Urban Farmers Pro – Conexión Colombia

Investing in Impact

P4G has awarded the partnership about US $329,000 in grant funding.

The Urban Farmers Pro – Conexión Colombia partnership aims to promote sustainable agriculture in Colombia by addressing key environmental and food security challenges. Traditional farming consumes 70% of global freshwater, with Colombia’s agricultural sector responsible for 88% of national water use. Inefficient practices contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation and deforestation, while extreme weather events threaten food security. 

Despite the availability of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technologies, its adoption remains limited due to high costs and lack of local adaptation. Urban Farmers Pro fills this gap with modular vertical farming solutions that reduce water and land use by up to 95%, eliminate pesticides, and maximize land efficiency by 220 times, providing a scalable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional farming with all year-round productivity.

Urban Farmers Pro has pioneered the VIOS FARM, a fully automated vertical farming system housed in repurposed shipping containers. Capable of producing over 16,000 plants monthly in just 12 square meters, this innovation replicates the output of traditional farms while significantly reducing environmental impact. The startup’s proprietary algorithms and nutrient formulas ensure optimal growing conditions, setting a new standard for climate-smart agriculture. Urban Farmers Pro has gained strong market traction, serving leading supermarkets, restaurants, and hotels, including Colsubsidio and Jumbo Cencosud.  Urban Farmers Pro’s Growing-as-a-Service model provides institutions with an operational lease for an on-site VIOS FARM, covering supplies, full operation and maintenance for a monthly fee.

During the P4G funding period, the partnership will focus on expanding climate-smart urban farming. It will enhance digital tools for optimizing crop yields and supply chains, advocate for regulatory frameworks to certify organic products from controlled environments and integrate urban agriculture into city planning. Additionally, it will launch a "Training of Trainers" program to educate farmers and community leaders on sustainable agriculture and nutrition, and strengthen its market positioning in the hospitality sector, supermarkets, and institutional clients by promoting sustainable food production. Finally, it will accelerate the adoption of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in climate-affected cities, promoting systemic change in food production. 

The partnership aims to scale vertical farming operations to produce 180 tons of pesticide-free produce annually, generating $1.5 million in revenue by year 3. It also seeks to raise $1.5 million in seed funding for Urban Farmers Pro.

The partnership comprises the following partners: Urban Farmers Pro (lead business partner); Conexión Colombia (lead administrative partner).