The Hybridization of Agriculture with Henry Gordon-Smith, Founder and CEO at Agritecture

This episode features a conversation between Phil Dillard, Founder of Thruline Networks, and Henry Gordon-Smith, Founder and CEO at Agritecture, the world's leading urban agriculture blog, consultancy, and now farm planning Software as a Service. 

With over 11 years of experience in the field, Henry is a trusted advisor to corporations, investors, and new farmers on vertical farming feasibility, design, marketing, and due diligence. He is also a strategic advisor to several AgTech startups, including Smallhold, and Foodshed.io, and a board member of Indoor Ag-Con, EFUA, and previously Teens for Food Justice. 

Henry holds an MSc in Sustainability Management from Columbia University, a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia, and coursework in Food Security and Urban Agriculture from Ryerson University.

In this episode, Henry talks about all things vertical farming, the inevitable hybridization of agriculture, and the founding stories of his company, Agritecture.

Key Quote

“I think most people simply have just been disconnected. As we've urbanized our society, we've been able to do that because of this greed revolution which has allowed us to centralize agriculture and lands far, far away. And the sophisticated supply chain that lets it bring us to anywhere we want in the world. Many of us can eat something from anywhere in the world. That system has led to us and both been part of us moving to cities and becoming more urbanized. And so, food and cities, agriculture and cities became separated when before that they were actually more integrated. Long story short, people don't have that connection to agriculture anymore.” - Henry Gordon Smith

Episode Timestamps

(01:50) Henry’s background

(11:28) Agritecture’s mission

(25:34) The hybridization of agriculture

(28:42) Vertical farming

(42:33) Quick hit questions

(45:34) Final thoughts

Links

Henry’s LinkedIn

Agritecture Website

Phil’s LinkedIn

Thruline Networks