Edenly expands vertical farming to Africa with new urban farms

AFRICA – Edenly, the Franco-Spanish company formerly known as Verti, is taking significant strides in African agriculture with its innovative vertical farming technology.

Following a successful launch in Dakar, Senegal, Edenly is set to deploy its urban farms in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana by 2025.

This expansion marks a pivotal step in the company’s mission to offer sustainable and efficient agricultural solutions tailored for emerging markets.

Edenly’s vertical farming approach is designed specifically for the needs of developing regions. The company’s farms, starting at 100 square meters, produce ready-to-eat salads with minimal pesticide use and a 90% reduction in water consumption compared to traditional farming methods.

Emmanuel Leconte, Edenly’s co-founder, highlighted the potential of vertical farming in Africa, stating, “Emerging countries, especially in Africa, offer unique opportunities to adopt more sustainable agricultural technologies. By producing locally with adapted solutions, we are helping to meet environmental challenges while promoting the emergence of profitable agriculture for local neo-farmers.”

Edenly’s business model revolves around a franchise system that lowers the cost of starting and operating vertical farms.

The company’s use of SaaS software enables remote management and automation of key agricultural processes, such as temperature, pH levels, and irrigation.

This model not only ensures high-quality harvests but also reduces the environmental impact. The pilot farm in Dakar is already supplying major brands like Carrefour and Casino, and Edenly plans to extend its presence rapidly in West Africa.

The vertical farming market in Africa is projected to grow significantly, with estimates indicating an increase from USD 0.57 billion in 2021 to USD 1.86 billion by 2026.

This growth reflects a compound annual growth rate of 26.4%, according to Mordor Intelligence. Vertical farming offers a sustainable solution for Africa’s urban areas, reducing water usage by up to 95% compared to traditional methods.

Countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and Rwanda are leading the adoption of these technologies.

Edenly’s ambition extends beyond its current projects. The company plans to develop larger-scale farms, known as Fabrik L, for more mature markets in the Middle East and Africa.

Caridad Navarro, another co-founder of Edenly, shared the company’s vision: “Our ambition is to become the leading brand of fresh ready-to-eat products in emerging countries.”

To support this growth, Edenly has initiated a fundraising campaign to finance future farms and expand its team, aiming to meet the rising demand for environmentally friendly agricultural solutions.