This is a feeling, not a fact. But it FEELS as though the main obstacle to consuming enough fruit and veg used to be the effort involved. Specifically, the effort involved in doing something with it.
Having grown up in the second half of the twentieth century, it FEELS as though, back then, fresh produce was just hard work. At that time, when you put fresh produce alongside quick, lifestyle-compatible, beautifully marketed processed food, the fresh stuff seemed like a boring, labour-intensive, albeit cheap option. How times have changed.
Increasingly, fresh food is aspirational. As are the efforts involved in its preparation and the associated health benefits. These are good things. So it’s somewhat unfortunate that a rise in popularity has coincided with increased crop vulnerability, shaky supply chains, and soaring costs.
Happily, there are companies out there with a positive appreciation of fresh produce, who are in-step with demand, and who have the capability to solve problems of cost and availability. Companies like Ionaka Fermes.
This innovative French company are rethinking cultivation methods, redefining the identity of farmers, and helping to get a reliable supply of sustainably-grown fresh produce to consumers at absolutely minimal cost. We got in touch with them to find out what they do, how they do it, and where AutoPot fits in.
What They Do
Ionaka find suitably enlightened businesses and provide them with complete urban farms that can be set up in untapped growing areas – such as the rooftops of premises. The businesses themselves often have no direct connection with farming, or even food. But they do have a vested interest in providing the fruit and vegetables that they grow to their workforce, patients, or local communities – at little or no cost to the consumer.
A pretty neat, mutually beneficial solution then. So far Ionaka have installed turnkey farms for companies as diverse as Airbus Protect, Ramsay Sante (Clinique de l’Union), and Ultra Edge. And the output is no token gesture. Each of their six existing farms yields hundreds of kilos of produce per season.
How They Do It
The idea is that any business, in any sector, can have a farm. So it’s essential that the farms operate automatically, are easy to maintain, and can be managed with minimal experience. Ionaka have developed a package of aeroponic towers to handle the vegging and fruiting stages of growth. But propagation is handled entirely by AutoPot Watering Systems.
Where AutoPot Fits In
Ionaka Director Tom Brunschwig kindly described the role AutoPot plays within the farms they supply. ‘We have around 30 AutoPot easy2Propagate systems spread across our farms. They allow the farms to cultivate or maintain all kinds of market garden plants (tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, cabbage, herbs, squash, edible flowers, etc.) from seedlings to young plants.’
By performing this role the easy2Propagate systems significantly reduce the logistical challenges of farming, boost farm autonomy, and cut the environmental costs of delivering plants to each farm.
Experience
Naturally, the systems need to be fuss-free and suitable for any user. This was something Ionaka considered carefully when selecting easy2Propagate. As Tom says, ‘the system is reliable, simple to learn, and set up. Our market gardeners, whether experienced or not, can easily manage their sowing and crop rotations.’
Whilst Ionaka’s support for farmers is comprehensive and ever-attentive, Tom reckons there isn’t a whole lot to do in terms of instruction. ‘We just show them an how to install the easy2Propagate and how to manage substrate and planting seeds. Your system does the rest. It gives an autonomous and appropriate amount of irrigation to the seedlings for days in a row, even during weekends or longer holidays when no one can physically be there.’
to a series of easy2Propagate Systems
Full Advantage
Ionaka’s aeroponic towers are vastly more efficient than traditional in-earth cultivation in practically every way. The towers take up minimal space, irrigate and feed in controlled patterns, and nothing is lost to the earth. They can be positioned as required, can be used for all kinds of crops, and are simple to maintain.
The easy2Propagate systems share these qualities. On top of this they require no running water or electricity – adding to efficiency of the farm overall and making the propagators suitable for just about any space.
Such flexibility is great for farmers. It means they can position the propagators wherever they need to. In some instances a propagation greenhouse is used. But in others the units are used in outdoor / semi-outdoor settings, as Tom explains. ‘If possible we add a proper structure to ensure the correct climatic conditions for seedlings. But often we can’t. And that’s why AutoPot Watering Systems are so useful. They ensure a consistent level of success with seedlings without any climatic structure.’
and requires no running water it can be used practically anywhere
Maximum Headroom
The defining feature of easy2Propagate is the cavernous, 200mm / 8″ high propagation lid. This lid height offers a huge amount of headroom, giving Ionaka’s farmers greater choice as to when they transplant.
Whilst the plants are within the system four large, fully adjustable vents in the lid allow plenty of scope to fine-tune an environment for rapid, robust growth. Fitted with 9mm piping ports, the system is designed to accommodate an AQUAvalve for automatic, 100% responsive watering and feeding.
Media & Fertilsers
Another great advantage of using these systems is the type of grow media and fertilisers with which they can be combined. There’s no need for bulky, loose, messy soils and feeds can be supplied through the system.
Such user-friendliness is essential for businesses who are running a farm as a side concern. Tom outlined the substrate/nutrient packages that Ionaka supply. ‘We use Jiffy 7C pellets for the seedlings and supply the plants with a weak solution of Terre Aquatica 2-Part feed via the reservoir and pipework.’
are significant, sustainably grown, and go to excellent use
The Future
To date, Ionaka have installed six farms in Southwest France and have big plans for future expansion. ‘We’re working with data centre groups on the installation of 5,000 aeroponic towers within the next 5 years. This corresponds to a minimum of approximately 50 farms across Europe and 400 easy2Propagate systems.’
As important as the farms are for food production itself, their very existence is also a huge factor in promoting the concept of urban gardening. In Tom’s own words, ‘our farms are technological demonstrators that attract numerous institutional, economic, and industrial players.’
Regardless of all this ambition and promotion, Ionaka’s approach remains deeply personal. Just a glance at their Insta profile reveals a wealth of intimate stories around growing and enjoying fresh produce – go check it out! We’d like to offer our sincere thanks to the Ionaka team for their work with our systems and wish them the very best for the future.