Impacts 2022 – Benoît VITOUX, Alumni 2011

When Benoit joined Infarm in 2017, the German start-up had 50 employees and the first store had just opened in Berlin. This new concept of scalable hydroponic farms consists of growing herbs and salads directly in supermarkets, restaurants and in the cities where Infarm production centers are located.

From lemon basil and spearmint to scarlet kale, the plants are grown in modules connected to a cloud platform that collects all the information necessary for their growth in real time. 'Our systems use 95% less water, 75% less fertilizer, no pesticides and no GMOs. We produce on only 2 m² as much as a traditional production of 115m², and of course we reduce the energy footprint related to transport since the plants grow directly at the point of sale'.

Benoît hold the position of Head of Design and managed the industrial design, UI UX design and strategy design teams. 'Like design, managing a team requires an approach based on empathy, especially since my colleagues come from very different backgrounds. Whether they are biology researchers, engineers or sales managers, my mission was to clearly communicate the processes and ensure that strong bonds are forged between them.'