No. It is a custom-built 12.19m x 3.05m x 3.05m steel and composite material box built specifically for growing plants. Shipping containers are not ideal for plant growth or for controlling humidity in harsh environments.

You can grow just about anything in the ZipGrow Towers however we have had the most success and best results in commercial growth with Leafy Greens such as, Rocket, Baby Bok Choy, Bok Choy, Kale, Collards, Swiss Chard, Joi Choi, as well as many varieties of Lettuce (Romaine, Oak Leaf, Radicchio, etc.) and Herbs (Chives, Basil, Mint, Thyme, Oregano, etc). We have also successfully grown Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumber and Berries on a smaller scale, and these are all in various stages of research and development. We are collecting data and hope to release more information on these in the near future.

Do you have a specific crop in mind? We would be happy to look into it further for you.

Yes. The Modular Farm was designed to be the absolute biggest container possible that could still ship on a freight truck, a train or a sea vessel.

We follow all organic protocols, non-GMO organic seed stock, mineral based nutrients (no pesticides or herbicides), and clean with only natural products. Typically crops grown with hydroponics cannot be certified organic because they are not grown in soil. In our experience, we have found practices such as local, transparent, traceable food is more important than organic.

Our Modular Farms come standard with an R value of 4.0+. Our Modular Farm is a sealed container, with no windows to let drafts in, doors are not left open, etc., which allows the standard R value of 4.0 to work in extreme cold to extreme heat. Having recently launched Modular Farms in Australia, we have found that R 4.0 is adequate during extreme heat. We are confident that the R 4.0 will be sufficient around the world, however you can request a higher R value when purchasing your farm.

Primary Farm starts from $275,000 +GST and our Vestibule from $48,000 +GST for 3m or $62,000 + GST for 6m. For prices on all our other modules please reach out to the team.

The HVAC system cools and does not heat. The plants and lights generate enough heat to keep the farm warm. As we do operate our farms during extreme winter weather, we have found that added heat is not required.

Each 40’ Module (Primary) requires three-phase 50amp services (50amp per phase max demand). The primary module draws average 250 kw per day or approximately 10kwh

The light bars are spaced 10″ to centre. The btu load / heat output calculation states each light bar will emit 406 BTU/hr.

Increased height of 15cm to 60cm, and width of 60cm, over a shipping container means more room for the addition of proper air delivery and dehumidification via in-farm ducting, more room for high-intensity and industry specific LED grow lamps, more room for plants and more room for farmers.

Better insulation than a shipping container by about 60%, coupled with a sealed, truly controlled environment, mean external climate influences are much less likely, if any influence at all. Brand new, purpose built components will last much longer, >10 years than a repurposed shipping container. Used shipping containers come in all sorts of conditions, from pretty good to downright horrible. With a Modular Farm you’ll never have to guess what condition your ‘new’ farm will arrive in.

A bigger container doesn’t necessarily mean more costly or complicated transportation costs. Modular Farms are designed to ship via truck, train or barge. In Australia there is no need for freight escort.

One of the most significant improvements in a Modular Farm versus every shipping container farm on the market is the fact that we’re using commercial grade, slim profile, customizable spectrum, LED grow lights. The LEDs in our farms were specifically designed to grow crops which is not always the case in competing systems on the market. That’s right, some container farms on the market include LEDs that weren’t designed to grow food. With 240 8’ ZipGrow Growing Towers, commercial grade retractable LED grow lights, a Multi-functional work table, and automated farm and climate control systems, the Primary Module provides unprecedented crop yields and industry leading ROI.

Combined with a properly controlled environment, our LEDs have helped us to realize a yield volume that is increased up to 80% over competing container farms on the market. Yes, 80%!

Modular Farms builds truly controlled environments. Most, if not all shipping container farms on the market rely on ‘fresh air’ exchange to keep things right in their farms. This causes serious issues as external temperatures, humidity, and even occasionally airborne dust, mould spores and insects, all of which are detrimental to a stable indoor farm, can and most likely will be introduced inside the shipping container.

Modular Farms has a HEPA filtered air intake and exhaust system that is only used in emergency CO2 venting situations where preservation of human life is a factor. Otherwise, our farms not only recycle water in a closed-loop, recirculating system, they also recycle air. Modular Farms are equipped with dedicated, commercial grade air conditioning and dehumidification. They can also be outfitted with an optional 5-stage UV and charcoal scrubber air purifier. That might not sound so important but it’s actually one of the most prevalent issues in existing shipping container farms.

As an example, inside the farm, our dehumidifiers are capable of removing and recapturing over 190 litres of transpired or evaporated water from the air every day. That’s a lot of water! So why’s that a big deal? That water will wind up in the air regardless of a farm’s ability to recapture it, and if it isn’t handled properly, it can cause serious and catastrophic issues with high humidity which usually leads to stunted plant growth, mould and mildew problems and even plant death.

The increased insulation in a Modular Farm container, in addition to the closed-loop environment, means a more consistent air temperature and humidity regardless of conditions outside the farm. This in turn means a better environment for plants which produces not only greater yields but healthier looking and more nutritious plants as well.

It’s one thing to build a system that can grow food. It’s another to build one that grows food exceptionally well, can do so all year in any climate, with a real ROI for farmers and actually be a fun place to work. This cannot be said of any shipping container farm on the market.

Modular Farms are HACCP, under our food safety standards and regulations and were built to do one thing: grow food.

Our farms are designed to accommodate up to 4 farmers working at a time. We design and build everything from a farmer’s perspective, because we’re farmers too.

With over 4 years of experience, and headaches, of farming in shipping container farms, we know how uncomfortable it can be to work in confined spaces. It might not sound like a lot, but an extra 60cm of width in our farms makes a world of difference in avoiding worker fatigue.

And have you ever tried working elbow to elbow with an 2.44m tall ZipGrow Tower? Yeah, don’t. Our large island style work station is a great space to share when working with friends, family or co-workers.

Bright walls, easy access corners, smooth floors and work surfaces and a HACCP certified workspace means that keeping a Modular Farm clean and well maintained is a breeze. Did you know you can clean the entire floor of a Modular Farm to the highest degree of cleanliness in under 5 minutes? Well you can! That’s not happening with a corrugated floor in a shipping container and is actually one of the several reasons why shipping container don’t make food safe farms. Those corrugated floors are a great place to harbor dirt, mould and bacteria. This is not at all ideal for growing clean food in a small space, and certainly not an issue that can be swept under a rug.

Two separate walkable work aisles is another great attribute of the Modular Farm. Regular visual inspections of crops are absolutely crucial if a farm is to be successful. The process of crop inspections in a Modular Farm is so terribly simple it should be outlawed. With aisle widths of 1 meter it’s a snap to walk the farm and make sure everything is in order. You also don’t need to move towers or disturb often delicate plants to inspect crops.

This cannot be said of other container farms on the market.

ZipGrow Towers are known for their ease in processing and accessing food. Despite how fantastic it is to grow food in ZipGrow Towers, we found we could make life even easier for farmers. In Modular Farms, you don’t need to move a single tower to harvest your crops. That’s right, it’s as simple as walking up to a wall and cutting stems or pulling out a head of lettuce.

This process not only saves considerable time in harvesting food, it also eliminates substantial yield loss and plant damage normally associated to working in shipping container farms.

We were farmers before we designed farms; successful entrepreneurs before we started this company, and come from a world where customer service and community mean everything. We’ll not only answer questions and concerns in a timely manner, we’ll do it with genuine understanding of the situation at hand and uniquely, with empathy because not only have we been in your shoes, we’re still there today.

Here at Modular Farms, we want to continue to design and build vertical farms, by farmers for farmers, for the long haul. We sincerely believe you can only build a great vertical farm by being great vertical farmers first.

While we’re very confident in our knowledge and abilities, we’ll be the first to admit, although we try, we’ll never know everything. That’s why we continue to collaborate with the world’s best in vertical farming. If you ask us a question and we don’t know the answer, we won’t guess or make something up but we’ll certainly have a friend close by who will be able to help.

Modular Farms is excited to report our Primary Module, Vestibule Module, and Macro Module are ready to ship internationally. Although our farms have been tested to produce consistently high quality and high-volume yields, our farms are designed and built for use in North America and Australia.

As such, any farms shipped internationally (currently) will be done so with North American or Australian wiring and electrical standards in place. Any orders placed, with a destination outside of North America or Australia, will be fulfilled with the knowledge and responsibility of the buyer that the farms will be received without consideration to their local, regional or national electrical certification standards.

Below is a list of considerations and requirements to prepare your site(s) for a Modular Farm Primary Module, Vestibule, and Macro Farm.

Primary Module – 13m long X 3m wide X 3m height

Vestibule Module – 3.2m long X 3.2m wide x 2.7m height

Macro Module – 13m long X 3.2 wide X 3m height

To accommodate both connected modules, the combined ‘pad’ dimensions should measure 15m long x 9m wide. PAD dimensions will vary by site however we can work with you once you reach that point!

Primary Module – 8,000 kilograms (approx)

Vestibule Module – 2,500 kilograms

Macro Module – 9,000 kilogram

Substrate / pad materials can include gravel / trap rock, railroad ties (creosote free), sonotube or concrete slab. Asphalt may be sufficient (think parking lots) however, due to the weight, grass, soil and other soft surfaces are not suitable as the farm will sink into the ground. The farm must be placed on a level surface as the interior components are assembled on a grade to permit gravity return of water. Farm levelling instructions will be provided once a site is selected.

Each 40′ Module (Primary, Macro and Sprout Module) require

Three-phase, 50-amp service
130 amps usage at peak

Separate metering is recommended to track electrical usage. This is not required if a dedicated / direct hydro service is being provided. It is highly recommended, if not legally necessary that you hire a certified electrician to connect your Modular Farm. We will work with your local electrician to ensure everything ‘goes off’ without a hitch.

Water can be provided via soft (garden hose) or hard (pipes) lines. We recommend the use of a soft, portable water safe garden hose even in regions where freezing temperatures can occur. Water replenishments occur infrequently and the risk of freezing lines and cost of pipes may be prohibitive for some new farmers. A water quality test is highly recommended before your farm arrives. This will help determine which water management protocols need to be put in place for your crops and will reveal any potential issues with bacteria, pathogens or other harmful elements.