Optimizing Productivity, Scale and Sustainability in CEA and Vertical Farming

After two years of successful virtual meetings, Indoor AgTech returns to Brooklyn, New York onJune 23-24, gathering the world’s leading growers, retailers, investors, seed companies andtechnology providers to meet, network and cultivate new commercial partnerships. As the CEA industry matures, what is needed from a political, financial, and technological standpointfor indoor growing to be seen as the most reliable […]

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Artificial intelligence can grow a lettuce crop autonomously

In a first try-out crop cycle lettuces were grown with AI algorithms in a hydroponic greenhouse system during the 3rd Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge The five international teams participating in the final rounds of the 3rd Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge have completed the first try-out experiment. The teams tested their algorithms and gained experience during a first […]

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3rd Generation Farmer Shares His Thoughts on Next Generation AgTech and Greenhouse Vegetable Production

Chris Higgins and Michael Del Ciancio discuss the importance of ag-tech in shaping the next generation of family farms.  Urban Ag News is extremely grateful that Michael Del Ciancio of DC Farms based in Ruthven Ontario, Canada, has agreed to discuss his thoughts on new ag-tech trends with us.  A third- generation farmer, Michael grew […]

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Koidra raises $4.5M seed funding to bring Intelligent Automation to Greenhouses and Beyond

Seattle, March 29, 2022 – Koidra, an Intelligent Automation (IA) platform company based out of Seattle, has raised $4.5 million in its seed round. Ospraie Ag Science (OAS) led this round of funding, with participation from Amritam Holdings, Cavallo Ventures, and Foothill Ventures. Koidra was founded by the lead of Microsoft Research’s winning team at […]

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JPFA, RAI Amsterdam to Run Horticulture Webinar, Wednesday

The Japan Plant Factory Association will run a free webinar on horticultural technology on Wednesday in cooperation with RAI Amsterdam GreenTech of the Netherlands and the Netherlands Embassy in Tokyo. The webinar, entitled “Globalization of horticultural technology & innovative indoor plant production system,” will invite as a keynote speaker Denise Lutz, agricultural counsellor, at the […]

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IUNU Raises $24 Million Series B to Accelerate Market Position and Product Offerings

Seattle, Washington, March 15, 2022— IUNU today announced it has raised an oversubscribed $24 million Series B round of financing led by Lewis & Clark Ventures. Existing investors S2G Ventures, Ceres Partners, and Astanor Ventures also participated. This funding will be used to accelerate the company’s growth plans, specifically around global sales expansion and new […]

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Local Bounti® to Acquire Pete’s® for $122.5 Million Creating Leading CEA Operator with Largest National Retail Distribution Footprint

De-risks near-term operational execution, expanding upon existing market presence and creating a coast-to-coast footprint covering existing relationships at approximately 10,000 retail grocery doors. Enhances financial leadership within the controlled environment agriculture (“CEA”) industry by improving already leading unit-level economics. Immediately accretive with Pete’s 2021 estimated net revenue of $22.7 million, established track record of producing […]

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Record Attendance Growth, New Business Connections Headline 2022 Edition of Indoor Ag-Con Las Vegas

82% Increase Over 2021 Representing Attendees From 48 States/Territories, 20+ Countries, Growing Number of C-Suite Execs PRESS RELEASE — Just four months after its covid-delayed October 2021 edition in Orlando, the Indoor Ag-Con trade show & conference welcomed the indoor|vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry back for its February 28-March 1, 2022 run […]

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IUNU Launches Brand Identity Refresh as it Continues Rapid Expansion

Seattle, Washington, March 1, 2022— IUNU today announced a brand refresh to coincide with the company’s rapid expansion. IUNU recently completed acquisitions of Artemis, the leading cultivation management platform in the greenhouse and vertical farming industries, and CropWalk, an independent, third-party integrated pest management (IPM) consulting firm. Both of these offerings will be integrated fully […]

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Expect vertical farming to continue to gain credibility as a reliable food source

Dr. Murat Kacira, director of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center at the University of Arizona, said the ultimate goal in any type of controlled environment production, including vertical farming, is resource-use efficiency. Photo by Rosemary Brandt, College of Agricultural Life Sciences, Univ. of Ariz. Vertical farm advancements in technology and plant genetics will lead to […]

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OptimIA team partners with AU/LAB in an international labour survey for leafy greens production in controlled environments

Photos by EE Berger, courtesy from Planted Detroit. The OptimIA team and the Urban Agriculture Laboratory (AU/LAB) are pleased to announce their partnership to determine optimal models between labor and size of greenhouses and indoor farms that produce leafy greens, while taking into account various automation choices. In addition, the study will inform policy makers […]

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You know what a greenhouse and vertical farm are, but what is controlled environment agriculture (CEA)?

Cornell University Explains CEA. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is an advanced and intensive form of hydroponically-based agriculture where plants grow within a controlled environment to optimize horticultural practices. CEA techniques are not simpler than older systems for growing plants. Indeed, they demand sound knowledge of chemistry, horticulture, engineering, plant physiology, plant pathology, computers and entomology. […]

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Hunting for Treasure on the Farm

Strategically manage resources for greenhouse and indoor cultivation By Gretchen Schimelpfenig, PE, Jennifer Amann Food production is responsible for a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Crop cultivation and supply chain processes require energy and generate associated carbon emissions. Greenhouses and vertical farms use diverse sources of energy like electricity, natural gas, propane, […]

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Soli Organic CEO Matt Ryan joins keynote line-up for Las Vegas 2022 Indoor Ag-Con

Soli Organic CEO Matt Ryan will lead the day two opening morning keynote address for the 9th annual edition of Indoor Ag-Con, Feb. 28 – Mar. 1, 2022, at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, NV. Themed “Growing Your Business,” the premier trade show and conference for indoor| vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture will give attendees […]

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