Towards the end of last summer, Luca Greco discovered a vertical farm. A single basil leaf was enough to win him over. “In the evenings, when I was at home, I was always craving it. It was impossible.” Five months after taking over Tetris Farms, Michel and Luca Greco are now developing a new way of growing vegetables, directly where they are consumed, using vertical farms.
After more than 30 years in the service sector, Michel Greco has branched out into a completely new industry. His son Luca joined the family business two and a half years ago. Together, they took over Tetris Farms five months ago and have completely restructured it.
Today, Michel Greco mainly oversees the strategic and administrative aspects, whilst Luca focuses on operations, business development and digital tools. Both see their different approaches as a strength that will help the project move forward. “I’ve never set up a business that I didn’t believe in. This is more than just a passion,” says Michel Greco.
Grow where you eat
Growing tomatoes in the middle of winter, picking basil just minutes before preparing a meal, or growing vegetables without being at the mercy of the weather: this is the promise of vertical farming. The Grecos see it as a way of bringing production closer to consumers whilst reducing transport, water consumption and storage requirements.
Their aim is to enable restaurants, businesses, schools, farmers and other stakeholders to grow their own vegetables, directly at the point of consumption.
To achieve this, Tetris Farms offers two types of system: vertical farms the size of a fridge (pictured above), suitable for commercial kitchens or small spaces, and 5-, 8- or 11-metre containers designed for larger-scale production.
The smaller models are ideal for professional kitchens or compact spaces, whilst the containers enable production on a larger scale. They all operate on the same principle: producing as close as possible to the consumer.
The system, using artificial intelligence (...), regulates itself.
The seeds are placed in biodegradable capsules containing a natural growing medium, and then inserted into the system. The user simply selects the variety to be grown via an app. Artificial intelligence then automatically manages the cultivation process. “Italian basil, at the start, needs 23.5 degrees (...), X per cent humidity and X per cent nutrients in the water. So the system (...) regulates itself,” explains 
Produce all year round, more quickly
Tomatoes in the middle of winter, fresh basil all year round, lettuces, microgreens and even mushrooms: Tetris Farms now offers up to 61 varieties of crops. This means a restaurant can harvest basil just minutes before making pesto, or grow tomatoes in the middle of winter.
Everything is optimised to ensure production takes place as quickly as possible.
By constantly recreating the ideal growing conditions, vertical farms also help to speed up crop growth. According to Tetris Farms, some young shoots can be harvested after around ten days, whilst basil reaches maturity in around twenty days.
“From January to December, it’s a daily production,” explains Michel Greco. He also points out that this approach helps to stabilise certain crops, the prices of which fluctuate with the seasons. Throughout the year, basil therefore maintains the same production cost, whilst varieties that are usually imported, such as Thai basil or Greek basil, can be grown locally.
Up to 90% less water
According to Michel Greco, large greenhouses remain dependent on weather conditions and require significant amounts of energy to maintain crops. By contrast, Tetris Farms’ facilities operate in a fully controlled environment, where technology constantly optimises water and electricity consumption.
The water is collected, filtered and reused. It is not wasted.
The Grecos also highlight the environmental benefits of their facilities. Unlike traditional farming, the water circulates in a closed-loop system. “The water is recovered, filtered and reused. We don’t throw it away,” explains Luca Greco. According to Tetris Farms, this system reduces water consumption by up to 90 per cent compared with conventional farming. The crops are also grown without soil, without pesticides, without GMOs and without chemical additives.
A Tetris Farms fridge uses exactly the same amount of electricity as a domestic fridge or a PlayStation in standby mode.
Producing directly at the point of consumption also reduces transport and dependence on supply chains. The produce is harvested just moments before it is used, without being stored for long periods. “People are no longer sure they’ll receive what they’ve ordered (…). Whereas here, if they grow it themselves, there’s a standard price,” explains Michel Greco.
The smallest models plug into a standard electrical socket. “A Tetris Farms fridge uses exactly the same amount of electricity as a domestic fridge or a PlayStation in standby mode,” explains Luca Greco.
Complementary farming
For the Greco family, vertical farms are not intended to replace traditional agriculture. They present them as a complementary solution, capable of producing certain crops locally that are difficult to grow in Luxembourg’s climate, or of offering an alternative when adverse weather conditions disrupt harvests.
“The aim is not to pit one group against another, but to create synergy,” says Michel Greco. Initial discussions with Luxembourg farmers are already moving in this direction. Some are considering using this technology to grow varieties that they cannot cultivate in open fields in Luxembourg’s climate.
