Empire State Greenhouses, Global Green plan carbon-negative food facility

Empire State Greenhouses and Global Green are teaming up to build the first site in ESG’s planned national network of circular crop factories. The project aims to pair indoor food production with renewable energy and waste recovery to cut emissions, lower costs and improve food security. Why it matters: - Empire State Greenhouses is pitching a model that links food production, energy recovery and waste handling in one system. - The approach is designed to cut operating costs, reduce transportation emissions and support year-round local food production. - The companies say the model could help with food security, decarbonization, water conservation and economic development in underserved and rural communities. What happened: - Empire State Greenhouses announced a strategic alliance with Global Green, the American affiliate of Green Cross International. - The partnership will support development of ESG’s inaugural facility in a planned national network of carbon-negative crop factories. - The announcement was made June 18, 2026, in New York. The details: - ESG’s circular Food-Energy-Waste platform combines greenhouse production, renewable energy, waste recovery, cold-chain logistics and local distribution. - The company says the system is intended to reduce one of agriculture’s largest operating costs: energy. - ESG’s facilities are designed to produce fresh organic food closer to consumers. - The facilities are also expected to divert waste, generate renewable energy and create year-round employment opportunities. - Louis Ferro, president and chairman of Empire State Greenhouses, said the integration of food, energy and waste creates a carbon-negative footprint and improves the economics of fresh local food. - William Bridge, CEO of Global Green, said the partnership is meant to show how circular infrastructure can reduce emissions, strengthen food security, create jobs and build more resilient local economies. - ESG says the model is designed as a replicable national platform. Between the lines: - The alliance gives ESG an environmental partner with broader climate and community credentials. - The project also reflects a wider shift in controlled environment agriculture toward infrastructure that tries to solve energy and waste costs, not just grow crops indoors. - ESG is positioning the facility as both a food system and a climate infrastructure play. What’s next: - ESG and Global Green will move ahead with development of the first facility in the network. - ESG says the site is meant to demonstrate a scalable model for resilient domestic food production. - The company expects circular agricultural ecosystems to play a larger role in climate resilience and food security as demand for sustainable infrastructure grows. - More information is available on Empire State Greenhouses’ Facebook page .