The Belgian AgTech company, Urban Crops, has recently established operations in the United States! The company chose to open an office in Miami which will be responsible for the whole of North and South America. This opening is the next logical step in the global ambition of the company. Urban Crops is a total solution provider in the closed environment, vertical farming industry and is currently expanding its business globally through its own offices as well as a network of sales agents. Pieter De Smedt is leading the US operations for Urban Crops. Urban Crops creates tailored growth infrastructures, which…
Author: urbanagnews
By Amy Storey Controlling the climate is a top concern for indoor farmers, both in controllability and operating costs. It should be, since climate is largely responsible for crop health and avoiding crop losses. HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems are the best way to maintain ideal growing conditions to help optimize yield and minimize loss. But sadly, HVAC costs are often underestimated due to lack of understanding or oversight. Farmers think they can piece a system together themselves or draw simple quotes from online catalogues or home improvement stores. In reality, HVAC is a complex system that has…
Arize™ horticulture LED lighting products, developed by Current powered by GE, are engineered for typical indoor growing applications, including growth chambers/rooms, greenhouses, hydroponic, aquaponic and aeroponic facilities and vertical farms. These easy-to-install LED fixtures are available in 2, 4- and 8-foot light bars. “The Lynk and Life products can be daisy chained from end to end or with a leader cable which significantly reduces cost and time typically required for installation.” Says Sharee Thornton, Product Manager at GE. The daisy chain installation allows users to connect multiple light bars in succession without having to worry about external drivers due to…
San Francisco, CA. Oct. 4, 2016 – Building and infrastructure design technology consultancy, Microdesk, announced their next BuildingSuccess event, “BuildingSuccess San Francisco: Building a Sustainable Future in the Bay Area with Urban Agriculture,” to take place on November 10, 2016 at SPUR’s San Francisco office. The event will feature a panel discussion with design and policy leaders in urban agriculture. The event will explore the challenges of balancing the booming Bay Area tech industry, which continues to drive development of new neighborhoods and housing, with the challenges of meeting the growing urban population’s demand for more food and resources.…
Click here to download the issue. Urban Ag News Issue 15 | The Lighting Issue | October 2016 Urban Ag News Issue 15 cover story focuses on the lighting research being conducted at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Leo Marcelis, head of chair group horticulture and product physiology, talks about how university researchers are studying the effects of LED lights on the growth, flowering and fruiting of vegetable and ornamental plants in controlled environments. Wageningen University researchers are looking at different aspects of lighting, including light spectrum and energy savings. The issues of most interest to Dutch growers include year-round…
Join over 700 growers who have successfully graduated from Greenhouse Training Online courses offered by the University of Florida IFAS Extension (UF). This new course is designed for growers with some experience and training in the US or other countries. The course is offered in English and Spanish. Learn how to manage 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 actually work. You will learn how potting media, irrigation, and fertilization impact weed growth and herbicide performance. As well as accurately calibrate sprayers and…
Coalition for Sustainable Organics Opposes Recommendation to Revoke Certifications for Greenhouses and Other Containerized Growing Facilities SAN DIEGO, Calif., September 27, 2016 – The Crops Subcommittee of the National Organic Standards Board has submitted a recommendation that crops using hydroponic, aquaponic, aeroponic and other containerized growing methods—commonly used for products like living lettuce, herbs, sprouts and leafy greens—should no longer be eligible for organic certification. In addition, the Crops Subcommittee recommended new restrictions on the growing media for producers of other crops that use containers in their farming practices. This would have the greatest impact on the production of organic…
Work in the future of agriculture today! Philadelphia, PA- As the hydroponics industry continues to grow at an exponential rate, ponicjobs.com seeks to bridge the gap between industry employers and job seekers. The website’s founder, Kyle Barnett, designed the site in response to the difficulties he faced while trying to find a job with a commercial hydroponic grower. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Barnett knew that his true passion was in sustainable food production. When he began searching for a job with a commercial hydroponic farm, he recalls that the process was “difficult, to say the least.…
The US Department of Agriculture recently released the Recommendations and Discussion Documents late yesterday for the November meeting of the National Organic Standards Board. A copy of the relevant section is attached in pdf format. In addition, the notes from the Crops Subcommittee through mid-August are also available. The Crops Subcommittee work is organized in three parts: I. Crops Subcommittee states that water based production systems are not allowed under current regulations. The Crops Subcommittee proposes to allow water based production with a vote failing to approve the measure by a 2 to 5 vote. Nonetheless, the Crops…
Irvine, CA, September 2016 – Urban Produce, Orange County’s CEA indoor organic vertical farm has entered into phase two of its expansion program and is now looking to hire experienced CEA vertical growers to support its licensees worldwide. Prospective growers will attend Urban Produce University in Irvine, CA in preparation to deploy and work for one of our prospective licensees in China, Canada, Mexico and Japan in 2017. Since Urban Produce launched in January 2015, the company has seen significant growth and now looks to move into phase two of expansion based on the continued interest internationally. Urban Produce currently…
Container Farms Sept. 4, 2016 Chris Higgins of Urban Ag News gives us an update on container farms around the world. About Green Sense Radio: Founding Farmer Robert Colangelo is also founder and host of the nationally syndicated Green Sense Radio show. Recorded live on the Farm, Green Sense Radio features entrepreneurs, innovators, academics, and policy makers who are making the world a better place. The program is heard coast to coast every week. Send us an email if you’re interested in sponsorship opportunities so your sustainable message can reach our millions of listeners! Click here to listen to the latest Green…
We partnered with Agrilyst to get detailed insight into the #indooragriculture industry. Check out the report here: http://stateofindoorfarming.agrilyst.com/
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – More than 91 percent of consumers that purchase organic produce favor the current U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy that allows organic farmers to grow organic produce in containers, according to a survey conducted on behalf of The Coalition for Sustainable Organics. This November, the National Organic Standards Board, the body that recommends changes to the USDA National Organic Program, is scheduled to consider proposals that will restrict or prohibit container-production methods from organic certification. These survey results demonstrate the negative impact that a program ban on organic container-grown food could have on consumer perceptions of…
INUAg Awards Fundraiser by International Network for Urban Agriculture The International Network for Urban Agriculture advocates for urban farmers world wide. Join us as we announce the winners for the Leaders in Urban Agriculture Awards! Celebrate the farmers, activists, and community educators building better food systems. Tue, September 27, 2016 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Revolution Brewing 2323 North Milwaukee Avenue Chicago, IL Each ticket includes unlimited beer and pub snacks from Revolution Brewery (Featuring vegetarian and vegan options from local farms). With live music from The O’My’s! Celebrating the 2016 Award Winners! Each year, INUAg provides funding to…