High-tech solution for local, fresh and healthy food production Ridder Vertical Farming

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1 Solutions for Controlled Environment Agriculture High-tech solution for local, fresh and healthy food production Ridder Vertical Farming EN ridder.com

2 Company information Vertical Farm growers all over the world need the freedom to adopt their own individual approach to efficient and sustainable food production. Ridder is fully committed to ensuring that they have access to that freedom. Ridder is an internationally active family-owned company, which translates over 65 years of experience and expertise in the Dutch agri-food sector into adaptive technology and know-how that can be tailored precisely to local requirements and conditions. At Ridder, the drive to innovate is in our DNA. And we always take a practical, results-oriented approach. It is the combination of these two ingredients that has enabled Ridder to achieve its position as the market leader in technical solutions for Vertical Farming. Ridder now has customers in more than 100 countries, who receive support from our international offices and a global network of partners. The future of human health and wellbeing will depend largely on a successful global transition to efficient, safe and fully-controlled medicinal crop cultivation. Ridder s effective knowledge-sharing processes and practical solutions are helping local growers all over the world make this transition successfully, and to adopt the right approach for their specific situation. Globalization and global change will continue to generate significant challenges in the future. We believe that automation and technology will be the key to meeting those challenges. But the only way that this can happen is if the growers of the future have the knowledge they need to implement our solutions effectively and achieve maximum yields. This is Ridder s vision: Our future health and happiness depends on the evolution of controlled environment agriculture, so that we can produce safe, sustainable and sufficient supplies of food and flowers for everyone on our planet. We at Ridder are convinced that solutions for controlled environment agriculture will enable growers and farmers to produce local, safe, sustainable and year-round produce and help them in their personal development, meeting their personal needs and fulfilling their business strategies. Technology and automation played an important role for Ridder's founder, Frans Nugteren, and they continue to do so today. Our vision and objective as a company have always been to develop and refine technology, and to help provide the knowledge that people need to apply it. And this is Ridder s mission: We help growers and farmers to achieve better results by sharing our knowledge and providing adaptive technology in cooperation with our partners in controlled environment agriculture. Every day, we at Ridder aim to contribute to sustainable food production worldwide. Our challenge is to maximize the return on every investment that our customers make in automation and technology.

3 Resource-efficient cultivation in urban areas The future of farming The world s population is growing rapidly and food is becoming increasingly scarce. Food demand is likely to outstrip supply if cultivation is not increased by introducing major innovations. Traditional agriculture will make way for vertical farming, urban farming, high-tech greenhouses and other forms of protected cultivation, all of which are aimed at meeting future food needs. Global interest in innovative cultivation systems is increasing. Many of today s initiatives are small-scale projects that are not only designed to feed cities, but have other objectives as well. We're also seeing a number of large-scale projects involving new parties in the supply chain, parties other than those in the current primary sector. Next technological step We at Ridder perceive Vertical Farming as the next technological step after greenhouse cultivation a next step that offers 100% control over the plants' environment in what is referred to as precision growing. We intend to utilize our 65 years of experience in the global horticulture sector in the further development and successful marketing of this new form of horticulture. This will allow vertical farmers to make better use of existing cultivation methods and employ new, innovative techniques - both of which will help the sector to grow. Vertical Farming creates many opportunities. When we have the right technology and knowledge we can grow anything, anywhere we can grow young plants without daylight, we can grow lettuce and herbs in shipping containers and we can growing strawberries indoors: the opportunities are endless. Vertical farming will enable you to grow fresher, local produce that you can market with a premium. The benefits of Vertical Farming The priorities for resource efficient cultivation in urban areas include promoting the development of a green and circular economy. Vertical Farming is in its core concept circular, resource- efficient, waste avoidant and highly efficient. Vertical Farming, the ultimate form of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), offers many benefits: Vertical Farms, with their multiple cultivation layers, can achieve much higher yields on a much smaller footprint than open field agriculture. More people can be fed than would be possible from the equivalent area of arable land. The closed growing environment makes pesticide-free cultivation feasible and greatly limits the need for chemicals. This form of cultivation yields safer food, healthier working conditions and eliminates environmental pollution. Vertical Farming uses the water and nutrients required in all forms of cultivation with maximum efficiency. This is achieved with the closed loop system that reduces the water consumption per kg of vegetable by as much as 95% and eliminates the loss of nutrients, which minimizes the environmental impact. Fresh food is cultivated right on the doorstep of the city consumer. The short food chains minimize transport from farm to consumer and greatly reduce pollution. The objective is to grow locally an objective that can be achieved with Vertical Farming.

4 Optimizing crop cultivation through integrated process automation Integrated solutions for maximum growth Today's automated systems for Vertical Farming are actually based on multiple systems that regulate different aspects of the growing environment. These often include separate systems for controlling HVAC or LED lighting and a separate system for crop irrigation. This combination of stand-alone systems often means that the grower has limited insight into the growing climate and that these sub-systems do not work together effectively, resulting in a climate that is less than ideal. This in turn makes it difficult to adjust the growing conditions to the crop's needs and often means that the grower cannot control the system remotely. Ridder process automation offers you an integrated solution for all your Vertical Farm process control requirements. This means you have one system with one user interface that you can use to regulate every aspect of your growing environment and all the data and information you need is combined in one database. Optimizing your lighting and CO2 enrichment strategy LED light intensity and CO2 dosing levels are crucially important for plant photosynthesis and growth. However, these are major cost items in Vertical Farming, and so they need to be tailored as closely as possible to the crop's needs in order to achieve the best results. Ridder systems enable growers to manage lighting and CO2 enrichment very accurately over a number of time blocks in a 24-hour cycle, and to align their lighting/co2 strategy with their temperature and humidity strategy. Light intensity can be reduced at the start of the cultivation period, or during a part of the day. The standard systems also provide independent control of multi-coloured LEDs to achieve the required light spectrum. Irrigation tailored your crop s needs Vertical Farms can combine the cultivation of many different crops at the same time. However, each crop requires a specific irrigation strategy. The grower therefore needs to tailor the volume of irrigation and nutrients provided in order to ensure a healthy root system and healthy plant growth and ultimately better crop yields. Ridder's systems enable you to optimize the volume and frequency of watering and to improve control over fertilizer dosing which can also help you to reduce your costs. Ridder process automation Ridder offers a wide range of sensors and process computers that combine to form one integrated system with full communication between all the components. The ideal climate in the greenhouse climate can only be achieved with reliable sensors. The best choice of sensors and Ridder climate computer for your situation will depend on the degree of accuracy you require, the functionality you need and your plans for the future. All Ridder climate computers offer you integrated control of your growing processes, including control over all your irrigation, climate and energy equipment. This in turn gives you a comprehensive and fully integrated overview of all your cultivation processes. Ridder solutions also give you remote control options as well as the benefits of comprehensive alarm features. In short, our solutions will give you maximum control over the cultivation of your crop. What we promise you Perfect insight into and optimum control over greenhouse climate, tailored to your crop and production needs A customized climate computer fully tailored to your situation, ambitions and level of expertise Full synchronization and a comprehensive overview of all aspects of cultivation in your Vertical Farm Reduced risk of problems and greater freedom.

5 Customized fertigation and safe water recirculation Maximum efficiency in water use Clean irrigation water is essential Water and nutrients are the basis for plant growth. The quality of the irrigation water plays an essential However, the cost of high-quality nutrients is role in responsible water management. Feed water increasing, and supplies of clean, fresh water are should be as pure and as clean as possible before it limited. Sustainable Vertical Farming operations can is mixed with the required blend of nutrients. Feed only be achieved when water and nutrients are used water that contains harmful organisms or excessive with maximum efficiency. Growers also need to sodium or bicarbonate needs to be pre-treated. ensure that the feed water they use is pure in order to avoid introducing diseases to their crops - since this would obviously spell disaster for production levels. Solutions for all irrigation systems A wide range of irrigation systems and substrates are used in Vertical Farming, including pots, rock wool, ebb-and-flow benches, drip systems and misting systems. Ridder can provide a customized solution for every system. In consultation with you, we will review the quality of your irrigation Ridder FertiMiX fertigation units Ridder (originally Van Vliet) has built up a strong international reputation in automated fertilizer mixing tank units and disinfection systems. All our units are fully customized to the grower s needs. These units ensure a precise blend of water and nutrients, in just the right quantities, which is then applied in the greenhouse. Growers who use these units know exactly what their plants are receiving and when. Ridder VitaLite disinfection systems Ridder offers a wide range of disinfection and wastewater purification systems for the safe and environmentally friendly recirculation of water. These systems use environmentally friendly UV technology that destroys pathogens without the addition of chemicals. What we promise you Your plants will the exact amounts of the nutrients they need for maximum growth and quality A precise mixture of water and nutrients, in just the right quantities, for a stronger crop and higher yields 40% savings by recycling water and nutrients, and reduced emissions of pollutants Guaranteed lower risk of disease, healthier crops and higher yields water, the needs of your crop and the irrigation system you have chosen, in order to design a water management plan that gives you the perfect fertigation and water disinfection solutions.

6 Management information to improve productivity Improved insights and productivity Many growers find managing a Vertical Farm extremely challenging. When data is stored in different systems, the grower lacks insight into different crops, labour productivity, work processes and other costs. Who is doing what, and which standards of quality are being achieved? Growers need easy access to this information in order to make the right decisions when it comes to their product range, cost prices, cost reduction and improvements in productivity. Saving on labour costs Labour costs are usually the largest cost item for any Vertical Farm, and consequently they need to be managed carefully. Our iworker App offers your employees a simple means of logging the work that they do, allowing you to see how well they are performing and how productive they are. This information is also useful for performance-related pay schemes that give employees an extra incentive to work faster and achieve higher quality standards. Tracking and tracing Food traceability is becoming more and more important. You can improve your overall production process by monitoring quality and tracking all the actions taken in each step of that process. Trackand-trace functionality provides a completely transparent product history and enables you to respond to any quality issues in good time. Coordinating delivery times for each link in the chain can also help you improve your profit margins. Increasingly, every link needs to be better Productive management system Ridder s labour-tracking system offers employers a modern and efficient way to manage their employees and keep an eye on the productivity of both teams and individual workers. The system can also be used to log any issues with the crops or the growing environment. Combining this information with other system sources that Ridder can provide creates a smart management information system that gives you the data you need to calculate cost prices and provides support when you are making integrated into the chain, and more reliable delivery strategic business decisions. information is required. Optimizing labour and production planning All the information logged is used to generate flexible, transparent reports. These reports give you up-to-the-minute insight into the situation in the Vertical Farm and whether production targets are being achieved - insight that can help you to plan labour and production requirements for the coming hours and days. The dashboards display clear data that enables you to analyse and compare crops, greenhouse compartments and employees. What we promise you 15% savings on labour costs through more efficient use of better-motivated employees. Improved management of employees, and objective quality assessments A track-and-trace system that ensures transparent product history Better margins and support for strategic decision-making

7 Customer testimonials Green Sense Farms, Portage, USA Robert Colangelo and Carl Wenz wanted to show that fresh produce could be grown and distributed profitably all-year-round, providing a consistently fresh supply of food for consumers, and also dramatically reducing the emissions associated with long-haul food transport. Green Sense Farms is located in Portage, IN only 40 miles from downtown Chicago. The operation is one of the world s largest indoor commercial farms using LED grow lights. It grows micro greens, baby greens, culinary herbs and lettuces 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can produce around 1.5 million tons of produce annually. Green Sense Farms leases a 30,000-square foot warehouse in a centrally located industrial park, which can serve a 5-state Midwestern region. It has built two Ridder climate-controlled grow rooms, each equipped with seven 12-meter tall grow towers and 7,000 LED production modules. The cool burning lights require less climate control and use less energy, so they can be placed closer to the plants, allowing for more levels to be stacked. For Green Sense Farms this resulted in a cost savings and increased production. Urban Crops, Europe s largest automated plant factory One of the Europe s largest automated plant factories with artificial light in Europe opened in 2016, when start-up Urban Crops unveiled its impressive facility in the city of Waregem, in the south of Belgium. Urban Crops is the brainchild of the young Belgian Maarten Vandecruys. He saw his dream come true: he has succeeded in creating an efficient and sustainable commercial farming model for the cultivation of food crops anywhere in the world, in any climate, and in any setting. The climate chamber houses a large installation with 8 cultivation layers. Urban Crops operations differ from other systems in that it uses a type of crate developed in-house instead of ebb and flow benches or (NFT)-gutters. Each layer accommodates 4 rows of crates, and each 18-metre row is equipped with individual irrigation and CO2 supplies. In its current configuration, the demonstration Vertical Farm has a capacity of 448 crates: this, with 10 crops in each crate, results in 442 crops every day. A commercial installation could be equipped with towers of up to 25 cultivation layers, where 30 towers could produce 126,000 crops a day. Alongside this large-scale Vertical Farm concept, Urban Crops has developed two container farm concepts, Farm Flex and Farm Pro, systems which are intended for small-scale, efficient food cultivation in urban areas.

8 GROWx: Amsterdam s first commercial vertical farm John Apesos and engineer Jens Rahman are the entrepreneurs behind GROWx a company focused on vertical farming solutions. GROWx's mission is to accelerate the transition to sustainable urban agriculture. Their first farm, in Amsterdam, has a production area of 250 m2 (2,700 ft2) that will shortly be expanded to 1300 m2 (14,000 ft2). John Apesos explains: "With the continuing increase in the world s population and the migration of more and more people to the major cities we simply have to improve our food cultivation methods. How can we reduce our impact on the environment? And can we carry on importing fruit and vegetables from Spain and Italy, even when our fossil fuels are exhausted? GROWx's mission is to accelerate the transition to sustainable urban agriculture. Our first, commercially-oriented, vertical farm in Amsterdam enables us to grow year-round fresh produce almost next door to our customers. Our high-quality lettuce and herbs are grown to order for Amsterdam restaurants and hotels. We're redefining fresh food for the Amsterdam area: it's a first small step towards sustainable agriculture." GROWx's vertical farm puts sustainability first. John Apesos notes: "We use the latest and most energy efficient LED technology to give the plants the light they need. What's more, all our electricity comes from wind power and 100% green. Our unique growing system enables us to reuse water efficiently, and we achieve water savings of as much as 95%. However, when sustainability is an issue that needs to be addressed by all the links in the supply chain." John concludes: "Our extreme proximity to our customers cuts our transport needs by no less than 98%. Moreover, our operations emit zero CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions which certainly makes a significant contribution to sustainable cultivation!