Intelligent Growth Solutions

Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) is an agritech company, founded in 2013, that provides vertical farming technology to commercial growers. The company designs, supplies, and installs modular, scalable, and automated vertical farming systems known as Growth Towers. These towers enable Total Controlled Environment Agriculture (TCEA), which allows for the precise management of lighting, irrigation, ventilation, and nutrition for each individual growing tray. This technology facilitates consistent, predictable, and high-quality crop yields year-round, independent of external weather conditions.

The company was founded in Scotland and initially combined decades of farming and engineering expertise. A significant shift in its business model occurred in 2017 when IGS decided to operate exclusively as a technology provider, making a commitment not to grow crops for commercial sale. This positions IGS as a partner to growers rather than a competitor. The business generates revenue by selling its vertical farming hardware and offering a suite of professional services including deployment, maintenance, software updates, and customer support. IGS serves a global market, with customers on multiple continents, including nursery growers and seed-to-harvest growers producing crops like leafy greens and herbs.

David Farquhar, a serial entrepreneur with a background in enterprise software, joined as CEO in November 2017 and led the company through significant funding rounds and global expansion before stepping down in early 2024. Andrew Lloyd is the current CEO. IGS has raised approximately $105 million over several funding rounds, including a £42.2 million Series B in 2021 and a £22.5 million ($28.5M) Series C in January 2024. The company's technology is designed for industrial-scale operations, featuring patented, energy-efficient lighting systems, closed-loop fertigation to conserve water, and automation to reduce labor costs. IGS collaborates with the James Hutton Institute, a crop and plant science research facility, to advance its understanding of plant science for indoor growing.

Keywords: vertical farming technology, controlled environment agriculture, agritech, indoor farming, Total Controlled Environment Agriculture, modular farming systems, sustainable agriculture, automated crop production, horticultural lighting, smart farming, precision agriculture, hydroponics, agricultural technology, scalable farming, crop science, fertigation systems, food security, urban farming, sustainable food production, agricultural innovation