on embedding itself into production chains by combining vertical farming with the processing of greens into high-value extracts. This led to the establishment of a company in Finland and joint productions with companies like New Organics OY and Pure Protein.

PFT's technological approach centers on creating fully controlled environments for agriculture. They utilize modular growing systems for flexibility and scalability, allowing for efficient use of production space. Automated production management and digital monitoring of cultivation are implemented to ensure the stability and transparency of technological processes. This controlled environment, which manages climate factors like temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels, results in high-quality products, with up to 97% of plants achieving a marketable appearance due to the absence of diseases and pests. A key project involves the development and production of sulforaphane-containing green powder, a high-value ingredient for the supplements, pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries.

Keywords: vertical farming, agritech, biotech, R&D platform, joint ventures, controlled environment agriculture, food technology, pharmaceutical ingredients, cosmetic ingredients, functional food, nutraceuticals, plant extracts, sulforaphane, sustainable agriculture, urban farming, B2B consulting, high-value compounds, aeroponics, digital monitoring, modular growing systems