Urban Farm DB
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Building interiorInactiveSince 2013

Infarm

Berlin, Germany · Operator: Infarm - Indoor Urban Farming GmbH

Overview

A Berlin-founded firm that raised over $500M to become Europe's largest urban vertical farmer; after mass layoffs and insolvencies in 2022–2023 it retreated from Europe.

Citizen participation

In-store modular growing units brought production close to shoppers, but growing itself was company-run.

Operating model

Commercial model installing modular vertical farms in supermarkets and hubs to grow herbs and greens close to point of sale.

Impact

Soaring energy prices prevented profitability; inflation, supply-chain disruption and slower market growth compounded, cutting over half of its 500+ staff. It became insolvent in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands and wound down European operations. Lesson: energy-cost-exposed indoor farming struggles in high-energy Europe.

Crops

  • herbs
  • leafy greens

Scale

Laid off ~50% of 500 staff in late 2022; declared insolvent in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands in 2023 and exited Europe

Sources(2)

Related cases

Infarm — Urban Farm DB