EDEN GREEN TECHNOLOGY

BY: LAURA BETH JAMES TEXAS FFA STATE VICE PRESIDENT A TEXAS FFA OFFICER BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

Making the impossible possible. Putting another innovative spin on the world’s most crucial industry. This is what Eden Green Technology has been doing since 2017, and they say this is just the beginning.

This past winter, the 2022-2023 Texas FFA state officer team had the opportunity to tour Eden Green during a leadership development training. To say the experience enthralled us would be an understatement. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by warm, welcoming employees who made us feel right at home. After hearing a brief overview of our tour, we stepped into a small room to suit up in hair nets and aprons before entering the first greenhouse.

When I heard we would be touring greenhouses, I envisioned small, humid enclosures with low ceilings and damp concrete floors; however, the greenhouses of Eden Green paint a much different picture. These facilities are unlike any I’ve seen before; instead of growing out, Eden Green grows up. They utilize vertical farming technology and advanced hydroponic systems to produce five million pounds of leafy greens annually on 99% less land than conventional operations. Along with greens like lettuce and kale, Eden Green also grows various herbs, fruits, vegetables, and more. Just 48 hours after these crops are harvested, they’ll appear on local grocery store shelves. This quick turnaround time helps increase nutritional value and accessibility while decreasing transportation costs and food waste.

This sustainable business venture is more than just a way to turn a profit. For brothers Jacques and Eugene van Buuren, the founders of Eden Green, it’s a way to save lives. During a trip to South Africa, the brothers witnessed a heartbreaking scene: a young boy stashing food in his pockets to take home for his sister since it wasn’t his day to eat. Food insecurity is a harsh reality that approximately 821 million people face daily. Instead of simply feeling sympathy for the people in this situation, the van Buuren brothers decided to take action. Shortly after, Eden Green was born. They began with the goal of making healthy food accessible for everyone while retaining a high level of productivity and sustainability.

From the time we spent with the Eden Green team, it’s evident that they have gone far beyond reaching this goal. By coupling a genuine desire for change with cutting-edge technology, they are doing what all of us in agriculture strive to do: feed a hungry population. And they do it well.