DesignLights Consortium Announces the Official Release of New Horticultural Lighting Technical Requirements

Proposed to take effect March 31, 2023, Version 3.0 fosters sustainable growth in the controlled environment agriculture sector, while supporting decarbonization efforts MEDFORD, MA – The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) has announced the final version of it Horticultural Lighting Technical Requirements Version 3.0, increasing the efficacy and establishing additional minimum performance baselines for LED luminaires, lamps and controls used by […]

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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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Academia, Business Sectors Forge New Connections at 2022 Debut Edition of CEA Summit East in Virginia

DANVILLE, VA – New connections and collaboration were clear themes that emerged from the October 25-26, 2022 debut edition of the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East held at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, VA. Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con and the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center (a joint project between […]

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Indoor Ag Sci Cafe talks Indoor Farm Automation with Dr. Ken Tran

“Indoor Farm Automation: Lessons learned from the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenges”by Dr. Ken Tran (Koidra Inc.) This presentation ‘Indoor Farm Automation: Lessons learned from the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenges’ was given by Dr. Ken Tran (Koidra Inc.) during our 44th café forum on September 20th, 2022. Indoor Ag Science Café is organized by the OptimIA project team […]

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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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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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Next Indoor Ag-CONversation: Greenshaus Inc. Imagining Energy-Efficient, Local Foood Production

JOIN THE NEXT CONVERSATION September 7, 2022 at 2pm ET Greenshaus Inc.: Imagining energy-efficient, local food production in Ontario Greenhouse Success Story: Growing leafy greens with less fossil fuels, less electricity During this 60-minute conversation, we will share the story of a successful commercial greenhouse operation in Ottawa, Ontario that grows leafy greens for the […]

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What is the “best” grow light for your controlled environment operation?

Growers who replace incandescent bulbs with screw-in LEDs to control photoperiod can reduce their energy consumption by as much as 85 percent. The LED bulbs could last up to 30 years. Photo courtesy of Southwest Perennials Depending on whether you are looking to control photoperiod or increase plant growth will determine the grow lights you […]

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CEA Keynotes Cultivate Fresh Audience this November

NOVEMBER 1-2, 2022 HYATT REGENCY LONG BEACH | LONG BEACH, CA Policies, Programs & Practices to Advance Efficient Greenhouse & Vertical Farming We’re excited to announce that the Resilient Harvests Conference has lined up: Andrew McAllister, Commissioner, California Energy Commission Dr. Chieri Kubota, Director of Ohio Controlled Environment Agriculture Center, The Ohio State University as two […]

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Familiar face leads ‘Team Koala’ to win the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge for a second time

All competing teams managed to use artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to autonomously grow lettuce with almost no interventions The American team Koala has been declared winner of the third edition of the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in Bleiswijk The team consists of the start-up company Koidra and researchers from Cornell […]

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Vertical Farming World Congress Rises to the Occasion

After two successful years online, the 3rd Vertical Farming World Congress will be held in Brussels at the heart of European policy making from 19 to 21 September. Aimed at operators, suppliers, investors, advisers, legislators and policy makers, the programme is stacked with top company leaders and the latest in technology innovation. The opening address […]

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Modular and inclusive urban farming concept of LettUs Design wins last edition of the Urban Greenhouse Challenge

LettUs Design has won the Grand Finals of the Urban Greenhouse Challenge and will receive a sum of €10,000 for their modular and inclusive urban farming design. The other winners are USC Stack and AMS Caterpillars. AMS Caterpillars has also won the local residents’ award. It was the third and the last time that Wageningen […]

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Invitation to New JPFA 2022 Online Training Course

We are delighted to announce that we will hold a new online training course on plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs) in English for July-August 2022. The coming course will comprise introductory classes and specialized content. Introductory classes will offer elementary theory and practice of PFALs, basic knowledge of cultivation and operational management, and keys […]

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Saffron – Should we grow the most expensive spice in the world using CEA?

Some people suggest saffron is a spice made of red gold. We ask three important questions: what makes it so special, why is it so expensive and should we try to adapt it for growing in CEA?  Zafferano Siciliano Crocus produces large saffron stigmas. Saffron (Crocus sativus L., a member of the Iridaceae family) is […]

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