Conservation & Ethics
Growing for a Better Future — for Plants and People
At Gravity Farms, we believe that the future of farming must be both ethical and resilient. The world is changing—fast. Climate instability, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable agricultural practices are threatening the way we grow food and the ecosystems we depend on.
We're building tools and systems to help change that.
Why We Grow Indoors
As weather patterns shift and arable land shrinks, indoor agriculture isn't just an innovation—it's a necessity. Controlled-environment growing allows us to produce food and plants with less water, no pesticides, and year-round consistency, regardless of climate or geography.
But growing indoors also gives us an opportunity to do things better from the start:
Propagate without poaching
Scale rare and endangered plants responsibly
Reduce waste and overharvest
Keep production local and transparent
We're not just trying to grow more—we're trying to grow better.
Lab-Grown, Not Poached
Some of the most beautiful plants in homes and collections around the world have been illegally removed from their natural habitats. Entire ecosystems have been disrupted for the sake of a single plant cutting.
Take Philodendron spiritus sancti, for example. Once abundant in its native forests, there are now only six known wild specimens left. In 2020, it was selling for over $10,000 to collectors.
By propagating rare species through tissue culture in our lab, we aim to make them accessible without taking them from the wild.
Saving What's Familiar, Too
We're also working with species that are part of our daily lives—like bananas.
A soil-borne disease called Panama Disease is devastating global banana crops. It's already eliminated farms across Asia and is spreading throughout Latin America.
At Gravity Farms, we're culturing Musa banana plants, both for their value as ornamentals and for the research potential to help safeguard future food supply. This is just the beginning, but we believe this type of work—connecting conservation, technology, and growing—can make a real difference.
Local Collaboration
We're proudly based in Chicago and are beginning to build partnerships with local growers, educators, and conservation-minded organizations. We believe sustainable farming should be community-rooted.
We're still in the early stages, but our commitment is long-term:
- •To share what we learn.
- •To grow responsibly.
- •And to help build a future where every plant—whether rare, edible, or endangered—can thrive without putting the planet at risk.
Interested in Working Together?
Are you part of a conservation effort, school, or organization aligned with our mission?
We'd love to hear from you. Reach out to: