Metropolis Farms

Metropolis Farms

Producer: Monica Rogozinski

Metropolis Farms is not only the first indoor hydroponic vertical farm in Philadelphia, it’s the first vegan-certified farm in the nation and the only known vertical farm to operate on the second floor of a building. A vegan farm means no pesticides, herbicides, animal manure and animal bi-products. They are located in South Philadelphia. Jack Griffin (president) and Lee Weingrad (partner) share how their farm works and its importance to Philadelphia in how it can solve food scarcity problems. Their proprietary Revolution Vertical Farming Technology ™ is ultra-efficient, environmentally-responsible and commercially scalable. Their farms are highly adaptive and virtually eliminate many of the health business and environmental risks that make conventional and greenhouse farming so expensive. Their farms can operate profitably for both smaller-artisan farms (Flash Farms) as well as large-scale operations (Super Farms). Their farming systems use 95 to 98 percent less water and 82 percent less energy than traditional farms. Their cost-effective technology allows them to grow more than an acre of produce in a 36 square feet of space, over 1,200 times the herbs and vegetables of an outdoor farm per square foot. They bring great food, good jobs and opportunities to local communities. Their method of farming is far better for the environment than convention, greenhouse or traditional organic farming. They use less than 2% of the water and 12% of the energy required by conventional and traditional organic farming. Finally they recycle the nutrients they use unlike conventional farms that allow their fertilizer to seep into the water table.

Web Extra: the future of Metropolis Farms

Jack Griffin (president of Metropolis Farms) shares the future of Metropolis Farms and their many projects: Biodiesel Jet Fuel, Sysco and the first vertical farm in an elementary school (Richard Wright Elementary School). His passion is contagious. Their sustainable and energy efficient perfection of vertical farm technology is exciting and promising for future generations.