Green farming made easy: an AI-based farm in a box

The device provides year-round greens and herbs with minimal water and maintenance required

Spotted: Global food insecurity is rising, largely due to the combined effects of inflation, armed conflict, and changes in weather patterns. Reducing food mileage is one way of avoiding supply chain disruptions and resultant shortages – and grow-your-own is as local as it gets.

Embracing the benefits of local growing is Israeli foodtech company Agwa, which has recently introduced its autonomous vegetable system for homegrown, sustainable greens. No gardening or farming experience is needed and the Agwa 2.0 uses AI to monitor and tweak growing conditions, with the system versatile enough to grow multiple crops at the same time in one small space.

Each Agwa comes with 60 pods of seeds as chosen by the owner. Users simply connect the device to power and Wi-Fi and install the growing pods, which can be reordered at any time. Using a virtual agronomist to track plant growth, the Agwa 2.0 system includes an app that alerts owners when produce is ready to be harvested. As well as reducing emissions from transport, the system also cuts down on the amount of water and packaging used to produce, store, and distribute foodstuffs.

So far, Agwa offers nine different types of lettuce; herbs and spices that include coriander, parsley, sage, thyme and mint; greens such as arugula, spring onions, and bok choy; and other types of produce like radishes and sprouts. The company is focusing on further expanding the types of vegetables available.

Although the growing system is not yet available to buy, potential growers can sign up for the waitlist. At the end of last year, Agwa also announced its partnership with Eastern Pacific Shipping and launched the Agwa for Maritime system. Maritime crews have long suffered nutritionally from the lack of fresh food when at sea for long stretches of time. But now with the Agwa system, they can grow their favourite herbs and spices, as well as access fresh, chemical-free salads year-round in any location.

Growing produce is one way to minimise unwanted waste along the supply chain, but cutting down on food waste in the home is also an important part of improving global food systems. Innovations in Springwise’s library like a food-tracking app and countertop plant milk brewing device show some of the ways this can be done.

Written By: Keely Khoury