iFarm

This interview details iFarm, an indoor farming company based in UAE. The interview is with Alexander Lyskovsky, Founder and President of iFarm.

Source: iFarm


What is the origin story of iFarm?


The first industrial-scale farm with iFarm technology was launched in 2020. Since then, many farms have been installed or began construction in Europe and the MENA region.

Now iFarm is an international AgTech company, incorporated in the USA with several headquarters across the world.

Source: iFarm


Can you tell us more about your different iFarm products?


iFarm provides proprietary ready-to-use automated indoor farming systems for commercial plant cultivation: Leafy Greens, Microgreens, Berries, and Veggies, as well as compact container farms for salad greens (iFarm Container).

We also offer farm management software, iFarm Growtune. It’s an all-in-one platform available via license with a monthly subscription rate based on grow-area. iFarm Growtune is fully integrated with iFarm StackGrow hardware automation, enabling automated growth modes, yield planning, organizing delivery logistics, and analyzing production and performance data.

We also provide consumables and support services such as farm project design, financial modeling, market research, and consulting.

Source: iFarm


You claim to have the world's northernmost indoor strawberry farm, can you tell us more about both the technology and the produce?


Indeed! Moreover, this farm was the first industrial city farm built with iFarm Berries technology.


The iFarm Berries technology relies on the low-volume hydroponics method, which is particularly well-suited for growing strawberries indoors. Achieving a high yield and optimal taste requires attention to numerous factors, such as the quality and variety of seedlings, substrate, climate stability, and pollination. During three years of experiments, we have tried a lot! Our confirmed result is up to 1.7–2.04 kg of berries per planting place per year and a Brix level of more than 10 degrees.

Source: iFarm

What are some of the biggest challenges facing iFarm in the future?


iFarm already enables the profitable cultivation of several types of greens, veggies, and berries. However, we are constantly asked about other types of vegetables beyond tomatoes and cucumbers, berries beyond strawberries, and of course, root vegetables, fruits, and grapes. We are working hard to expand the list of crops that our clients can grow.


On the other hand, we would like to make fresh and high-quality produce profitable  in countries with average income levels and low food prices. We can already build a farm in the UAE and Switzerland, but the challenge for us is to build a profitable farm in Kenya or Mongolia.


My personal challenge and dream is a vertical farm with iFarm technology on another planet. This is still far off, but after all, we are still young!

Source: iFarm

What is unique about iFarm compared to competitors?

First and foremost, the payback time. Farming businesses built with iFarm technologies reach payback in just 3-5 years. We custom-build each vertical farm facility to be profitable. This is why we offer customers not only software and hardware, but also personalized financial models, support services and consulting. We are constantly improving our technologies and products to serve businesses that are reconstructing the global food production landscape right now.

How do you measure the impact of your company so far? (Revenue, Employees, Customer Quantity, Production Volume) etc?


All of them are important in measuring impact. As a tech provider, we prioritize the cultivation area as a primary indicator of our success. Since iFarm’s inception, our software and hardware have been used on 16 farms in 10 countries across the world. Nine more farms are currently under construction, including the world’s largest automated indoor farm in Mexico. Upon completion, these projects will bring our total cultivation area to an impressive 57,000 square meters.

Source: iFarm


What have you learned that you wish you knew when you joined or started the company?


I’ve had many learnings along the way. However, if there's one thing I wish I had known more about before starting iFarm, it's plants. My background was mainly in Engineering, and my knowledge of agriculture was fairly limited.


Over the past five years I have been learning about agrochemistry, plant diseases, lighting, and much more. Every day. Here comes another learning: Agriculture is an amazing industry because you will literally never stop learning something new through experimentation, testing, and discovery.

Source: iFarm


How can people connect with you or learn more about iFarm?


For all interested in discovering more about iFarm and our technologies, visit our website: https://ifarm.fi/

If you want to approach me, drop me an email at: founders@ifarm.fi.

We will be happy to connect and chat with you on LinkedIn, here’s our profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifarmcorp/


Asia Vertical Farming Companies: The 2023 Report

Download the Free Sample Report

Mark-Horler

"For a target audience that is trying to understand the basics of vertical farming, this is a quality newsletter to subscribe to"

- James Pateras, CEO, Modular Farms Australia

North America Vertical Farming Companies: The 2023 Report

Download The Free Sample Report

Mark-Horler

"The North America Vertical Farming Companies Report 2023 aggregates many sources of public information on many different companies so that you don't have to do the research yourself, it's worth the money and saves a lot of time"

- John Ireland, CEO, NTP Technologies

Europe Vertical Farming Companies: The 2023 Report

Download the Free Sample Report

Helen Andrew Spare Harvest

"As a business development manager supporting the indoor agriculture, CEA, and food tech industries, I can say Urban Vine guides and their insider newsletter provide detailed information often difficult to find online."

- Irena Lundberg, CleanTech Invest Stockholm

Middle East Vertical Farming Companies: The 2023 Report

Download the Free Sample Report

Mark-Horler

"As a marketing professional in the indoor agriculture industry, Urban Vine's newsletters, reports and guides are an excellent resource for keeping up-to-date with news and developments in vertical farming."

- Steven Mitchell, Product Manager, Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) UK

All Indoor Farming Company Interviews

OMARFRA

May 1, 2024

This interview details OMARFRA, a company based in Canada. The interview is with Fadi Al-Daoud, Greenhouse Vegetable Specialist of OMARFRA. To learn more about OMARFRA and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Libra Design

April 24, 2024

This interview details Libra Design, an indoor farming technology company based in the United States. The interview is with Travis Williams, Co-Founder & CEO of Libra Design. To learn more about Libra Design and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

BioSafe Systems

April 23, 2024

This interview details BioSafe Systems, a company based in the United States. The interview is with Eric Smith, National Sales Manager (Horticulture Division) at BioSafe Systems. To learn more about BioSafe Systems and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

McNabb MicroFarm

April 23, 2024

This interview details McNabb MicroFarm, an indoor farming company based in the United States. The interview is with Lauren McNabb, Head of Marketing at McNabb MicroFarm. To learn more about McNabb MicroFarm and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Griffin Greenhouse Supplies

April 22, 2024

This interview details Griffin, an indoor farming company based in the United States. The interview is with Tami Van Gaal, Director of Vendor Relations at Griffin. To learn more about Griffin and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Virgo Global Inc.

April 22, 2024

This interview details Virgo Global Inc., a company based in Canada. The interview is with Guillaume Paquet, Director R&D at Virgo Global Inc. To learn more about Virgo Global Inc. and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Corridor Farmers

April 25, 2024

This interview details Corridor Farmers, an indoor farming company based in Singapore. The interview is with Roc Koh, CEO of Corridor Farmers. To learn more about Corridor Farmers and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Affinor Growers

April 19, 2024

This interview details Affinor Growers, an indoor farming technology company based in Canada. The interview is with Nick Brusatore, CEO of Affinor Growers. To learn more about Affinor Growers and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Ina Plastics

April 18, 2024

This interview details Ina Plastics, a company based in Greece. The interview is with Jacob Tsonakis, Founder and CEO of Ina Plastics. To learn more about Ina Plastics and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Funga Farm

April 12, 2024

This interview details Funga Farm, an indoor farming company based in Denmark. The interview is with Thomas Kyle Cometta, Owner of Funga Farm. To learn more about Funga Farm and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview