What impact does light have on controlled environment leafy greens production?

Researchers at Michigan State University have used the Controlled-Environment Lighting Laboratory to study the effects of different colors of light on the growth of leafy greens. Photo courtesy of Erik Runkle, Mich. St. Univ. OptimIA researchers are studying the impact light and its interaction with other environmental parameters can have on indoor leafy greens production. […]

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How is OptimIA helping vertical farms grow more efficiently and economically?

The OptimIA project, which was funded by USDA in Sept. 2019, is focused on the study of the aerial environment and economics for producing indoor leafy greens. Photo by Rosemary Brandt, College of Ag and Life Sciences, Univ. of Ariz. OptimIA is a research and outreach project aimed at offering production and economic information that […]

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Indoor Ag Science Cafe talks with Robert Colangelo on the right size for a vertical farm

Last year, venture capitalist companies invested $51.7 billion in Ag Tech, but what exactly is Ag Tech? Ag Tech is technology focused agriculture that is meant to increase existing efficiency processes in agriculture and sustainability, which includes everything from aquaculture to new crops/genetics, to animal health to the controlled environment agriculture industry. With dwindling resources, […]

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Texas A&M AgriLife seeks input on controlled environment agriculture

Azlan Zahid, Ph.D., working on an controlled environment agriculture project at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Sam Craft) Grant-funded stakeholder meeting Dec. 5 coincides with annual controlled environment ag conference in Dallas By Adam Russell, Texas A&M AgriLife Developments within Texas A&M AgriLife’s urban agriculture efforts could […]

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Michigan State University invites you to participate in their CEA labor survey

Michigan State University invites you to participate in their Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) labor survey. The purpose of this survey is to understand production-related labor requirements and estimate labor costs in CEA farms, including a vertical/indoor farm setting, containers or permanent greenhouses. In this survey, you will be asked about labor hours, level of automation […]

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Webinar: Labor Requirements in Indoor Agriculture

The Laboratoire sur l’agriculture urbaine (Urban Agriculture Lab) is collaborating on a webinar on labor requirements in indoor agriculture. The webinar will be led by Dr. Simone Valle de Souza, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University. The indoor agriculture (IA) offers an environmentally sustainable alternative to small or large-scale leafy green production, even in regions […]

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Resource Innovation Institute Releases Three New Best Practices Guides Providing Free Efficiency Resources for Indoor and Greenhouse Farming Operations

Developed in collaboration with growers, vendors, and academia,  the objective guides provide tips on energy and water conservation related to construction, lighting and HVAC    PORTLAND, Ore. (October 28, 2022) — Resource Innovation Institute (RII), the leading not-for-profit energy and water benchmarking organization providing resource efficiency best practices for CEA producers, announced today the availability of […]

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University of Florida course on Irrigation Water Quality and Treatment in November

University of Florida Greenhouse Training Online courses  Irrigation Water Quality & Treatment starts November 12! Interpret water quality tests for irrigation of greenhouse and nursery crops, select appropriate water treatment technologies, and design a water treatment and monitoring system. Irrigation Water Quality & Treatment is the final course for 2022 of the award-winning Greenhouse Online […]

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Controlled Environment Agriculture Complex Opens at The Ohio State University with Industry Support and Enthusiasm

DALLAS and COLUMBUS, Ohio — Oct. 11, 2022 —When The Ohio State University opened its new Controlled Environment Agriculture Complex (CEARC) on Friday, Sept. 30, it represented a culmination of efforts between the school and industry. Companies such as Nationwide Insurance, Current (formerly GE Current), Priva and General Hydroponics (to name a few) made donations […]

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University of Florida kicks off two courses October 17

Earn CEUs with courses offered at University of Florida Weed Management An intermediate level course that teaches 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 work. Rated 4.4 out of 5 by grower participants. Hydroponic Vegetable Production An intermediate […]

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How did Big Tex Urban Farms use hydroponics to achieve its Million Servings Mission?

Drew Demler, the State Fair of Texas director of horticulture and cofounder of Big Tex Urban Farms, and his staff were able to achieve the farm’s Million Servings Mission ahead of schedule using a variety of controlled environment hydroponic production systems. Photos by Jessie Wood, State Fair of Texas Big Tex Urban Farms announced in […]

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FFAR Grant Advances Equitable Food Access

CLEVELAND (September 15, 2022) –There are many initiatives that work to address nutrition inequality; however, these programs are often not coordinated with other aspects of the local food system. The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) is awarding an additional $1 million grant to Case Western Reserve University to build upon a 2018 Tipping Points grant by assessing efforts to […]

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Japan Plant Factory Association Holds Strawberry Course in October

New Online Training Course in English The Japan Plant Factory Association (JPFA) has announced to hold its first Strawberry Course for Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting (PFALs) in English from October 13 to 31, 2022, and is receiving applications. Since 2018, the JPFA has held training courses on PFALs in English year by year and […]

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Responding to Growing Trends: Increasing Capacity for California Aquaponic Agriculture through targeted education

So you’ve heard about aquaponics, an exciting new method to grow fruits and vegetables using nutrients from fish, but information on this farming technology is challenging to apply. Well, look no further and join UC Aquaculture Extension for an in-depth short course on the merger of aquaculture and hydroponic agriculture. In an effort to inform […]

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