UMAMI banks CHF 4.3M to scale its farm in Zurich

With its new industrial-scale farm, UMAMI, a pioneer in holistic indoor farming, aims to showcase its sustainable circular system that dramatically reduces water and land usage while increasing its production capacity fivefold. The obtained CHF 4.3 million will fuel these plans.

UMAMI uses an innovative holistic farming approach in indoor biospheres to grow local, sustainable food year-round. A leading producer of premium microgreens and herbs that provide fresh, tasty and decorative accents in the kitchen, UMAMI microgreens are currently available in more than 450 Coop and Migros stores across Switzerland and daily supplied to 400 restaurants every day.

The closing of its CHF 4.3 million series A round allows UMAMI to expand its operation to meet the increasing demand for its premium products. The funds will particularly be used to build an industrial-scale farm in Zurich, featuring a groundbreaking biological circular system that dramatically reduces resource consumption – it utilizes 90% less water and 89% less land compared to traditional greenhouse methods. Additionally, the company is further developing its proprietary organic fertilizer production technology, which eliminates the need for synthetic fertilizers, addressing a major source of CO2 emissions that contributes approximately 1.5 billion tons of CO2 equivalent annually, comparable to the entire aviation industry.

The expansion will also boost UMAMI's production capacity by five times, enabling continuous supply to customers. By employing indoor biospheres, UMAMI ensures year-round local production, which strengthens food security and reduces reliance on imports. Furthermore, the new facility will house an R&D setup dedicated to cultivating additional produce varieties, such as tomatoes and strawberries.

“More and more consumers are seeking local, pesticide-free products they can rely on throughout the year”, said Denis Weinberg, Founder of UMAMI. “Our expanded capacity ensures that we can meet this growing demand while maintaining the highest standards of sustainability and flavor.”

(Press release/RAN)