Clarion visits Innovation Agri-Tech's Prototype Vertical Farm

In early March the Clarion Invest development team went to visit a new prototype vertical farming company and met with senior management and staff of new ‘budding’ agri-tech company, Innovation Agri-Tech

The company has positioned itself firmly at the forefront of a blooming new vertical farming technologies market which is set to be a prominent field of future agricultural solutions.

Innovation Agri-Tech Group (IAG) is a British agricultural technology company providing cutting-edge solutions to the traditional challenges of farming. The company specialises in Indoor Vertical Aeroponics.

IAG offers patented technologies and expert services to help growers improve and expand their vertical farming systems or build new vertical farms from scratch, as well as full-service solutions including the design, installation and ongoing management of a complete vertical farm. It is also in the process of completing its own vertical farm facility in Berkshire.

The company has developed a new patented vertical farming technology called GrowFrame. The technology can harness integrated automated software to maximise crop productivity and growth.

The modular and scalable design can be installed anywhere from a single shipping container to industrial size warehouses. A closed loop irrigation system recycling water uses up to 95% less water than conventional farming and 70% less than hydroponics technology.

So, what is indoor vertical farming?

Indoor vertical farming is a common method of growing produce in an indoor environment with carefully controlled conditions and specially designed lighting.

It takes precision farming to its natural next stages by maximising all the resources surrounding it for efficient and sustainable output. By doing this, producers can maximise both yields and the value of space. The implication of this is large profitability potential.

Vertical farming has the potential to repurpose existing infrastructure and can be deployed and utilised efficiently in environments such as; unused factories, skyscrapers, office buildings or other suitable resources.

IAG owns three registered US patents for its Aeroponic systems and enclosures. It also has a partnership with Co-Alliance Cooperative, one of the largest agribusinesses in the Midwestern USA, with over 56,000 farming operations, giving it significant transatlantic reach.

Although the British market lags behind the US, indoor farming is now seeing a significant spike in interest and funding in the UK. Blue-chip companies like Ocado are investing £17 million in the space, and the British government has committed to spending £90 million to the Transforming Food Production Challenge.

IAG is scaling up its operations, team and product & service offerings. The company expects to increase its sales and revenues via strategic partners as it expands both in the UK and internationally.

By making use of Co-Alliance Cooperative’s supply chain and distribution capabilities, IAG hopes to dramatically enhance its revenues from the US market.

IAG both develops and markets its own technologies to growers and grows & sells its own fresh produce – the company is perfectly placed to take advantage of both types of growth opportunity.

Meeting with IAG was an incredibly eye-opening experience. The technologies are something from a sci-fi movie, but their applications are very real and helping to aid the development of solutions for the ever increasing demand of produce worldwide.

The company is certainly courting some very interested parties from the forefront of green venture capital. So far it has made significant strides in raising it’s initial round of funding. It’s partnership with Co-Alliance Cooperative saw the company acquire a 15 percent stake holding in IAG and as of December 2021 the company has just recently been valued at £75million on an Enterprise Valuation.

Watch the company’s introductory video below:

Initial forecasts for the company look very promising and all the Clarion team are incredibly positive to be involved with such an exciting new technology.

The visit was fun and informative, all the team were incredibly knowledgeable and provided a clear understanding of the businesses objectives over the longer term.

See the full gallery of pictures from the visit below:

For more information about the company and their initial investment offering to prospective investors do not hesitate to contact us directly and request an information pack.

Clarion Invest partner visit to 79th Group's Headquarters

In March, Clarion Invest Director Jason St Pierre met with senior management and staff at the 79th Group’s Southport Headquarters

As part of the relationship we build with our investment partners, the Clarion team is always keen to meet with senior management to discuss their ongoing business ventures and roadmap for the future.

Recently Clarion company director (Jason) met with senior staff and representatives of the property development group, 79th Luxury Living, in order to meet and discuss their plans for the next 5-10 years.

Jason met with 79th Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Natalie Bellis, who outlined the Group’s ambitious development plans for 2022 and beyond.

Natalie manages all the daily business and administrative operations of the 79th Group. Her background is in compliance, so she’s quite a stickler for details and has a firm management of the companies regulatory and compliance responsibilities.

We also met with siblings Jake and Curtis Webster, group company directors and son’s of property mogul and Chairman Dave Webster.

Jake and Curtis were keen to tell us all about their expansive property redevelopment projects that are taking place over the next few years, whilst also briefing us on the development and updates of existing projects.

More recently both their Hexham (Old Workhouse Redevelopment) and their Ivy House projects have seen progress and building works are moving on to the next phase.

The Hexham redevelopment project will see the conversion of a former union workhouse into 34 exclusive residential two and three-bed apartments and townhouses, situated in the centre of the historic market town of Hexham, whilst the Ivy House development will see the conversion of a stunning countryside property into three luxury homes in the idyllic village of Scarisbrick, Lancashire.

Overall the visit was incredibly positive and gave a valuable understanding of the Group’s business for the next few years.

Recently the group has confirmed capital investment repayments of over £10million to it’s private investors and is showing strong growth projections for the longer term.

We would like to thank all the team at 79th Group for their kind hospitality and look forward to a continued and prosperous partnership for years to come.

Watch the company’s latest promotional video below to see inside the group HQ.

79th Group Update on Hexham (Old Workhouse) Redevelopment Project

The property development company 79th Group are pleased to provide all stakeholders with an exciting update on the progress of their Hexham Redevelopment project.

Following the steady progress on our redevelopment of The Old Workhouse in Hexham, the company are delighted to inform you that the Seventy Ninth Luxury Living team are now preparing to commence construction works on the site in May 2022.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Situated close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hadrian's Wall in the county of Northumberland, Hexham has been named amongst the happiest places to live in Britain. Coupled with its excellent transport facilities to Newcastle upon Tyne, there are many factors at play that make Hexham an extremely desirable place to live.

Historically, developers have seen vast potential in The Old Workhouse, but time and again they have been unable to realise said potential.

In late 2020, the project presented itself to the company and was assessed thoroughly by their acquisitions team. Due to the amount of false starts the development had previously seen, the 79th team conducted extensive due diligence and plans for the project to ensure its financial viability; they were happy to find that this opportunity fitted perfectly within their area of expertise.

In May 2021, the company completed their acquisition of the site and put forward our proposal for a sensitive redevelopment of the former union workhouse, which would see it converted into thirty four exclusive residential two and three-bed apartments and townhouses, situated in the centre of the historic market town.

These proposed plans for the once-distressed site have been well-received by the local council and community. Just a year after the initial acquisition, the company is thrilled to be commencing the construction works that will help to make these plans a reality.

A CLOSER LOOK INSIDE THE APARTMENTS

Each of our two and three-bedroom apartments at The Old Workhouse are due to be fitted with modern, high-quality furnishings and fittings.

NEXT STEPS FOR THE PROJECT

Following the successful implementation of stringent pre-construction measures, 79th are now ready to commence construction works on the site in May 2022. The company will, of course, be keeping all of their stakeholders informed of key progress updates on the site's development as and when they occur.

The Team and the local Hexham community are delighted to be progressing onto the next key stage of this project's development, and are excited to see the results of their continued efforts and investment come to fruition.

79th Group Chairman Dave Webster Said:

The 79th Group’s extensive real estate experience, 100% track record in capital and interest repayment and commitment to a strict compliance framework has made the company the preferred partner in the United Kingdom for investors across the globe, and I would like to thank you – and all of our stakeholders – for your continued support.

For further information on the 79th Group’s developments and investment offerings, find out more by enquiring directly today. Click here.

Watch 79th Group’s Latest Corporate Promotional Video