Not every farm needs sensors, robots, and seven-figure CapEx to succeed. In this session, growers and advisors who’ve built lean, efficient operations share how to maximize yield and minimize complexity with low-tech setups. Whether you’re growing in ground under cover, using basic automation, or retrofitting existing structures, this panel is all about real-world, replicable strategies that work without over-engineering. MODERATOR: Chris Higgins, General Manager, Hort Americas PANELISTS: Aaron Fields, CEO, Campo Caribe Richard Vollebregt, CEO, Cravo Equipment Ltd
Author: urbanagnews
Registration is Now Open! Learn the essentials of soilless production of strawberry under greenhouse and indoor controlled environment! Online Learning by Live Lectures (Sept. 18 & 25) and/or by lecture recordings This course offers all the keys to learn soilless production of strawberry under greenhouse and indoor controlled environment. Contents include strawberry physiology, cultivar selection, production practices, and systems. Six lectures will be delivered over two weeks and students can have options of participating live lectures or listen to the recordings. Students will be given additional two weeks to complete all lectures, and complete knowledge check to receive certificate of completion.…
The 4th Annual CEA Summit East, co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con and the CEA Innovation Center, is excited to announce its Day 2 Morning Keynote Panel: “Automation in Action: How Virginia Growers Are Putting Tech To Work.” This insightful session will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, from 8:45 AM – 9:15 AM EST at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) Conference Center in Danville, Virginia. Moderated by Paul Brentlinger, CEO of CropKing, the panel will feature: These industry leaders will share their firsthand experiences integrating automation technologies into their growing operations. From climate and fertigation controls to robotics and real-time monitoring systems, panelists will offer…
Two courses start on September 8th! Success with your Latino Workforce Concepts of communication and culture, and how they apply to your Latino workforce to create a positive and efficient work environment for all your employees. Rated 4.3 out of 5 by grower participants. Field Diagnosis of Plant Diseases Teaches detection and diagnosis of common greenhouse and nursery diseases, including appropriate and field-friendly scouting and sampling techniques. Rated 4.4 out of 5 by grower participants Success with your Latino Workforce is taught by Dr. Claudio Pasian, Professor Emeritus at the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State…
BEDFORD, Texas—Aug. 5, 2025—Hort Americas, in partnership with Avé Organics, is now offering OAN 10‑0‑0®, an organic nitrogen fertilizer that delivers a 100% plant‑available source of nitrogen to growers in a ready‑to‑use liquid formulation. For the first time, organic growers have access to a sustainably derived nitrogen solution that is pathogen‑free, weed‑free, and easy to apply through fertigation, banded, broadcast or foliar methods. Besides being produced in the United States, it is also already OMRI approved. “OAN 10‑0‑0 is the next step in creating sustainable and productive organic systems,” said Chris Higgins, president of Hort Americas. “It gives growers the…
A new online course for growers on Advanced Irrigation Management will train your nursery, greenhouse or CEA staff on how to match irrigation with crop needs for improved crop growth and sustainability. The course is taught by Dr. John Lea-Cox, Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland, and international expert in water and nutrient management. The course is offered by the University of Florida IFAS Extension GreenhouseOnline Training and is a requirement for the new Root Zone Expert program. Advanced Irrigation Management is designed for people with some experience or entry university level, who are in production, technical, or sales…
BEDFORD, Texas—July 9, 2025—Hort Americas is now offering early access to the Voeks Dose1.0, a fertigation system designed to eliminate the complexity and limitations that come with traditional setups. Built for commercial operations, the Dose1.0 helps growers manage when, where and how much water and nutrients get applied. This is done while reducing waste, improving crop uniformity, and lowering both installation and labor costs. “We’ve worked with growers long enough to know what slows them down,” said Chris Higgins, president of Hort Americas. “From installation to operation, the Voeks Dose1.0 eliminates friction points, giving growers the control they need without…
Bedford, Texas – July 9, 2025 – Hort Americas, a leading North American supplier of commercial greenhouse products and hydroponic solutions, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Hortiplan, a global innovator in Mobile Gully Systems (MGS) for leafy greens and herbs. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in bringing advanced, scalable, and automated production systems to controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operations across North America. After more than 30 years of designing, building and servicing mobile gully systems (MGS) around the world, Hortiplan felt the time was right to expand their Belgium-based services and offer local support in the…
By Vertical Farm Daily Canadian vertical farming company Growcer has announced that it has won the bid to acquire the assets of Freight Farms, the U.S.-based container farming pioneer that filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. The acquisition includes complete Greenery container farms, spare parts, software, intellectual property, subscriptions, manufacturing blueprints, and the company’s internal support knowledge base. Growcer CEO Corey Ellis shared the news in a detailed LinkedIn post, framing the deal not only as a strategic expansion for Growcer but also as a mission-driven effort to preserve and support the Freight Farms grower community across more than 500…
June 17, 2025 — Years ago, when purchasing a flat of pansies at a garden center, Chris Wilson noticed a label indicating the flowers had been treated with insecticides. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘But bees can’t read labels,’” said Wilson, interim chair of the UF/IFAS soil, water and ecosystem sciences department. That thought inspired Wilson’s current research project, a joint effort with his wife, professor Sandra Wilson of the UF/IFAS environmental horticulture department. Combining Chris Wilson’s expertise in environmental chemistry and toxicology and Sandra Wilson’s in plant physiology and horticulture, they decided to explore therelationship between pesticide management practices,…
Funding Secured for Another Two Years of This Initiative, Which Increases Student Connections to Local Fresh Food and Urban Farmers in Food-Insecure Communities NEW YORK – The Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture (MOUA) today announced the conclusion of another successful school year for its Reimagining Farm to School NYC program. During the 2024-2025 school year, farmers visited schools to deliver educational instruction and observe what students are growing in their classrooms and/or school gardens, and students visited farms across the city. Guided by urban farmers, they learned about culturally relevant crops grown and harvested in the city and enjoyed a seasonal, nutritious,…
“Cultivating Sustainable Growth: Balancing Economics and the Environment in CEA” Danville, VA – [June 19, 2026] – Indoor Ag-Con and the CEA Innovation Center are pleased to announce that the 4th Annual Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East will kick off with the opening morning keynote panel titled “Cultivating Sustainable Growth: Balancing Economics and the Environment in CEA” at 8:45 AM on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Held at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) Conference Center in Danville, Virginia, this keynote sets the stage for two days of deep dive track sessions, research showcases, tabletop exhibits, and collaboration across the indoor agriculture industry. Bringing together voices from…
Celebrating 10 years of excellence in education! A key to successful crop production is correctly managing fertilizers. Nutrient Management Level 1 is part of the award-winning Greenhouse Online Training program offered by the University of Florida IFAS Extension (UF). Join the over 1100 growers from around the world who have successfully completed this course and received a certificate of completion from UF over the 10 years this course has been taught. Rated 4.5 out of 5 by grower participants, with an 87% graduation rate last year! Nutrient Management 1 is designed for people with some experience or entry university level,…
By Corenthin (Félix) Chassouant, Horti-Gen Insights In this new edition, we proudly present an exclusive interview with Jordan Goulet, General Manager of Hort Americas Canada. With years of hands-on expertise in horticultural lighting, Jordan has guided countless commercial growers through the complexities of adopting LED technology. We thank Jordan for sharing his expert insights on optimizing ROI, navigating energy incentives, and the future of lighting innovation in controlled environment agriculture. As commercial producers face increasing pressure to optimize crop quality and operational efficiency, understanding the true ROI of LED lighting is more important than ever. Jordan’s perspective links industry trends with actionable…