Acreage Farms: Transforming Vertical Farming with Innovative Monitoring Solutions

In the rapidly evolving world of vertical farming, innovation is key to overcoming challenges and creating sustainable solutions for the future of agriculture. Acreage Farms , co-founded in 2022 by Collin Topolski and Andy Zamora , is at the forefront of this movement. Their mission: to develop scalable monitoring solutions that will revolutionize the way vertical farms operate, making them more efficient, accurate, and ultimately, more productive.

The Genesis of Acreage Farms

Collin and Andy’s journey began during their time as roommates at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Like many entrepreneurial stories, theirs started with a series of ideas that gradually funneled into a singular focus—indoor and vertical farming. Initially, the duo aimed to establish their own farm, which led to the name "Acreage Farms." Their vision was to repurpose old farmland into parks and centralize food sources within city centers. However, their engineering background and the guidance they received from business mentors pivoted their focus towards technology that could scale and support the entire indoor agricultural industry.

“We realized that while we wanted to start our own farm, we could make a bigger impact by developing technology that would help the industry as a whole,” Collin explained. This realization led them to develop a mobile monitoring system designed to navigate the complex environments of vertical farms, reducing the need for manual labor and minimizing errors in crop monitoring.

The Mission: Local Food Supplies and Sustainable Farming

At the heart of Acreage Farms’ work is a mission to establish and support local food supplies. As Collin pointed out, most of our food comes from distant regions, making cities reliant on external sources for their produce. Acreage Farms aims to change this by supporting the vertical farming industry, allowing cities to become more self-sufficient.

“We want to help this industry flourish,” said Collin. “There are still many problems to solve before vertical farming can be economically feasible on a large scale. Our monitoring system is designed to reduce the initial investment costs and help repurpose workers' time towards more high-impact tasks.”

The USDA Grant: A Game Changer

Acreage Farms recently secured a USDA NIFA SBIR Phase One grant, a significant milestone for the company. “Getting this grant was a big deal for us,” Collin shared. “When I first got the email, I almost didn’t believe it was real. It’s been a game changer, allowing us to move forward with our research and development.”

The grant funds a feasibility study to demonstrate the effectiveness of their mobile monitoring system in vertical farming environments. The study will explore different versions of the device, evaluate relevant data, and determine how best to present this information to users. The goal is to create a system that not only collects data but also provides actionable insights that are truly valuable to farmers.

Innovation and Challenges: Pushing Boundaries

Acreage Farms is not just innovating for the sake of innovation; they are addressing real-world challenges faced in agriculture. One of these challenges is the presence of microclimates within farms—small areas with differing environmental conditions that can impact crop growth. Traditional solutions, such as installing thousands of sensors, are prohibitively expensive. Acreage Farms’ mobile monitoring system offers a more affordable and flexible alternative, capable of navigating the farm and collecting data from various locations.

“What sets us apart is our ability to bring down costs while increasing the functionality and usefulness of the data we collect,” Collin explained. “We’re providing farmers with tools that can significantly improve their operations.”

Lessons Learned: The Importance of Networking and Mentorship

Reflecting on their journey, Collin and Andy emphasized the importance of building the right network and finding mentors. They’ve benefited from various business accelerators, including StarterStudio and VentureWell, as well as significant support from Dr. Ramy R.. All of which have provided invaluable guidance in both the technological and business aspects of their work.

“One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is the importance of aligning our vision with the needs of the industry,” Collin said. “It’s easy to build something because you can, but it’s more important to build something the world needs.”

Looking Ahead: The Future of Acreage Farms

As Acreage Farms continues to grow, they are focused on seeing their USDA grant project through and expanding their technology to a commercial level. They are also exploring partnerships for pilot studies in larger facilities, aiming to prove the viability of their system on a broader scale.

For those just starting out or looking to pivot into entrepreneurship, Andy offers this advice: “Get involved, ask questions, and listen to others’ experiences. You can learn a lot by just paying attention to what others have gone through.”

Acreage Farms is a shining example of how innovation, perseverance, and a clear mission can drive meaningful change in an industry. As they continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in vertical farming, the future looks bright for this dynamic duo and their groundbreaking solutions.

To learn more about Acreage Farms, visit: https://www.acreage.farm/

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