All products / initiatives entered must have been implemented, launched, created or rebranded from January 2022 onwards.

Developments/initiatives that are not yet in the market can still be entered as long as they are in their prototype/design stage by the closing date of this awards program.

To download the full awards guideline document, click here.

For any questions or queries around the awards, please contact awards@zenithglobal.com.

For each category entry, you are required to submit the following only:

• A 200-word description of why your product deserves to win
• Up to four high-resolution images
• Company logo

*For the category 'Best Product Marketing' you are invited to send an additional 1-page document to include any video content or imagery relating to the entry.

Below are some ideas and recommendations for what you may wish to include in your 200-word description. For all categories, you may wish to consider including the following:

Why your development is the most innovative/exciting in this category and what makes it stand out

What is the vision and mission of your development

How is your product differentiated from others/market gap analysis

Where your development has reached geographically, financially and the contribution it has made

Best Crop Development

In this category, we are seeking to understand developments in new and existing crops, considering product quality, commercial success, customer satisfaction, and the application of skill to improve nutritional value, flavour, taste and colour. You may wish to consider financial returns, business success and operational efficiencies.

Best Resource Efficiency*

This category seeks to recognise vertical farms that demonstrate exceptional resource management, achieving high yields with minimal inputs such as water, energy and nutrients. You may wish to include a clear description of the concept, benefits and growing data analysis.

* Can you provide metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) to illustrate the impact of such measures?

Best Sustainability Initiative

We are looking for sustainability initiatives that have been realised across social contribution, environmental balance and economic growth. Please indicate what results you achieved against any of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Best Community Engagement Initiative

In this category, we are seeking to recognise vertical farms that are actively contributing to their local community through educational initiatives, community outreach programs, job creation and promoting food security and accessibility.

Best Research and Development Contribution

In this category, we are looking to recognise contributions to research and development in vertical farming, including breakthroughs in crop science, cultivation techniques, vertical farming system design and innovative uses of space and resources.

Best Collaborations/Partnerships Initiative

Here, we are looking for successful collaborations between vertical farming companies, research institutions and other industry stakeholders that have resulted in meaningful advancements for the industry.

Best Start-up Innovation Achievement

This category aims to celebrate start-ups and emerging companies that demonstrate creativity, resilience, and potential for growth in the vertical farming industry, showcasing innovative business models, products, or services.

Best New Vertical Farming Facility

In this category, we are looking for a clear message about what differentiates your new vertical farming facility, given the location/environment you operate in, the benefits for your production and the operational advantages. You may wish to include a clear description of the concept and benefits and growing data analysis.

Best Farm Design Innovation

In this category, we are looking for a clear message about why your farm design is the most innovative/exciting, given the location/environment you operate in and the customer segment that you target. You may wish to include a clear description of the concept and benefits, growing data analysis and how you have measured the impact of the innovation.

Best Product Marketing*

In this category, the judges will evaluate how you have positioned your product within its market segment, considering the packaging and overall brand design. How do you differentiate yourself from the competition? What kind of branding campaigns have you run and why? How successful have they been?

*In this category, you are welcome to send a one-page document of additional video content and imagery to help illustrate your marketing message

Best Product Packaging

Here, we are looking for exceptional creativity and effectiveness in packaging design, that measurably improves consumer convenience, usability, reduction of waste material and showcases innovative brand design. You may wish to include how the packaging has been utilised, it’s brand appeal relevant to the target audience and how it stands out from competitors in the same category. The packaging design needs to effectively communicate the product and benefits of what is inside.

Best Technology Development

Here, we are looking at how you have implemented and advanced technologies to improve your production. Please specify what and why produce attributes changed, and how you have measured the impact of the development. You may wish to include a clear description of the concept and benefits, growing data analysis and how you have measured the impact of the development.

Best AI/Automation Development

In this category, the judges will evaluate how you have advanced your AI/automation concepts. What improvement did you achieve with which data, what bearing did automation have on labour and your overall cost structure, and was there an impact on your produce, such as longer shelf life?

The winners of the Vertical Farming World Awards 2023 were announced on 10 October at a Gala Dinner during the 4th annual Vertical Farming World Congress in London.

The Winners

Best Crop Innovation

• UrbanKisaan – Bred Okra seeds to be grown in vertical hydroponics, other plants include tomato, chilli and brinjal

Best Crop Enhancement

• Spread – Techno Fresh

Best Yield Improvement

• Vertical Future – 24% increase in energy conversion efficiency for whole head lettuce production

Best Technology Development

• TTA – bHarvest: high tech harvester for indoor-grown crops

Best AI/Automation Development

• KETOS – KETOS SHIELD

Best Farm Design Innovation

• Vertical Future – INFT

Best New Vertical Farming Facility

• Nippon Koi Farm Pte Ltd – Singapore SG Aquaponic

Best Product Marketing

• Ljusgårda/Supernormal Greens – A completely normal salad grown in a Supernormal way.

Best Business Diversification/Development

• Bowery – Bowery Salad Kits

Best Sustainability Initiative

• ELLEPOT A/S – 18.4 Tons Plastic Reduction with Ellepot System for Hydroponic Farm

The Finalists

Best Crop Innovation

• Planet Farms – Pestooh
• Soli Organic – Soli Organic Spinach
• UrbanKisaan – Bred Okra seeds to be grown in vertical hydroponics, other plants include tomato, chilli and brinjal
• Vertical Future – High Protein Amaranth Leaf

Best Crop Enhancement

• Philips Horticulture LED Solutions – Boosting young plants for a better start
• Spread – Techno Fresh
• Vertical Future – Ameliorating Tip Burn

Best Yield Improvement

• Artechno Growsystems – AVF+ Automated Vertical Farming – Artechno Growsystems
• Freight Farms - The Greenery™ S
• Ljusgårda/Supernormal Greens – Game-changing yields: Doubling harvests while reducing the carbon footprint
• Vertical Future – 24% increase in energy conversion efficiency for whole head lettuce production

Best Technology Development

• ELLEPOT A/S – Ellepot Sleeve System
• Nippon Koi Farm Pte Ltd– Singapore SG Aquaponic
• TTA – bHarvest: high tech harvester for indoor-grown crops
• Vertical Future – ChronoTherm Technology for Real Time Plant Monitoring

Best AI/Automation Development

• KETOS – KETOS SHIELD
• SMARTKAS - SMARTKAS

Best Farm Design Innovation

• Agritecture Designer - The world's only CEA design software
• Artechno Growsystems – AVF+ Automated Vertical Farming – Artechno Growsystems
• Nippon Koi Farm Pte Ltd – Singapore SG Aquaponic
• Vertical Future - INFT

Best New Vertical Farming Facility

• 80 Acres Farms – 80 Acres Farms’ 200,000 square foot next generation facility in Florence, Kentucky - increasing total production by more than 300% and bringing the company's produce to consumers across the American Southeast
• Bowery – Bowery Bethlehem
• Nippon Koi Farm Pte Ltd – Singapore SG Aquaponic
• Soli Organic – Soli Organic’s Anderson Facility, one of the largest indoor organic farms in the world, producing millions of fresh, 100% USDA certified organic produce annually.

Best Product Marketing

• AeroFarms – Everything Tastes Better with AeroFarms Microgreens
• Bowery – The New Bowery
• Innovation Agritech Group - The GrowFrame360™ by Innovation Agritech Group
• Ljusgårda/Supernormal Greens – A completely normal salad grown in a Supernormal way.

Best Business Diversification/Development

• Bowery – Bowery Salad Kits
• CEA Advisors – Hydrofarm Strategic Alliance

Best Sustainability Initiative

• ELLEPOT A/S – 18.4 Tons Plastic Reduction with Ellepot System for Hydroponic Farm
• Ljusgårda/Supernormal Greens – Proven - 50% CO2e reduction in an independent LCA
• Spread – Techno Fresh
• Vertical Future – Energy Efficient Light Diets