LettUs Grow, the Bristol-based vertical and indoor farming pioneer, has spun out part of the business in a move that creates a standalone innovator in the sustainable agri-tech sector.
Ostara was created by LettUs Grow, which develops vertical farms to address global food security and sustainability concerns, to boost yields and reduce costs for indoor growers. 
Its software reliably controls and monitors all aspects of a crop’s life in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) farms, including lighting, irrigation, fertigation and environmental controls.
Since 2015 Ostara’s technology has been in used in more than 30 CEA projects across the UK.
The spin out, which has been backed by Bethnal Green Ventures – a leading venture capital fund for tech-driven start-ups with a focus on creating positive impact – recognises the challenges faced by the established, lower-tech polytunnel sector in managing environmental conditions effectively.
Ostara will now seek to deploy its hi-tech platform into covered horticulture, addressing a critical need for improved climate management in polytunnels to protect crops from extreme conditions.
World Wide Fund for Nature research in 2022 showed that on-farm waste accounts for £1.8bn in lost revenue to farmers in the UK alone – the equivalent of 6.9bn meals.
Ostara’s software platform automates manual tasks for growers and provides actionable insights to optimise growing operations. It can be integrated into existing systems or incorporated into new installations, offering a unified approach to environmental controls, hardware management and data analysis.
Ostara co-founder and CEO Dan Peel said the spin out marked an important milestone in the firm’s journey to transform the agricultural industry through technology.
“With the support of LettUs Grow and Bethnal Green Ventures, we are well-positioned to accelerate our growth and deliver impactful solutions to growers worldwide,” he added.
The move means LettUs Grow can now focus on its core expertise in aeroponics – growing plants without soil.
LettUs Grow CEO and co-founder Charlie Guy said: “This is an exciting moment for everyone involved. The fantastic team that we have built here in Bristol is now embarking on a new chapter as two distinct companies.
“This strategic move will empower Ostara to thrive as an independent entity and maximise the impact of both unique technologies within our food system.
“We felt it was the right time for the two businesses to operate independently. This ensures that the LettUs Grow team can concentrate on our exclusive global partnership programme to scale the benefits of aeroponics worldwide.”
LettUs Grow’s partnership programme enables supply-chain and delivery partners within the greenhouse and CEA industry to license its state-of-the-art Aeroponic Rolling Bench technology.
Through this programme, LettUs Grow empowers partners to effortlessly incorporate the advantages of advanced aeroponics into their existing product portfolio, streamlining customer deployments and maximising benefits for their clients.
Financial details of Bethnal Green Ventures’ support for Ostara has not been disclosed.
