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“Our vertical farms are profitable”
A few years ago, Growy opened its first vertical farm in Amsterdam. Over the coming years, the company plans to build five new farms annually, says founder and CEO Ard van de Kreeke. “That means we’re swimming against the tide. Especially in the Netherlands, there’s a lot of scepticism around vertical farming. But our vertical farms are profitable—and we want to show other horticultural companies that it can be done.” This is one of the reasons Growy joined Wageningen University & Research’s Club of 100.
Why did you choose vertical farming?
“With Growy, our goal is to produce healthy, affordable, and local food. We see ourselves as farmers, not a high-tech company. Five years ago, we started growing herbs, lettuce, and microgreens in a controlled environment. The available technologies at the time were expensive and energy-intensive, so we decided to develop our own—either in-house or in partnership with others. For instance, together with Logiqs, we developed a transport crane system for our gutters.”
Is it profitable?
“Vertical farming is often viewed negatively. You’ll often hear people say, ‘It just doesn’t add up financially.’ But our packaged lettuce is sold in supermarkets for the same price as lettuce grown in greenhouses—and we’re stocked by major retailers. We’re building farms that cost as much as, or even less than, a high-tech greenhouse—and use less energy. We currently operate one farm in Amsterdam and plan to scale up to 30 farms in the coming years. So yes—vertical farming can be profitable! You just need to apply the right technologies to the right use cases.”
How do you feel about the negativity around vertical farming?
“It’s frustrating—and yes, it affects us. Retailers and banks, for example, are sceptical during first contact. So we have to prove that vertical farms can be economically viable. I also feel that Dutch horticulture can be a bit arrogant toward the rest of the world—‘We’re the best at greenhouse growing’. But developments outside the Netherlands are moving at a rapid pace. I think we could afford to be a bit more humble.”
How does joining the Club of 100 fit into your vision?
“First and foremost, I want to show other companies that vertical farming is possible. We already have close ties with WUR. We’ve collaborated on topics like flavour, nutrients, compounds, and genetics. Several of our 100+ employees are WUR graduates or did internships there—young minds who think outside the box. And that’s exactly who you need when you’re working on new solutions.”
