Vertical Farming Podcast - Conversations with CEOs, Founders & Leaders in AgTech & CEA Podcast Por Harry Duran arte de portada

Vertical Farming Podcast - Conversations with CEOs, Founders & Leaders in AgTech & CEA

Vertical Farming Podcast - Conversations with CEOs, Founders & Leaders in AgTech & CEA

De: Harry Duran
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Vertical farming is a revolutionary approach to produce production leveraging controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology and systems in innovative ways. It facilitates production of huge quantities of nutritious and quality fresh food without relying on favorable weather, high water usage, skilled labor, and high soil fertility. This ensures reliable yield and consistency in crop production year-round with climate control, and no effects of external environment factors such as diseases, pests, or predator attacks. Join Harry Duran, Host of the Apple-recommended Podcast Junkies and Founder of FullCast, as he explores the world of controlled-environment agriculture (CEA). Tune in every week for fascinating conversations with CEOs, Founders and luminaries from the exciting and fast-growing world of Vertical Farming. If you've been interested in the world of Indoor AgTech and want to hear inspiring stories from the innovators on the frontlines of this fast-moving industry, then this most definitely the show for you! Subscribe and learn more by visiting http://verticalfarmingpodcast.com/2022 FullCast Ciencia Ciencias Biológicas
Episodios
  • 179: How Eleusis Helps Feed Security and Builds Rancher Resilience During Droughts with Joaquin Gonzalez

    179: How Eleusis Helps Feed Security and Builds Rancher Resilience During Droughts with Joaquin Gonzalez
    Dec 5 2025

    Ever feel like droughts, rising costs, or feed shortages are always threatening your ranch’s future? I get it—and so does this week’s guest, who’s engineering innovative solutions for resilient, sustainable animal agriculture.

    In this episode, Harry Duran sits down with Joaquin Gonzalez, Chief Expansion Officer at Eleusis Feed, an expert in agricultural engineering with deep roots (literally) in ranching and hydroponic fodder systems. Raised on a ranch near Santiago and backed by a career spanning Chile, Colorado, and now Texas, Joaquin Gonzalez brings a wealth of hands-on experience and entrepreneurial spirit to revolutionize how livestock are fed.

    This conversation dives into the power of hydroponic fodder systems as a game-changer for ranchers and farmers battling water scarcity, price hikes, and traditional feed limitations. Joaquin Gonzalez unpacks why modular container farms aren’t always the answer at scale, and shares how Eleusis Feed’s industrial solutions offer flexibility for both small and massive operations, empowering producers in drought-prone regions to ensure feed—and food—security all year long.

    Beyond the nuts and bolts of fodder systems, you’ll hear stories from Joaquin Gonzalez's lifelong obsession with horses, lessons learned from engineering trial and error, and the realities of transitioning from South America to the U.S. Discover what it really takes to convince traditional ranchers to embrace innovation, and get inspired by the impact of sustainable practices on animal health, water conservation, and rural livelihoods.

    If you’re ready to learn how vertical farming can safeguard your operation and secure the future of animal agriculture, tune in to this episode now—this one’s packed with practical insights and the passion to match. Listen and get equipped to grow smarter today!

    Thanks to Our Sponsors

    CEA Summit East - https://indoor.ag/cea-summit-east-2025/

    Indoor AgCon - https://indoor.ag/

    Key Takeaways

    00:06:42 Tackling Chile’s Drought and the Quest for Sustainable Fodder

    00:13:01 Engineering Solutions: Container Farms and Overcoming Mold

    00:19:22 Barley Fodder for All: From Horses to Giraffes

    00:25:29 Scaling Up: Industrial Hydroponic Fodder Systems

    00:32:09 Educating Ranchers and Challenging Traditions

    00:38:18 Entrepreneurship, Moving to Austin, and Staying Motivated

    Tweetable Quotes"At the end, you have to have horses, you have to have a trainer and all this stuff, and it was something that from there I transitioned to another sport because it was too expensive. Being one of seven, it wasn't something that I was the only one obsessed with horses and stuff, so I pushed that dream aside and focused on other sports. But then after college, I picked it up again, started riding again, won another championship, and it was everything about having a horse and having a train with feed and all this stuff that gets complicated over time. That is something I have in my heart—at some point, I will do it for sure.""The containerized solution that we could put together was able to produce 850 pounds a day, which, if you look at the industry, you can feed 30 cows, 35 horses, and stuff like that. I was talking to many ranchers that had 200 head of cattle, so for that you need eight containers. Putting one container next to another at some point doesn't make sense—maybe two is okay, three you start to think about, no, because every container has its own system, its own way of farming. At the end, we were looking for something more industrial.""With a fodder system, you use about 95% less water than traditional farm. We’re here to help those places, especially...
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    53 m
  • 178: Why Modular Vertical Farming Holds the Key to Scalable Food Security with Fischer Farm's Tristan Fischer

    178: Why Modular Vertical Farming Holds the Key to Scalable Food Security with Fischer Farm's Tristan Fischer
    Nov 21 2025

    Ever wondered how to scale your vertical farm without breaking the bank—or your nerves?

    In this episode of the Vertical Farming Podcast, I sit down with Tristan Fischer, CEO of Fisher Farms, one of the pioneers in modular farming technology. Tristan brings over 25 years of experience in clean energy and large-scale renewables, translating that expertise into creating more efficient, scalable, and cost-effective vertical farming solutions. Having navigated the challenges of building some of the largest vertical farms in the UK, Tristan is passionate about making vertical farming both accessible and sustainable—and he’s got the battle-tested insights to prove it.

    We dive deep into Fisher Farms’ journey from traditional R&D setups to their cutting-edge modular approach, using shipping containers like building blocks for truly scalable farms. Tristan shares candid stories about the risks and surprises of massive farm construction, and how clever modular design is transforming the economics and flexibility of indoor agriculture, enabling global expansion—even in places like Abu Dhabi, where energy costs are astonishingly low.

    Beyond technology, we explore Fisher Farms’ culture of innovation, their relentless focus on driving down costs, and why Tristan believes vertical farming should move from premium niche to practical staple for feeding the world. You’ll hear how the team’s values—kindness, respect, factfulness, and robustness—help foster big ideas and quick pivots, and how these principles drive Fisher Farms to be the lowest-cost vertical farm in the world.

    If you’re ready to rethink what’s possible with vertical farming and discover how modularity might be the answer to your growth headaches, don’t miss this episode! Click play and join us as we explore the future of feeding the world—without wrecking the planet.

    Ready to stop dreaming and start building a profitable, impactful vertical farm that transcends tired food system models? Click to listen and get inspired by Mary’s story, strategy, and actionable insights!

    Thanks to Our Sponsors

    CEA Summit East - https://indoor.ag/cea-summit-east-2025/

    Indoor AgCon - https://indoor.ag/

    Key Takeaways

    00:00 Fisher Farms Expansion and Modular Approach

    06:01 Overcoming Scaling Challenges at Farm Two

    12:01 Fisher Farms Ethos and Focus on Cost Reduction

    18:31 Advancements in Lighting and Efficiency

    23:40 Competing with Glasshouses and New Market Opportunities

    29:54 Modular Growth in the UAE and Global Impact

    35:03 Plug and Play Modular Flexibility

    40:02 Fisher Farms Technology Certification and Branding

    46:08 Building an Innovative, Kind, and Robust Company Culture

    52:42 Closing Reflections and Future Outlook

    Tweetable Quotes"If you have a thousand things which need to get right, I think we probably planned for about 900 of them and got them right, and then once Farm 2 got running, 50 of them were relatively quick to fix, but there were a few items which actually ended up being very, very difficult. Sometimes you had a problem hiding behind another problem.""Our view is that if we focus on really driving down cost, cost, cost, cost, then we don’t have to worry about becoming a premium brand—but it gets us in the direction where we want to be, which is: how do you actually feed the world without trashing the planet at the same time?""What we want is my terrible idea and a genuinely bad idea, and your crazy, insane idea and somebody else’s drug-addled idea or sleep-addled idea—whatever it is—and they’re all actually genuinely bad ideas independently, but by putting those ideas together, layering those...
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    1 h
  • 177: How Mary Wetherill Discovered the Business Model Shift That Makes Urban Farming Profitable

    177: How Mary Wetherill Discovered the Business Model Shift That Makes Urban Farming Profitable
    Oct 31 2025

    I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched passionate urban farmers burn out because their business model wasn’t sustainable—what if there were a better way?

    This week on Vertical Farming, I sit down with Mary Wetherill, founding president and CEO of Green Food Solutions, for a candid conversation about building a truly sustainable urban farming business. Mary’s unique journey—from the service industry and massage therapy to pioneering food access solutions in city environments—gives her an unmatched perspective on both the struggles and opportunities vertical farmers face today.

    In this episode, Mary demystifies how Green Food Solutions is reimagining the food system with a “farming as a service” franchise model that prioritizes support, profitability, and genuine community impact. We dig into what makes a good franchise partner, why most farms face recurring challenges, and how Mary’s mission-driven approach is shaking up the industry’s status quo. If you’ve ever wondered how to make real money in urban farming—without sacrificing your values—this conversation is your playbook.

    Beyond the business model, you’ll hear stories about navigating Silicon Valley hype cycles, lessons learned from early accelerator programs, the importance of resourcefulness, and the surprising ways personal experience shapes entrepreneurial journeys. Plus, discover how Green Food Solutions fosters partnerships that work, advice for new farmers, and eye-opening discussions on market realities and PR.

    Ready to stop dreaming and start building a profitable, impactful vertical farm that transcends tired food system models? Click to listen and get inspired by Mary’s story, strategy, and actionable insights!

    Thanks to Our Sponsors

    CEA Summit East - https://indoor.ag/cea-summit-east-2025/

    Indoor AgCon - https://indoor.ag/

    Key Takeaways

    00:00 Jersey City Roots and Entrepreneurial Beginnings

    06:10 Entering Urban Farming & The Square Roots Experience

    12:35 Green Food Solutions Business Model Explained

    18:26 Franchising, Farmers, and Fit for New Owners

    24:57 Green Food Solutions Origin Story & Mission

    30:22 Monetization, Resourcefulness, and Revenue Streams

    36:48 Team Management & Leadership Values

    41:02 Industry Reflections & Farmers’ Challenges

    46:16 Closing Thoughts & Contact Information

    Tweetable Quotes"Honestly, when I worked for Merrill Lynch, I quit. I was in with my boss and I was getting a promotion. She brought me in her office and I was just going to give my two weeks. I'd rather stick a pencil in my eyes than take your promotion. I just really didn't like the corporate environment.""We were disgusted by how consultants and all these people were charging tens, twenties of thousands of dollars for things we were giving for free, and honestly, manufacturers usually give those for free—so I didn’t like what I saw happening when I was so originally excited about it.""There was a day that my mom had a box of food that was brought into the house by a priest. I think that was the first day I had an experience of feeling poor, regardless of what level it was. I started selling my toys and shining shoes—I think I got my knowledge about monetization and being resourceful because of having grown up poor."Resources Mentioned

    Website - https://www.greenfoodsolutions.com

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/18566881

    Facebook -

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    55 m
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Not one minute has been wasted, it's both educational and inspirational, you are amazing and a human magnet for great people to come together on your podcast!!!
This might be the lifestyle/business I've been looking for, vertical farming.

Inspiration through conversation

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