Dr. Lyndal Hugo & Amanda Cornelissen co-founders of Orlar, are on a mission to bring clean, fresh, and nutritious food to Vietnamese families and is transforming farming in Southeast Asia with its groundbreaking approach to organic vertical farming.
Image: Amanda Cornelissen and Lyndal Hugo (the two in the middle) and the team at their high-technology farm in Lac Duong District, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. Photo: Orlar
Orlar is a women-led vertical farming company located in Vietnam, renowned for its innovative approach to agriculture. Utilizing its unique tower systems, known as “pods,” Orlar can produce up to 20 tons of high-quality vegetables per hectare each month. In their 1.1-hectare greenhouse, the company maintains around 14,000 towers that cultivate a variety of crops, including lettuce, bok choi, edible flowers, herbs, tomatoes, kale, and strawberries. Their produce is distributed to over 280 hotels and restaurants across Vietnam, along with more than 90 supermarkets, grocery stores, and distributors.
ORLAR Edible Flowers Farming
A New Take on Vertical Farming
Unlike traditional indoor farms, Orlar’s innovative system uses a specially treated rock, known as Orlarock, to replace soil in its vertical farming structures, or ‘pods.’ This unique medium not only retains water efficiently but also fosters beneficial microbes that enhance plant growth. With its ability to capture essential nutrients, resist disease, and withstand vertical stacking, Orlarock is at the core of Orlar’s success in producing high-quality vegetables.
‘We are setting a better standard of production with zero chemical residues and net zero greenhouse gas emissions that we hope will encourage other producers to make better decisions,” says Jacquie O’Hara, CEO of Orlar.
Jacquie O’Hara, CEO of Orlar.
Overcoming Challenges to Build a Dream
Dr. Hugo’s journey to founding Orlar was anything but easy. With a PhD in environmental chemistry from Sydney University and extensive experience in agroscience, she discovered Orlarock while working in environmental accounting for major mining and agricultural firms in Australia and China. Recognizing its potential, she and her wife, Amanda Cornelissen, a skilled horticulturist, relocated to Vietnam in 2017 to turn their vision into reality.
“We sold our house, invested all our savings, and put together a team of locals and international experts to build our first pilot farm in Ho Chi Minh City,” Hugo recalls. “We had no idea the journey we were about to embark on. There were times when we had nothing but $600 in the bank – just enough for two one-way tickets home.”
Despite the hurdles—including the COVID-19 lockdown in 2021—Orlar persevered, securing significant grants, such as a €350,000 ($369,000) award from the Dutch Fund for Climate Development.
Farming for the Future
Today, Orlar’s farms produce up to 20 tons of vegetables per hectare each month. With over 20,000 vertical towers, each growing 20 plants, the company maximizes efficiency while minimizing resource consumption.
Their drip irrigation system uses just 30 liters of water per kilogram of produce—compared to the 2,500 liters required for Mekong rice—while generating four times the revenue per kilogram. Orlar’s approach eliminates the need for disposable growing media and synthetic chemicals, using only 0.05 percent of the energy consumed by other vertical farms.
With 26 crops already in production, including leafy greens and herbs, Orlar is expanding its portfolio to include eggplants, cucumbers, peppers, and melons. The company supplies fresh, contaminant-free produce to over 280 hotels and restaurants, as well as 90+ supermarkets and distributors across Vietnam.
Expanding Beyond Vietnam
For Dr. Hugo, the ultimate goal is to make organic, residue-free food accessible to everyone. Orlar is already forging licensing agreements in Thailand, the Netherlands, Australia, the U.S., and Cambodia, among other markets.
“We’re building the world’s most profitable, ethical, and sustainable food supply chain,” she states. “Growing premium temperate vegetables in the lowlands of Southeast Asia is ambitious—but we’ve tackled bigger challenges before.”
With its pioneering technology and unwavering commitment to sustainability, Orlar is redefining agriculture, ensuring a cleaner, healthier future for Vietnam and beyond.
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