Gilwoo Lee on Autonomous Greenhouse, Vertically Integrated Business Models, and Positive Reinforcement.

With the world’s population likely to increase by nearly another billion people over the next two decades and incomes rising, total food consumption will likely rise by 50-70% by 2050. However, the percentage of people who work in agriculture around the world has decreased by 18% in the last three decades. Therefore, technological intervention is required.

Greenhouse farming refers to the practice of growing crops in controlled environments, such as using transparent material to admit natural light for plant growth. This practice provides better product quality and higher input efficiencies of water, nutrients, and crop protection agents compared to outdoor cultivation. Zordi integrates AI and robotics into its operations, reducing labor requirements by up to 80% and autonomously making critical crop care decisions. The company also provides the juiciest strawberries in NYC!

In the most recent episode of Women Who Build, we speak with the founder of Zordi, Gilwoo Lee. Gilwoo is a computer scientist with expertise in machine learning and robotics. In the past, she has worked at Facebook, Dreamworks, and Michigan Venture Capital.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

• Precision agriculture is part of a broader concept known as smart farming.
• Vertical integration allows control of the entire production process, from greenhouse operations to market distribution, providing flexibility for future scaling and partnerships. This is vital for sound unit economics per farm.
• Leafy greens are more common in greenhouses due to their shorter growth cycle and established industrial processes.
• Positive reinforcement (and not always struggle!) helps with success too!

Follow Gilwoo Lee at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilwoo-lee-581a13199/

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