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In a move that aims to contribute to a sustainable transformation of the global food system, leading vertical farming companies have committed to a Vertical Farming Identity Statement and Industry Manifesto. The Vertical Farming Manifesto and Identity Statement were signed on 20 September at the Vertical Farming World Congress in Brussels by the following companies: 80 Acres, AeroFarms, Bowery, Crop One, CubicFarms, Elevate Farms, Fifth Season, Fischer Farms, Freight Farms, Infarm, Infinite Acres, Jones Food Company, Kalera, La Grangette, Ljusgårda, N.thing, Plenty, Stacked Farm, Urban Crop Solutions, Urban Harvest, Vertical Future, YesHealth Group and ZipGrow. The documents describe the urgent need to transform current food systems and explain how vertical farming can contribute significantly to designing food systems that are resilient and future-proof. “For the continued existence of humanity and protection of the earth, the expansion, development and collaboration of the vertical farming industry is critical. We are proud and excited to be working together with our industry peers on the VF Identity Statement and Industry Manifesto,” said Craig Ratajczyk, CEO of Crop One. Through technological innovation, indoor vertical farming aims to protect food production from disruption caused by external factors like climate or public health crises. By localising production and controlling the growing environment, vertical farming provides pesticide-free produce, uses significantly less land and water than conventional agriculture, and requires fewer transportation miles. Towards the industry’s goal of driving the transformation of food systems, the companies will look to set high standards by aligning with globally accepted impact frameworks, for example, the Science Based Targets initiative, B Corp, or the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. “Tech-driven agriculture solutions have so much potential to positively affect the global food system. We're excited to unify with our peers to elevate the standards and do the most good for the most people together,” added Austin Webb, CEO and co-founder of Fifth Season.