Omaha is taking urban agriculture to new heights with the opening of a state-of-the-art vertical farm in the heart of downtown. The facility, developed by local startup UrbanHarvest, is housed in a repurposed 15-story office building and is capable of producing the equivalent of 500 acres of traditional farmland.

What makes this vertical farm unique is its closed-loop system that recycles water and nutrients, resulting in 95% less water usage compared to traditional farming methods. The farm also uses AI-controlled LED lighting and climate systems to optimize growing conditions for each crop.

UrbanHarvest CEO Mark Thompson explained, “Our goal is to provide fresh, locally grown produce year-round while minimizing our environmental footprint. This facility brings the farm directly to the city, reducing transportation costs and emissions.”

The farm is already supplying fresh vegetables and herbs to local restaurants and grocery stores, with plans to expand its product range to include fruits and even fish through an integrated aquaponics system.