This interview details Lite&Fog, an indoor farming company based in Germany. The interview is with Martin Peter, CEO & CTO of Lite&Fog.
What is the origin story of Lite&Fog?
Lite&Fog was born in Berlin in 2019, driven by a vision to revolutionize industrial-scale plant production using cutting-edge fogponics and indoor growing technologies. The brainchild of Martin Peter, the creative mind behind our fogponic system, and Uwe Peter, a seasoned industry controller, the company was founded in December 2019. Since then, we've been on an exhilarating journey, relentlessly advancing our technology, expanding our customer base, and growing Lite&Fog into what it is today.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing Lite&Fog in the future?
The road ahead is challenging. Industrial-scale machines and grow rooms demand significant time and resources. Fundraising is a pivotal aspect of success in vertical farming. Fortunately, we've found our niche in indoor farming, paving the way for rapid progress and profitability.
What is unique about Lite&Fog compared to competitors?
What sets Lite&Fog apart is our innovative use of fog for plant irrigation, which allows us to create lightweight and cost-efficient farms. Our irrigation system is entirely weightless in practice, reducing infrastructure expenses. Furthermore, we're one of the few vertical farming companies with a strategic focus on pharmaceutical plant production. We provide the pharmaceutical industry with GMP-ready growing systems, ensuring compliance with rigorous regulatory standards.
What is the current size of your growing area?
Our current growing area, though relatively modest, is undergoing transformation. We're developing a model L version, featuring approximately 500m² of growing surface on just a 40m² footprint. This serves as the foundation for high-value crop cultivation, particularly for the biotech sector, in line with molecular farming operations.
Do you use CO2 in your operation today -- if so, how much and what do you pay for it? What are your thoughts in CO2 usage in indoor farms?
Currently, we don't use CO2 in our operations. We're constantly refining our harvesting results, and once we've established the optimal baseline, we'll integrate CO2 to precisely measure its impact on our farms. In general, when a system is as well-insulated as ours, CO2 usage can be highly effective. However, in less controlled environments like simple greenhouses, it often becomes a resource and financial burden if not managed correctly.
Energy is a big topic in indoor farming right now. How much do you pay for electricity (kWh)? Is it mainly from the grid or renewables?
Energy efficiency is paramount in indoor farming. We've partnered with a local startup, securing a fixed price of just 10 cents per kWh for the future. Renewable energy sources are central to our vision, and we aim to utilize them wherever we establish our farms. Thanks to our patent-pending technologies, we've already achieved a remarkable 50% reduction in energy costs. Our commitment to energy reduction continues, with more developments on the horizon.
How can people connect with you or learn more about Lite&Fog?
If you're eager to embark on a trial, where we provide you with a complete analysis of your desired crop and how it grows with us, want to leverage next-generation technology in your farming operations, or explore investment opportunities in the future of agriculture, please reach out to us at contact@liteandfog.com. Collaboration is the heart and soul of Lite&Fog, and we believe there are boundless opportunities on the horizon.
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