c:Valcent Products Inc. Finds Vertical Vegetable Grow Modules Tasty in Tight Spaces

Many pundits and business people are very prolific in their wining about making environmental solutions profitable. Others, on the other hand, quietly go about solving the issues. In today’s sudden realization that the world is running out of natural resources, business is beginning to get the upper hand on technology that may solve some of these issues. Small steps at first to be sure, but if the right concept and company can be found and nurtured a remarkable profit will surely grow.
Valcent Products Inc., an environmentally directed end-use products developer, works to develop and commercialize environmental products with practical solutions for social and industrial end-uses. The company is currently close to finishing trials for two leading edge – partial -solutions to the world’s food, water and energy issues.

The company’s main line product is a vertical vegetable grow system directed at producing vegetable food crops more efficiently. As the world runs short of food and water, the company has developed a system that has proven it can produce an estimated 20 times the amount of vegetable output of one acre of land - on 1/8th acre. Generally, this success rate is achieved through continuous growing and continuous monitoring and adjustment of climate, nutrients and ideal growing conditions. Test crops have been directed at lettuce but have also shown similar test results where: strawberries, several grains, spinach, mint, beets, wheat grass and alpha are concerned. With a capital cost of approximately $545,000 per 1/8 acre vertical grow module, the company estimates a $1.3 million revenue stream based on $1.10 per head of leafy lettuce. Several commercial growers have expressed a build-out interest.

Perhaps a bit more esoteric in nature is the company’s algae bio-mass project. This project is directed at producing algae oil for biodiesel fuels. Many of the oils required for production of biodiesel are environmentally “more sound” then alternatives but not generally as environmentally friendly as other options. A bio-mass created from controlled growth of algae produces a net negative carbon footprint in several ways making it the environmental fuel oil of choice. Currently, the company is ramping test facilities in this area and should have definitive commercial level results in the near term. Where many speak to these particular issues in theoretical terms, Valcent Products talks to the reality. It is clearly at the cutting edge of providing practical and profitable solutions to the world’s food, water and -to a lesser degree - energy needs. Some say it needs to be commercially viable, Valcent Products says here it is.