Climate-tech pioneer Skytree is back in the news this week. Spain-based vertical indoor farming company Néboda Farms has joined Skytree’s Pioneer Program and will deploy the company’s Cumulus Direct Air Capture (DAC) unit early next year.
Once installed, Néboda Farms will have the ability to generate up to 12 kg per day of clean and affordable CO2 directly on its farm, enhancing its sustainable production of food. The grower expects to reduce CO2 costs by 79% by using Skytree’s award-winning DAC technology for innovative onsite CO2 capture and reutilization.
The Néboda news comes on the heels of last week’s announcement that Skytree has been selected to receive €2.5 million in a non-dilutive grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator.
Pioneering early DAC adoption
“As pioneers in the vertical farming sector, we are very happy to serve as early adopters of DAC technology and collaborate with Skytree as they bring the first onsite CO2 generating units to market,” said Iván García Besada, Néboda Farms co-founder and CEO. “Joining the Pioneer Program is a win-win for Néboda and Skytree. DAC technology has the potential to further elevate the sustainability benefits of vertical farming. We intend to encourage adoption of the technology by other companies. By implementing this game-changer technology, Néboda will achieve a reduction in CO2 costs of up to 79%. We will play a key role in the decarbonization of the value chain and, more broadly, in the reduction of the CO2 levels in the atmosphere.”
Néboda Farms’ mission is to revolutionize agriculture and produce fresher, tastier, nutritious and pesticide-free food more sustainably. In the demanding European fresh produce market, the vertical farming company produces and markets its products to fine restaurants, with a special emphasis on basil, the company’s flagship product. In the future, the company plans to venture into the retail sector with basil and salad mixes, while continuing to expand production capacity.
Capitalizing on competitive advantage
In a market where every advantage is crucial, Néboda Farms deploys and leverages a wide range of proprietary technologies, automation and control processes, robotics, and big data to support its production processes in order to offer competitive prices — one of the pain points in the vertical farming sector.
In joining Skytree’s Pioneer Program, Néboda will be among the first to benefit from DAC technology, transitioning away from the traditional fossil fuel-based CO2 supply chain. Skytree’s proprietary DAC technology captures CO2 from ambient air, filters it using a patented process, and stores it in pressurized buffer tanks from where it can be accessed and reused by any business in regular need of concentrated CO2.
The Skytree Cumulus, the first commercially available modular unit, will deliver a reliable and uninterrupted supply to CEA businesses, helping to alleviate CO2 procurement and transport challenges. The modular technology can be set up quickly at any location and scaled to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes.
Pioneer Program closes at year-end
In September, Skytree announced the commercial availability of the first Cumulus units and the launch of the Pioneer Program, which offers priority delivery of Cumulus units when they ship early in 2024 and special reduced pricing for early adopters. This introductory Pioneer Program offer expires December 31, 2023.
“Vertical farms need CO2 to operate effectively and profitably,” said Camille Hanna, Skytree Business Development Director. “Néboda Farms is among the first of many controlled environment agriculture businesses that will benefit from the ability to generate its own CO2 onsite. And they will do so in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way, bypassing the harmful processes used by fossil fuel companies. We are very excited to welcome Néboda Farms to the Skytree Pioneer Program and look forward to helping the company meet its CO2 needs using our proprietary DAC technology.”
Images courtesy of Skytree. Featured image: Néboda Farms smart factory.