Six different types of herbs are to be grown in the Aldi Süd branches in the future, including mint, basil and coriander. The plant is now supplied with the ideal amounts of nutrients, water and light and does not need any soil. The herbs grow in a precisely coordinated nutrient solution without added chemical pesticides. The growth conditions are monitored and continuously adapted by specially developed cloud software. In addition, an Infarm gardener is available for the branches to take care of the rearing and harvest the plants.
The concept is particularly sustainable because it significantly reduces transport routes. After all, local production is hardly possible than in the branch itself. According to Aldi Süd, a reduction of as much as 90 percent is possible. In addition, the rearing system uses 90 percent less water than conventional cultivation. By the end of 2020, eleven Aldi Süd branches are to be equipped with the indoor farms. Aldi Süd also wants to ensure a more sustainable herbal supply for 300 other branches. For this, Infarm will grow other plants near the branches in so-called growing centers and deliver the herbs to the markets.
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