Association for Vertical Farming

What Association for Vertical Farming does

Association for Vertical Farming (AVF), legally Association for Vertical Farming e.V., is a Munich-headquartered non-profit organization founded in 2013 that operates as the leading global convener for the indoor/vertical farming industry. AVF's stated mission is to enable international exchange and cooperation in order to accelerate the development of the indoor/vertical farming industry. It does not build or sell a unified software product; instead, it operates a portfolio of programs and services spanning industry networking, education, certification, and standards-setting. Core offerings include AVF Academy (Foundation and Advanced CEA Farming Practices courses delivered at partner facilities such as AgX/AeroFarms Abu Dhabi and Khalifa University), AVF Events (the AVF Summit, AVF Forum, AVF Asia Forum, Vertical Farming Roundtables, Workshops & Webinars), the SIF (Sustainable Indoor Farming Certificate) sustainability framework, Carbon Footprint Assessment advisory services, the Urban Agriculture Integration Typology classification framework, and the AVF Glossary. The organization is governed by a Board led by Chairwoman Christine Zimmermann-Loessl (since founding) and Vice-Chair Dr. Joel Cuello (University of Arizona), with a Scientific Advisory Board that includes domain experts in CEA, AI, and control systems.

AVF's business model is membership-driven, with eight annual membership tiers ranging from Student (€45) to Multinational/Enterprise (€4,900). Members gain access to the global network, trade fair representation, the Indoor Farming University Network (IFUN), NewsHub promotion, white papers, funding calls, and project workshops. Revenue is supplemented by AVF Academy tuition fees, event registration, Carbon Footprint Assessment services, and project grants (notably from Germany's BMZ for the GROWGHANA initiative and Erasmus+ for education projects). Customer segments span startups, SMEs, multinationals, universities and research institutions, growers, and individual experts/supporters, with additional focus on medicinal plant growers and Ayush/pharmaceutical companies in India. The organization operates across Germany, India (AVF Asia Forum 2026 at Christ University Bangalore, Medicinal Plants Network India platform), the UAE (AVF Academy), and Ghana (GROWGHANA project), and serves members globally across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North America. Headcount is stated at 51–100, though the operational core is described as a small staff team supplemented by volunteers.

Name

Association for Vertical Farming

Legal name

Association for Vertical Farming e.V.

Website

https://vertical-farming.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Association for Vertical Farming is a Munich-based non-profit founded in 2013 that operates as the leading global membership network and industry convener for the indoor/vertical farming sector, delivering educational programs, sustainability certification (SIF), events, and project collaborations to startups, SMEs, multinationals, universities, and growers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vertical Farming Industry Association

NAICS

Other Crop Farming (1119)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) / Vertical Farming (Indoor LED Farms) (AFAGAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems & Land Management (BPADALAG), Agricultural Production & Farm Operations (EDAOAOAA)

Keywords

• Vertical farming association
• Indoor agriculture network
• Controlled environment agriculture
• Sustainable farming certification
• Vertical farming education

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: AVF generates revenue through annual membership fees across multiple tiers: Student (45€), Individual expert/supporter (120€), Institution/University/Research (1100€), Startup (750€), Grower (180€), SME (2250€), Enterprise (4900€), and Multinational (4900€). Membership provides access to the AVF global network, marketing opportunities at industry events, regional event access, product promotion in NewsHub, industry networking, AVF member tours, white papers and country reports, funding call participation, investor engagement, project workshops, webinars, and access to the Indoor Farming University Network (IFUN).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Association for Vertical Farming is a global non-profit membership organization that advances the indoor/vertical farming industry through a tiered membership network, certified training courses (AVF Academy), sustainability certification (SIF), carbon footprint assessment services, industry classification frameworks (Urban Agriculture Integration Typology), and flagship events (AVF Summit, AVF Asia Forum, Roundtables, Webinars). It serves as a multi-stakeholder convener connecting startups, SMEs, multinationals, universities, growers, and individual experts across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North America.

Product overview

The Association for Vertical Farming is a global non-profit organization that serves as a membership-based network and industry accelerator for the indoor/vertical farming sector. Rather than offering a unified software product, AVF provides a portfolio of programs and services including: AVF Academy (educational training courses), AVF Events (Summits, Forums, Roundtables, Webinars), the SIF Sustainable Indoor Farming Certificate (sustainability certification), Carbon Footprint Assessment (environmental advisory), the Urban Agriculture Integration Typology (classification framework), an industry Glossary, and membership network access. These offerings work together to advance vertical farming implementation through education, networking, standards development, and industry collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AVF Membership Network Tiered annual membership network providing members access to the global vertical farming community, trade fairs, research initiatives, training programs, sustainability expertise, B2B opportunities, and the IFUN (Indoor Farming University Network). Membership tiers include Student (€45), Individual expert/supporter (€120), Grower (€180), Startup (€750), Institution/University/Research (€1,100–1,200), SME (€2,250), and Enterprise/Multinational (€4,900).
• AVF Academy Certified training programs including the Foundation Course and the Advanced CEA Farming Practices & Agri-Management Course. Courses cover hydroponics, aeroponics, climate control, lighting technology, business models, AI-driven smart farming, financial planning, and biosecurity protocols for vertical farming professionals. Delivered in partnership with Khalifa University, GRAIN International, and at the AgX/AeroFarms Abu Dhabi facility.
• AVF Events Portfolio of events including the AVF Vertical Farming Summit (9th edition, Munich, 3-4 September 2025), AVF Asia Forum (1st edition planned for Bangalore, India, March 2026), Vertical Farming Roundtables, AVF Workshops, and Webinars bringing together industry experts, policymakers, and stakeholders.
• SIF (Sustainable Indoor Farming Certificate) Domain-specific sustainability certification tailored to vertical farming, ensuring environmental benefits including absence of pesticide use, stronger nutrient efficiency, and significant reduction in water use are being realised through consistent data collection and continuous improvement.
• Carbon Footprint Assessment Advisory assessment service evaluating the environmental impact of indoor vertical farms, identifying improvement opportunities across energy use, water use, pesticide elimination, nutrient management, food miles, and resource efficiency. Supports sustainability certifications and enables access to carbon credits.
• Urban Agriculture Integration Typology Proprietary classification framework for categorising Urban Agriculture projects across dimensions including Grower type, Organization type and size, Integration method (Holistic, Retrofitted, Converted), Placement (Rooftop, Interior, Facade, Underground, On Ground), Exposure (Exposed, Enclosed, Closed), Growing Medium (Aeroponic, Aquaponic, Hydroponic), and Production Purpose.
• AVF Glossary The first comprehensive glossary for vertical farming and urban agriculture terminology, created with combined effort and feedback from AVF members and board, serving as a foundational educational resource for the industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• AVF Academy Foundation Course delivered at AgX/AeroFarms Abu Dhabi facility in February 2025 with participants from academia, business, and investment sectors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Christ University (Bangalore, India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVF Asia Forum 2026 is being organised at Christ University in Bangalore, India (March 9-11, 2026). The forum will examine how CEA can support domestic and global markets for medicinal and aromatic plants, aligning with GACP, EU Pharmacopoeia, and WHO guidelines. There are longer-term plans to develop a dedicated R&D centre at Christ University focused on medicinal plant cultivation under controlled environments. Dharmendra Rai serves as AVF's Country Director for India.
• Swedish Herbal Institute ABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVF has an existing partnership with Swedish Herbal Institute AB to help Indian growers meet European Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) standards. This partnership supports the Medicinal Plants Network India initiative launched by AVF's India Country Director, helping ensure compliance of medicinal plant production for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical supply chains.
• GRAIN International (Singapore)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVF collaborated with GRAIN International (Singapore) to present the Advanced CEA Farming Practices and Agri-Management Course (April 23-26, 2025), a 4-day intensive certified program covering global VF trends, AI-driven smart farming, financial planning, business models, and biosecurity protocols. International lecturers from US, Singapore, Germany, and UAE delivered the program.
• Khalifa University (UAE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVF Academy UAE is running in cooperation with Khalifa University. The AVF Academy Foundation course was delivered at the AgX/AeroFarms facility in Abu Dhabi, providing a comprehensive foundation in vertical farming principles, technologies, and best practices. Khalifa University provides institutional support and academic credibility for the AVF Academy program in the UAE.
• AgX/AeroFarms (Abu Dhabi, UAE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgX/AeroFarms facility in Abu Dhabi serves as the venue for AVF Academy courses in the UAE. The facility is described as a state-of-the-art vertical farming facility and serves as the hands-on learning environment for AVF Academy's Foundation and Advanced CEA courses.
• BMZ (Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung / German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVF's activities in Africa, specifically the GROWGHANA project in Ghana, are part of the BMZ special initiative 'Good employment for socially just change.' The project aims to address unemployment and underemployment in Ghana using vertical farming systems to create sustainable employment, targeting marginalized groups including youth, women, and people with disabilities. Project starts December 2025.
• GROWGHANAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGROWGHANA is the AVF partner project in Ghana as part of the BMZ special initiative. The project will establish a state-of-the-art vertical farming training center in Ghana, serving as a hub for advanced training in vertical farming, product development, packaging, certification, and marketing. Targets marginalized groups including youth, women, and people with disabilities.
• Erasmus+ (EU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVF participates in an Erasmus+ initiative titled 'Gamification & Vertical Farming: Inclusive Education for a Sustainable Future.' The project explores how gamification can make vertical farming education more engaging and accessible for individuals facing barriers such as disability, migration, or limited access to learning. Through collaborative workshops and stakeholder mapping, it empowers educators to reimagine urban agriculture.
• URBfarm (EU Project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerURBfarm is a pioneering EU project focused on transforming underutilized urban spaces into sustainable food-growing hubs. AVF's involvement integrates education, community engagement, and circular economy practices, empowering citizens to take an active role in local food production.
• SIF Certification BodyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVF developed the SIF (Sustainable Indoor Farming Certificate) and partners with www.sif-certification.org for its delivery. The certification provides sustainability criteria tailored to vertical farming, with continuous improvement as a core value.
• Strategic Global Partners for AVF Asia Forum 2026coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVF is actively seeking strategic global partners to establish the AVF Asia Forum 2026 as an annual platform. Longer-term plans include developing a dedicated R&D centre at Christ University focused on medicinal plant cultivation under controlled environments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Good Food Institute (GFI): International non-profit advancing alternative proteins and sustainable food systems. Shares AVF's mission orientation and non-profit advocacy model around future-of-food issues, though focused on proteins rather than CEA production systems.
• Slow Food International: Global grassroots non-profit advocating for local, sustainable, and high-quality food systems. Comparable as a values-aligned movement-style non-profit in the broader food and agriculture ecosystem, though with a different geographic and culinary focus.
• International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS): Global scientific society promoting horticultural research, including protected cropping and greenhouse production. Comparable as a peer academic/scientific convener for parts of the CEA research community AVF engages.

Broad incumbents

• DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft): Major German agricultural society with a much broader crop and livestock mandate. Listed as an AVF member, it functions as a broader-incumbent counterpart whose reach AVF leverages in mainstream agriculture while competing for attention in the CEA niche.

Direct peers

• Indoor Ag-Con: Leading conference and expo dedicated to indoor agriculture and vertical farming, providing networking and thought leadership events for the same CEA community AVF serves. Competes for the attention and sponsorship of the same operator and technology audiences.
• VertiFarm: International trade fair for vertical farming and novel food systems. Also listed as an AVF SME member, illustrating the dual relationship of competitor and participant that defines CEA industry convening platforms.
• FarmTech Society: Belgium-based non-profit industry association focused on Controlled Environment Agriculture, serving a similar stakeholder mix of technology providers, growers, and academics. Closest like-for-like peer to AVF as a sector-defining non-profit body for CEA.

Regional players

• GreenTech Amsterdam: Leading Dutch trade fair for horticulture technology, with strong overlap on greenhouse and indoor farming exhibitors and attendees. Regional peer operating primarily in Europe, especially the Netherlands greenhouse cluster, with comparable convener function for CEA professionals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-for-vertical-farming/posts/?feedView=all
• Xx.com/averticalfarm

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association for Vertical Farming