About Growcer The Growcer is an innovative agri-tech startup launched in Ottawa in 2015, specializing in the manufacturing and design of modular hydroponic systems that enable commercial food production in plug-and-play 40 ft. modules. Its vertical farming technology enables customers to grow fresh vegetables in virtually any climate, having been deployed within the Arctic Circle below -50°C. Growcer has empowered conventional farmers, entrepreneurs, communities and institutions to grow food locally all year round. Growcer’s work has been recognized with awards including Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and was featured on Season 13 of CBC’s hit show,…
Author: urbanagnews
Photo Credits: NASA by Albert Lin May 05, 2022 What are the challenges about growing food in space? Christina M. Johnson, PhD (of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center) was kind enough to share with us some of her current research. We’re very excited about the progress! Why is it important to get food right for astronauts? Feeding astronauts isn’t as straightforward as you may think! You can’t just pack some protein bars and call it a day. The vitamins in the pre-packaged food brought up into space degrade over time. NASA currently has a Veggie growing unit (see below) which helps provide…
Apple and Android App Solution Calculates Vapor Pressure Deficit for Better Plant Steering SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 18, 2022 — Dr. Greenhouse, Inc., a leading provider of state-of-the-art HVAC design and controls solutions for indoor grows, vertical farms and greenhouses, has launched the Dr. Greenhouse VPD Calculator App. The VPD Calculator app helps growers understand their indoor grow environment and its effect on plant responses and HVAC equipment operation. “Our website VPD calculator is the most visited resource on our website. Our team decided to build a mobile VPD Calculator App for growers and farmers to quickly calculate their environment’s VPD,” notes Dr. Nadia…
Effective from 1 July 2022, Wilco Schoonderbeek will begin work at Horticoop as Director of Investments, a role in which he will be responsible for the comprehensive Horticoop investment process. Together with Steven van Nieuwenhuijzen (CEO) and Hend van Ravenstein (CFO), Wilco will be part of the Horticoop Board team. Investment cooperative Horticoop has been active an investment cooperative as of the end of 2021, when the cooperative became a platform for investment, innovation and development from which all stakeholders will profit: members, Horticoop businesses and the industry. The objective is to contribute to the sustainable and healthy future of…
About the Role: Reporting directly to the Logistics & Procurement Manager, we are looking for a passionate self-starter to take on an entry-level position as Product Technician within the Product and Operations department. The Growcer is a fast-paced and highly dynamic start-up and thus the ideal candidate will embrace wearing multiple hats and supporting the various needs of the Product and Operations teams. These activities will include prototype fabrication, system testing, shipping, receiving and warehouse management. The ideal candidate must be good with their hands as the role includes lifting and moving boxes around the warehouse, the use of power…
The Growcer is an innovative agri-tech startup launched in Ottawa in 2015, specializing in the manufacturing and design of modular hydroponic systems that enable commercial food production in plug-and-play 40 ft. modules. Its vertical farming technology enables customers to grow fresh vegetables in virtually any climate, having been deployed within the Arctic Circle below -50°C. Growcer has empowered conventional farmers, entrepreneurs, communities and institutions to grow food locally all year round. Growcer’s work has been recognized with awards including Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and was featured on Season 13 of CBC’s hit show, Dragons’ Den.…
Article originally published by Wageningen University The third Urban Greenhouse Challenge is all about social impact. Aiding the student teams in writing the best proposal for an urban farm that contributes to quality of life are a host of industry experts from the Urban Greenhouse Challenge partner network. They are very enthusiastic about this year’s competitors, though they’ve had to provide them with a reality check or two. The teams of the Urban Greenhouse Challenge #3 are working towards handing in their final proposals. Based on these, the ten most convincing concepts will be announced on 8 June, competing for a place…
Finding trained growers is a major challenge for our industry. Your best investment is to upskill your own workers to make better crop management decisions by learning the underlying horticultural science of plant growth. Greenhouse 101 is a great introduction to the Greenhouse Training Online program offered by the University of Florida IFAS Extension. It is designed for people with no formal training in horticulture that work in the greenhouse or nursery industry, or those that wish to join the horticulture industry. Topics covered are plant parts and functions, photosynthesis and growth, greenhouse technology, flowering, compactness and branching, irrigation, nutrition,…
Wageningen, 2 May 22 / Wageningen University & Research – On the 2 May 2022 the third episode of the ‘Urban Greenhouse Talks’ is airing on Podbean channel. This five-episode podcast series explores the world of urban farming through the lenses of the Urban Greenhouse Challenge#3, an international student competition organised by Wageningen University & Research. On our way to the finals of the Urban Greenhouse Challenge #3, we now turn our attention to the technological feasibility of the student designs. For this, we enlisted the help of three horticulture sector leaders, who give the students hot tips to build…
Photos by EE Berger, courtesy of Planted Detroit. OptimIA team partners with AU/LAB in an international labour survey for leafy greens production in controlled environments. The OptimIA team and the Urban Agriculture Laboratory (AU/LAB) are pleased to announce their partnership to determine optimal models between labor and size of greenhouses and indoor farms that produce leafy greens, while taking into account various automation choices. In addition, the study will inform policy makers and the education sector about the skills needed in this industry, as well as the opportunities for skilled and unskilled employment. The urban production of leafy greens in…
Village Farms Fresh is looking forward to participating in the VIVA Fresh Expo in their home state of Texas this week. Farming flavor forward Texas Grown tomatoes is a strong key value proposition for Village Farms Fresh to offer their customers and that they can align with the company on. Village Farms Fresh is a proud member of the Texas Department of Agriculture, Go Texan program, as well as a member of the Texas International Produce Association. Sensational Sara®, Heavenly Villagio Marzano®, Sinfully Sweet Campari®, Cabernet Estate Reserve®, Maverick Mix®, Cherry no. 9®, Lip Smackn’ Grape® these are just some…
New, visually simplified and easy-to-read QPL Listed, Premium, Horticultural, and LUNA logos in effect immediately; old logos remain valid for now MEDFORD, MA – The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) today rolled out a set of updated logos designed for use with products approved for the DLC’s Solid-State Lighting (SSL) and Networked Lighting Controls (NLC), Horticultural Lighting and LUNA qualified products lists (QPL). “As we continually strive to keep the DLC’s QPL experience current and easy-to-use, we are pleased to offer these updated logos for use by manufacturers whose products meet the performance thresholds of our various technical requirements,” DLC Executive Director and CEO Christina…
It is with sadness that I share that Lou Albright, co-founder of the Cornell CEA program and long-time member of our NCERA-101 group has passed away. Louis (“Lou”) DeMont Albright, 81, of Ithaca, NY passed away March 26, 2022. Lou was born December 31, 1940 in Ithaca NY, to Richard and Catherine Albright, and grew up in Newfield NY, graduating from Newfield High School in 1958. He attended Cornell University, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering (1963), Master of Science in Food Science (1965) and PhD in Agricultural Engineering (1972). He served in the US Army from 1965 to…
After two years of successful virtual meetings, Indoor AgTech returns to Brooklyn, New York onJune 23-24, gathering the world’s leading growers, retailers, investors, seed companies andtechnology providers to meet, network and cultivate new commercial partnerships. As the CEA industry matures, what is needed from a political, financial, and technological standpointfor indoor growing to be seen as the most reliable and sustainable way of feeding our cities? How are well-funded growers applying their investment to scale up their operations? What are thenext frontier crops beyond leafy greens? What new technologies are available to optimize growingenvironments and drive operational efficiencies? Join us in June where we…