The indoor agriculture industry has grown rapidly as consumer demand for fresh, local produce anytime, anywhere is forcing shifts in global supply chains. Indoor Ag-Con is the premier event covering the technology of growing crops in indoor systems, using hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic techniques. It is returning to Singapore for the third time in January 2018. This years’ event will be focused on accelerating innovation in the industry, in areas as diverse as plant biology and artificial intelligence. Their two-day event will be hosted at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore on January 16-17, 2018, and will include an exhibition hall…
Author: urbanagnews
Company announces commercial partnership with Hort Americas LOS ANGELES – Moleaer Inc., the leading manufacturer of industrial scale nanobubble generators, expands its innovative product line with the new nanoBoost Nanobubble Generator, ideally suited for applications such as hydroponics, pond management, and irrigation. Like the existing Moleaer industrial XTB Nanobubble Generator™, the compact nanoBoost is a cost-effective and simple-to-install solution to deliver a supplementary source of oxygen-enriched nanobubbles that remain in suspension longer than conventional micro bubbles, efficiently oxygenating the entire body of water and providing a reserve of oxygen encapsulated within the bubbles. One of the prime beneficiaries of the…
Eighteen months ago, the outlook for hydroponic, aquaponic, and containerized growing methods in the National Organic Program looked bleak. A small, yet vocal, minority in the organic sector had mounted a campaign within the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to prohibit these production methods from organic certifications despite a lack of scientific basis to do so. Through the hard work and dedication of CSO’s Board and member companies, we were able to launch a strategic advocacy plan to push back against this unfair and arbitrary effort. After three failed votes in the NOSB, our place in the organic industry is…
Urban Agriculture just got serious! Plantagon is building 10 underground city farms in Stockholm – and locals are invited to join in… STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (December 1, 2017) – We hear a lot about smart sustainable innovations coming from Sweden, from turning rubbish into fuel, recycling excess heat from data centres, geothermals etc… Swedish pioneers Plantagon, are now taking on sustainable city farming on an industrial scale. Plantagon CityFarm® is a new concept for using empty premises for resource efficient and sustainable food production in cities. The first plant is located under Stockholm’s iconic “DN Skrapan” in Kungsholmen, and the goal is to have ten production…
Originally published in Issue 15 By Sidsel Robards Not many teachers can come back to school telling students that their summer vacation included a visit to The White House to pick up a Presidential Award. But Shakira Provasoli, resident science teacher at The Sun Works Center at PS333 in New York City, did exactly that after an August ceremony where she received a presidential honor from the EPA for her outstanding work as an environmental educator. Established in 2011, the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators recognizes teachers who employ innovative approaches to environmental education and use the environment as…
Growers, CEOs and scientists from 27 businesses, 7 universities and the USDA joined FFAR at the IBM Research headquarters in Yorktown Heights, New York on November 13. Thank you for your engaging participation. [View the story “FFAR Crops in Controlled Environments Convening Event” on Storify]
Send a message to your representatives that you support the NOSB’s decision to uphold aquaponics’ and hydroponics’ Organic eligibility Click here for a Sample letter to Congress expressing support for the NOSB’s Organic decision Copy and paste to send them a message There are two main reasons it is a great time to message your political representatives about the NOSB’s recent Organic decision: As long as there are strong interests against organic aquaponics/hydroponics, this issue is not truly dead. At some point Congress’ influence could come into play, and we need them to know we are here. We need to develop…
Originally published in Issue 14 By Eri Hayashi, Japan Plant Factory Association, Industry Expert We are immensely proud to be working together with Urban Ag News for our upcoming, fall 2016 event in the United States as part of an international project of the Japanese government and the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI). This international project aims to promote global PFALs (Plant Factory with Artificial Lighting) and the vertical farm industry by encouraging multi-discipline, international business and research and development cooperation. We will focus on selecting companies that possess prominent technology or outstanding capacities for technological development in…
Urban Ag News proud to feature Dr. Chieri Kubota’s class on Greenhouse Plant Physiology and Technology. Dr. Kubota was a professor at the University of Arizona and has moved to The Ohio State University this summer. Week 9-2: GH environment 2 This is the final week! For this week, we will have two lectures understanding greenhouse as a whole system and the mechanism of interactions between plants, micro climate, greenhouse system, and outside environment. All the lecture contents now come together into describing and understanding this complex system.
Originally published in Issue 14 By Lea S. Singer (7th grader) At the New York Sun Works’ Youth Conference on June 2, 2016, building a sustainable future was the shared topic. So many ideas were presented on how the kids of this generation could help build a better, healthier future for themselves. The passion shared with all who attended was inspiring, and made you want to start a mini hydroponics system in your kitchen the minute you left the conference. Among the numerous people who spoke, ranging in age from 10- to 15- years old, three guest speakers attended. One…
Originally published in Issue 13 By Mitch Hagney In many cities, urban gardeners operated in a legal gray zone in terms of where they were permitted to grow and sell produce. Many growers were uncertain about whether they could use spaces like alley-ways, restaurants, or rooftops in addition to backyards. Most laws don’t currently account for indoor farms, because they are a distinct break from what zoning would normally interpret as a farm. Many officials aren’t even sure if a shipping container system is a building, and vertical farms wouldn’t be zoned agricultural under current laws. Changing current restrictions, laws To…
Originally published in Issue 13 By Eri Hayashi, Japan Plant Factory Association, Industry Expert For anyone who believes plant factories (PFALs)/vertical farms are only for leafy greens or for anyone who has given up growing strawberries in plant factories, they may have to reconsider their way of thinking. There is a great future ahead for strawberries, especially after the Japan Plant Factory Association (JPFA) held its 96th monthly workshop on “Next-Generation Strawberry Growing System.” The workshop gave participants the opportunity to learn what is happening in Japan’s commercial strawberry PFALs. Also during the workshop, academic researchers and research institutes provided…
Registration to win grants for sustainability projects now open to local farms nationwide. MONTEREY, CA (November 2017) – National produce distributor PRO*ACT is proud to announce the expansion of the company’s annual local farm grant program. The grant program called Cultivating Change has increased to $75,000 and represents PRO*ACT’s commitment to creating a sustainable produce supply chain from seed to fork. Farmers nationwide can now apply for funds to invest in their farms and grow their overall capacity. Applications for this year’s grant program will be accepted until December 15, 2017. Panel review and popular voting will be conducted January…
Originally published in Issue 14 By Mitch Hagney Sometimes rather than bringing crops to the customers, customers come to the crops. The public’s enthusiasm for urban farming goes far beyond buying the produce, and that means that many customers seek to be more than just recipients of local food, they want to be participants in the process. Experiences at the farm allow the public to participate directly, which can bring farmers additional revenue sources that are less tied to their production capacity. For small farms, that can provide a big boost. Customers coming to the farm certainly isn’t a totally new…