Photo above: UF students engage in sensory training for Thompson-Witrick’s study, learning how to identify certain smells emanating from the shredded hops. (by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS) Although plenty of Florida’s craft brewers advertise their libations as brewed with state-grown ingredients, a vital ingredient – hops – is not readily available within the Sunshine State. A University of Florida study currently underway, however, may help pave the way for a robust crop of Florida-grown hops. Researchers with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) believe they have identified a method for making hop-growing viable despite Florida’s incompatible climate: greenhouses. “This…
Author: urbanagnews
GreenTech Amsterdam is pleased to announce that 6 from the 47 submissions have been nominated, in 2 categories – ‘Innovation’ and ‘Concept’ – for the GreenTech Innovation & Concept Awards 2024. According to the jury, the rapid adoption of data science and AI in the market is striking, resulting in a significant increase in the number of submissions and focus on reducing energy, water, and nutrient usage. The winner per category will be announced during the opening of the show on the first day. GreenTech Amsterdam will take place from 11 – 13 June at RAI Amsterdam. Egon Janssen (chairman jury)…
Prospective applicants can now apply for available positions at ClimateCorps.gov WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has selected 28 organizations to host members of USDA’s Working Lands Climate Corps (WLCC), an effort that will train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders, providing technical training and career pathway opportunities for young people and helping them deliver climate-smart agriculture solutions for farmers and ranchers. Selections were made in partnership with The Corps Network. WLCC is part of President Biden’s historic American Climate Corps initiative and harnesses funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. Last month, President Biden announced that Americans can now apply to…
Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds agricultural producers that Farm Loan Programs can be used to support a variety of climate-smart agriculture practices, which build on many practices that farmers and ranchers already use, like cover cropping, nutrient management and conservation tillage. “Farmers and ranchers are already doing their part to be stewards of our land, but some may lack the financial resources to take their efforts to the next level,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “USDA’s Farm Service Agency offers a variety of loans that can help those who would like to…
Village Farms Fresh is pleased to announce the company has been recognized as a ‘Giga Guru’ by its valued customer Walmart through their sustainability initiative ‘Project Gigaton’. There are currently over 6000 Walmart suppliers participating in Project Gigaton and Village Farms Fresh is in the top 18% of suppliers who have earned the status of Giga Guru. This milestone collectively with other suppliers’ actions reported is expected to reduce, avoid, or sequester over one gigaton of CO2 emissions which helped Walmart to reach their intended goal 6 years early. To make a comparison, according to Walmart this is equivalent to…
Free, downloadable report provides guidelines to improve the resource efficiency by reducing energy consumption and peak loads, as well as water consumption PORTLAND, Ore. — Resource Innovation Institute (RII), a not-for-profit, public-private partnership advancing climate resilience, announced today the availability of its Controls and Automation Best Practices Guide for Controlled Environment Agriculture Operations. It can be downloaded from RII’s resource catalog at this link. “The technologies serving Controlled Environment Agriculture have advanced at an exhilarating pace over the past decade,” said Rob Eddy, Resource Efficiency Horticulturist of RII and author of the completed guide. “One of the biggest challenges for growers and their facility design…
The upcoming edition of GreenTech Amsterdam shines the spotlight on emerging technologies for the future of horticulture. In the extensive knowledge programme, market leaders discuss, among other things, the journey towards achieving zero-footprint in greenhouses and explore futuristic technologies such as robotics and the delicate balance between solar panels and plant yields. The event will be held from 11 to 13 June at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. A selection of the 80 knowledge sessions: Vision Stage: Technology Stage: Medicinal Plants/ Vertical Farming Stage: Medicinal Plants: Vertical Farming: Registration policy visitorsGreenTech offers a 3-day entrance ticket for €95 excl. VAT per…
Event Brings Academia and Greenhouse, Vertical Farm, Urban Ag, Other CEA Business Sectors Together To SpurIndustry Collaboration, Innovation DANVILLE, VIRGINIA (April 16, 2024) — The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East returns to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) Conference Center in Danville, Virginia from October 1-2, 2024. Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con, the leading trade show and conference for the vertical farming | greenhouse | CEA sector, and the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center, a joint project of the IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, the summit continues to…
In 2024, Indoor AgTech takes the spotlight for the first time in Chicago, the vibrant agri-food hub of the US. On June 24-25, over 600 growers, investors, suppliers, and retailers at the forefront of the global indoor farming community will come together to explore new business models and technologies driving profitability in CEA. In the wake of market shifts impacting industry growth, discussions will focus on unit economics, with expert speakers sharing their perspectives on optimizing productivity, diversifying crop varieties, expanding global footprints and increasing the market share of indoor-grown produce. Alongside high-level keynotes, insightful debates, and small-group breakouts, delegates…
Developed by a team of collaborating entities involved in the CEA Footprint Project, the guide is a how-to resource for energy, water and carbon emissions accounting and reporting PORTLAND, Ore. (April 8, 2024) — Resource Innovation Institute (RII), a not-for-profit, public-private partnership advancing climate resilience, announced today the availability of its “Guide to Environmental Accounting and Reporting for Controlled Environment Agriculture Operations.” Resulting from the work of the CEA Footprint Project over the past year, the how to guide proposes standardized environmental accounting and reporting systems and methodologies, and encourages their market adoption across CEA operations. “Comparing resource outputs and inputs at a facility level and across agricultural segments…
200+ Exhibitors, Keynotes, Educational Sessions and Networking Events March 11-12, 2025 What: Indoor Ag-Con, the largest and leading trade show and conference dedicated to vertical farming | greenhouse | controlled environment agriculture, is moving to the Westgate Las Vegas for 2025. The new location provides additional expo floor and meeting room space to accommodate the event’s steady growth. Indoor Ag-Con unites farmers, growers, chefs, ag tech leaders, suppliers, advocates and enthusiasts under one roof for two days of education, inspiration and networking. Attendees will be able to explore an expanded Expo Hall with 200+ world-class exhibitors featuring the most cutting-edge technologies, products and services in the indoor…
Experience the future of horticulture at GreenTech Amsterdam, set to host 12,000 visitors and 560 exhibitors, from 11 – 13 June at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. Delve into pioneering topics like ‘Tools and vision in Data and AI’, ‘Greenhouse: The road to a zero footprint?’, and ‘Future vision: A valuable tasty & healthy horticulture’, while exploring the side events, expert pavilions, and themed routes.What visitors can expect Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the front runners in the industry, engage in open discussions, and connect with like-minded professionals passionate about shaping the future of horticulture. At various…
GreenTech Americas, the premier international protected horticulture event, concluded its fourth edition with remarkable success. The show attracted a total of 5,867 professionals including exhibitors; nearly 12% increase comparing to the previous edition. Hosted at the Querétaro Congress Center from March 12th to 14th, the event featured 220 exhibiting companies from 20 countries, solidifying its position as the leading platform for the controlled agriculture sector across the Americas. Reflecting the industry’s enthusiasm and confidence, 80% of the exhibitors have already secured their stands for the 2025 edition. GreenTech Americas, organized by RAI Amsterdam in partnership with Informa Markets, serves as a pivotal…
The Grow Dat Youth Farm teaches young adults to work the land using sustainable agricultural practices. Grow Dat operates at City Park an area of New Orleans that was once a golf course that was destroyed after Hurricane Katrina and was given to Tulane University to develop Grow Dat Youth Farm. The mission of Grow Dat Youth Farm is to nurture a diverse group of young people based on the premise of growing food using sustainable practices. By working with Grow Dat, youth between the ages of 15 – 25 learn not only important life skills but also the importance…