Why not just grow them in the sun?

Why not just grow them in the sun?

Because leafy greens are some of the most delicate crops there are, and the weather isn’t always on their side. Growing them indoors means we can grow them well all year round.

What’s wrong with growing them outside?

Nothing, when the weather plays along.

But delicate greens and herbs are the first crops to suffer in harsh weather. Hail, heat and drought can wipe out a whole crop, and that’s when greens get hard to find or arrive past their best.

We started Stacked Farm to grow greens that are just as good in the middle of winter as in the middle of summer.

Do plants miss the sun?

No. Plants only use part of the light the sun gives off, and our LED lights give them that part every day.

It’s the same photosynthesis that happens outdoors, without the cloudy weeks.

Doesn’t growing indoors use a lot of energy?

It does use electricity, mostly for lighting and keeping the rooms at the right temperature, and we won’t pretend otherwise.

Our Melbourne Airport Farm, which starts harvesting in 2027, has been designed to run on green energy.

What about water?

This is where growing indoors really helps.

Our water system is a closed loop that recycles around 90% of the water our plants grow in. The nutrients stay inside the system, so none of it runs off into rivers.

Are you trying to replace farmers?

Not at all. Most fruit and vegetables do best in a field, and traditional farming will always be essential.

We focus on the crops that struggle most outdoors, like leafy greens and herbs, so there’s a steady supply even when the weather turns.

So who actually grows them?

A team of horticulturalists, plant biologists and engineers, along with our chef, Dave.

Our technology keeps the conditions steady, but people decide what we grow and how we grow it.

So, what does that mean for you?

It means fresh greens on the shelf every week of the year, whatever the weather is doing outside.