In a warehouse outside Phoenix, thousands of herbs and vegetables are growing in robot-powered bins, moving smoothly through a Rubik's cube-like grid. This is Opollo Farm: a fully automated vertical farming system built by AutoStore and OnePointOne. Robots move crops through a precision-controlled environment, adjusting their position to deliver water and nutrients. The result? Harvest-ready greens in 15 days - about half the time of traditional farming - and grown just miles from where they're consumed.
Opollo Farm is designed to tackle some of the biggest challenges in agriculture today: labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, water scarcity, and the demand for fresher, locally grown food. The system is already up and running, supplying leafy greens and herbs to Whole Foods Market stores in the Phoenix area under the "Willo" brand.
"Opollo Farm is an example of how advanced technology can revolutionize local agriculture, helping to deliver high-quality, locally grown produce to our stores faster and fresher than before," said Chris Petroulakis, category merchant for produce at Whole Foods Market.
In the farm, plants are seeded automatically and then transferred to the grid for germination. Throughout their life, the plants move locations to receive optimal environmental conditions.
The Opollo Farm is a fully integrated vertical farming platform combining automation, lighting, irrigation, and climate control (HVAC) to create the perfect growing environment. Robots travel along the top of the cubic-storage grid to manage watering while advanced software continuously monitors each plant's status and adjusts conditions in real-time.
This farm also operates entirely indoors, providing control over the plants' environment. Its compact, automated design allows it to be placed close to urban centers or co-located with distribution hubs, maximizing floor space and minimizing food miles.
When plants are ready to harvest, the robots bring bins to the "Port"; the single entry/exit point for the grid, optimizing labor usage. These movements are at the heart of AutoStore's technology. Automation enables Opollo Farm to operate efficiently around the clock, delivering consistent, high-quality harvests year-round.
How it works:
- Hydroponic growing system: Plants are grown in bins within a closed-loop system where water is recirculated, reducing water consumption.
- High-density cultivation: Plants are grown at the highest possible density, enabling farms to be built inside existing distribution centers—eliminating the 2,000 mile average journey from the farm to distribution center.
- Automated plant movement: Powered by AutoStore's cube storage system, plants move autonomously throughout the facility. Each bin enters and exits the grid through a single Port, dramatically reducing labor requirements.
- Scalable architecture: Whether operating at small or large scale, Opollo Farm delivers consistent performance and can be expanded seamlessly to meet growing demand.
- Controlled environment: The fully enclosed system protects crops from pests and contamination, eliminating the need for pesticides.
- Local supply chain: Proximity to urban centers allows for shorter supply chains and reduced transportation emissions.
For more information:
AutoStore
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