S11E152 Simon Wardle/Gooddrop Ltd - Sustainable Cotton: A New Era in Vertical Farming

Vertical Farming Podcast

Ever wondered how vertical farming could revolutionize the cotton industry? I sat down with Simon Wardle, CEO of Gooddrop, to explore this groundbreaking concept.

Simon Wardle brings a unique perspective to vertical farming, combining his background in design with a vision for sustainable cotton production. As the leader of Good Drop, he's spearheading an initiative to grow cotton in controlled environments, potentially transforming the textile industry.

In this episode, we delve into Good Drop's ambitious plans to create a closed-loop system for cotton production. Simon shares insights on their progress, from container-based experiments to plans for a pilot facility, and discusses the challenges of reinventing the cotton supply chain.

We also explore the broader implications of this innovation, touching on topics such as energy sustainability, the potential for localized production, and the hurdles of disrupting a centuries-old industry. Simon offers a candid look at the realities of bringing a new concept to market in the vertical farming space.

If you're curious about the future of sustainable textiles and the role vertical farming could play, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to hear Simon's fascinating journey and the potential impact of vertically farmed cotton.

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Key Takeaways

00:42 Collaboration and Industry Insights

06:00 Thanksgiving and Cultural Differences

12:00 Design Background and Transition

24:00 Challenges and Innovations

30:00 Leadership and Team Building

36:00 Industry Disruption and Future Plans

Tweetable Quotes

"We're not just growing the raw material, we're going to convert it. And with that we're then going to a third party supply chain to deliver product. Working with dyeing companies, weaving companies, fabrication companies, designers as a proof of concept."

"There's expertise at many milestones that I have an overall understanding of these things. I have lots of curiosity about these things, but true expertise in the relevant areas - we need to go and get that."

"We don't want to be restricted to the UK borders, though, once we get going. We want to build these things wherever they need to be built and scale, scale, scale, and see what we can do about helping the climate, turn it around somewhat, be part of that movement to try and make a difference there."

Resources Mentioned

Website - https://www.good-drop.com/

LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/simon-w-09900827

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Mentioned in this episode:

CEA Summit East 2024

CEA Summit East 2024

Indoor AgCon 2025

Indoor AgCon 2025