Vertical Farming Podcast - Conversations with CEOs, Founders & Leaders in AgTech & CEA cover art

Vertical Farming Podcast - Conversations with CEOs, Founders & Leaders in AgTech & CEA

Vertical Farming Podcast - Conversations with CEOs, Founders & Leaders in AgTech & CEA

By: Harry Duran
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 Vertical farming is a revolutionary approach to produce production leveraging controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology and systems in innovative ways. It facilitates production of huge quantities of nutritious and quality fresh food without relying on favorable weather, high water usage, skilled labor, and high soil fertility. This ensures reliable yield and consistency in crop production year-round with climate control, and no effects of external environment factors such as diseases, pests, or predator attacks. Join Harry Duran, Host of the Apple-recommended Podcast Junkies and Founder of FullCast, as he explores the world of controlled-environment agriculture (CEA). Tune in every week for fascinating conversations with CEOs, Founders and luminaries from the exciting and fast-growing world of Vertical Farming. If you've been interested in the world of Indoor AgTech and want to hear inspiring stories from the innovators on the frontlines of this fast-moving industry, then this most definitely the show for you! Subscribe and learn more by visiting http://verticalfarmingpodcast.com/2022 FullCast Biological Sciences Science
Episodes
  • 171: Vertical Farming’s Missing Link: Integrating Greenhouse Wisdom with Wessel van Paassen of Green Simplicity

    171: Vertical Farming’s Missing Link: Integrating Greenhouse Wisdom with Wessel van Paassen of Green Simplicity
    Aug 1 2025

    Ever wondered why some vertical farms thrive while others struggle? The answer might lie in combining traditional horticultural wisdom with cutting-edge technology.

    I sat down with Wessel van Paassen, Managing Director at Green Simplicity, to explore the intersection of greenhouse expertise and vertical farming innovation. Born into a family of flower growers, Wessel brings a unique perspective to the vertical farming industry. His company, Green Simplicity, has been at the forefront of developing research chambers and vertical farming solutions for the past decade.

    Wessel shares how his background in traditional horticulture has shaped his approach to vertical farming. He emphasizes the importance of efficiency, optimization, and practical knowledge in developing successful systems. We discuss the challenges faced by the vertical farming industry and how lessons from greenhouse cultivation can be applied to indoor farming.

    Our conversation covers a range of topics, including the evolution of vertical farming technology, the importance of collaboration within the industry, and the potential for hybrid approaches that combine greenhouse and indoor farming techniques. Wessel also offers insights into the future of vertical farming and the role of companies like Green Simplicity in driving innovation.

    If you're interested in the future of agriculture and want to understand how traditional farming wisdom can inform cutting-edge vertical farming solutions, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to gain valuable insights from one of the industry's most experienced voices.

    Thanks to Our Sponsors

    CEA Summit East - https://indoor.ag/cea-summit-east-2025/

    Indoor AgCon - https://indoor.ag/

    Key Takeaways

    5:27 Evolution from research chambers to vertical farms

    10:30 Pioneering LED lighting in tulip cultivation

    16:58 Challenges of vertical farming system integration

    24:40 Attending conferences and industry trends

    29:45 Green Simplicity joining the GreenV group

    35:08 Preparing for growth and future innovations

    Tweetable Quotes"I always say under pressure everything gets fluid. So you have to make sure it works at the ends of the line.""We are not a company that can say, 'Oh, we prove that you can produce 120 kilos of lettuce.' I just say I've never done lettuce. But if you now produce 80 kilos and your climate is this, I know it will be better because our climate is just spot on and we have uniform light distribution.""Seeing is believing. I always say talk to my customer and don't involve me. Then you know the real story."Resources Mentioned

    Website - https://greensimplicity.com/en/

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/greensimplicity/

    Connect With Us

    VFP LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/verticalfarmingpodcast

    VFP Twitter - https://twitter.com/VerticalFarmPod

    VFP Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/direct/inbox/

    VFP Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VerticalFarmPod

    Subscribe to our newsletters!

    AgTech
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    49 mins
  • 170: Cartoons, Crops, and Community: Reimagining Sustainable Farming with Smart Farms’ Mike Smart

    170: Cartoons, Crops, and Community: Reimagining Sustainable Farming with Smart Farms’ Mike Smart
    Jul 25 2025

    Have you ever wondered how to combine sustainable farming, education, and entertainment into a single innovative concept? I sat down with Mike Smart, founder of Smart Farms, to discuss his unique approach to revolutionizing the food industry and educating the next generation.

    Mike's journey is a fascinating blend of technology, entrepreneurship, and agriculture. From his early days in crypto and digital payments to his current focus on sustainable farming, Mike has always been driven by a desire to empower individuals and decentralize systems. His latest venture, Smart Farms and the Bucket Buddies brand, is a testament to this vision.

    At the heart of Mike's concept is the Bucket Buddies book series, which features anthropomorphic characters teaching children about farming, nutrition, and sustainability. But it doesn't stop there – the brand extends to physical products, grow kits, and plans for animated content, all designed to engage children and families in the world of agriculture.

    We delved into Mike's ambitious plans for scaling his concept, including the development of hyperlocal farms across the country and the creation of educational experiences that blend entertainment with hands-on learning. Mike also shared his thoughts on the challenges of bringing such a multifaceted project to life and his strategies for attracting investors and partners.

    If you're interested in innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture, education, or building a brand with a purpose, you won't want to miss this inspiring conversation with Mike Smart. Tune in to hear how one entrepreneur is working to transform our relationship with food from the ground up.

    Thanks to Our Sponsors

    CEA Summit East - https://indoor.ag/cea-summit-east-2025/

    Indoor AgCon - https://indoor.ag/

    Key Takeaways

    5:35 Crypto journey and payment industry experiences

    8:14 Origins of indoor farming interest

    13:44 Creating the Bucket Buddies book series

    19:33 Walt Disney-like vision for Smart Farms

    23:52 Current progress and future plans

    29:14 Scaling the brand and outsourcing production

    34:53 Immediate needs and ideal partners

    Tweetable Quotes"How about we funnel all of that consumerism into sustainable farming methods and then scale those sustainable farming methods as a nonprofit as opposed to forcing people to pay taxes to jump on board with whatever systems they can remain centralized and shut us off from our electricity or shut us off from our food supply anytime they want.""Adults are indoctrinated and it's harder and in fact impossible to change the mind of an adult who doesn't want to change their mind. And so it just only makes sense to start with educating the youth, making this stuff entertaining, fun, stickable, addicting.""I'm Daddy in my world and I'm fixing everything I can fix with these processes. And if I can create a subscription service to these micro local hyperlocal farms and instill the curriculum into all the libraries and the schools and homeschool communities so that the kids are learning Smart Farms is where we get our food... Then we're going to be a household name."Resources Mentioned

    Website - Https://smartfarms.global

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-smart-bucket-buddies

    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/16n455CPLE/

    X -

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    48 mins
  • 169: The Evolution of Dubai’s Vertical Farming Show

    169: The Evolution of Dubai’s Vertical Farming Show
    Jul 11 2025

    Have you ever wondered how the vertical farming industry is evolving and what it takes to organize successful events in this space? I had the pleasure of speaking with Tahir Abdul Bari, founder and CEO of TAB Group, about his journey from traditional agriculture to organizing one of the largest vertical farming events in the Middle East.

    Tahir's story is fascinating, starting from his childhood experiences in Kashmir's apple orchards to becoming a key player in the events industry. He shared how his grandfather's teachings on respecting and valuing people have shaped his leadership style and approach to team building. The conversation delved into the challenges of pivoting during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it led to the creation of the Global Vertical Farming Show.

    We discussed the importance of adaptability in the events industry, especially when dealing with emerging technologies like vertical farming. Tahir provided insights into how the show has evolved over the years, growing from a virtual event to a large-scale physical exhibition. He emphasized the critical role of collaboration in the indoor farming industry, particularly at this early stage of development.

    If you're interested in the intersection of agriculture, technology, and event management, or if you want to learn about the latest trends in vertical farming, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to hear Tahir's valuable perspectives on team building, industry challenges, and the future of indoor agriculture.

    Thanks to Our Sponsors

    CEA Summit East - https://indoor.ag/cea-summit-east-2025/

    Indoor AgCon - https://indoor.ag/

    Key Takeaways

    3:42 Impact of COVID-19 on events industry

    9:15 Building long-term relationships in events

    16:28 Decision-making process for event viability

    21:34 Evolution of Global Vertical Farming Show

    32:15 Unique aspects of upcoming Vertical Farming Show

    36:38 Importance of team building and culture

    42:37 Tough questions leaders ask themselves

    Tweetable Quotes"I am very close to the soil. I grew up in a family with farms and orchards. That's what we did on the ground level. So I had a natural inclination towards agriculture.""For Middle East, especially UAE, vertical farming is not just an option for people to consider. It's something which is by default the best that they can do.""A client is a client until we are closing a deal. Once the deal is closed and you come to the event, treat them as your guests. It's our responsibility to make their life comfortable."Resources Mentioned

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahirabdulbari/

    Connect With Us

    VFP LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/verticalfarmingpodcast

    VFP Twitter - https://twitter.com/VerticalFarmPod

    VFP Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/direct/inbox/

    VFP Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VerticalFarmPod

    Subscribe to our newsletters!

    AgTech Digest - https://agtechdigest.com

    The Indoor Farmer -

    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
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