Beyond Asheville, North Carolina's historical landmarks, cultural arts, and breathtaking natural beauty is Brandstracts, LLC, a company that conceived and launched Helios Hand Sanitizer in just ten days in response to Covid-19. Alexander "Axie" Quarrier Blundon, CEO and Co-Founder, has always been an activist. With growing concerns over limited access to hand sanitizer that was once plentiful, he decided to do something about it.
The ultimate goal for controlled environments? Higher, faster, more easily repeatable yields. One 25,000-square meter Japanese indoor farm produces 10,000 heads of lettuce per day, which is an impressive 100 times more per square foot than traditional, outdoor farming methods. This yield is accomplished with 40 percent less energy, 80 percent less food waste, and a mind-blowing 99 percent less water than traditional, outdoor agriculture. According to USDA data, the average yield for conventionally grown tomatoes in 2016 was 1.85 pounds per square foot, while greenhouse tomato growers saw yields of 10.59 pounds per square foot.