Hamilton’s 80 Acres Farms showcases vertical farming at United Nations forum
25 Jul 2026
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Eric Schwartzberg - Staff Writer, Jul 25, 2026
Hamilton’s 80 Acres Farms took its vertical farming message to United Nations headquarters this month, presenting how technology can reshape food systems at a global forum on sustainable development. The company presented at High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development side event, “Humanity at the Center,” on July 10 about how vertical farming can advance sustainable food production.
80 Acres Farms Head of Operations Noah Zelkind detailed how vertical farming has moved from concept to large-scale reality, starting out by noting the achievements and shortcomings of modern food systems. Zelkind said that public health challenges have shifted, with hunger declining but nutrition problems remaining widespread. He said that technology must play a bigger role in driving progress toward healthier outcomes.
To test vertical farming’s potential, 80 Acres Farms planted identical seeds in outdoor farms, greenhouses and vertical farms, Zelkind said. A subsequent nutritional analysis by the University of Auburn showed the vertical farm produce was not only similar, but “actually healthier,” he said. “There was actually higher nutritional content in the vertical farm produce, and that was when we realized that we didn’t just have an opportunity to do something, but really had a responsibility to try and help create this technology so that it can be delivered all around the world,” Zelkind said.
He said the company began with proof-of-concept trials, scaling rapidly through multiple small farms to refine its systems. After trial and error, it developed efficient, sustainable methods and built in Ohio what Zelkind described as “the world’s first profitable vertical farm at scale.”
From there, the Hamilton-based company expanded nationwide, producing millions of pounds of food annually, he said.
Photo Credits: Contributed
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