In the frozen landscape of Finnish Lapland, extreme conditions are a constant challenge for farmers, making the choice between greenhouse farming and vertical farming an increasingly difficult decision. “Vertical farms provide a reliable environment for stable production, especially in times of temperature fluctuations. Especially in the propagation of lettuce, stable production is carried out,” says Greenhouse in the harsh Lapland region. says Robert Jodas, founder and CEO of vertical farming company Rob’s Little Garden.
Robbe’s Little Garden is a Finnish greenhouse construction company specializing in hybrid greenhouse and vertical farming solutions. The company’s first hybrid farm was built in his 2015 and features 500 square meters of cultivation space. Back in 2022, Robbe’s Little Garden built his four-tier vertical farm with an area of 4,400 square meters.
Robert Jodas at his vertical farm (Photo by Meeri Utti)
Power outages and price hikes
However, Finland is currently experiencing energy problems, including an all-day power outage two weeks ago. Rising energy prices have forced many greenhouse growers to turn off their lights for 12 hours. This has had a significant impact on vegetable production and revealed the vulnerability of traditional greenhouse agriculture to energy fluctuations.
Looking back on the power outage, Robert said: “If the lights had been on during that crisis, the losses in our large tomato and cucumber greenhouses could have amounted to between 100 and 200 million euros in one day. “We need to balance production costs and market prices.” Crises require careful decision-making. ” Up until now, choosing an energy provider has been done manually, but Robert sees an opportunity to automate these processes, as constantly checking energy bills can be tiring.
Volatile energy prices have producers worried about how to meet contracts with off-takers. “If prices go up again next week, we will be charging more than 50 euros per kg of tomatoes. However, because we have a good relationship with our customers, we will always find a way to strike a balance. . But we hope the situation stabilizes, otherwise prices will have to rise somehow.”
Greenhouse or vertical farm?
When energy prices are that high, does it make a difference whether you grow in a greenhouse or in a vertical farm? Challenging the commonly held belief that vertical farming is more energy efficient than modern greenhouses, Robert He claims: “Contrary to popular belief, in Finland my vertical farm uses about 40% more energy per square meter compared to a greenhouse. This emphasizes the need” Compare the correct variables and to avoid falling into the trap of comparing apples to pears. ” However, that is just a matter of mathematics.
Despite the energy efficiency debate, Robert believes there is room for vertical farming in certain scenarios. “Vertical farming can be advantageous when land is expensive, the climate is harsh, or consistent production is required. We must take an open-minded and transparent approach to finding out,” he says. Production for the benefit of the entire industry. ”
retail partnership
Robert recognizes the positive impact vertical farming startups are having on the greenhouse industry and envisions future collaborations between retailers and farmers. “Direct partnerships between farmers and supermarket chains will become more prevalent, reducing the need for intermediaries. It is uncertain whether vertical farms will be implemented in all stores, but a variety of regional factors will “This will have an impact on the adoption of agricultural technology.”
For more information:
Rob’s Little Garden
Robert Jodas, Owner
robbert.jordas@robbes.fi
www.robbeslittlegarden.com