Verticle growing system

I found this quite fascinating.

March 13, 2008
Valcent's Releases Profitable Initial Production Estimates For its Vertical Vegetable Growing Systems
El Paso, TX; March 13 - Valcent Products Inc. (OTCBB: VCTPF) -- Data from its fully operational field test plant has confirmed commercial production potential with several companies expressing interest to build out commercial plants on a joint venture basis. A commercial module of one-eighth acre (5,445 square feet) is estimated to have capital costs of $565,000; using a wholesale price for leafy lettuce of $1.10 per head, may have gross annual revenues in excess of $1,300,000 with earnings before tax of approximately $505,000 supporting management's estimated 89% internal rate of return over 10 years.

Valcent's High Density Vertical Vegetable Growing System (VGS) has now been operating over the last six months and has produced leafy lettuce, micro greens, spinach, herbs, mints, beets, strawberries, wheat grass, alfalfa and other grains. During this period, the system has proven production capabilities on average, of approximately 20 times the amount of vegetables per acre grown in a field while requiring only 5% of the water used for field crops. The VGS system will be sold in one-eighth acre modules that contain 1,320 grow panels and the production modules may be scaled, depending on the growers' output and crop diversity requirements.

VGS will be a continuous production system. Plants can be simultaneously harvested and planted with no interruption to the process. Recent development of the vertical panels and packaging will make it possible to deliver live produce to the consumer, ensuring the highest quality of nutrition and taste. For example lettuce that is picked in a field loses 50% of its nutritional value within 24 hours, yet delivery from a distant field may take a week to reach the consumer, with even a larger nutritional loss.

The system is fully automated by computer monitoring and operating systems which control the rate of movement of the vertical growing panels, water pumps, sterilization, and the deployment of nutrients, the ambient temperature, and ph levels. The system also uses no herbicides or pesticides. The VGS system does not require arable land and can be sited in urban, suburban or even desert areas, thus providing fresh, highly nutritious vegetables to large markets with virtually no transportation costs eliminating transportation fuel expense and related pollution.

Glen Kertz, Valcent's President and CEO commented, "The world today requires high density, renewable, highly nutritional crop technologies that do not require high volumes of water that can be deployed on non-arable land for localized consumption at a reasonable cost to the consumer, as well as reduce the negative impact of transportation in food production and distribution."

Valcent owns 100% of the High Density Vertical Growth System subject to royalties of 4.5%.

Algae Vertical Bioreactor

The research and development team of Valcent Products Inc. has now completed twelve months of the algae vertical bioreactor development program. During a 90-day continual production test, algae was being harvested at an average of one gram (dry weight) per liter. This equates to algae bio mass production of 276 tons of algae per acre per year. Achieving the same biomass production rate with an algal species having 50% lipids (oil) content would therefore deliver approximately 33,000 gallons of algae oil per acre per year.

The primary focus of the 90-day continuous production test was determining the robustness of the field test bed. Other secondary tests were also conducted including using different ph levels, C02 levels, fluid temperatures, nutrients, types of algae, and planned system failures. It is important to note that the system has not been optimized for production yields or the best selection of algae species.

The next phase of development will include increasing the number of bio reactor units from 30 to 100 and then continuing a number of production tests that may further increase production as well as initiating various extractions and harvesting tests. Final engineering is being completed at this time with construction of the 100 panel Bioreactor to begin soon. Subsequently, a one acre pilot plant will also be built.

The algae vertical bioreactor technology is being developed jointly with Global Green Solutions Inc whereby both Companies own a 50% interest which is subject to a 4.5% royalty.

Both the High Density Vertical Vegetable growing technology and the Algae Vertical Bioreactor technology have been featured in news stories on MSNBC, CNN, FOX News, and ABC news as well as numerous print and internet articles.

About Valcent Products, Inc:

Valcent Products Inc. (OTCBB: VCTPF) develops highly innovative consumer and industrial products and processes for global markets. Valcent is a pioneer and leader in ecotechnology with its core R&D focus on sustainable, renewable, and intense growth of agricultural products. Valcent also owns 50% of the Vertigro Joint Venture, which has developed algae production technology initially intended for an oil bio fuel feed stock All Valcent products and processes have patents or patents pending on integral technologies. For more information, visit: www.valcent.net.

Contacts: info@valcent.net
Valcent Products Inc.

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Fantastic, thanks again, MID!