A Startup Journey: Taking Risks for Great Rewards
In the fast paced world of startups, six months can feel like forever, and that’s why this story shows the amount of unwavering dedication that the team at Cultivate has towards achieving ambitious goals. Over the course of two years, we launched an ambitious project to grow sweet basil in a container farm with the goal to dramatically impact quality, improve freshness and shorten supply chain costs for our beloved customers. Let’s dive in and explore how this dream came to life.
The Ambitious Two-Year Research Project
Over the last two years, Cultivate embarked on an ambitious and experimental research project to produce great quality basil using a controlled container farm.
A Collaborative Effort with GravyBaby
It was a collaborative partnership with one of Malaysia’s most beloved restaurant chains, GravyBaby focusing solely on producing only the best quality herbs for inclusion into their delicious menus. This was not our first journey, but it has surely been one of the most exciting and rewarding.
The Goal: Revolutionizing Fresh Herb Supply
The main objective was to drastically change the supply chain, reducing the reliance on external suppliers for fresh produce and deliver a more consistent, high-quality product. The benefits of doing so are undeniable.
The Vision Behind the Project: Freshness, Reliability, and Consistency
It all began with a clear vision to supply top-quality produce to restaurant chains, so it was time to create a different approach to production and harvesting.
Addressing Restaurant Supply Chain Challenges
Many restaurant chains face numerous challenges in getting consistent, high-quality produce on time. It was time to solve that problem once and for all by addressing the very root cause.
GravyBaby’s Commitment to Quality Produce
GravyBaby is widely known for its food variety and its commitment to using fresh, high quality ingredients, and was experiencing firsthand the difficulties in achieving this, which is why this operation was so important for them.
Container Farms: Ensuring Freshness at Restaurants’ Doorsteps
By bringing the farm very close to restaurants, Cultivate could guarantee their restaurants would always have access to basil that was fresh, reliable, consistent in taste, and quality that can’t be found anywhere else. It was time to solve the issue with the most efficient technology.
Leveraging Cultivate-Agri Software: Digital Tools for Better Farming
This amazing operation is also being supported by the Cultivate-Agri Software in several ways.
Integrating IoT Devices for Real-Time Monitoring
One of the greatest achievements was integrating IoT devices within a container which is controlled through the Cultivate-agri software platform, allowing for real time data gathering to better inform the overall process. With IoT no stone is left unturned.
Managing the Entire Growing Process Through Cultivate’s Platform
The entire process is also managed through our powerful platform, from the seeding all the way to packaging and delivery which ensures a seamless workflow.
Controlling Costs and Adjusting Production to Demand
By using the Cultivate platform, growers can keep their costs under control and can easily respond to any increased demand with a faster and more efficient production cycle. It’s all about better organization, efficiency, and sustainability.
Overcoming Technical Hurdles: Challenges and Adaptations
The journey has been full of challenges but thanks to constant work and perseverance, new obstacles are overcome every single day.
Maintaining Optimal Growing Conditions in a Controlled Environment
To be successful, we needed to replicate and adapt optimum growth conditions within a closed container environment, requiring many different types of adjustments.
Temperature, Humidity, and Nutrient Levels
The challenges were particularly related to temperature, humidity and nutrient levels. These requirements had to be met all the time irrespective of the changes in the outside environment.
Pest Control and Outbreak Management
We had to maintain a constant vigilance to respond quickly to any type of pest issues that may arise. It’s all about creating an eco-system that is resilient and functional.
Balancing a Controlled Environment and Natural Resilience
One of the main goals was to try to find ways to balance the controlled environment with the natural ecosystem, which means we can’t become overly obsessive with having total chemical controls.
Automating Internal Systems and Power
Another great challenge involved setting up all the automated equipment such as lights or irrigation equipment as the design principles called for a fully automated system.
Smart Irrigation and Lighting Control
This required designing smart systems that were capable of controlling the irrigation and the lights. All of these tools were connected to our core platform guaranteeing performance and reliability.
Moving Towards Solar Power Solutions
A huge objective was to create a more environmentally sound solution powered by solar generation, which is a major project that is still in the works with one of our partners.
Collaboration with Gravy Baby: A Partnership Built on Trust
The success of the project is also a testament to the strength of the partnership we have with Gravy Baby.
Valuable Feedback on Produce Quality and Future Needs
Gravy Baby’s culinary team provided valuable insights that significantly helped us fine tune our processes in regards to both taste and overall crop and plant texture.
Leveraging GravyBaby’s Building and Technical Expertise
The unique nature of Gravy Baby, with its own building crew complete with electricians, allows the team to benefit from a wide set of experiences that otherwise would have been out of reach.
Combining GravyBaby’s Vision with Cultivate’s Expertise
The project required the vision from Gravy Baby, the technical and agronomic experience of Cultivate and the combined efforts from both organizations to create what is now an operational reality.
Looking Ahead: Expansion and Future Plans
With this solid basis in place, the Cultivate team is now ready to continue on its path of exploration and adoption of new agricultural techniques.
Exploring the Expansion of the Container Farming Operations
The success of the basil project opens many opportunities for expansion, with the team now ready to start adding additional container units to the operation with new types of produce.
Adding Micro-greens, Herbs, and Vegetables in Two Additional Units
The plan is now to set up two 40-foot containers for the production of micro-greens and other vegetables such as vine and cherry tomatoes. The potential for profitability in these markets is incredibly high.
Mixing Aeroponic and Hydroponic Systems for Increased Variety
These new projects will be the beginning of the adoption of different technologies such as aeroponic and hydroponic systems for higher yields and product diversity, combining the best of every workflow.
Continuing Collaboration With Gravy Baby for Long-Term Goals
The partnership between both organizations is stronger than ever and we are excited to continue working together to create even more possibilities for the future of food production.
Conclusion: A Testament to Collaboration and Innovation
Cultivate’s two-year journey to produce great quality sweet basil in a container has been a wonderful and challenging experience. It’s a testament to the company’s commitment to innovation and its capacity to overcome all kinds of difficulties and obstacles. All in all, this project represents a leap into the future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the main advantages of container farming?
Container farming provides a controlled environment, reduces water use, and allows for growing crops in urban or remote areas and has significantly less reliance on outside factors such as weather or soil quality.
How does the Cultivate-Agri software help growers?
Cultivate-agri software allows for monitoring the growing environment, automating tasks, improving transparency, and provides real-time data to make better informed decisions on production and resources.
What challenges did you encounter during the container farm set up?
Challenges included maintaining the right environmental conditions, controlling pests, integrating automated systems, and setting up sustainable energy sources, and it was all a long and arduous journey.
What is next for Cultivate and Gravy Baby Collaboration?
Our objective is now to expand production to more container units, adding vegetables and other crops to serve all the needs of Gravy Baby.
How can I start using Cultivate Technologies?
If you want to benefit from Cultivate technologies you can reach out through our website or contact any of our sales representatives. We’re always happy to work with new partners and new opportunities!
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