Missouri River Energy Services donates food pod to IGNITE Pathways

Farm-in-a-box means fresh local greens year-round

Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) recently donated a high-tech "farm-in-a-box" to IGNITE Pathways of Woodbine, Iowa, that will allow area students to learn about indoor agriculture this fall. The project is in cooperation with Woodbine Municipal Light and Power, a member of MRES.

Called The Greenery, the food pod is housed in an 8-foot-by-40-foot shipping container designed and built by Freight Farms of Boston, Massachusetts. Plants in the container grow vertically on walls, without soil, getting their nutrition from water and light energy from powerful LEDs. The controlled system makes it possible to produce high yields of quality, flavorful and nutritious food year-round, anywhere in the world.

MRES purchased the container in early 2020 as part of a collaborative research project with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. Romaine lettuce was produced in the container as part of the research and then donated to several non-profit agencies in Brookings. When the research concluded, MRES sought another use for the farm.

Jim Reisz, Electric and Water Superintendent for Woodbine Municipal Light and Power, has been instrumental in leading this initiative for Woodbine and IGNITE Pathways.

“The timing of this project has been incredible from the availability of the Greenery to the launching of several IGNITE Pathways programs. We are excited to see this project take off in the Woodbine community,” Reisz said.

“Local indoor agriculture can help make fresh, nutritious produce affordable and available year-round in colder climates like ours,” said Joni Livingston, MRES vice president of member services and communications. “Indoor food production also requires significantly less water and chemicals than traditional agriculture.”

“As an agency serving public power utilities like Woodbine Municipal Light and Power, we are excited to be a part of an emerging market that has so many potential benefits for local communities and for society as a whole,” Livingston said.

IGNITE Pathways Regional Center (IPRC) is a career and technical education center that serves about 200 students in grades 7-12 from around Southwest Iowa. IPRC first opened its doors to students in 2021 and will be moving into a 45,000 sq. ft. facility in August 2023. The program strives to provide opportunities for students to explore potential career paths, earn industry certifications, and receive core (English, math, social studies, and science credits) graduation requirements through CTE classes.

Justin Mills, IGNITE Agriculture Instructor, shared thoughts on the project, “I am excited about the opportunities to involve the entire community in a sustainable approach to growing produce. I also look forward to incorporating the food farm into my classes and feel it is a great learning tool that can be utilized by so many.”

For more information about the project, please contact Vice President of Member Services and Communications Joni Livingston at info@mrenergy.com or 605-338-4042.