This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on June 18, 2018 - June 24, 2018

Vertical farming in Taiwan is becoming more popular as indoor farming technology and research investments increase, says Tsai Wen-chin.

YesHealth iFarm in Taoyuan’s Luchu township is a Taiwan-based agriculture firm that operates such a farm.

The firm is the largest indoor plant producer in Asia, currently employing 130 people, according to its 53-year-old chairman Tsai.

In relating how he started the farm, Tsai recalled — during the Smart City Brands Media Tour hosted by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council for journalists — that he was in his 30s when he noticed ample business potential in the then fruit market. Tsai was at the time also much involved in the information and communications technology industry (ICT).

However in 2008 Tsai was diagnosed with liver cancer and he needed to change his exhausting lifestyle. Leaving the high pressured work environment in the ICT industry, he devoted himself to indoor farming research, nutritional learning, and started YesHealth iFarm.

According to Tsai, YesHealth iFarm only uses fertiliser made from organic soybeans. He says the plants also listen to music.

Tsai says his firm is proud of its “4 zeroes 2 lows” standards and achievements: Zero pesticide residue, zero toxic heavy metals, zero E coli, zero parasites, low nitrates, and low bacteria count. He says the farm’s unique growing process gives its produce a unique crunch and taste.

“Not only is YesHealth iFarm an excellent template for organic farming, it is also a technology-driven 14-storey vertical farm covering 2,645 sq m”, says Tsai.

The farm is two stories taller than the largest vertical farm in Japan and grows over 40 varieties of vegetables, including arugula, ice plant and mustard leaf, says Tsai, adding various spectrums of LED lights are used depending on the plant.

He says YesHealth iFarm produces over 100 times what a traditional farm can while using only a tenth of the water the latter uses. Tsai added that YesHealth iFarm produces 1.2 tonnes of vegetables a day and that it supplies vegetables and herb spices to hotels in Taiwan such as the Grand Hyatt and Westin Hotel. Its products also end up in in-flight meals of EVA Air and China Airlines through the firm’s  catering affiliates.

YesHealth iFarm also has a direct business-to-customer line via its ready-to-eat salad packs and other vegetable-based products. These  are distributed by French supermarket brand Carrefour, says Tsai.

The chairman of YesHealth i-farm says the firm is prepared to export its technology and production system as a turnkey package for companies that want to develop their own brands.

“The Taiwan government has published a policy which encourages companies to do business in Southeast Asia. This, I think,  would be a good opportunity for us to venture into Southeast Asia to do this kind of vertical farming.

“But, in order to do this, we would need a local partner; a local strategic partner will help us do this,” says Tsai.