The finalists for the 2021 Vertical Farming World Awards have been published today. Winners will be announced on Tuesday 21 September in a virtual awards ceremony during the 2021 Vertical Farming World Congress. These inaugural awards are organised by the food and drink experts Zenith Global, with headline sponsorship from Cultivatd and category sponsorship from Light Science Technologies. Celebrating excellence and innovation across the global vertical farming industry, entries were invited in 16 categories spanning crops, technology, sustainability and commercial initiatives. The finalists and winners have been selected by an eminent panel of independent judges representing all corners of the global…
Author: urbanagnews
Fifth Season CEO Austin Webb joins the CEO Keynote Address line-up for the in-person October 4-5, 2021 edition of Indoor Ag-Con at the Hilton Orlando. Themed “Growing Your Business,” the trade show and conference for indoor | vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture will give attendees the opportunity to explore new resources on the expo floor and hear from Webb, other CEOs and experts from today’s cutting-edge farms and innovative companies. “We are thrilled to welcome Fifth Season’s Austin Webb to the CEO stage in October. He and his pioneering vertical and robotic farming company have been making headlines this…
LINCOLN/OMAHA, NEBRASKA — Today, Burlington Capital, along with partner Invest Nebraska, announced the launch and initial closing of a new venture capital seed fund, Burlington Capital Ag-Venture (www.bcagventure.com), focused on Midwest AgTech innovation. Burlington Capital Ag-Venture intends to raise $11 million and expects to do so with a final close at the end of the year. This new fund is being built from a producer-first and industry-first approach, with its investors and advisors being comprised of some of the most innovative farmers/producers, ag families, agribusinesses, and ag trade associations. Burlington Capital Ag-Venture is taking advantage of compelling global trends, a…
By Kasha Dubaniewicz We have 6 industry experts who will share their insights on what it takes to be successful in CEA (controlled environment agriculture) and what the future looks like. Know your crop data back to front Chris Higgins, GM of Hort Americas and founder of Urban Ag News, has been involved with the CEA and commercial horticulture industry for 25 years. Automation and CEA in the industry have historically always been around through the use of artificial lighting and glasshouses. However, recently the level of technology investment and the range of automation tools available has vastly increased. One…
Horticultural lighting experts and industry leaders to debunk common misconceptions and address growers’ concerns during September 8 virtual panel discussion MEDFORD, MA –The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) will host a webinar on Wednesday, September 8, aimed at helping growers and other stakeholders learn the facts about LED horticultural lighting, while debunking common misconceptions about the technology and its effectiveness. “Mythbusting! Horticultural LED Lighting” will provide webinar participants with valuable advice and perspectives from an array of industry leaders, including: Kasey Holland, DLC Horticultural Lighting Program ManagerLeora Radetsky, DLC Senior Lighting ScientistErico Mattos, Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering Consortium Executive DirectorLauren Morlino,…
Written and originally published by AgThentic Silicon Valley, where I (Sarah) grew up, and I (Matthew) lived and worked during the dot com era, is known as the birthplace of the modern tech industry, responsible for the reinforcing loop of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, and the resulting disruptions to most major industries. But one industry where this hasn’t yet played out is agriculture- the incumbents today are largely the same firms that have dominated since the industrial and green revolutions enabled the shift to modern day farming practices. But agriculture has not resisted digitization due to a lack of effort…
LAVALETTE, WV, August 30, 2021 – Stepping Stones, Inc., the revolutionary foster care facility in the heart of Appalachia, reached a major milestone in its Youth Transition Project (YTP) when it officially opened its first tiny home and welcomed its first resident on Friday. Longtime supporter and urban farmer Stephen Ritz, a life-long educator, author of “The Power of a Plant” and founder of New York-based Green Bronx Machine, was on hand to celebrate and cut the ribbon on this first of eight tiny homes that are fully funded and under construction. YTP is a public-private partnership focused on youth…
Improve your prevention and management of diseases in nurseries and greenhouses by registering for Disease Management, the fourth course of the award-winning Greenhouse Online Training courses offered by the University of Florida IFAS Extension. This intermediate course is designed for growers with some experience and training. Topics covered include how to differentiate between a disease and other issues, disease prevention tips, organic and conventional disease management options, and how to safely apply and handle fungicides. The course is offered in English and Spanish. Dr. Carrie Harmon, Director of the UF/IFAS Plant Diagnostic Center in Gainesville, FL and Executive Director of…
As the world is pursuing the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, the Japan Plant Factory Association will highlight the importance of looking beyond the SDGs in its coming online event. The nonprofit organization will hold the “Japan Plant Factory Association 10th Anniversary Fest–10 Years of Progress, and Achieving the SDGs and Beyond” on Sept. 15-17. The member-only fest commemorates the 10th anniversary of the JPFA and a plant factory hub it oversees on the Chiba University Kashiwanoha campus in Kashiwa, northeast of Tokyo. When the plant factory hub was completed, “the JPFA already envisioned what the SDGs address,” JPFA President Toshitaka…
Working in partnership, GLASE, OptimIA, and LAMP are excited to announce the first annual Plant Lighting Short Course! This 6-week modular short course is designed to provide participants the opportunity to learn about all aspects related to the selection, implementation, and benefits of plant lighting systems. In each sequential module, attendees will use interactive tools to define their specific lighting requirements, hear from industry experts about available horticultural lighting systems, and learn how to compare different lighting strategies. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to make informed decisions about the best options to meet their lighting needs. EARN UP…
September 28-29, 2021 100% virtual in 2021, the HortiCann Light + Tech Conference focuses on the latest advances in horticultural lighting. Formerly known as the Horticultural Lighting Conference, this annual event has led the way in transforming horticultural practices by connecting research and technology to growers around the world. As technology and agriculture are working together more than even before – this conference is an opportunity to expand your knowledge in the field and network with some key manufacturers. The conference attracts an audience including cannabis and other commercial growers, greenhouse manufacturers, urban and vertical farmers, horticultural lighting specialists, and…
iUNU (“you knew”) is an agricultural machine vision company headquartered in Seattle, with satellite offices in California, Florida, and Toronto as well. Founded in 2013 and currently with over 40 employees across the world, the company leverages computer vision and machine learning to allow farms to better manage crop issues and optimize growth cycles. The LUNA system focuses on identifying growing maladies before the crop is affected and promotes better accountability of growing practices through the workflow management application. In making the announcement, Adam Greenberg, CEO of iUNU, said: “Rising consumer demand is accelerating the growth of the greenhouse industry,…
Wageningen University & Research (WUR), the Delphy Improvement Centre and the Municipality of Lansingerland are celebrating fifteen years of scientific development in the field of greenhouse horticulture. Save the date: various activities will be organised during the ’Horti Science Park Event Weeks’, held this year from 20 September to 8 October. From looking back, we are now looking forward to the role that the Horti Science Park will be playing in the future. The autumn of 2006 saw the launch of a number of cultivation trials at the Delphy Improvement Centre and Wageningen University & Research (Greenhouse Horticulture Business Unit)…
This presentation ‘Precision Indoor Propagation for High Quality Transplants’ was given by Dr. Ricardo Hernandez (North Carolina State University) during our 32nd cafe forum on August 3rd, 2021. Upcoming Cafes: September 21st (Tuesday), 11AM Eastern – ‘Introduction to Aquaponics’ by Dr. Paul Brown and Dr. Cary Mitchell (Purdue University)October 26th (Tuesday), 11AM Eastern – ‘Vertical Farming – Past, Present and Future’ by Robert Colangelo (Green Sense Farms)November TBADecember 7th (Tuesday), 11AM Eastern – ‘Plant-Made Pharmaceuticals under Controlled Environment’ by Dr. Nobuyuki Matoba (University of Louisville) Interested in giving a talk to share your thoughts and experiences? Please contact Chieri Kubota