Infarm, the world’s fastest-growing urban farming network announced $170 million investment raised in the first close of a Series C funding round expected to reach $200 million.

The fresh capital infusion brings Infarm’s total funding to date to more than $300 million, underscoring consumer and retailer appetite for Infarm’s innovative approach to fresh, sustainable and local food production in the wake of this year’s pandemic.

The investment will be used to deepen the regional and local penetration of Infarm’s global farming network and complete development of Infarm’s new generation of vertical cloud-connected farms, capable of generating the crop-equivalent of acres of farmland and amplifying the diversity of produce currently available through vertical farming. An integration of advanced engineering, software and farming technology, these farms will save labour, land, water, energy, and food-miles, while contributing to a more sustainable food system

In the past 12 months alone, Infarm has formed new partnerships with the world’s largest retailers, including, Aldi Süd (Germany), Kroger (United States), Marks & Spencer and Selfridges (United Kingdom).With operations across 10 countries and 30 cities worldwide, Infarm harvests 500,000+ plants monthly and growing while using 99.5% less space than soil-based agriculture, 95% less water, 90% less transport and zero chemical pesticides. Today, 90% of electricity use throughout the Infarm network is from renewable energy and the company has set a target to reach zero emission food production next year.