JR Automation, a subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., has made a strategic investment valued at over $4m in Forever Feed Technologies (FFT). The investment will be used to deploy multiple indoor animal feed growing systems in drought prone regions, significantly reducing on-farm water use, FFT reports.
Forever Feed Technologies (FFT) has announced that JR Automation (JRA), has made a strategic investment valued at over $4m to deploy eight indoor FFT Grow Systems™, with core components ordered in Q4/2025. Each FFT Grow System is expected to produce up to 50 tons of ForeverFeed™ sprouted grain per day using 95% less water than field grown alfalfa. FFT integrated its proprietary indoor growing protocols with JRA’s automation and digital technology expertise to design and build a patented, large-scale growing system capable of feeding more than 2,500 dairy or beef animals.
TO MEET LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY GOALS
Forever Feed Technologies contracted with JR Automation, one of the global leaders in advanced automation, to complete the first FFT Grow System™ in October 2024 at the FFT Innovation Center on the River Ranch Dairy in Hanford, California, US. This combined effort produced the world’s best commercial-scale indoor growing system for animal feed, according to the announcement. Multiple FFT Grow Systems will soon be deployed on large dairies and beef operations to give producers added security and resilience from any disruption to feed supplies or market conditions. The FFT Grow System will also help farmers meet the industry’s long-term sustainability goals.
“The FFT Grow System is cutting-edge AG technology,” commented Jack de Jong, CEO of Forever Feed and owner of River Ranch Farms. “We’ve been adding ForeverFeed sprouted grain to the diet of our study group of dairy cows for nearly a year and are seeing greater ‘feed-efficiency’, meaning they are eating less feed but still producing the same or even more milk. We believe our technology will give dairy and beef operators the ability to improve production, reduce water and climate challenges, and meet the growing demand for sustainably produced high-quality animal feed.”
“This investment reflects Hitachi’s deep commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable innovation,” noted Dave DeGraaf, CEO of JR Automation and General Manager of Hitachi’s Automation Division. “By partnering with Forever Feed Technologies, we’re helping preserve vital natural resources like water and land while advancing scalable solutions for the future of agriculture. I have full confidence in the Forever Feed leadership team and their ability to deliver meaningful impact through this groundbreaking technology.”
In many regions, one FFT Grow System replaces up to 700 acres of field grown feed, in addition to reducing transportation, fuel costs, and emissions, Forever Feed Technologies concludes.
