vertical farm institute

What vertical farm institute does

Vertical Farm Institute (vfi) is a Vienna-based research and consulting organization founded in 2016 that positions vertical farming as a new building typology rather than merely a production technology. The firm delivers urban indoor food production consulting, feasibility studies, R&D services, and prototype systems to real estate developers, building owners, architects, municipalities, and research institutions. It operates as a private GmbH with 1-10 employees and is funded through a mix of project-based consulting fees and public research grants (Horizon 2020, FFG, Climate and Energy Fund, Vienna Business Agency).

Its core technology portfolio centers on two proprietary assets. VITALITY CITY, launched in November 2025, is a parametric urban energy-balance tool that uses publicly available geospatial data to run hourly simulations capturing buildings, land uses, solar potential, and CO2 emissions at the municipal scale, validated through a field study in Graz. The ALINA Research Facility is an NFT hydroponic demonstrator with SanLight LED lighting and Nido remote-control integration, used as a central testing facility for standardized data collection to support AI-integrated optimization processes in partnership with Better Plants R&D. The institute also maintains the Ruthner Archive, digitizing 50+ years of phytotower development history (1964-1988).

Commercial activity flows through three revenue streams: consulting services (feasibility studies, building refurbishment assessments, architectural proposals), research and development projects (EU and national grants), and project-based feasibility studies. GTM is consultative and project-driven, initiated through website contact, direct outreach, and EU research consortium participation. Customer engagements are diversified across enterprise developers (DIE AG), municipalities (City of Piraeus, City of St. Pölten), museums (Technical Museum Vienna, DASA Dortmund), and academic/research partners (James Hutton Institute, Wageningen University). Marketing relies on LinkedIn, Instagram, industry events (GreenTech Amsterdam, SKYBERRIES), academic publications, and EU research project dissemination.

Name

vertical farm institute

Legal name

vertical farm institute GmbH

Website

https://verticalfarminstitute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vertical Farm Institute is a Vienna-based research and consulting firm providing vertical farming feasibility studies, consulting, R&D, and prototype systems for urban indoor food production to real estate developers, architects, municipalities, and research institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vertical Farming Consulting and Urban Agriculture R&D

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm Technology Enablement & Data Integration Advisory (FMIS/ERP, IoT, Decision Support) (AFACAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Capital Projects & Farm Expansion Advisory (Feasibility, Site Planning, ROI) (AFACAJAN), Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) / Vertical Farming (Indoor LED Farms) (AFAGAHAJ)

Keywords

• Vertical farming consulting
• Urban agriculture research
• Controlled environment agriculture
• Building typology design
• Feasibility studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Feasibility studies and consulting for real estate developers, building owners, and architects to implement urban indoor food production entities. Project-based engagements involving economic viability studies, building refurbishment assessments, and architectural proposals for vertical farming integration.
2. Research and Development Projects: EU-funded research projects (Horizon 2020) and national research initiatives through FFG, Climate and Energy Fund. Involves development of prototypes, demonstrators, and testing facilities.
3. Feasibility Studies: Comprehensive feasibility studies for vertical farming integration in urban development areas, including energy performance analysis, crop rotation planning, and function/program studies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vertical farm institute provides vertical farming consulting, feasibility studies, and applied research for urban indoor food production, advising real estate developers, building owners, architects, and municipalities on integrating vertical farms as a new building typology. The institute operates the VITALITY CITY digital urban energy-balance simulation tool and the ALINA remote-controlled hydroponic (NFT) research facility to support CEA R&D, standardization of data collection for AI-integrated optimization, and dissemination activities.

Product overview

The vertical farm institute (vfi) is a research and consulting organization that operates as a partnership-driven institute rather than a single-product company. Its portfolio spans a core digital tool (VITALITY CITY), a hardware research demonstrator (ALINA Research Facility), and service offerings including vertical farming feasibility studies and urban agriculture R&D services. The VITALITY CITY tool works alongside the ALINA NFT hydroponic research facility, with both supported by an ecosystem of partners providing specialized hardware (Nido control systems, SanLight LED lighting) and domain expertise in architecture, energy, plant physiology, and automation. Consulting and R&D services — including feasibility studies, building refurbishment assessments, and CEA optimization research — form the commercial layer that connects research outputs to real estate developers, architects, and municipal planning clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VITALITY CITY A parametric digital energy-balance tool that uses publicly available geospatial data to capture buildings, land uses, and energy systems in a city, running hourly simulations and calculating solar potential and CO2 emissions to support climate-neutrality strategies for municipalities. Built for city planners, municipalities, and research partners; developed with FFG, AIT, and the Federal Ministry.
• ALINA Research Facility A remote-controlled hydroponic research demonstrator using Nutrient-Film-Technique (NFT) cultivation with SanLight LED lighting (EVO 3-100) and integrated Nido sensors and controllers for monitoring light, nutrition recipes, and yield data. Built as a central testing facility for CEA research and AI-integrated optimization, and displayed through ALINA sculptures at Technical Museum Vienna, DASA Dortmund, and Parque de las Ciencias Granada.
• Vertical Farming Feasibility Studies Advisory and feasibility-study services for real estate developers, building owners, and architects to implement urban indoor food production entities, covering economic viability studies, building refurbishment assessments, energy performance analysis, crop rotation planning, and architectural proposals integrating vertical farms into new or existing buildings.
• Urban Agriculture Research and R&D Services Research and development services covering photosynthesis rate measurement, in-vitro production research, lighting fixture energy-potential studies, and AI-supported optimization of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems and processes, delivered in collaboration with research partners including Better Plants R&D.

Quantifiable outcome

• Land use reduction of approximately 100x compared to conventional farming
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• DIE AG UNTERNEHMENSGRUPPEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2024DIE AG is a renowned real estate development company in Germany specializing in high-quality construction projects with innovative concepts and sustainable solutions. Partnership investigates how Vertical Farming can be integrated in visionary urban development areas.
• JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTEstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2024World-leading independent scientific research organisation based in Scotland working globally. Partnership intensifies research and laboratory activities to develop solutions to enlarge the palette of urban food production solutions.
• INNOVATIONSLABOR DIGITAL FINDET STADTstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2024Austria's largest interdisciplinary platform for digitisation of the construction and real estate industry. Partnership develops digital innovations for greater sustainability and efficiency.
• TTAstrategicTechnology or Integration · 7 June 2024Develops high-tech automation equipment for indoor farming and CEA facilities. Partnership provides automation solutions for vertical farming operations from sowing to harvesting.
• MRCA (Mushroom Research Center Austria)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2024Investigates techniques on mushroom mycelium propagation and cultivation of high quality mushrooms including medicinal mushrooms. Partnership provides extensive cultivation options to sustainably strengthen business models of urban vertical farms.
• Bollinger + GrohmannstrategicTechnology or Integration · 24 November 2023Engineers driven by passion for high-quality architecture, sustainable solutions and technical innovation. Partnership provides functional, technical, and aesthetical structures while achieving high sustainability goals.
• Better Plants R&DcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2023Independent research, development and service institute for crop production under controlled conditions (CEA). Partnership focuses on standardization of data collection and management for AI-integrated optimization processes. David Schmidmayr is involved in several projects.
• JWA Josef Weichenberger ArchitectsstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2023Vienna-based architectural firm founded in 2002 with international team of 15 architects. Focus on innovative housing, urban design, and conversion projects with emphasis on enhancement and intelligent rebuilding of existing structures.
• NidocoreTechnology or Integration · 20 July 2023NIDO ONE is the ultimate solution for advanced cultivation automation. Manages fertigation, climate and devices of prototypes, enabling optimization of cultivation in a simple and precise way. Partnership provides remote control for optimum growth.
• Atelier BildaustrategicTechnology or Integration · 27 April 2023German designer and mass timber specialist. Interplay of sustainability, design and mass timber construction is crucial to approach to Architecture and Urban Design. Long-term partner for architecture projects combining net-zero constructions with urban agriculture programmes.
• GENERAL LASER GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationGeneral Laser has supported prototyping and full system build-outs for over 25 years, offering end-to-end services from prototype and machine construction, 3D-printing and editing to CE-certification and integration. Ivan Tochev serves as the go-to for complex hardware and system solutions. Partnership leverages specialized know-how in machine and systems engineering.
• AQUAPONIC SOLUTIONScoreTechnology or IntegrationAquaponics consulting company with real-world experience dating back to 2005, designed more than 70 commercial systems worldwide, trained over 800 professionals. Partnership draws on extensive know-how of Wolfgang Leitner for highly specialized aquaponics projects.
• ANDERSFARM GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationAnder sFarm focuses on aquaponics as a sustainable method for decentralized food production with extensive experience across S, M, L, and XL climate-adaptive projects. Partnership particularly draws on specialized expertise of Peter Neudecker.
• Greentech AmsterdamstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerWorld-class horticulture technology event, global meeting place for all professionals involved in horticulture technology. Partnership for exhibition and dissemination activities.
• Agritecture ConsultingstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal team of interdisciplinary consultants having completed more than 150 projects. Henry Gordon Smith is a sustainability strategist focused on urban agriculture, water issues, and emerging technologies.
• SAUTTER ZT advanced energy consultingstrategicTechnology or IntegrationDesign and development of sustainable and energy efficient energy systems for buildings while providing maximum comfort. Partnership provides energetically and economically optimized energy systems.
• Wageningen University and ResearchstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrength lies in joining forces of specialized research institutes and the university combined with natural and social sciences. Partnership for knowledge collaboration.
• GWT VerticalFarmTec GmbHstrategicTechnology or IntegrationPart of GWT Group with over 35 years of experience in water treatment. Provides comprehensive solutions for modern agriculture with expertise in water treatment, facility construction, and electrical engineering.
• ipa switxboardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFocuses on transformative social impact while ensuring financial sustainability. Partnership addresses connection between People, Planet, Partners, Project and Profit.
• eu::POLIS Horizon 2020coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded Horizon 2020 project focusing on integrated NBS-based urban planning methodology for enhancing health and well-being. Partnership with frontline cities including Piraeus for implementing new building typologies.
• FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey funding body for basic research, experimental development and industrial research activities. Supports innovation check funding program.
• European CommissionstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding body supporting Horizon 2020 research projects including eu::POLIS.
• Vienna Business AgencystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports research and innovation activities in Vienna.
• Climate and Energy FundstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational funding body supporting climate and energy research initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sky Greens: Singapore-based operator of low-energy hydraulic-driven vertical farming towers. A long-running international CEA operator whose tower-based approach thematically overlaps with vfi's phytotower/Ruthner Archive narrative.
• AeroFarms: Newark-based vertical-farming operator with patented aeroponic technology and significant R&D scale. Operating incumbent whose well-publicized Chapter 11 restructuring is a key reference point for the broader CEA market vfi serves.
• Plenty: US-based vertically integrated vertical-farming operator building large-scale indoor farms. A capital-intensive operator incumbent whose commercial fortunes strongly influence downstream real-estate and municipal appetite for the type of vertical-farm buildouts vfi consults on.
• Infarm: Berlin-headquartered vertical-farming operator that embedded farms in supermarkets, grocery and restaurants across Europe. Operates as a hardware/operator incumbent rather than a consultancy, but addresses the same urban food-production value chain vfi advises into.
• Bowery Farming: US indoor-farming operator combining CEA production with proprietary farm-management software. Comparable as a CEA operator-adjacent peer where data/optimization (a vfi focus area via ALINA) intersects with commercial farming.
• Spread Co. Japan-based vertical-farming operator with automated Techno Farm facilities. An international operator incumbent relevant to vfi's research into CEA automation and AI-integrated optimization.
• Gotham Greens: US operator of large-scale commercial greenhouses integrating food production with urban real estate. Comparable as a hybrid operator/real-estate peer whose model aligns with vfi's building-typology narrative.

Emerging players

• ECF Farmsystems: Berlin-based aquaponics-farming systems provider with European project portfolio. Closely aligned with vfi's urban aquaponics partner ecosystem (AndersFarm, Aquaponic Solutions) and represents a competing turnkey-systems angle in European urban agriculture.
• iFarm: Finland-based vertical-farming technology provider offering turnkey grow-it-yourself solutions and SaaS-style farm-management software to operators. Comparable as a smaller, software-forward CEA specialist that overlaps with vfi's tooling and consulting positioning.

Direct peers

• Agritecture Consulting: Global urban-agriculture and CEA consultancy led by Henry Gordon Smith with 150+ completed projects. Directly competes with vfi for feasibility, advisory and strategic-planning engagements with developers, municipalities and operators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/verticalfarminstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/verticalfarminstitute
• Xx.com/vf_skyberries
• Facebookfacebook.com/verticalfarminstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 vertical farm institute