It's not just cool tech — the vertical farm can help with food security in drought-struck areas.

Apollo Farm, located in Phoenix, Arizona, is the world's first robotic vertical farm, designed to operate like a Rubik's Cube. Developed by AutoStore and agricultural tech startup 1.1, the farm uses modular robotics and hydroponic systems to grow crops indoors, significantly reducing water usage and the time required for crop growth. The farm supplies local Whole Foods stores with fresh grains and eliminates the need for pesticides by growing plants in a controlled environment.

The vertical farm's design allows for high-density crop production within existing distribution centers, shortening the supply chain and reducing carbon emissions. By recirculating water and optimizing growing conditions with robotic intelligence and LED lighting, Apollo Farm addresses challenges posed by climate change, such as drought and degraded farmland, and offers a resilient solution for food security in affected communities.

The world's first robotic vertical farm resembles a Rubik's Cube

Would you trust these robots to grow your salad? Well, if you live in Phoenix, Arizona, they may already. Operating like a Rubik's Cube, Apollo Farm is the world's first robotic vertical farm, and it's currently supplying Phoenix's Whole Foods stores with fresh grains. Developed by tech company AutoStore, an agricultural tech startup 1.1, the modular vertical farm uses robotic movements to grow crops indoors. Its creators claim that the technology helps reduce water use by 95% and cuts the time needed to grow crops in half compared to greenhouse-ran fields. With no need for soil, plants in Apollo Farm grow from seed to harvest in just 15 days thanks to precision-controlled hydroponics, LED lighting, and robotic intelligence, while outdoor, controlled environment eliminates pesticide use. Here's how it works. The farm itself is designed to move like a Rubik's Cube. Each different block has its own color. In the farm, these blocks are called bins, and they house different plants. Using modular technology and wheels, robots move these bins around to help plants adjust their position and ensure that each individual crop receives the exact climate conditions, nutrients, and light it needs to grow. And the nutrients? The vertically-raised plants don't need soil, as Apollo uses hydroponic growing systems. This means that the plants grow in the bins, within a closed-loop system where water is recirculated to reduce water consumption. On average, U.S. food travels around 1,500 miles before it reaches the table. From the farm, the food is usually shipped to distribution centers, which send it to supermarkets, where it's bought by consumers. One way to reduce the length of this journey is to cut the journey between the farms and the distribution centers. Apollo grows its produce in the highest possible density, which enables farms to be built inside existing distribution centers. We've shown you similar initiatives in the past, like this subterranean vertical farm located 33 meters underground in an abandoned subway station in London. To significantly decrease its carbon footprint, the farm only supplies food to local shops and restaurants located in the neighborhoods above it. Apart from emissions, Apollo's automated process also optimizes labor. Look at what happens during the harvest time, for example. Once the plants are ready to pick, the mobile robots deliver each bin to the so-called port, the farm's single entry and exit point. The agriculture industry is currently facing serious challenges, as the climate crisis increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and makes weather patterns more and more unreliable. The UN estimates that around 70% of our freshwater supply goes to agricultural farming, while 40% of the world's farmland is now degraded, which means that extreme weather events, such as prolonged droughts, have made it impossible for food to grow. So yes, vertical farming can help cut the agriculture industry's carbon emissions and reduce its excessive water use. But it can do so much more. Because they're quickly deployable and not reliant on outdoor climate conditions, vertical farms can also bolster the resilience of communities suffering climate-related disasters, like long periods of drought. Do you know a vertical farming project near you? Or do you live in an area that could benefit from one? Let us know in the comments. And if you want more coverage about technology's role in addressing the challenges posed by the climate crisis, visit Nashville.com.

Russia pummeled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia's Vladimir Putin, officials said.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia hits Kyiv with largest drone attack after Trump-Putin call

U.S. President Donald Trump marked the passage of the new spending bill, which includes changes to food assistance, student loan programs, and clean energy credits. Robert Costa joins "CBS Mornings" to break down what's in the legislation.

Washington

Trump set to sign "big, beautiful bill"

More than 80 Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Thursday (July 3), according to health officials, as Israel intensified its strikes, hitting a school-turned-displacement facility. CNN’s Paula Hancocks looks at the damage and humanitarian toll.

Jerusalem

More than 80 people killed in Gaza in one day

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv will do "anything" to advance EU accession talks. Zelenskyy spoke alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Ukraine will do 'anything' to advance EU accession talks: Zelenskyy

President Donald Trump said Washington will start sending letters to countries on Friday specifying what tariff rates they will face on imports to the United States, a clear shift from earlier pledges to strike scores of individual deals.

Global Tariffs

Trump: Letters telling countries their tariff rate going out Friday

Indonesian rescuers on Thursday (July 3) temporarily halted a search for 30 people still missing after a ferry carrying 65 people sank near the island of Bali with the loss of six lives, the national search and rescue agency said.

Gilimanuk

Indonesia suspends search for 30 missing after ferry sinks near Bali

After marathon debate sessions in the Senate and House, President Donald Trump’s budget bill passed in the House. Republicans secured the biggest win of Trump’s presidency.

Trump’s landmark ‘big, beautiful bill’ narrowly passes U.S. House

Florida says the first group of migrant detainees have arrived at the new immigration detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz." CBS News correspondent Shanelle Kaul has more.

Ochopee

First group of detainees arrive at "Alligator Alcatraz," Florida says

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday (July 3) that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that he plans to hold a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. CBS News White House reporter Willie James Inman has more.

Trump speaks with Putin, plans call with Zelenskyy

CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez reports on a lawsuit from lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia alleging he suffered “torture and mistreatment” after he was wrongfully deported and held in El Salvador’s notorious mega prison.

Tecoluca

Kilmar Abrego Garcia claims he was tortured in El Salvadoran prison

The Kremlin welcomed the development, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov claiming it proves Western arsenals are being depleted and predicting that less aid will hasten the end of the conflict.

U.S. pauses military aid to Ukraine over depleted weapons stockpile

Two contractors employed by UG Solutions spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity as they were revealing their employers’ internal operations.

U.S. contractors say live ammo used at Gaza aid distribution site

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke for hours on the House floor about potential impacts of President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" that Republicans are looking to pass before July 4. Following debate, the House is set for a final vote on the massive budget bill.

House debates Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' ahead of final vote

CBS News political contributor Caroline Polisi joins "CBS Mornings" to break down the jury's verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial and the judge's decision to deny bail for the music mogul ahead of his sentencing.

Manhattan

Sean "Diddy" Combs denied bail after split verdict

Liverpool soccer player Diogo Jota has died aged 28, just weeks after marrying his childhood sweetheart. The footballer passed away in a car crash in northern Spain.

Madrid

Liverpool soccer player dies in car crash 10 days after wedding

The Pentagon said that U.S. strikes 10 days ago had degraded Iran's nuclear program by up to two years, suggesting the U.S. military operation likely achieved its goals despite a far more cautious initial assessment that leaked to the public.

Tehran

Iran Strikes

Iran nuclear program degraded by up to two years: Pentagon

Days before his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama announced the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit he founded, will have the sole authority to recognize his future reincarnation, but China insists it will choose the successor of the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Lhasa

China rejects Dalai Lama’s succession plan

The U.S. Congress inched towards approving President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, despite attempts by Democrats to stop it. The bill is Trump’s signature legislation which includes massive spending increases on the military and immigration enforcement while slashing social programs.

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill nears approval

Sean (Diddy) Combs was found guilty on prostitution-related charges, but was acquitted on more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking giving him a maximum sentence of 20 years. But the courtroom victory was subdued following a judge’s ruling to deny him bail.

New York

Diddy denied bail, avoids life in prison

President Trump says Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, but it remains unclear if Hamas will accept the terms. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Debora Patta has more.

Trump says Israel has agreed to Gaza ceasefire conditions

Bryan Kohberger changed his plea to guilty Wednesday for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. CBS News national correspondent Carter Evans has more on the case.

Boise

New details revealed as Kohberger pleads guilty for 2022 Idaho murders

The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down a state abortion law that was adopted in 1849 in a 4-3 landmark decision. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul reports.

Madison

Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down 176-year-old state abortion ban

Macron and Putin held regular discussions around the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Macron visiting Putin in Russia in February 2022, but dialogue eventually stalled.

Paris

Macron held 'substantial' phone call with Putin

President Trump toured “Alligator Alcatraz,” a migrant detention center he teamed up with Ron DeSantis to build in the Everglades.

Everglades

Protesters gather around ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as President Trump visits

Jurors in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal criminal trial said they have reached a verdict on four of the five counts, but they cannot reach a verdict on Count 1, which is racketeering conspiracy. The judge has instructed the jury to keep deliberating. Deliberations will resume Wednesday (July 2).

Jury reaches partial verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs case

The U.S. Senate passed the Republicans' reconciliation bill on Tuesday (July 1) after more than 24 hours of marathon voting on amendments. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.

U.S. Senate passes Trump's "big, beautiful bill"

The new order does not rescind existing sanctions on ousted longtime President Bashar al-Assad, his top aides, officials and family members who are accused of having committed war crimes and human rights violations against Syrian civilians.

Trump signs executive order lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria

Former criminology graduate student Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to killing four Idaho college students in 2022, a move that would spare him the death penalty under a deal with prosecutors, ABC News reported on Monday (June 30).

Moscow

Suspect in murders of four Idaho college students to plead guilty

Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty pending a case seeking her dismissal, adding to mounting pressure on a government fighting for survival on multiple fronts.

Bangkok

Thai court suspends PM from duty pending case seeking her dismissal

Israeli strikes killed at least 60 people across Gaza on June 30 in some of the heaviest attacks in weeks as Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by U.S. President Donald Trump.