80 Acres Farms and Soli Organic Merge: The Birth of a Vertical Farming Giant

“Vertical farming is entering a new era—one of efficiency and execution,” said Mike Zelkind, co-founder of 80 Acres Farms and now CEO of the combined group comprising 80 Acres Farms and Soli Organic. Since its founding in 2015 in Ohio, 80 Acres Farms has relied on 100% renewable electricity, uses 95% less water per harvest than conventional agriculture, and produces 3,230 times more per square meter than traditional horizontal crops.

Soli Organic, for its part, specializes in soil-based cultivation. They use specially designed, sterile, and optimized growing media and mixtures inside vertical farms. This unique specialization—which breaks with the hydroponic systems traditionally used in these structures—gives the new entity a major advantage for its growth.

Measurable Environmental Efficiency: Optimizing Water and Land Use

The environmental impact of this new complex is based on major technological breakthroughs that maximize the use of every unit of resources:

• The secret behind the 95% water savings: Unlike open-field farming, where irrigation water evaporates or seeps into the groundwater, carrying nutrients with it, the group’s vertical farms operate in a closed-loop system. The moisture released by the plants is captured by industrial air conditioning systems, purified, and then recirculated into the irrigation system. Every drop is thus recycled indefinitely.
• The explanation for the 3,230x productivity per square meter: This spectacular figure results from a combination of two factors. On the one hand, the vertical stacking of crops across multiple levels mechanically multiplies the usable floor area. On the other hand, the absence of weather-related risks and controlled lighting allow for consecutive harvest cycles without seasonal interruptions, enabling continuous production where a traditional farm yields only one or two harvests per year.

Financial Performance: Margin Predictability Compared to Traditional Agriculture

From an economic standpoint, the unified model developed by 80 Acres Farms and Soli Organic is profoundly transforming the financial structure of agricultural production. Traditional agriculture is structurally exposed to high volatility: fertilizer prices, fuel costs for tractors, pesticide costs, and skyrocketing insurance premiums due to heat waves or late frosts.

By contrast, the new entity offers a highly predictable business model. Although the initial capital investment (CapEx) to build these automated plants is high, operating costs (OpEx) are streamlined and stable. The absence of pests eliminates crop losses and spending on pesticides. This mathematical predictability of volumes and costs allows the group to sign multi-year fixed-price contracts with major retailers, ensuring resilient operating margins that are protected from climate-related crises.

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Precision logistics and customer satisfaction across 17,000 stores

The new network comprises seven vertical farms—including locations in Georgia, Colorado, and Texas—capable of producing approximately 7,000 metric tons of fresh fruits, vegetables, salads, and herbs per year. In total, more than 17,000 stores across the United States will be supplied through optimized logistics designed to minimize delivery times and ensure unmatched freshness.

Feedback from purchasing managers at major partner retail chains confirms the commercial impact of this approach. Department managers highlight a drastic reduction in the markdown rate (expired or damaged products discarded in stores) thanks to a shelf life extended by several days compared to imported or open-field-grown products. The guarantee of a consistent supply, even in the middle of winter, is emerging as a major customer loyalty driver for retailers.

GroLoop: The Network's Technological Brain

At the heart of this new phase is GroLoop, the platform developed by Infinite Acres, a technology subsidiary of 80 Acres Farms. This integrated system combines engineering, biology, and artificial intelligence to control every aspect of crop cultivation with extreme precision: light, temperature, humidity, and nutrients.

The result: higher yields, consistent quality, enhanced flavor, and a longer shelf life. 80 Acres Farms has received numerous awards for its innovations. The integration of Soli Organic’s agronomic expertise complements this technology, providing an even stronger foundation for building the future. Ready-to-eat salads, herbs, microgreens, tomatoes, and meal kits: 80 Acres Farms is expanding its portfolio of healthy, flavorful, and ready-to-eat products.

Ambitions for International Expansion

Building on this merger and its expertise with the GroLoop platform, the unified group is now preparing to expand beyond U.S. borders. Its international expansion strategy is focused on regions facing severe climate or water constraints, particularly the Middle East and Eastern Europe, where food security has become a government priority.

Rather than exporting fresh produce by air, the group plans to roll out its model through its subsidiary Infinite Acres by selling technology licenses and forming joint ventures with local partners. This software- and industry-driven strategy makes it possible to export the infrastructure and know-how needed for local production, as close as possible to the world’s major cities.