Mayor of the City of Newberry, Tim Marden, says money awarded by Governor Ron DeSantis is going to help support the AgTech industry and their AgFoodTech Innovation Park. Marden says the AgTech industry in Newberry started about 10 years ago, and this grant will help tie the past into the future when it comes to transforming agriculture.
The $5.6 million grant, which comes from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, will help support roadway and water infrastructure improvements at the innovation park. This follows the recent announcement of greenhouse manufacturer "Harvest Singularity's" investment into the innovation park, planting the first of two hydroponic greenhouses next year.
The greenhouses are operated by robotics and AI. They're expected to open in 2027.
"I think we all kind of recognized that we have a growing population and a shrinking amount of acreage that's available to grow food," Marden shared. "So this really is maximizing and taking advantage of the technology that frankly is coming out of the University of Florida."
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