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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About this listen

 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
  • S12E163 Marc Oshima/Babylon Microfarms - Hyper-Local Farm to Table: Vision

    S12E163 Marc Oshima/Babylon Microfarms - Hyper-Local Farm to Table: Vision
    May 2 2025

    Ever wondered how indoor farming is revolutionizing the way we connect with our food? I sat down with Marc Oshima, CEO of Babylon Microfarms, to explore the cutting edge of sustainable agriculture.

    Marc Oshima brings over 30 years of experience in driving large-scale commercial businesses, including co-founding AeroFarms. Now at the helm of Babylon Microfarms, he's spearheading innovative solutions in B2B indoor farming across healthcare, corporate dining, hospitality, and education sectors.

    In this episode, we dive deep into how Babylon Microfarms is bringing the farm directly to customers, fostering a greater connection between people and their food. Marc shares insights on the company's success in increasing leafy green consumption by 35% in senior care facilities and their expansion to over 350 farms across five countries.

    We also discuss the evolution of the indoor farming industry, the importance of customer feedback, and how Babylon Microfarms is preserving cultural heritage through locally grown, culturally relevant produce. Marc offers valuable lessons on business fundamentals and the power of focus in scaling a successful AgTech company.

    Ready to discover how indoor farming is reshaping our relationship with food and transforming industries? Tune in to this episode for a fascinating glimpse into the future of sustainable agriculture.

    Thanks to Our Sponsors

    Indoor AgCon - https://indoor.ag

    Key Takeaways

    5:07 Babylon Microfarms' focus on key verticals

    10:40 Surprising installations and high-profile customers

    16:19 Lessons from early industry struggles

    21:53 Listening to customers and adapting strategies

    27:17 Workforce development in indoor farming

    33:40 Cultural connections through locally grown food

    37:18 CEA Alliance's role in industry advocacy

    Tweetable Quotes"We're seeing amazing use cases that we might not even have thought about. We were at this conference last week, and this fantastic operator chef was telling us how they've got the mint planted for the mint juleps for Kentucky Derby next week, and then they have the cilantro already planted and ready for Cinco de Mayo.""Understanding what business you're in, understanding the economics of your business, and appreciating how your technology can uniquely solve some of these challenges. I think that's core when you think about what's worked, what hasn't worked.""We have units cruising the world on cruise ships, literally cruising on cruise ships. It gives you a sense of the autonomy, the self-autonomous aspect and how resilient the farming approach is."Resources Mentioned

    Website - https://babylonmicrofarms.com/

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

    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 -

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    52 mins
  • S12E162 John James Staniszewski/Fungitarian - From Nightclubs to Mushrooms: One Man’s Fungitarian Revolution

    S12E162 John James Staniszewski/Fungitarian - From Nightclubs to Mushrooms: One Man’s Fungitarian Revolution
    Apr 18 2025

    Ever wondered how a mushroom farm could revolutionize the food industry? I sat down with John James Staniszewski, the creator of the fungitarian lifestyle and a pioneer in the vertical farming space, to uncover the secrets of his success.

    John's journey from nightclub manager to mushroom mogul is as fascinating as it is inspiring. He shares how he built a thriving mushroom farm from scratch, producing up to 35,000 pounds of mushrooms per month and supplying over 350 grocery stores.

    In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges of starting a vertical farm, the importance of hands-on leadership, and John's vision for creating 10 million fungitarians by 2027. John reveals how his past experiences in bodybuilding and personal training shaped his approach to the mushroom industry.

    We also explore the parallels between vertical farming and bodybuilding, the potential of mushrooms in addressing childhood health issues, and John's upcoming launch of bioavailable mushroom tinctures and gummies.

    If you're curious about the future of food, the potential of mushrooms, or how to build a successful vertical farming business, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to gain insights from a true innovator in the field.

    Thanks to Our Sponsors

    Indoor AgCon - https://indoor.ag

    Key Takeaways

    5:42 Transition from nightclub scene to bodybuilding

    11:15 Spiritual journey and discovery of magic mushrooms

    16:59 Building a mushroom farm

    22:31 Challenges of vertical farming and industry insights

    28:15 Developing fungitarian food products and business growth

    39:33 Current business operations and partnerships

    45:46 Defining success: Goal of 10 million fungitarians by 2027

    50:57 Leadership growth and employee management strategies

    Tweetable Quotes"I've always been a weirdo, so in all reality it was for me I've been on this like universal timeline where all the things that I want to embody and do have just been ahead of time.""I believe that I have the opportunity, which you don't get in another lifetime, to be able to gear people towards a new food.""I'd rather have somebody that knows nothing and wants to learn everything than somebody who thinks they know everything."Resources Mentioned

    Website - https://windycitymushroom.com/

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-james-staniszewski-0728312ab/

    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 - https://www.indoorverticalfarm.com/

    Horti-Gen Insights -

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • S12E161 Renko Schuil/TTA ISO - Collaboration vs. Secrecy: Lessons for Vertical Farming Success

    S12E161 Renko Schuil/TTA ISO - Collaboration vs. Secrecy: Lessons for Vertical Farming Success
    Apr 11 2025

    Ever wondered how automation is shaping the future of indoor farming? In this episode, I speak with Renko Schuil, Sales Manager of Indoor Farming at TTA ISO, a leading company in horticultural automation. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Renko offers invaluable insights into the evolving world of vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture.

    We dive deep into the challenges and opportunities facing the indoor farming sector, discussing everything from market dynamics to technological advancements. Renko shares his perspective on the importance of knowing your market, the potential of hybrid growing systems, and the critical role of automation in scaling up operations.

    Throughout our conversation, we explore the global landscape of indoor farming, touching on regional differences, emerging crop varieties, and the delicate balance between innovation and practicality. Renko also offers candid advice for newcomers to the industry, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and forward-thinking.

    If you're curious about the future of food production and want to hear from an industry veteran, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to gain valuable insights that could shape your understanding of indoor farming and its potential to revolutionize agriculture.

    Thanks to Our Sponsors

    Indoor AgCon - https://indoor.ag

    Key Takeaways

    5:14 Renko's extensive experience in horticulture industry

    10:47 Shift in sentiment towards vertical farming

    15:50 Origins and growth of TTA company

    20:13 Renko's role and responsibilities at TTA-ISO

    25:59 Common mistakes in vertical farming projects

    31:45 Regional differences in vertical farming needs

    36:53 TTA's approach to new crop automation requests

    41:46 Balancing advice and business opportunities

    Tweetable Quotes"I think there's a market for vertical farming for sure, because otherwise I wouldn't be so enthusiastic about it.""Make a choice. Are you a tech company or a grower? Know your market.""Think ahead. Even if you're not ready for automation or high capacity equipment yet, get into talks with automation companies. It can save you a lot of time and money when you have to change certain things in your company in the future."Resources Mentioned

    Website - www.tta.eu

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

    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 - https://www.indoorverticalfarm.com/

    Horti-Gen Insights - https://www.hortigeninsights.com/

    🎙️🎙️🎙️

    Podcast Production and Marketing by
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    56 mins

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