Old MacDonald Never Had A Farm Like This

By: Samantha Moritz

The song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” was written by playwright Thomas d’Urfey in 1706 for an opera, believe it or not. Over the years and according to American Songwriter, the lyrics have been translated into many languages; in Egyptian Arabic, the song is talking about “Grandpa Ali.” In Chinese, it’s translated to “Old Mr. Wang had some land.” In Ukrainian, it’s “Uncle Ivan has a cow”, and there are many more culturally appropriate translations around the world. While the iconic song may conjure mental images of rows of healthy, leafy green crops, cows, pigs and an overall-clad farmer on a tractor, future generations may sing a slightly different tune with today’s widespread adoption of vertical farming, also known as Controlled Environment Agriculture. 

Hum to a different tune while saving water, improving efficiency and increasing yield and profitability

For thousands of years, farmers in traditional agricultural practices have adapted and innovated as a necessity to feed their families both literally and as a matter of the profitability of their family business. Today, the more than seven-thousand-year-old traditional agriculture industry struggles with reliability and profitability due to weather events, climate change, soil degradation, supply chain disruption and scarcity of resources (water and land). 

As such, the industry is being disrupted with improvements through technology and automation from AI-based navigation systems for tractors through to the creation of a network of remotely-controlled vertical farms. The rows of perfectly aligned leafy green crops across acres and acres of land is being supplemented by a network of vertical farms built by industry leader, OnePointOne (“OPO”). 

OnePointOne Opollo™ Farms are modular and can be deployed in customizable heights, widths and lengths to meet the Urban Farmer’s building requirements. Opollo™ Farms are purchased based upon the amount of growth area required (bins) and the type of crop. OPO has established relationships with international integration partners who will plan, manage and deploy the on-site assembly. 

Simply put, the farms are being built vertically using a grid framework and robotic system within a controlled environment. Plants are watered with a nutrient-dense, automated hydroponic system using 99% less water and land than traditional farming. The yields are incrementally higher and therefore more profitable; the plants are tastier and healthier due to zero pesticides and chemicals; and the crops are more resistant and less susceptible to pests and disease due to the controlled environment. Crop losses due to extreme weather events or pests are no longer a concern. 

And as for the software, which appeals to the young, beginning modern farmer with its intuitive user interface, customers license the Opollo™ FarmOS or Remote Control (RC) Farming capabilities to operate the farm and have access to aggregate data that constantly improves farm services and yield. The farm will require low-skill labor onsite with all plant management functions to be performed by OPO’s Farm AI and RC Farming Team remotely. 

Next Generation Farmers: FSA backed loans and technology 

With its modernized feel and forward-thinking attributes, vertical farming stands to inspire young, beginning, and small farmers to enter the market. There is a strong concern around the status of the next generation of farmers. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Census data, one-third of America’s 3.4 million farmers are over the age of 65 and nearly a million more of them are within a decade of this retirement age. The data also indicates that there is a lack of interest in the next generation of farmers to continue the family business and a lack of interest for new farmers to enter the market. Lack of financing and manual labor are two key reasons stated.

There are many fantastic financial incentives, grants and loans offered through the USDA Farm Service Agency (“FSA”), including the "Beginning Farmer" direct and guaranteed loan programs. We are also seeing an entirely new “Farmer” target market and persona including urban farmers and technology savvy entrepreneurs who have an overwhelming interest to enter the vertical farming market. The New MacDonald Farmer’s business plan has an interesting new twist and eventually a new song.

Don't wait for the future of agriculture to arrive – be part of the change that shapes it. Contact a OnePointOne advisor today, and together, let's grow a greener, more prosperous, healthier world. Learn more here. 

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