Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin announced the creation of Clock Tower Farms with Rockwell Automation, Inc.
Clock Tower Farms will combine hydroponic farming technology from Fork Farms and automation technology from Rockwell to grow and provide fresh, nutritious food that will help address hunger in the community. Clock Tower Farms is a first-of-its-kind facility, located in Rockwell’s Milwaukee headquarters. It is currently under construction and will be fully operational later this year.
“Reliable access to fresh, nutritious food is critical to health and well-being,” said Patti Dew, interim president and CEO of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. “Clock Tower Farms strengthens our ability to deliver high-quality produce efficiently to pantry partners across our network, expanding access to foods that support long-term health for neighbors throughout Eastern Wisconsin.”
Clock Tower Farms will house 72 Fork Farms Flex Acre hydroponic systems that use nutrient-infused, recirculated water to nourish plant roots and optimize growth. Rockwell’s Plant PAx system will monitor and automatically adjust nutrient, pH, and water levels based on the crops being grown.
New technology developed by Fork Farms enables localized power, dehumidification, and water and nutrient management for growing in a controlled environment. The modular design lowers costs, simplifies installation, and maximizes crop yields.
Clock Tower Farms is designed to:
- Grow 200,000 pounds of leafy greens and other produce for harvest each year
- Save 5.9 million gallons of water compared to traditional farming
- Conserve 5.5 acres of conventional crop land
