Deep within a cutting-edge Planet Farms factory environment, nestled not on sprawling fields but towering upwards in layers, produce is being farmed in tightly controlled conditions. This is where traditional agriculture is being revolutionized, within a highly automated, data-driven, vertical farming model.
“If we want to set new standards in vertical farming, we must start with a radical change of perspective,” says Massimo Mistretta, CISO, Planet Farms. “We want to change the way the world thinks about agriculture.”
The change is to shift from supply-led farming to demand-led. The Planet Farms model is not restricted by seasonal growing cycles, geography, or access to water. For Planet Farms, the work isn’t done by tractors, but by robots moving on the plant and automated guided vehicles (AGVs). This is critical to maintaining the highly efficient processes Planet Farms has developed to grow fresh, nutritious, flavorful food. Robots transport everything from seedlings to harvested produce, ensuring minimal human contact and maximum speed. No soil, no pesticides, and minimal water.
“The customer is the first to open the bag and touch the product,” Mistretta points out. “Everything else is completely automated, from seeding to primary and secondary packaging. The product doesn’t need to be washed; it arrives ready to eat.”
However, keeping everything seamlessly connected posed a challenge. For critical, latency-sensitive communications required by AGVs, a dropped connection or even a pause during handoff could disrupt operations, potentially leading to delays or errors.
Enter Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul (URWB). Planet Farms discovered that URWB was designed precisely for connecting moving assets, providing a level of performance that standard Wi-Fi couldn’t guarantee for its critical operations. URWB offers ultra-reliable, low-latency wireless connectivity with seamless handoffs and zero packet loss, essential for uninterrupted movement of their robots and AGVs.
“Cisco URWB enables our AGVs and 3D cameras to collect data in real time without interruption. This data is vital for advanced agentic AI models to make informed decisions.” – Massimo Mistretta, CISO, Planet Farms
Unlike Wi-Fi, URWB employs a “make before break” roaming mechanism, establishing the connection to the next access point before dropping the connection to the current one. Its Multipath Operations (MPO) technology allows traffic, especially critical data, to be sent to multiple access points simultaneously. This means that even with obstacles and interference common in complex industrial environments, such as a multi-level vertical farm, if one connection is interrupted, the traffic still gets through via another path.
Deploying URWB felt surprisingly familiar to Planet Farms’ existing IT team. The solution is built on 802.11 standards and deploys just like Wi-Fi, making it quick for teams to get connected. Planet Farms now has a wireless network that can finally keep pace with its ambitious automation. The network is then centrally monitored and maintained using tools such as Cisco Industrial Wireless Monitor, providing real-time data and alerts.
“We want to show that vertical farming is not only feasible but can be profitable.” – Massimo Mistretta, CISO, Planet Farms
For Planet Farms, Cisco URWB enables the high level of automation necessary to run its vertical farms efficiently, reducing downtime, complexity, and manual intervention. It supports the precise, sub-millisecond latency needed for AGVs to navigate tightly controlled paths. This technological leap isn’t just about connectivity; it enables Planet Farms’ mission of producing delicious, healthy, and sustainable vegetables without pesticides, minimizing its environmental impact.
By going vertical and embracing technologies like Cisco URWB, Planet Farms is truly shaping the future of agriculture.
