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. Topics covered are plant parts and functions, photosynthesis and growth, greenhouse technology, flowering, compactness and branching, irrigation, nutrition, and plant health. The course is offered in English…
Author: urbanagnews
Plant Factories and Indoor Farming Innovations in Japan Japan is a leader in the world of indoor farming. At the heart of their success is a non-profit organization, the Japan Plant Factory Association (JPFA), and Eri Hayashi, its Vice President. Find out more about this sophisticated collaboration between academia, industry, and government. See the ways several of Japan’s indoor farm companies use technological advances, sophisticated production efficiency measures, and data-driven operations to promote high productivity and uniformity. Find out what innovations are driving what Hayashi refers to as the fourth generation of plant factories with artificial light. Indoor Ag Science Café is an…
The following was originally published by Air, Soil and Water Research Journal By Eric W. Stein, Ph.D.Executive Director of the Center of Excellence for Indoor Agriculture Abstract This article identifies the potential environmental effects large-scale indoor farming may have on air, water, and soil. We begin with an overview of what indoor farming is with a focus on greenhouses and indoor vertical farms (eg, plant factories). Next, the differences between these 2 primary methods of indoor farming are presented based on their structural requirements, methods of growing, media, nutrient sources, lighting requirements, facility capacity, and methods of climate control. We also…
The CEA sector is heating up and is expected to grow 5x over the next 10 years. Investment in CEA has surpassed $2.0B across North America and Europe. Join Henry Gordon-Smith, Founder & CEO at Agritecture, for this 1-hour live webinar to learn more about how to invest confidently in the CEA industry. Title: How To Invest In Controlled Environment Agriculture With Confidence Date: May 18 – 9am EST The lineup of speakers include: Louisa Burnwood Taylor, Head of Media & Research at AgFunderRobert Glanville, Senior Advisor at REG Consulting LLCAndrew Carter, Co-Founder & CEO at SmallholdDarren Thompson, CFO at Bowery FarmingDjavid…
Plans have been announced for the 2nd Vertical Farming World Congress, which will take place on 20-22 September 2021. The event will be available online, with the aim for as many delegates as possible to meet in person at London Heathrow. With the theme of ‘Raising Expectations’, the conference sessions offer numerous highlights including: Industry leadership with InFarm, Kalera and YesHealthMarket opportunity with HortAmericas, Rabobank and VeggiTechCustomer and investor panels featuring Metro and S2G VenturesRegional pioneers from AgroUrbana in Chile to 808 Factory in JapanNutrition and crop development with 80 Acres and Vertical FieldTechnology and service development with Grow Group…
Strong Track Record of Shareholder Value Creation with Disruptive Technologies VANCOUVER, BC – CubicFarm® Systems Corp., a local chain agricultural technology company, today announced the appointment of Thomas Liston as Vice President (VP) of Corporate Development. Thomas (Tom) Liston will provide CubicFarms with strategic business development and capital markets advisory services in his role as VP of Corporate Development. Liston is a technology investor, advisor, and a Chartered Financial Analyst® with over 20 years of experience in capital markets. He’s the founder of Water Street Corp and currently serves on several boards of directors for public and private technology companies,…
Acquisition of Root AI and its signature robot, Virgo, bolsters company’s intelligent tools to produce foods sustainably Root AI CEO Joins AppHarvest as Chief Technology Officer MOREHEAD, Ky., — AppHarvest, Inc., a leading AgTech company and Certified B Corp focused on farming more sustainably using 90 percent less water than open-field agriculture and only recycled rainwater, announced today that it has acquired Root AI, an artificial intelligence farming startup that creates intelligent robots to help manage high-tech indoor farms. The acquisition of Root AI and its robotic universal harvester, Virgo, is expected to provide AppHarvest with a baseline of harvesting support working…
What are you doing to take advantage of the popularity of plant products? One of the best returns on investment is education of existing staff to ensure a knowledgeable workforce through online training. University of Florida IFAS Extension provides four-week, award-winning, online training courses in English and Spanish. The first course of the year, Greenhouse 101, starts on May 31, 2021. To register, visit http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/. Each course is completely online, and includes pre-recorded videos, an interactive discussion board with PhD professors, and quizzes. The course material is available any time of the day, and two new modules are activated each…
By Chris Taylor (The Mixing Bowl) and Michael Rose (The Mixing Bowl and Better Food Ventures) Since the initial release of our Indoor AgTech Landscape in 2019, the compelling benefits of growing food in a controlled indoor environment have continued to garner tremendous attention and investment. Indoor Ag Is our Food System One of the intriguing aspects of indoor agriculture is that it is a microcosm of our food system. Whether within a greenhouse or a sunless (vertical farm) environment, this method of farming spans production to consumption, with many indoor operators marketing their produce to consumers as branded products. As we…
Press Release – CubicFarm® Systems Corp. (TSXV:CUB) (“CubicFarms” or the “Company”), a local chain agricultural technology company, today announced the appointment of a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to guide and advise CubicFarms. The SAB is comprised of top experts in the fields of agriculture and technology. The SAB is primarily responsible for making recommendations to the Company’s senior leadership team regarding research and development priorities. By combining the substantial expertise of the SAB with the expertise of the Company’s internal research and development (R&D) team, CubicFarms is well positioned for advancements in ag-tech. “We’re proud to have an accomplished and diverse…
Premier Trade Show & Conference for Indoor |Vertical Farming Industry To Host In-Person Edition October 4-5, 2021 at Hilton Orlando in Florida Press Release – With safety in mind, the Indoor Ag-Con management team has pushed the dates for its previously announced May 2021 agriculture trade show and conference for the indoor and vertical farming industry to October 4-5, 2021. In addition to the date shift, Indoor Ag-Con will also move from its former Las Vegas location to the Hilton Orlando in Florida for 2021, with plans to return to Las Vegas and co-locate with the National Grocers Association | NGA…
Towards Greater Profitability and Scale in CEA and Vertical Farming The virtual Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit on June 24-25 will gather the world’s leading farm operators, retailers, food companies, investors, seed companies and technology providers to meet, network and cultivate new commercial partnerships. 350+ attendees from the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia will participate in livestream sessions, join roundtable discussion groups and connect directly through 1-1 video meetings and group chats. By sharing best practice from around the globe, and facilitating new connections and collaborations, the summit offers an invaluable platform to develop new business and accelerate projects…
Kalamazoo Valley Community College is searching for a Program Director to lead the development of a new set of programs in sustainable horticulture, urban agriculture, and landscape management. The program will be part of the interdisciplinary food-health-sustainability education cluster at the Bronson Healthy Living Campus – alongside Sustainable Brewing and Culinary Arts & Sustainable Food Systems degrees; Community Culinary & Nutrition classes; multiple accredited Allied Health programs; and the ValleyHUB urban farm and food hub. The ideal candidate has strong knowledge in horticulture, agriculture, ecology, and/or landscape design; excellent project management skills; and a commitment to systems-oriented, equity-promoting solutions to climate change in the built environment…
First International Horti Quiz is a fact! Participate on the 24th of March at 20.00 CET Costa Rica – Jungle Talks, the organizer of global horticultural webinars and radio programs, is teaming up with Quiz Brothers and presents a new, entertaining event for anyone interested in horticulture; the International Horti Quiz. On March 24, 2021, from 8pm – 10pm CET, the first International Horti Quiz will take place. We are delighted that Meiny Prins, CEO of Priva and the driving force behind the Sustainable Urban Delta, will do the official kick off. This first quiz is about the fundament of…