Infarm

What if fresh produce wasn’t trucked hundreds of miles, but grown right here in the city? Here at Infarm in Copenhagen, that “what if” is a reality. Infarm isn’t your typical farm. It’s a vertical farm, a futuristic approach to agriculture where crops grow stacked vertically indoors. Infarm was founded in Berlin in 2013 with the goal of creating a sustainable and efficient way to grow food. Infarm aimed to bring fresh produce closer to consumers, reducing transportation costs and emissions. Originally, Copenhagen was chosen as one of Infarm’s core markets alongside Frankfurt and Toronto. The company planned to consolidate its “farming operations” in these cities, focusing on building strong relationships with retailers and achieving profitability. Infarm even planned a large growing center in Greve, Copenhagen. This facility aimed to produce millions of plants annually, supplying herbs and salads to retailers across Denmark. They touted the sustainability of their methods, emphasizing reduced water consumption, land usage, and transportation. They even highlighted their use of renewable energy certificates, ensuring their electricity comes from wind power. Despite these ambitious plans and initial success supplying Irma stores in Copenhagen, challenges arose. Escalating energy prices and tough financial markets forced Infarm to re-evaluate its strategy. Sadly, despite the initial optimism and investment, Infarm ultimately closed its operations in Copenhagen in April 2023. The vision of locally grown, sustainable produce within the city, while promising, faced economic realities that proved insurmountable at the time. Infarm’s story in Copenhagen is a reminder of the complex challenges facing innovative agricultural practices, even as the need for sustainable food solutions becomes increasingly urgent.