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Harry Duran

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/

Vertical Farming Podcast

Are you tired of the rat race and dreaming of a self-sufficient lifestyle? In this episode, I chat with Daryl Urbanski, a seasoned entrepreneur and advocate for personal sovereignty. Daryl's journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming a successful business strategist is nothing short of inspiring. With over 17 years of experience in helping businesses thrive, Daryl has now turned his focus to innovative housing solutions.

We dive into the concept of the Oasis Biohome, a revolutionary approach to off-grid living that promises self-reliance and sustainability. Daryl shares how these homes can be built quickly and affordably, offering a path to freedom from traditional utility dependencies. We also explore the potential of vertical farming within these homes, providing fresh produce right at your doorstep.

Beyond housing, we touch on broader themes of personal freedom, the importance of self-reliance, and the challenges of modern living. Daryl's insights into the future of sustainable living are both thought-provoking and practical. If you're curious about breaking free from conventional living and embracing a more independent lifestyle, this episode is a must-listen. Click to hear more about how you can take control of your future!
Thanks to Our Sponsors

Bio520 

Key Takeaways
14:00 Self-Reliance and Business Philosophy

26:00 Challenges and Opportunities

32:00 Steps to Building an Oasis Home

38:00 Sovereignty and Sustainable Living
Tweetable Quotes"Everything I'm not made me everything I am.""A job is just a business with one customer, your boss, and one product, your time, and that's not scalable.""We farm food crops for food. People herd livestock for meat and profit. Governments farm people."Resources Mentioned
Website - https://members.bestbusinesscoach.ca/ & https://wonderfulstructures.com/oasis-bio-homes/

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

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Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast

Mentioned in this episode:

CEA Summit East 2024

CEA Summit East 2024

Indoor...

S11E151 Daryl Urbanski/Best Business Coach - Agrocapsules & Oasis: A New Era in Vertical Farming

Ever wondered how vertical farming could revolutionize the cotton industry? I sat down with Simon Wardle, CEO of Gooddrop, to explore this groundbreaking concept.

Simon Wardle brings a unique perspective to vertical farming, combining his background in design with a vision for sustainable cotton production. As the leader of Good Drop, he's spearheading an initiative to grow cotton in controlled environments, potentially transforming the textile industry.

In this episode, we delve into Good Drop's ambitious plans to create a closed-loop system for cotton production. Simon shares insights on their progress, from container-based experiments to plans for a pilot facility, and discusses the challenges of reinventing the cotton supply chain.

We also explore the broader implications of this innovation, touching on topics such as energy sustainability, the potential for localized production, and the hurdles of disrupting a centuries-old industry. Simon offers a candid look at the realities of bringing a new concept to market in the vertical farming space.

If you're curious about the future of sustainable textiles and the role vertical farming could play, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to hear Simon's fascinating journey and the potential impact of vertically farmed cotton.
Thanks to Our Sponsors

Bio520 

Key Takeaways
00:42 Collaboration and Industry Insights

06:00 Thanksgiving and Cultural Differences

12:00 Design Background and Transition

24:00 Challenges and Innovations

30:00 Leadership and Team Building

36:00 Industry Disruption and Future Plans
Tweetable Quotes"We're not just growing the raw material, we're going to convert it. And with that we're then going to a third party supply chain to deliver product. Working with dyeing companies, weaving companies, fabrication companies, designers as a proof of concept.""There's expertise at many milestones that I have an overall understanding of these things. I have lots of curiosity about these things, but true expertise in the relevant areas - we need to go and get that.""We don't want to be restricted to the UK borders, though, once we get going. We want to build these things wherever they need to be built and scale, scale, scale, and see what we can do about helping the climate, turn it around somewhat, be part of that movement to try and make a difference there."Resources Mentioned
Website - https://www.good-drop.com/

LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/simon-w-09900827
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 -

S11E152 Simon Wardle/Gooddrop Ltd - Sustainable Cotton: A New Era in Vertical Farming

Ever wondered how cutting-edge technology is revolutionizing indoor farming? I've got the inside scoop on the latest innovations that are changing the game. In this episode of the Vertical Farming Podcast, host Harry Duran sits down with Per Lysaa, CTO and co-founder of Elevate Farms and founder of Intravision Group AS. With over two decades of experience in photobiology and LED technology, Per brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation about controlled environment agriculture.

Per shares his journey from architecture to pioneering LED applications in plant growth, discussing the development of Elevate Farms' patented gravity flow system. This innovative approach allows for highly automated, large-scale production of leafy greens at commodity pricing, potentially disrupting traditional farming methods.

The conversation delves into the challenges of scaling vertical farming operations, the importance of partnerships in innovation, and the potential for machine learning and AI to further advance the industry. Per also touches on the global water crisis and its implications for future food production, highlighting the critical role vertical farming could play in addressing these challenges.

If you're curious about the future of food production and how technology is shaping sustainable agriculture, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to gain insights from one of the industry's leading innovators and discover the potential of vertical farming to address global food security challenges.
Thanks to Our Sponsors

Bio520 

Key Takeaways
5:22 Early Work with LEDs and Photobiology

10:09 Space Research and Plant Growth

15:52 Cannabis Research and LED Advancements

20:29 Founding Elevate and Business Strategy

25:21 Balancing Roles in Two Companies
Tweetable Quotes"Plants have light receptors. So they are able to detect from far red through red, green, blue, up to the UV. And whenever they detect, the combination of spectrum and intensity sets off a chemical process in the plant that directly controls morphology and what we call primary and secondary metabolite processes.""I read Peter Drucker, the guy who invented management theory and quality management, and he said that the purpose of a business is the creation of customers. It's not about shareholder value or maximizing return on investment, it's about creation of customers.""We are facing a global water crisis which will greatly impact and disrupt how we make food on this planet. And 2030 and onwards, it's going to look bad. Countries in Asia, Africa, parts of Europe, parts of North America are really badly positioned."Resources Mentioned
Website - https://www.elevate.farm/ & https://www.intravisiongroup.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/per-aage-lysaa-9685592/
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 -...

S11E153 Per Lysaa/Intravision Group AS - Gravity Flow: The Secret Behind Automated Indoor Agriculture

Ever wondered how to start a vertical farm in a city with limited space and resources? Jessica Naomi Fong's journey with Common Farms in Hong Kong is a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and customer-focused growth. 

Jessica Naomi Fong, Founder and CEO of Common Farms, shares her inspiring story of launching a vertical farming business in Hong Kong just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. With a background in the restaurant industry and manufacturing, Jessica leveraged her unique perspective to create a thriving microgreens and specialty greens business in one of the world's most densely populated cities.

In this episode, Jessica delves into the challenges of starting a vertical farm from scratch, including educating customers, building relationships with chefs, and adapting to market demands. She discusses the importance of keeping systems simple, focusing on customer needs, and continuously improving product quality and diversity.

Jessica also touches on the future of Common Farms, including their focus on functional foods and the nutritional benefits of microgreens. She shares insights on growing as a CEO, the importance of building a strong team, and the value of collaboration within the indoor farming industry.

If you're interested in the intersection of urban agriculture, culinary innovation, and entrepreneurship, this episode offers a wealth of practical insights and inspiration. Tune in to learn how Jessica turned challenges into opportunities and built a successful vertical farming business in an unlikely environment.
Thanks to Our Sponsors

Bio520 

Key Takeaways
5:07 Starting a business during COVID

10:22 Origin story of Common Farms

15:05 Building relationships with chefs

26:20 Customizing produce for chefs

32:31 Focusing on functional food

43:10 Tough questions for entrepreneurs

46:42 Collaboration in indoor farming
Tweetable Quotes
"We were very methodical about that. But then again, we had to test the market. Do people want microgreens? What microgreens do they want? How do they want them? What's the crop diversity? How much diversity do we need? What's the price point?"

"I created this scenario and this character and that future of the business. And that was the mission. That was the goal for me."

"We can't do this alone. We really welcome anyone that's developing anything to reach out to us. We're constantly in the experimental stage, which means we're always incrementally making improvements and we can't figure all of this out on our own."
Resources Mentioned
Website - https://commonfarms.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-naomi-fong/
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 -

S11E154 Jessica Fong/Common Farms - Microgreens and Mega Dreams: Common Farms' Inspiring Journey

In this special tribute episode of The Vertical Farming Podcast, I honor the life and legacy of Dr. Dickson Despommier, the visionary who laid the foundation for vertical farming as we know it today.

His book, The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century, completely changed the way I thought about food production, sustainability, and the future of agricultureReading it in 2019 was a turning point for me—it was the spark that led to the creation of this podcast.

Over the years, I’ve spoken with over 150 CEOs and founders in the industry, and so many of them cite Dr. Despommier as a major influence on their work. His vision of growing food in urban skyscrapers was once considered radical, but today, it’s shaping the future of sustainable agriculture.

Though he’s no longer with us, his ideas continue to inspire, and it’s up to all of us—researchers, farmers, entrepreneurs, and investors—to carry his vision forward. This episode is my way of saying thank you to a man whose ideas changed my life—and the world.
Additional Social Tributes
Marc Oshima on LinkedIn

Nona Yehia on LinkedIn

Honoring Dr. Dickson Despommier: The Visionary Who Planted the Seeds for Vertical Farming’s Future - Henry Gordon-Smith
Thanks to Our Sponsors

Bio520 

Resources Mentioned
The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century, by Dickson Despommier - https://amzn.to/3QhWWyY
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/

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Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast

Mentioned in this episode:

Indoor AgCon 2025

Indoor AgCon 2025

Dickson Despommier - A Vertical Farming Podcast Tribute

In this trailer episode I share the origin story of the Vertical Farming Podcast, including what inspired me to start the show, as well as a preview of the upcoming guests for Season 1. Visit to https://verticalfarmingpodcast.com/ to be notified as soon as new episodes are published.

Mentioned in this episode:

Indoor AgCon 2025

Indoor AgCon 2025

Vertical Farming Podcast Trailer

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show serial entrepreneur and CEO of Intelligent Growth Solutions, David Farquhar. In this episode, Harry and David break down the emergence of vertical farming technologies, opportunities that have been created due to the current global pandemic, and projects that David and his team have been working on within his organization.

Special thanks to our Season 1 Sponsor

IGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ 

Key Takeaways

 • 01:36 – David and Harry discuss the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the importance of leadership during this difficult time

 • 07:48 – Opportunities David sees in the marketplace for his organization, Intelligent Growth Solutions

 • 12:53 – David’s background in business and technology 

 • 22:16 – How the emergence of global technologies like vertical farming can impact the future of our society

 • 29:50 – David expounds on the direct impact that weather, handling and ventilation have on vertical farming

 • 41:54 – What is something David has changed his mind about recently

 • 43:46 – Where listeners can follow David and IGS

Tweetable Quotes

“What we’ve tried to do is be clear, be concise and be decisive. I think, at times, that is exactly what you need.” (05:42) - David Farquhar

“We think we can contribute. We want to do it in a non-cynical way. And we’re working with quite a lot of governments now on thinking about how this might happen.” (07:39) - David Farquhar

“I think we may see a shift in some habits. Things like how we get to work, where we work, what we choose to work on, how we shop, the reduction of waste, our diet, all kinds of different things.” (22:53) - David Farquhar

“Particularly with vertical farming, we are right at the start gate. This is the beginning of a marathon. And anyone who tells you otherwise, frankly, is lying.” (23:39) - David Farquhar

“So, I would say urban farming, governments, and the retail wholesale food production end of the consumer-facing piece, that’s where we’re seeing most of our activity at the moment.” (32:08) - David Farquhar

“The first really crucial thing is to have total control of that climate. And, if you’re growing vine tomatoes and basil, then you had better be able to replicate real weather in Tuscany between May and July.” (35:00) - David Farquhar

“When it comes to things like climate, you also have to think not just about the diurnal pattern from night to day, but you also have to think about seasons and you also have to think about...

S1E1: 001 David Farquhar - It's Time For the Industry to Grow Up

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show AgTech journalist, Louisa Burwood-Taylor. As a journalist and editor, Louisa covers foodtech, agriculture, venture capital investment and corporate innovation within the indoor agriculture industry. In this episode, Harry and Louisa discuss the societal impact of indoor agriculture and vertical farming, the emergence of competition, and biggest threats and challenges currently facing this niche industry.

Special thanks to our Season 1 Sponsor

IGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ 

Key Takeaways

 • 02:00 – Louisa’s background in AgTech journalism and how she became passionate about this topic

 • 07:06 – The origin story behind AgFunder News

 • 09:35 – Louisa shares her thoughts on the developments being made in vertical farming

 • 15:24 – Harry and Louisa discuss the emergence of competition and other players entering the indoor agriculture industry

 • 20:28 – Louisa speaks to why the timing is right for our society to embrace vertical farming and best practices companies are putting into place

 • 22:51 – The three biggest challenges facing indoor agriculture and what has Louisa excited about the future of the industry

 • 28:01 – Concerns with Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods

 • 31:03 – Where listeners can follow Louisa and AgFunder News

Tweetables

“It’s hard to ignore the impact of climate change and the impact that humans have on this planet.” (05:59)

“I think that the use of software programs, robotics – all of that technology which has, in itself, improved over the last couple of years – it’s now come to a point where I think it’s becoming effective indoors.” (11:30)

“I think there’s absolutely potential for people to build new farms in smaller locations in more niche areas or products.” (16:19)

“A lot of times a valuation of a company is dependent on their access to capital and not necessarily the stage at which their company is in terms of bringing in revenues and being a sustainable business.” (18:17)

“I think we’ve proven that we do have enough food to feed the world. It’s not necessarily reaching the right places and the right people.” (27:28)

Links Mentioned:

AgFunder News

Louisa Burwood-Taylor on LinkedIn

Louisa Burwood-Taylor on Twitter

Intelligent Growth Solutions

Website | Twitter |

S1E2: 002 Louisa Burwood-Taylor - The Biggest Challenges Facing Indoor Agriculture

Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show process improvement engineer and vertical farming expert, Stephen Pankhurst. In this episode, Stephen talks about the origin story of his wildly popular YouTube channel, Exa Cognition, which touches on all things technology including vertical farming. He expounds on the barriers of entry, profitability and evolution of vertical farming.

Special thanks to our Season 1 Sponsor

IGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ 

Key Takeaways

 • 00:43 – Stephen shares his origin story and how he originally became interested in vertical farming

 • 09:25 – Stephen expounds on the time and energy that went into his YouTube channel dedicated entirely to vertical farming

 • 14:05 – Stephen breaks down the progress of technological advances in the industry and profitability of vertical farms

 • 20:29 – Stephen speaks to challenges, barriers to entry and the importance of light energy for vertical farming

 • 35:02 – The incredible growth of Stephen’s video series and his plans for the future of this channel

 • 49:24 – Where listeners can follow Stephen

Tweetables

“It’s very clear that it [vertical farming] does work and it’s working right now. There’s a lot of companies having success with it. And the question I wanted to answer was, ‘Can it really scale to the global level?’” (05:00)

“I guess you could say I get obsessive about certain topics and I kind of go all-in on them.” (08:52)

“A lot of things that really surprised me when I was doing the research is just how absolutely massive agriculture is. I mean it is truly vast. Of our habitable land, fifty percent of it is agriculture.” (24:25)

“When you first hear something crazy for the first time, you say, ‘No.’ And then, the more you start to hear about it, at some point it doesn’t matter that much about the data you provide. At some point, once you’ve been exposed to an idea enough, people tend to go, ‘Yeah, yeah. Of course that was always going to happen.’” (33:59)

“My initial idea for the channel…what I really wanted to do was to take the evangelists of a technology and the critics and put them together against each other so to speak.” (44:40)

Links Mentioned:

Stephen’s LinkedIn

Stephen’s YouTube Channel

Stephen’s Email

Books Mentioned:

Plant Factory

S1E3: 003 Stephen Pankhurst - Analyzing the Evolution and Profitability of Vertical Farming

Henry Gordon Smith is a global AgTech leader, speaker and founder of Agritecture, a global leader in urban agriculture consulting services. Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he and Henry discuss the business model of vertical farming and urban agriculture. They expound on the racial and socioeconomic divide within agriculture as well as the ongoing ‘food apartheid.’ Finally, Henry speaks to upcoming events and projects he and his organization are working towards.

Special thanks to our Season 1 Sponsor

IGS – https://intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/ 

Key Takeaways

 • 00:01 – Henry shares his origin story and how he originally became interested in vertical farming and podcasting

 • 07:52 – The biggest challenges Henry has faced as an entrepreneur and how investments have shaped the vertical farming business model

 • 13:04 – Complex questions about vertical farming that Henry is seeking answers to

 • 20:23 – Henry shares his definition of vertical farming and solutions he suggests for the industry

 • 29:13 – Henry’s speaks to the mission of his company Agritecture, and some of its offerings

 • 36:15 – Henry’s unique perspective on race, the ‘food apartheid’ and urban agriculture

 • 42:49 – Upcoming vents Henry is launching with Agritecture

 • 45:29 – Henry expounds on what excites him about the future of vertical farming and AgTech in general

 • 50:25 – Where listeners can follow Henry

Tweetables

“As I was exploring my interest in doing business solutions to sustainability challenges, I created three blogs to kind of test the market and to see what people responded to.” (03:38)

“I’m not about hype. I’m happy to encourage and talk about the benefits of urban agriculture and vertical farming, but I really want to talk about the complex questions.” (12:49)

“My definition is really about three dimensional farming. It could be one floor, it could be a container, it could be a basement. It’s really about saying, ‘Ok, when we think three dimensionally about agriculture and the potential to photosynthesize plants using LEDs, what could we do and what could we do with this space?’” (22:25)

“We have the third urban agriculture director in the United States that was just put into place in [Washington] D.C., to join Atlanta and Philadelphia. That’s really exciting…I’m really excited to see how policy accelerates the industry and starts to structure it a little bit.” (48:00)

Links Mentioned:

Henry’s LinkedIn

Agritecture

Agritecture Designer

Vertical Farming Podcast Trailer

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