Editor’s note: We kicked off our first annual Food Loves Tech event last summer in Chelsea—here’s a recap. We’re bringing a taste of the food and farming future back this year, but just across the East River at Industry City. Leading up to the event, this story is part of an ongoing series about technology’s effects on our food supply.
Like most of the city’s coworking spaces AgTech X in Williamsburg offers remote workers hi-speed wifi and coffee. But inside the newly opened space there’s also mini farms like a hydroponics system and a “food computer.”
You could think of AgTech X as an incubator for people interested in indoor agriculture. Available to members by passes could for a day, week or month, the coworking space is currently accepting applications for monthly members.
“You could come in and say, ‘Hey I know nothing teach me the basics [of indoor farming]’ and we’ll give you a system that you will run,” co-founder Ricky Stephens said.
The ideal AgTech X member is someone that is passionate about urban agriculture and food but without a background in growing systems. Another ideal member is an individual who has perhaps constructed their own grow system and is looking to see if they can turn a hobby into a business path. AgTech X wants to give both the information and connections needed to figure out how to apply their current skills into the agricultural tech space.
“We want to help nurture talent in the sustainable food and technology world,” Stephens said.
Day passes start at $29 and include the standard co-working amenities and hydroponics tutorial, while monthly passes, limited to six members, are $270 and also include access to different grow systems and bi-weekly career consulting meetings with AgTech X partner Henry Gordon-Smith of Blue Planet Consulting.
Photos Courtesy of AgTech X.
