Vertical farming has been touted as a solution to meet the growing demand for fresh and local produce. One of the companies making strides in this field is Babylon Micro-Farms, which produces the Galleri, a self-contained vertical farming system that can grow over 50 different plant varieties. While the system is currently priced at $15,000, making it cost-prohibitive for most individuals, the company is focusing on food service for verticals like healthcare, education, and corporate sectors. With the recent $8 million Series A funding led by Venture South, the company aims to accelerate production and marketing, expand its install base, and introduce a hardware-as-a-service subscription pricing option.
The Galleri system is designed to be modular and self-contained, with the proprietary BabylonIQ platform that manages a distributed fleet of vertical farms at scale. The platform automates growing conditions, schedules planting and harvesting, and reorders supplies while conducting real-time analysis of plant health and predictive maintenance on the fleet. While one system is capable of producing up to 24 pounds of leafy greens per month, the pricing for produce varies, with microgreens offering a much stronger return on investment potential.
In addition to the Series A funding, Babylon also received a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant. With a lean team of 35 based in Richmond, Virginia, the company aims to expand its install base and offer a hardware-as-a-service subscription pricing option. The modular and self-contained nature of the system makes it an attractive option for verticals like healthcare, education, and the corporate world, where hyper-local produce is in high demand.
Babylon Micro-Farms has made significant strides in the field of vertical farming with its self-contained Galleri system. While the pricing may be prohibitive for most individuals, the focus on food service for various verticals and the introduction of a subscription pricing option may make it more accessible. The proprietary BabylonIQ platform that manages a distributed fleet of vertical farms at scale and the ability to link the modular systems in a single location make it an attractive option for those in need of hyper-local produce.
