Agency will utilize AmplifiedAg’s advanced hydroponic container-based vertical farming platform to study crop production, food safety, market quality, and nutrition of produce grown in controlled agriculture environments CHARLESTON, SC, — As vertical farming and other forms of modern indoor agriculture continue to evolve and transform the food supply, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA’s chief scientific in-house research agency, has launched an intensive study of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) to establish data and science-based metrics and crop production standards for CEA growers, similar to those established with traditional agriculture. To conduct the Coordinated Agricultural Project…
Author: urbanagnews
The hydroponic industry is growing rapidly. Faculty at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension would like to better understand the current state of the industry in the U.S. We are especially interested in identifying challenges faced in the southern region or under high temperatures. This survey should take less than 3 minutes to complete. Survey results will be used to prioritize future research and extension activities to better serve the hydroponic industry. Survey link: https://tx.ag/hydroponic
University researchers are seeking input from greenhouse and indoor potted and fresh cut culinary herb growers in order to initiate a national research and extension project aimed to address the needs of the emerging industry. Your anonymous input for our survey will help to steer the focus of this project. Currently, researchers from Michigan State University, Iowa State University, North Carolina State University, University of Tennessee and the USDA-ARS are writing a USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant proposal to fund this project that will focus on marketing, economic barriers, food safety, plant protection, production, and post-harvest issues related to…
Are you hiring or searching for a new career opportunity in the controlled environment industry (greenhouse or indoor farm)? The Optimizing Indoor Agriculture (OptimIA) multi-state university research and extension team has developed an available positions tab on their website: http://scri-optimia.org/jobs.php If you would like your position advertised (free of charge), please e-mail: Chieri Kubota (kubota.10@osu.edu) or Roberto Lopez (rglopez@msu.edu) the following: · The position title · Position location · Closing date · A jpeg image of your company logo · A PDF or website that has information about your position · A brief description of the position · Who to contact or how to apply
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Bob Hochmuth from University of Florida IFAS Extension shares his tips for successful year-round production of hydroponic lettuce in hot climates in a new YouTube video (https://youtu.be/4UD2C-9csyk). Information is provided on cultivar selection and crop management strategies to reduce heat stress. To learn more about hydroponics, register for Hydroponic Vegetable Production which starts on October 25, 2021. This is one of several Greenhouse Training Online certificate course designed for commercial growers. Visit the website(https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/) for details on Greenhouse Training Online courses, which are offered completely online in both English and Spanish. This video is hosted by Dr.…
What: ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 (90.1) is poised to establish energy efficiency requirements related to greenhouses and indoor controlled environment agriculture (CEA) facilities. These model codes can then be adopted by state building commissions. A public draft for these requirements is available for public review starting Friday, September 24, 2021. Why: The intent of this media alert is to inform the horticulture industry of the 90.1 standard draft addendum “AR” and its public review period where stakeholders can provide their feedback on the draft requirements. Who: Growers, lighting manufacturers, distributors, energy efficiency consultants, research groups, industry trade groups, developers and facility…
WASHINGTON (October 13, 2021) –Food production faces challenges from climate change, competition for scarce resources and supply chain disruptions. One solution is controlled environment agriculture, which grows a range of crops in controlled spaces and can enhance desirable traits in crops. To advance controlled environment agriculture science, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research’s (FFAR) Precision Indoor Plants (PIP) consortium seeks research applications focused on understanding the genetic and biochemical elements responsible for premium strawberry flavors, in addition to the environmental control of these elements. “Strawberries have a range of flavors that have been lost in modern varieties, but these flavor…
Premier Trade Show & Conference for Indoor |Vertical Farming Welcomed Back Growers, Suppliers, Industry Leaders Press Release — Indoor Ag-Con, the premier trade show and conference for indoor |vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture, welcomed growers, suppliers, tech companies, startups and others back for its in-person edition held October 4-5, 2021 at the Hilton Orlando. Delighted by the chance to return to a face-to-face gathering, 398 industry members came to the 2-day event to explore the newest innovations in 52 booths on the expo floor; attend 17 panel presentations, keynotes and fireside chats with 60 speakers; and enjoy a variety…
By David Kuack for GLASE (Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering Do you have questions about the optimum light levels for growing controlled environment crops? What about which grow lights would work best for your crops and production facility? More importantly, do you want to know how much is it going to cost you to operate those grow lights? These questions and many more will be answered during the first Plant Lighting Short Course. This six-week virtual event is scheduled for Oct. 14 to Nov. 18, 2021. The Short Course was developed through a partnership of the Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering (GLASE) consortium, OptimIA and LAMP.…
Watsonville, Calif. – Fresh berry leader Driscoll’s has partnered with Think Beyond Plastic to launch an inaugural Agricultural Plastics Innovation Challenge, which aims to stimulate new recycling processes and the development of alternatives to conventionally used field plastics. Innovators, entrepreneurs, research institutes, start-ups and institutions are encouraged to submit applications for innovative solutions, and winners will have the opportunity to pilot their innovations in a commercial environment. A dedicated Ag Plastics Innovation portal is available for submissions with a deadline of Nov. 30, 2021. The use of plastic in berry production has proven to have significant benefits, such as improved yield, reduced food loss and improved food…
Are you interested in growing crops with aquaponics? Join the University of Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center for the Online Aquaponic Intensive Workshop – October 19th& 20th via Zoom. This two-day event, taught by Dr. Matthew Recsetar, is perfect for those using or wanting to use small to medium-scale systems. Both sessions will be packed with tons of critical information to ensure your operation will be the most effective. Sign up today to get access to numerous lecture materials, personal question follow-ups, a certificate of completion, and tons of knowledge! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Limited seats are available. For more…
Managing the nutrient solution of hydroponic crops can be much more challenging than container grown crops because: 1) hydroponic solutions are often captured and reused which can, overtime, lead to deficiencies of some elements and excess of others; and 2) pH changes much more quickly in hydroponics than in container-grown plants. Hydroponic growers should monitor nutrient solution pH and EC daily as well as periodically have their nutrient solution tested by a laboratory to make sure nutrient supply meets plant needs. Monitoring plants to look for visual symptoms is another tool that can be used to detect nutrient deficiencies. Lettuce…
Our last Greenhouse Training Online courses for 2021! Weed Management Course Earn CEUs An intermediate level course that teaches all aspects of weed management in nurseries and greenhouses, including weed identification, developing herbicide programs, and the latest non-chemical methods of weed control that work. Rated 4.5 out of 5 by grower participants. Hydroponic Vegetable Production Course An intermediate level course where you will learn to manage different hydroponics systems, as well as the fundamentals of climate, water, nutrition, and plant health in these systems. The course also teaches business management and food safety. Rated 4.3 out of 5 by grower…
Amsterdam – Today the winners of the GreenTech Innovation Awards were announced at the opening of GreenTech Live & Online. The winners out of a total of 20 entries are: Corvus drones BV with Corvus Drones in the category ‘Concept’ and Van Iperen International with GreenSwitch Original in the category ‘Innovation’. Chairwoman Liselotte de Vries (TU Delft AgTech Institute) explains: “The winners teamed up with other expert partners and have a system approach, which is key for future circularity and upcycling solutions to hold commercially and to drive meaningful impact. It’s a strength that they do not look at the greenhouse…