Plans to construct a state-of-the-art circular “GigaFarm” in Cobleskill, New York State, have been announced by Empire State Greenhouses (ESG) in partnership with Edinburgh-based vertical farming technology provider, Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS).

The 36,000m² carbon-negative facility will produce three million kilos of fresh produce in 100 vertical farming Growth Towers every year, with an additional 700,000 kilos grown in the on-site greenhouses.

Taking an innovative circular approach to crop production, the vertical farming Growth Towers, provided by IGS, will be integrated into a network of on-site facilities including renewable energy generation and Food-Energy-Waste (FEW) systems, eliminating a third of the cost of food deriving from energy.

When fully operational, the 100-tower GigaFarm farm will be capable of producing more than a billion plants each year. As many as 50 different crop types will be grown in the next-generation Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) facility, with the vertical farm ensuring that consumers receive high-quality, fresh produce with minimal food miles, year-round.

This exciting project reinforces Edinburgh-based IGS as a world leader in agricultural technology. The sustainable crop factory will be up to 98% water efficient and will utilize the following proven renewable technologies: Biogas Digester; Gasifier; Solar PV; LED grow lights; Energy Storage; and Combined Heat & Power.

ESG’s commitment to a circular, climate-resilient agricultural model and IGS’ cutting-edge vertical farming technology together form a complete ecosystem—from renewable energy inputs to consistently high-quality crop outputs. 

Andrew Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer of Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), commented: “IGS is delighted to partner with ESG on this groundbreaking project. From the outset, both our organisations have shared a holistic vision of vertical farming—one that unites cutting-edge technology with robust, renewable energy systems.

“By coupling IGS’ scalable vertical farming infrastructure with ESG’s circular approach and on-site renewable energy solutions, we’re creating a resilient, carbon-negative model for US agriculture, capable of delivering fresh, local produce to communities year-round.

“Moreover, the Cobleskill site’s positioning in rural upstate New York delivers IGS, as a relatively new name on the vertical farming scene in North America, an exceptionally strong foothold to partner with ESG in the potential development of future sites.”

“The state of global agriculture is at a crossroads between climate change, land and water resources, and rising populations, posing an increasing challenge to our ability to feed ourselves,” said Louis Ferro, president and chairman of Empire State Greenhouses, LLC (ESG).            

“Agriculture and energy are inextricably linked, and until energy for CEA farming becomes predominantly renewable, agriculture will continue to be a leading cause of climate change – representing part of the problem rather than the solution.

“Working closely with IGS, we are building a new paradigm in agriculture, integrating our on-site renewable energy food-energy-waste systems with state-of-the-art advanced technologies. This is a new type of farming, built on a circular economy model, creating a resilient food system with a carbon-negative footprint.”

The facility is also co-located alongside SUNY Cobleskill, one of the nation’s top colleges of agriculture and technology. ESG plans to bring over 185 full time jobs and more than 400 indirect jobs to the area, including internship, research and employment opportunities for SUNY Cobleskill students and members of the campus community.