March 7, 2025

S11E157 Mat Halter/TerraFerm - Transforming Beer Waste into Vertical Farm Gold

Show Notes
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Ever wondered how beer brewing could revolutionize vertical farming? Mat Halter, founder of TerraFerm, is turning brewery waste into a game-changing resource for indoor agriculture.

Mat Halter, a plant scientist turned entrepreneur, shares his journey from researching biofuels to developing an innovative system that captures CO2 from brewery fermentation for use in vertical farms. His patented technology promises to significantly boost crop yields while reducing carbon footprints.

In this episode, Mat discusses the challenges of bringing a new idea to market, from conducting initial experiments to seeking partnerships with breweries. He reveals how his spinach trials resulted in an astounding 89% increase in yield, far surpassing typical carbon dioxide enrichment results.

We also explore the intersection of craft beer culture and sustainable agriculture, Mat's approach to team building as a first-time founder, and the potential for this technology to transform both the brewing and farming industries.

If you're curious about innovative solutions in sustainable agriculture or the unexpected synergies between different industries, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to discover how Mat Halter is brewing up a greener future for vertical farming.

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Key Takeaways

5:37 Early career in plant science and biofuels

10:43 Initial idea for carbon dioxide enrichment

15:36 Patent process and prototype development

21:40 Current status and plans for pilot project

27:51 Challenges as a first-time founder

32:32 Building a team and seeking mentorship

36:07 Potential brewery partnerships and marketing

38:38 Where to learn more about TerraFerm

Tweetable Quotes

"The advantage we have is, in theory, a never-ending supply. So we can use carbon dioxide enrichment at whatever set point we want - high, low, medium, whatever. We can take it as high as metabolically the plants will allow."

"What am I missing? Again, I am a first-time founder. This is the first business I've started. What don't I know? I don't know what I don't know. It's a constant battle to learn more about strategies for starting a business, for seeking funding."

"San Diego is a great place to be for beer. There's a lot of small to medium range breweries out here. Very high density. I'm hoping to make contact with a couple of them and eventually find one that sees the vision I have for this and wants to come along."