Cullinan-based South African startup Kalliergo Farming has unveiled a new generation of its GeoTowers, alongside a modular Hydra Tower system, marking a significant step forward in the company's mission to deliver affordable and scalable vertical farming solutions. The developments come as Kalliergo Farming was recognized with the MEA Markets African Excellence Award 2025 for Most Sustainable Agriculture Solution in South Africa.
Recognition and impact
"The recognition from MEA Markets shows that the work I'm putting in and the lives I've touched have not been in vain," says Anthoney Lacy, Founder and CEO of Kalliergo Farming. "As a company, it shows that we are recognized internationally for our work and impacting people's lives."
Lacy recently showcased the GeoTowers, greenhouses, and other products at KragDag, a large local event in his hometown that attracted around 30,000 visitors. "One of the things that I appreciated most was past clients coming to greet me and sharing how happy they are with the GeoTowers and what they have been able to grow." 
Anthoney Lacy, Founder and CEO of Kalliergo Farming
From prototype to Next Gen
Since the first systems were developed in 2021, Kalliergo has redesigned the GeoTowers to improve consistency and material quality. "In 2021 and 2022, we made the towers from a special class of water pipe, but we struggled with consistency. I wanted a product that could be produced reliably and with higher material quality. Since July 2023, we've had the first Next Gen GeoTowers, crafted from UV-stabilized LLDPE, a food-safe material that ensures no harmful BPA enters the water or growing medium," Lacy explains.
These improvements have enabled a broader range of crops to be cultivated. "We've been able to grow beautiful tomatoes, green peppers, yard-long beans, and bush beans, to name a few, pushing the boundaries of what vertical farming can be done with the GeoTowers."
Farmer response
The systems are already being used in South Africa and neighboring countries. Celia Hayward, Production Executive and Co-owner of Hayward's Grand Safari Company, operates Next Gen GeoTowers at two sites:
"The Next Gen GeoTowers have made a huge difference, as we are farming among wildlife in both locations with fertile land, but also power and water restrictions. By installing the towers, we have reduced the space required, quadrupled the amount of plants we can grow, halved the growing time, and extended the growing season. The best part is that I can water the tunnels remotely as long as there is a Wi-Fi connection. It has been the best investment, and we are only getting started."
Oliver Swart, Owner of Truleaf Nelspruit Lowveld, also shared his experience:
"I found the GeoTowers extremely eco-friendly and easy to work with. I started in January, and since then, I've learned a lot with the help of the Kalliergo team. Fresh produce, weekly for my customers, and the quality is on another level. The feedback I receive from my customers is only positive. Thank you for the awesome assistance from the team from day one."
© Kalliergo Farming
Hayward's Grand Safari Company's Next Gen GeoTowers (left), and Truleaf Nelspruit Lowveld's leafy greens grown in Kalliergo's systems.
Water efficiency and monitoring
Using coco coir with controlled slow-release fertilizer, Lacy has integrated soil moisture probes and Wi-Fi controllers to monitor water use. "We've been able to reduce our water usage to as low as 10 liters per day on the 66-hole GeoTowers, resulting in less than 151 milliliters per hole per day, depending on the time of year."
Introducing the Hydra Tower
Building on the success of the GeoTower, Kalliergo is now developing the Hydra Tower, a modular aeroponic system designed for greater scalability. "The Hydra uses the same outer shell as the GeoTower, but instead of coco coir as a growing medium, we added a 100-liter bottom water reservoir and stacked the GeoTower shells. This enables clients to recirculate fertilized water, making it an aeroponic tower. Clients can also add misters for a fogponics setup," says Lacy.
Unlike most standalone systems that require a pump per reservoir that sits inside the tower itself, the Hydra system can run multiple towers on one pump. "This reduces power usage and maintenance, as the pump sits outside and can be easily swapped out. It also makes the system suitable for solar setups, with dedicated pumps running rows of towers."
Lacy sees strong interest from commercial growers. "Most of the interest has come from larger growers or clients wanting to start with small commercial setups. The Hydra can be stacked much higher than GeoTowers, offering 99 to 132 plants per square meter."
© Kalliergo Farming
Anthoney Lacy with the Next Gen GeoTower (left). Rows of leafy greens grown in Next Gen GeoTowers inside a tunnel greenhouse (right).
© Kalliergo Farming
Side-by-side comparisons of the Next Gen GeoTower (grey) and the earlier version (red).
Affordability and scalability
"The GeoTowers are one of the most affordable vertical growing structures per plant area in South Africa," Lacy says. "The towers can be moved and rotated, and clients can start with just a few and scale from there without a massive upfront investment."
Kalliergo is also developing affordable caterpillar greenhouses that can be shipped and assembled at low cost while maintaining quality. "Given the current economic climate, I wanted something clients can build themselves and still keep the price affordable."
The company is expanding its footprint beyond South Africa, with systems already in Zimbabwe and plans for Botswana and Namibia. "We aim to bring these solutions to more farmers across Southern Africa."
For more information:
Kalliergo Farming 
Anthoney Lacy, Founder
[email protected]
www.kalliergofarming.com