November 09, 2022

At Missouri Technical College, IGS and HarvestUp Collaborate to Build a Vertical Farm

A According to media reports, HarvestUp, a smart farming company, and Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), an agricultural infrastructure provider, have collaborated to build a vertical farm on the campus of a Missouri Technical College. Four IGS Growth Towers will be built at the Ranken Technical College Campus in Ashland, which is currently under construction.

It will offer a workforce learning environment for college students to learn about vertical farming, information technology, construction, and HVAC systems as part of their agricultural studies, with an emphasis on honing practical and technical skills.

IGS, based in Scotland, will initially deploy four of their 40ft high Growth Towers, with plans to expand the site and add more towers in collaboration with HarvestUp in the future.

…the HarvestUp team is ready to bring a new industry to Mid-Missouri... HarvestUp, Smart Farming, will create new jobs and unique educational opportunities while contributing to our community's health and wellness...

Crops grown on the vertical farm will include leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens. Produce from the farm will be sold to the local community through grocery retailers and Missouri distributors, in addition to providing a hands-on learning environment for students. The vertical farm's construction is set to begin in early 2023.

Speaking to the media, HarvestUp CEO David Westhoff, said: "The HarvestUp team is ready to bring a new industry to Mid-Missouri. HarvestUp, Smart Farming, will create new jobs and unique educational opportunities while contributing to our community's health and wellness. We appreciate the partnerships built with IGS and Ranken Technical College to further vertical farming."

Adding further, David Farquhar, CEO of Intelligent Growth Solutions commented, "It's exciting to see training institutions like Ranken partnering with forward-thinking, entrepreneurial businesses like HarvestUp to build a highly skilled workforce capable of driving the future of vertical farming production.”

"Growing in controlled indoor environments is still relatively new to the agriculture sector so it's vital that we're engaging young people and showcasing the wide variety of employer opportunities available in the sector. We're delighted that HarvestUp has chosen IGS' technology to be at the heart of this partnership and hope it will inspire the next generation of agricultural innovators."

Posted in Collaborations and tagged Collaborations, HarvestUp, Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), Missouri Technical College, Ranken Technical College, Vertical Farm
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