GreenResearcher allows plant scientists and breeders to be in complete control over their growth recipes. You set the conditions for your trials and achieve reproducible results with advanced CEA technology. 

AVF recently caught up with Kay Plat, Founder and CTO at greenhub, our newest AVF member, and winner of the Scaling Companies category in the AVF Summit and VertiFarm’s Startup Challenge: Grow to the Next Height!

– Who is greenhub? 

greenhub is an innovative company, still a start-up, founded almost one and a half years ago. We are a spin-off from the University of Leipzig. We have done many research projects in the past, mainly in the indoor farming sector, such as aquaponics, hydroponics, vertical farming, lighting strategies, and data management. 

The company is based in Leipzig, Germany, working on technology advancements in the indoor farming sector. Our data-driven solutions make the day to day tasks of indoor farming operators easier. 

– What is your technology, and who is it for? 

 We focus on data-driven solutions, aiming to make data collection and management easier and more accessible. Our newest development is the GreenFarm OS, a software platform that integrates seamlessly with our hardware tool, GreenResearcher, to enhance precision and efficiency in farming operations. 

GreenFarmer OS image courtesy of greenhub

GreenFarm OS is designed to connect growers, suppliers, businesses in the vertical farming sector, and research institutes. It addresses the key challenges faced by the industry by offering real-time monitoring, control, and visualization of farm operations through a user-friendly dashboard. This platform helps growers optimize lighting, nutrients, and water management, leading to improved productivity and higher yields. 

GreenResearcher complements this system as a plug-and-grow tool that enables precise control of all conditions for plants. While it is ideal for small-scale trials next to the main production, its integration with GreenFarm OS ensures that data from these trials can inform larger-scale operations. Researchers can also benefit from its ability to run controlled experiments and analyze long-term data trends, making it a powerful tool for advancing plant science. 

GreenFarm OS enables growers and researchers alike to analyze and compare data sets, gaining valuable insights into plant behavior and farm performance. This functionality is particularly useful for suppliers, growers, and research institutes looking to refine their techniques and achieve consistent, high-quality results. 

By addressing the needs of both growers and researchers, GreenFarm OS empowers users to better understand their crops, make data-driven decisions, and stay competitive in the evolving agricultural landscape. 

– What is unique about your product and approach? 

GreenResearcher image courtesy of greenhub

Our unique approach focuses on creating solutions that revolve around the needs of plants while fostering collaboration and learning with our partners. By understanding and prioritizing the biological requirements of plants, we develop tools that create optimal growing conditions and provide actionable insights to growers and researchers. 

At the core of our work is the ability to turn complex data into practical solutions. GreenFarm OS and GreenResearcher combine advanced data analytics with user-friendly tools to monitor, control, and optimize growing parameters. These systems empower users to make informed decisions, run trials, and refine their processes, whether they are cultivating on a large scale or conducting research experiments. 

We also emphasize a collaborative feedback loop with our users. Their input helps us improve our products and adapt them to real-world needs, creating a dynamic process of continuous innovation. This approach ensures that our solutions not only address immediate challenges but also evolve alongside the industry. 

Our team’s expertise in plant biology and data science bridges the gap between technology and cultivation, ensuring that the systems we design enhance plant health and productivity. By combining this plant-centered perspective with a commitment to collaboration, we deliver tools that are innovative, practical, and tailored to the needs of the agricultural community. 

– What is the potential of your technology going forward? 

The highest potential of our technology is to improve resource efficiency. For indoor farming, this is always the goal: 

• Allowing precise control and minimizing water usage and energy/electricity 

• Increasing productivity  

• Optimizing growth conditions 

• Increasing flexibility for crop production – conditions and varieties grown 

• Closing the gap in growing knowledge for people working in indoor agriculture – experienced growers are rare.    

For some clients, we optimize growth using the plants’ existing genes. Currently, most plant breeds are for outside/greenhouses, with breeders working on new varieties. In our system, you can test and trial new varieties really fast while controlling the growing parameters alongside the primary crop production. 

– What are your goals in the future? 

We want greenhub to be one of the leading companies for data improvement and transparency in the indoor farming sector and to expand our product portfolio. We currently focus on the German and European markets and would like to have market expansion outside of these areas over the coming years. 

We are looking for more collaborations, including strong industrial collaborations, as in this small and still new sector, collaboration is more important than competition – although competition is essential. 

In the future, the goal is to be able to compare datasets using AI. 

– What are you looking for in the VF space?

We are actively seeking indoor farm pilot customers for GreenFarm OS to collaborate on developing tailored solutions for the industry and with the industry. By working closely with growers, we aim to refine our platform and ensure it addresses the unique challenges of vertical farming operations. 

In addition, we are looking for industry partners to integrate GreenFarm OS into the diverse and evolving systems within the sector. This collaboration will help bridge gaps, create synergies, and bring greater efficiency to the vertical farming space. 

How did you find the experience of being part of the AVF start-up challenge? 

Compared to other startup pitch challenges, this one truly stood out. There was no need to explain the concept of vertical or indoor farming, as everyone in the audience, from visitors to jury members, was already deeply invested in the topic. 

Connecting with other startups in the sector and learning about their impressive work reinforced the positive outlook and confidence that this industry is here to stay. The innovations showcased during the event highlighted the potential for long-term development, paving the way towards profitability for the sector as a whole. 

The thoughtful questions, rooted in a deep understanding of the industry and its unique challenges, were particularly refreshing. And, of course, being one of the winners added to the excitement, helping to generate more traffic and meaningful engagement at our booth.  

If you would like to know more about greenhub and its products and possibilities for project cooperation or collaboration, then contact the team:

www.greenhub.eu 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenhub-eu/