Listny Cud Closes Operations After 4.5 Years
Listny Cud Closes Operations After 4.5 Years—Poland’s First Vertical Farm Bids Farewell Amid Sector-Wide Challenges
Despite early success and strong community support, vertical farming pioneer ends operations due to rising costs and stagnant funding landscape
After 4.5 years of pioneering sustainable food production in Poland, Listny Cud, the country’s first vertical farm, has officially ceased operations. The startup, known for introducing microgreens to the Polish market and for building the first local vertical farming infrastructure, announced that it has vacated its Warsaw-based urban farm and is finalizing the shutdown of its production and distribution systems. The decision marks the end of an ambitious effort to redefine food sourcing in urban environments, with a focus on sustainability, zero-waste packaging, and consumer well-being. While the company successfully built a loyal customer base—including private consumers, leading HoReCa brands, chefs, and national retail partners—the economic headwinds proved too strong.
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“Despite our innovations and the trust placed in us by customers and investors, we were unable to reach a scale that would ensure profitability,” the company stated in its closing announcement. Rising energy and rental costs, along with limited access to follow-on investment, contributed to the decision. As a startup, Listny Cud found itself particularly vulnerable in a year when many green and foodtech funding programs in Poland remained frozen, and broader investment interest in sustainability stalled.
A Farewell from a Sector Pioneer
Founded with a mission to bring fresh, pesticide-free greens to urban tables, Listny Cud:
Built Poland’s first vertical farm and Warsaw’s first automatic self-service racks for potted produce
Introduced microleaves in plastic-free packaging to the Polish market
Developed “Narnia” micro-farms for schools and offices
Produced over 115,000 pots of microgreens
Saved over 600,000 liters of water and eliminated more than 100,000 single-use plastic bags
Its impact was not only measurable in sales and sustainability metrics, but also in the hearts of customers, some of whom sent poems, photos, and even stories of their pets—like iguanas—eating Listny Cud microgreens. The company’s vertical farm became a model for local food production innovation, earning praise from both individual consumers and professional chefs. It served clients across Poland’s HoReCa industry, with several collaborations lasting over four years.
Broader Turbulence in Vertical Farming
The closure of Listny Cud reflects a broader reality facing vertical farms across Europe and the U.S. After a wave of enthusiasm and large-scale investments, the vertical farming sector is now undergoing a painful correction phase, with several high-profile failures and pivots globally. The capital-intensive nature of the model—combined with high energy dependency and slow returns—has raised questions about the long-term economics of urban farming. Whether this is the “curse of the pioneers” or a necessary shakeout before a second wave of success—similar to early solar energy adoption—remains to be seen. But for now, Listny Cud’s closure adds to the growing list of European sustainability startups that have faced premature exits.
A Message for the Future of Food
Despite the closure, Listny Cud’s founders issued a poignant reflection on the food system at large, urging regulators, consumers, and corporations to prioritize health, quality, and ecological impact over profit margins.
They emphasized that the food sector is in desperate need of reform—where flavor, safety, and environmental care outweigh shareholder return. “I hope that, despite our end, we contributed—however modestly—to building a better food system and greater awareness,” read the statement. For now, the company’s equipment has been stored in a container outside Warsaw. The farm is silent—but its legacy may help shape Poland’s future food policy and inspire the next generation of urban agrifood entrepreneurs.
