Welcome to iGrow News, Your Source for the World of Indoor Vertical Farming
VIDEO: The Future of Farming & Investing in Land - w/ Cubic Farms CEO Dave Dinesen
CubicFarms has developed and patented some of the most advanced automated growing machines for Fresh Vegetables and Nutritious Animal Feed that enable commercial-scale indoor farming, anywhere on earth
May 28, 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic exposed fragility in supply chains, such as labour shortages, disruptions in the packing and transportation sectors, and increasing uncertainty in the domestic and international markets. CubicFarms’ automated growing systems have emerged as a key solution to overcoming these challenges by allowing growers to localize food production and provide their markets with fresh produce and nutritious livestock feed reliably and consistently. What does this do to opportunities for land investment?
Speaker Bio:
Dave is the CEO of CubicFarms, one of the world’s leading Ag Tech companies that develops “Technology to Feed a Changing World”. CubicFarms has developed and patented some of the most advanced automated growing machines for Fresh Vegetables and Nutritious Animal Feed that enable commercial-scale indoor farming, anywhere on earth. Dave leads growth at CubicFarms and since inception, has raised over $23MM in capital.
Dave is the former CEO and founder of BackCheck, which became one of the world’s top ten largest background screening companies, where he advanced the company from a start-up to an industry-leading company operating on three continents with over 500 employees.
Recorded: Thursday, May 28, 2020,
**The information provided in this webinar and accompanying material is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered financial or professional advice.
You should consult with a professional to determine what may be best for your individual needs. http://addyinvest.com/
Show Gives Grower a Chance to Show Off its Uniqueness
We want to be able to talk to a wider span of people with this show,” says Don Helms of Rockingham, VA-based That’s Tasty. “It’s new territory so we’re looking at interesting and unique ways to interact with people.”
For one vertical indoor organic grower, this year’s United Fresh LIVE! is a chance to potentially reach a broader audience.
“We want to be able to talk to a wider span of people with this show,” says Don Helms of Rockingham, VA-based That’s Tasty. “It’s new territory so we’re looking at interesting and unique ways to interact with people.”
The show, taking place this year June 15-19, gives That’s Tasty a chance to share with participants how it differs from others in the marketplace. “We call our facilities BioFarms because unlike other indoor growers, we are USDA Certified Organic and grow in a soil medium” says Helms. “It’s vertically growing in soil and it’s different in that regard. It makes the plants heartier with better flavors and colors and shelf life is also improved.”
Leafy options
That’s Tasty will be part of the Controlled Environment Pavilion where it hopes to display its line of culinary herbs that are living plants and fresh-cut as well as its leafy greens including large-leaf lettuce filets, cut-leaf iceberg, a red and green lettuce mix and more. The show is timed well in that these leafy greens, which are in limited distribution currently and grown in That’s Tasty’s Elkwood, VA BioFarm will be moving into the next phase of distribution.
Helms says that while demand recently for herbs and leafy greens had been erratic due to the pandemic-related shift in the way consumers were buying food, it’s more recently leveled out. “Overall, business is back on a similar track to where we were,” he says.
In fact, the recent spike in home cooking that North Americans have taken to during the pandemic may be something for That’s Tasty to tap into. “We think a lot of those behaviors are going to continue as people are more into cooking at home and being more adventurous with culinary creations involving fresh herbs and greens,” says Helms.
For more information:
Don Helms
That’s Tasty
Tel: +1 (540) 896-6939 ext. 2130
dhelms@thatstasty.com
www.thatstasty.com
Publication date: Tue 26 May 2020
Author: Astrid Van Den Broek
© HortiDaily.com
Pros and Cons of Vertical Farming Systems: What You Need to Know
When you live in the city, there isn’t room for fields and fields of farmland. So, vertical farming systems allow for urban areas to organically grow their own food without taking up too much space
As urban areas become more populated, cities need to turn to vertical farming methods as the primary way of growing food. Vertical farming systems allow cities to grow microgreens, vegetables, and fruits in small contained spaces.
When you live in the city, there isn’t room for fields and fields of farmland. So, vertical farming systems allow for urban areas to organically grow their own food without taking up too much space.
But, what are the pros and cons of vertical farming? We’ll cover everything you need to know in this article.
What are the advantages of vertical farming systems?
There are plenty of advantages to vertical farming. Some of the main advantages include:
Year-Round Yields: When you grow crops with vertical farming methods, you will have year-round grows. Since the crops are grown in a controlled environment, they are able to keep growing throughout every season.
Weather Resistant: Crops grown indoors aren’t susceptible to damage by flooding, droughts, or pests! One of the main reasons as to why vertical farming works is that farmers can have full control of the environment.
Produces Organic Foods: Vertical farming systems promote the growth of organic, healthy foods. You don’t have to use pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers to grow plants.
Leaves a Smaller Footprint: Vertical farming uses upward growth methods to harvest crops in small settings. These methods use less land to grow foods, which allows farmlands to their natural habitat.
What are the disadvantages of vertical farming?
While there are many advantages to vertical farming, we still have to understand the disadvantages. There are a few cons that come with these intricate systems.
They're Pricey: To start, vertical farming can be expensive in urban areas because of the construction and technology costs. This is why developers are reluctant to invest in vertical farming.
Requires Large Amounts of Electricity: In order to grow foods like grains, vegetables, or fruits, a lot of electricity is needed. We’ll have to rely on artificial lights to encourage growth, which can be expensive.
Can Lead to Potential Job Loss: As a new agricultural industry, vertical farming could replace a lot of traditional farming jobs. Food demands will be met by urban vertical farming, and the demand for traditional farmers could go down. This can result in a loss of jobs. But, it will also create new jobs within the city.
The Importance of Vertical Farming Systems
Vertical farming is a sustainable solution to growing foods within urban areas. As populations increase, food demands will rise. To meet these needs, we have to start implementing vertical farming systems to meet demands.
We at the Nick Greens Grow Team understand the importance of vertical farming, which is why we teach our followers how to successfully grow microgreens at home.
To stay on top of advancements in sustainable food growing, you should read our new blog posts every Thursday. Wanna learn how to grow your own microgreens at home?
Watch our new YouTube videos every Friday on our personal channel!
#verticalgrowing #verticalfarming #verticalfarmingsystems #urbanfarming #urbanfarm #indoorgrowing #indoorgrow #growfoodindoors
Vertical Farming Is The Future of The Agriculture Industry
Vertical farming is a simple practice of producing food crops on vertically inclined surfaces, unlike the traditional farming method of single-level like in fields or greenhouses
26 May 2020
World population is said to grow by another 2 billion by the year 2050, feeding humans adequately will become a huge challenge until then. Due to rising industrialization and urbanization, humans are clearing arable land and forests. According to scientists, our planet lost a third of its arable land in just 40 years. Many believe that Vertical farming is the solution for sustainable living soon.
As countries are getting rich demand for food is increasing which is pressuring the planet for more cultivation and aggressive use of resources. Due to globalization and the growing population, it is not clear how much more of arable land we will lose. Developed countries are now investing in Vertical farming heavily.
What is Vertical Farming?
Vertical farming is a simple practice of producing food crops on vertically inclined surfaces, unlike the traditional farming method of single-level like in fields or greenhouses. In this method, food is produced in vertically stacked layers which are integrated into structures like skyscraper or shipping containers.
Using Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technology, vertical farming uses indoor farming techniques. This indoor technique uses artificial control of temperature, light, gases, and humidity for food. This farming is mainly used to maximize crop output in a limited area.
This farming has four important parts 1) Physical layout 2) Lighting 3) Growing Medium and 4) Sustainability Features.
At first, the crops are cultivated in a stacked-layer in a tower-like structure. Then a combination of natural and artificial lights is used to maintain the perfect light in the room, technologies such as rotating beds are often used to improve light efficiency.
Thirdly, in place of soil aeroponic, aquaponic or hydroponic are used as growing mediums, coconut husks and other non-soil mediums are often used. Finally, various sustainability features to reduce the energy costs of farming is used. Vertical farming use water at a minimal level.
Developed countries like Singapore, Hong Kong who depend on imports for food products are now investing in Vertical Farming. Sky Greens, first commercial vertical farm and worlds first low carbon vertical farm. This farm produces up to 1,000 kg of vegetables a day. Next year it will reach its full capacity then it can produce 5,000 to 10,00 kg a day.
In Hong Kong, a Vertical farming venture called Farm66 uses modern LED lights and aquaponics in a fully air-conditioned vertical farm of size 20,000 sq ft. This farm produces four tons of lettuce, endive, and cabbage very month.
In the next two decades, 80 percent of people live in urban cities, increasing the demand for food. Vertical farming offers a solution to such problems. One acre of indoor vertical farming equals 4-6 acres of outdoor farming. This farming use 75-95 percent less water compared to normal cultivation. As vertical farming is based on the technology of using proper lightning crops can be developed without pesticides.
Related Links:
UAE Farm Tech To The Fore
New technologies are helping the country make more of its own produce
New technologies are helping the country make more of its own produce
Over a span of just six months, Covid-19 has not only changed the way we work, celebrate occasions and stay healthy but also forced countries to take a hard look at how they feed their residents. “I believe the current pandemic has provided us the opportunity to completely reimagine the global food system,” says Tony Hunter, a global food futurist.
Going urban
One of the factors pushing the global agri-tech agenda is the growth and increasing density of cities. “By 2050, more than two thirds of the world’s population is forecasted to live in cities,” explains Smitha Paresh, Executive Director of Greenoponics, a UAE-based retailer of commercial and consumer hydroponics systems, adding that urban agriculture will be crucial for feeding burgeoning urban populations.
“On a macro level, we will see a rise in urban farming, mostly using high-tech farming methods such as hydroponics, aeroponics or aquaponics.” Paresh cites Singapore’s conversion of car parks into urban farm centres as an example. “In the UAE, as per the national food security strategy for 2017-2021, we have already witnessed a huge increase in climate-controlled greenhouses all over the country.”
Arable environments
For Hunter, who spoke about potential silver linings of Covid-19 at a recent Gulfood webinar, new technologies present the best means of achieving domestic self-sufficiency. “They can release countries from the tyrannies of arable land and water stress.” He singles out algal products that rely on low rainfall and can use seawater; cultivated meat and biomass products; cell-based products such as milk proteins; and synthetic biology that can manufacture a range of food products.
Over the long term, Ravindra Shirotriya, CEO, VeggiTech, believes there are three critical areas for sustainable farming in the UAE. The first is precision agriculture, which focuses on growing conditions for plants using hyperbaric chambers and nanotechnology-based organic nutrition. Photo bio-reactors, meanwhile, can cultivate food-grade algae such as spirulina. Finally, Shirotriya cites smart farms, which work with smart cities to create harvest plans based on real-time data on food demand and consumption within communities. “This will address our current broken food ecosystem, where we waste 35 percent of food while 15 percent of the world population goes to sleep hungry.”
VeggiTech’s primary focus is on setting up LED-assisted hydroponics for indoor vertical farms and protected hydroponics for sustainable farming in the UAE.
In terms of crop production, Avinash Vora, Co-founder of Aranya Farms, says new technologies aim to boost yields, reduce waste and grow produce entirely. “Technology is being applied at every stage, whether for plant seeding, monitoring growth, managing water, energy conservation, harvesting and packaging. “We are making huge strides adapting all of them here in the UAE; the interest and investments in agriculture prove that.”
For Philippe Peguilhan, Country Manager of Carrefour UAE at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, the UAE had already been seeking self-reliance in food production, but coronavirus amped up its importance. “The disruption that Covid-19 caused to the supply chain highlighted the importance of local produce and presented an excellent opportunity for local farmers to grab a greater share of the market.” Majid Al Futtaim recently made headlines for opening the UAE’s third, and Dubai’s first, in-store hydroponics farm.
Hydroponic hope
Hydroponics is one agri-tech that’s attracting keen investor interest. “As an indicator, Madar Farms’ 7,000-sq-m factory will produce 365 tons of tomatoes a year, and about 14,000 tons of cherry vine tomatoes were consumed in the UAE in 2019,” says Hunter. “There’s therefore the market opportunity for 38 Madar farms in the UAE for tomatoes alone. Add in other nutrient-dense crops such as cucumbers, peppers and leafy greens. Depending upon their size, we could be looking at several hundred businesses.”
On an individual level, more people are leaning towards home farming, especially towards soil-less cultivation since it is simple and easy, according to Paresh. “It guarantees a certain amount of yield. Home farming will be on the rise, considering the disruption we may face in trying times like this.”
As with most technologies, Hunter says the biggest challenge of hydroponics is profitability. “Fortunately, the costs of technology inputs required to optimise hydroponic production efficiencies are falling rapidly. This drop, together with simultaneous increases in performance, is driving down the costs of hydroponics, making acceptable ROIs much easier to achieve.” He adds that economies of scale can help achieve good ROIs. “Currently most farms are in the 1-2 ton per day range but farms of 50 tons per day are being projected by as early as 2025.”
Sustainability challenges
“Challenges in building our own farm were access to sufficient and cost-effective electricity; renewable sources of water; and the availability of locally made raw materials, specifically growing media, nutrients and seeds. With seeds we are adapting — we have been growing our own seeds but having a library of seeds to choose from that are suitable for our climate and environment would be a huge boon to all farmers.”
— Avinash Vora, Co-founder of Aranya Farms
By Riaz Naqvi, Staff Writer | Gulf News | May 28, 2020
Aquaponics Firm Eyes A Green Future, With Water Lentils In A Starring Role
After a year of research and development on Vancouver Island, and a crowdfunding campaign that reached $750,000, a new agri-tech company is preparing to significantly expand its footprint and hit the market with a plant protein
Andrew Duffy / Times Colonist
MAY 30, 2020
Steve McArthur, CEO of Pontus Water Lentils, at the company's research and development site.
Photograph By ADRIAN LAM, TIMES COLONIST
After a year of research and development on Vancouver Island, and a crowdfunding campaign that reached $750,000, a new agri-tech company is preparing to significantly expand its footprint and hit the market with a plant protein.
Pontus Water Lentils, which has been doing research and development at a test farm run by Victoria’s Garden City Aquaponics, has developed an aquaponics system — a hybrid of aquaculture and hydroponics — to produce water lentils. It says those lentils pack an unrivaled protein punch.
Chief technology officer and co-founder Steve McArthur said Pontus has developed a grow and harvest system which, when installed in a new facility, will be capable of producing 100 metric tonnes of water lentils.
McArthur, who also founded Garden City Aquaponics, said the plan is to build a new 10,000 square foot facility for the closed-cycle system. It will also grow and nurture rainbow trout — the fish waste is converted by microbes into fertilizer for water plants, which in turn filter the water for the fish.“
It’s a grown-in-Victoria business,” said McArthur. They are considering sites for the facility in Langford or on the Lower Mainland.
He said the water lentils grown in the facility would be dried and turned into about 6.4 metric tonnes of protein powder that can be used as a supplement for protein shakes, a partial ingredient replacement in foods such as pasta, or to be used in manufacturing food such as protein bars and beverages.
The company intends to package the powder for sale to grocery stores and find partners to produce a line of products packed with the protein-rich powder, while the fish will be sold to local grocery stores and restaurants.
McArthur noted they have already had some success in producing fish and leafy greens at Garden City, as they sold fish to local restaurants and small-scale production of leafy greens to Red Barn Market and other grocers as well as local chefs.
Currently, Garden City, which produces two types of tilapia and the water lentils, is being used entirely for research and development for Pontus, but it may revert to producing small-scale food for local stores and restaurants when Pontus opens its facility.
McArthur said the high-protein water lentils add a protein boost to various products.“The final product is 42.1 percent protein by weight, that’s pretty significant,” he said, noting that is higher than both pea and pumpkin protein. “In terms of plant-based protein that’s one of the highest and we would be growing it aquaponically on a commercial scale.”
The next step for Pontus is the larger facility, which McArthur said they now have the money to build.
Pontus started a crowdfunding campaign on Frontfundr.com. It had hoped to raise at least $750,000 and as much as $1.25 million to build its first production farm. To date, it has raised just over $766,000; they are also raising private capital.
When built, the facility will be capable of producing 6.4 metric tonnes of dried and powdered lentils and about 11,000 trout every year.
McArthur said the market opportunity is big as the product ticks a lot of boxes in terms of its sustainable production, the massive demand for plant-based protein, and food security.
The facility is scalable, moveable could be built almost anywhere, and has a small environmental footprint, he said.
The company says the farm uses less than five percent of the water used in field farming and has none of the carbon footprint.
TODAY AT 4 pm EST - Join Indoor Ag-Conversations - United Fresh - Webinar Panel
Verlage Joins Top Execs from United Fresh, DNO Produce, BrightFarms For Virtual Panel On Produce Trends, Business Growth Opportunities For Indoor Growers Emerging From Covid-19 Pandemic
LAS VEGAS (May 27, 2020) – Victor Verlage, Senior Director of Agriculture Strategy Development, Walmart, will join the panel line-up for the debut session of the new Indoor Ag-Conversations webinar series announced last week.
Scheduled for Wednesday, June 3 at 4 pm EST, the program, “United Fresh Produce Association Panel: Produce Trends & Business Opportunities For Indoor Growers Emerging From Covid-19 Pandemic, ” will be moderated by United Fresh President & CEO Tom Stenzel, and also include panelists Alex DiNovo, President and COO, DNO Produce and Paul Lightfoot, President and Founder, BrightFarms.
Leading Strategic Food Sourcing at Walmart Inc, Verlage joined the company in 2010. In 2014 he relocated to Bentonville, Arkansas to spearhead the development of next-generation products and is responsible for securing the long term food supply for Walmart’s growth demand plans.
Indoor Ag-Con LLC, producers of the premier event for the indoor|vertical farming industry, created the new Indoor Ag-Conversations series to share content originally planned for its May 2020 in-person annual conference that has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the 60-minute webinar, Verlage and the other members of the executive panel will explore the unprecedented challenges and opportunities industry members face today. Participants will learn: key produce trends to watch; tips for building mutually beneficial relationships with produce distributors; how Covid-19 is accelerating demand for locally grown food; what indoor growers are doing now to adjust to a changing market and more.
Attendees will also get a sneak preview of United Fresh 2020 Live, the Association’s new virtual event coming the week of June 15.
Indoor Ag-Conversation webinars are free to industry members. To register for the upcoming June 3, 2020 session, visit www.indoor.ag/webinar
In addition to Verlage, the June 3, 2020, Indoor Ag-Conversations | United Fresh program will share insights from:
Moderator Tom Stenzel, the President, and CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association is a frequent speaker on industry issues and has been recognized for his leadership frequently throughout his career. Tom has testified numerous times before Congress and works closely with leaders at the White House, USDA, FDA, and other U.S. regulatory agencies.
Paul Lightfoot, President, and Founder of BrightFarms, is creating the first national brand of locally grown produce. In four years, Lightfoot has led the company from a proof-of-concept to operating four greenhouses in key markets like Washington, D.C., Chicago, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia.
Alex DiNovo is President and COO of DNO Produce Group of Companies, a rapidly growing family-owned group of businesses located in Columbus, Ohio. DNO is a fresh fruit and vegetable processor, as well as a distributor, with a distribution network throughout the Midwest, Great Lakes, and the southeastern United States.
ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON LLC
Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con touches all sectors of the business, covering produce, legal cannabis, hemp, alternate protein, and non-food crops. In December 2018, three event industry professionals – Nancy Hallberg, Kris Sieradzki, and Brian Sullivan – purchased Indoor Ag-Con LLC, setting the stage for further expansion of the events globally.
For more information, visit: https://indoor.ag
ABOUT UNITED FRESH PRODUCE ASSOCIATION
United Fresh brings together members across every segment of the supply chain to build relationships that are as solid with a handshake as with a contract. We empower industry leaders to join forces to shape sound government policy. We deliver the resources and expertise companies need to succeed in managing complex business and technical issues.
For more information, visit: https://www.unitedfresh.org and to learn more about United Fresh LIVE! Visit www.unitedfreshlive.org
Indoor Ag-Con, 950 Scales Road, Building #200, Suwanee, GA 30024, United States
VIDEO: Local Hydroponic Farm Continues Pop-Up Produce Markets Through Pandemic
The farm is a mostly wholesale produce operation, selling their vegetables in bulk to be distributed around the region, but they say they felt a need to keep local produce flowing into the community, while many chain grocery store shelves were running low
By Rachael Penton and Ben Gauthier
May 21, 2020
ALEXANDRIA, La. (KALB) - The hydroponic tubes at GrayWalk Farms in Alexandria are full of fresh heads of butter and romaine lettuce, mustard greens, and herbs like basil.'
Source: KALB
Lately, all that home-grown goodness has been making it onto dinner plates more often here in Cenla.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, GrayWalk Farms has been selling their produce at pop-up markets at places like Little Cakes with Big Attitude and Beans N Cream Coffee, while the Alexandria Farmer's Market has been closed."
We've been doing it for about six weeks now and it's really worked out well. The community seems to really embrace it,” said owner Jay Pearson.
The farm is a mostly wholesale produce operation, selling their vegetables in bulk to be distributed around the region, but they say they felt a need to keep local produce flowing into the community, while many chain grocery store shelves were running low."
Since the pandemic we've seen that there is a big need since they've shut down the farmer's markets, to be able to go out and open ourselves to the community and give them some fresh produce,” added Pearson.
According to a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices in America during the month of April saw the biggest one month increase since 1974, increasing by 2.6 percent.
While the prices of many grocery items continue rising in the U.S. because of supply chain disruptions and a larger demand for groceries with many people staying home more often, GrayWalk said they expect to produce prices to remain steady. Especially on produce here at home, where it's harvested on a weekly basis in a sterile environment, with no travel time to your table."People really appreciate that and there's a big difference in taste too,” says Pearson. "There's nothing like supporting your local businesses. There's going to be a big shift in this community going local and trying to seek out that fresh produce. Whatever may be in season, they're going to be looking for it because they've gotten a taste."
To find out where the next pop-up produce market is, follow GrayWalk Farms on Facebook.
Hydroponic Microgreens 2: Marketing Microgreens Feat. Nick Greens
A big thank you to Nick Greens for all the helpful insights he shared with us! Learn more about Nick by visiting Nick Greens Grow Team.
A big thank you to Nick Greens for all the helpful insights he shared with us!
Learn more about Nick by visiting Nick Greens Grow Team.
If you're ready to get started growing, check out some of our favorite systems for microgreens!
AmHydro Propagation Systems
VIDEO: Top 5 Benefits of Container Farming At Your Co-Op
Are you looking for a fresh addition to your co-op grocery store? Adding a container farm allows your store to be the source of some of the freshest, locally-grown, resource-efficient produce
Stephanie May 26, 2020
The Yellowknife Co-op added a Growcer container farm to their co-op to provide year-round produce to their members.
Are you looking for a fresh addition to your co-op grocery store? Adding a container farm allows your store to be the source of some of the freshest, locally-grown, resource-efficient produce.
Here are five benefits to adding a hydroponic container farm steps away from your store:
1. MORE ROI FOR PRODUCE YEAR-ROUND
Growing your own produce reduces your reliance on suppliers and allows you to avoid supply chain mark-ups. You can sell fresher produce year-round at better margins than what you can with supplied produce.
What can you grow? Lots. Anything from kale, spinach, lettuce, bok-choy, herbs, and more, can be grown within a Growcer system and you can switch it up based on consumer demand.
We’ll help you create a brand that your members will recognize and keep them coming back to your store!
2. MEMBER SATISFACTION AND RETENTION
Container farming allows you to create a unique experience for your customers. Customers can:
request what produce is grown;
purchase store-brand produce or prepared goods; and
at the Yellowknife Co-op, customers can see the produce being grown through a screen - a special experience not typically seen in chain stores.
These special touches build engagement and help with member retention.
3. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
The Growcer system is made to “plug and play” and it takes one week of on-site training to have employees comfortable with the system. Your co-op’s container farm becomes a source of pride and oasis for employees who enjoy participating in the growing process from beginning to end.
Justin Nelson, general manager of The Yellowknife Co-op, put it best: “On a cold dark day in Yellowknife, there’s no better place to be than inside the Growcer unit. When you’re actually harvesting the product that you’re selling it’s a great feeling”.
For co-ops, Growce’s units can be operated by existing employees who see it as an opportunity to take pride serving their community.
4. REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Container farming grows a variety of produce in a controlled environment that is time, space, and resource-efficient. The best part? Your container farm can be located steps away from your store eliminating the need to transport produce long distances.
At the Yellowknife Co-op, produce is harvested immediately before it’s sold and this method eliminates the need for plastic packaging.
Growcer’s container farms are an innovative way to stand out from competitors and provide quality produce to your members.
5. DEMONSTRATE INNOVATION
Embrace efficient growing systems that bring fresher produce to your customers and cement your store as a leader who is embracing agriculture technology.
Your membership invests in you - repay their loyalty by pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. The real value is not only the produce grown, but the ability for a container farm to offer your business a local source of produce, a source of diversified employment, and an additional stream of revenue.
Take the first step and plug in your specifics into our ROI calculator to evaluate the feasibility of a container farm for you.
Aldi Teams Up With Vertical Farming Company Infarm
According to a report from Supply Chain Analysis, by the end of this month, five Aldi stores throughout Germany will be growing fresh herbs and leafy greens in Infarm’s vertical units. By the end of the year, this store count number will jump up by seven
May. 21st, 2020
by Anne Allen
GERMANY - Aldi Süd recently announced a partnership with indoor vertical farming company Infarm as it seeks to offer consumers high-quality greens they can see growing in-store.
According to a report from Supply Chain Analysis, by the end of this month, five Aldi stores throughout Germany will be growing fresh herbs and leafy greens in Infarm’s vertical units. By the end of the year, this store count number will jump up by seven.
Aldi Süd recently announced a partnership with indoor vertical farming company Infarm to grow fresh herbs and leafy greens in five locations throughout Germany
This is an interesting move from the retailer, whose name is often associated with discount prices—not leading-edge tech. However, this move firmly puts Aldi in line with other retailers chasing after innovation in fresh produce and it’s one that we here at AndNowUKnow are intrigued to see.
Infarm made headlines last November when it partnered with Kroger for similar reasons, bringing its living produce farms right to the retailer’s floor.
Although this Infarm expansion is overseas, we know opportunity when we smell it. How soon will we see more vertical farms in the United States? Perhaps much sooner than we expect. Keep reading ANUK as we cover the latest in retail, innovation, and more.
Aldi
Retail Aldi Infarm Retailer Grocer Grocery Leafy Greens Produce Aisle Vertical Farming Vertical Farm New Partner New Partnership Germany Fresh Herb Salad Sustainable Sustainability Strategy Discount
The First Online Dashboard For Aquaponics
“We’re about empowering people to be the best aquaponic growers possible. Tech is what gives people the tools to do awesome things.” - Jonathan Reyes, CEO, and Co-founder of Aquaponics AI
Aquaponics AI, a US-based aquaponic technology research company, just unleashed their software into the wild. It’s the system every aquaponic grower has been waiting for.
It has traditionally been difficult to get started in Aquaponics because of the steep learning curve but they are making it easy to get started and maintain a system with features like a project template that gets your system running with recommended maintenance schedules by big players in Aquaponics.
They’re bringing innovative usage of artificial intelligence and big data to Aquaponics for the betterment of the global aquaponics community. Their vision is to unleash your Aquaponic growing powers. You’re the beneficiary of high-quality produce and revenue streams created from your system.
In addition to being the forerunner in Aquaponic technology, they also have invaluable libraries for fish, plants, and diseases, as well as calculators for managing your system.
“We’re about empowering people to be the best aquaponic growers possible. Tech is what gives people the tools to do awesome things.” - Jonathan Reyes, CEO, and Co-founder of Aquaponics AI
You can see the latest developments on their website https://aquaponics.ai alongside invaluable resources and calculators that are available for free.
10 Questions to Ask Before Starting a Container Farm
If you’ve been looking into indoor farming from home, you’ve probably come across a container farm as a sustainable option. A container farm is an indoor vertical farm, that operates inside of a repurposed shipping container
If you’ve been looking into indoor farming from home, you’ve probably come across a container farm as a sustainable option.
A container farm is an indoor vertical farm, that operates inside of a repurposed shipping container.
These farms grow crops using hydroponic systems, artificial lighting, and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology.
Container farms are popular for their ability to yield a lot of produce in a compact space.
But before you get started, there’s some vital information you should learn.
In this article, you’ll learn what you should find out before starting a container farm.
1. What type of hydroponic system does it use?
There are many different types of hydroponic systems.
The type of hydroponic system a container farm uses will influence compatible crops, maintenance, and its advantages and disadvantages.
For example, recirculating systems like nutrient film technique (NFT), allow the farm to reuse water, cutting back on water use, and work best with quick-growing leafy greens.
2. How is the hydroponic system controlled?
How the hydroponic system is controlled, will determine how much additional labor you need in order to operate it.
If it’s an automated system, like our Pure Greens Container Farms, you’ll save time and energy.
If it’s a more basic system, you’ll have to put in more work to get the results you desire.
3. How is the environment controlled?
How the inside environment of the container farm is controlled, depends on the level of CEA technology that’s been installed.
A basic refrigerated container, with no modifications, will regulate indoor temperature to some degree, but it won’t be easily adjustable or precise.
On the other hand, more controls like temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide will result in perfect growing conditions for your crops, improving quality and yields.
4. Where can you put it?
One of the benefits of container farming is the ability to grow food in any climate and in densely populated urban areas.
But before starting your container farm, you’ll need to know if you have the proper space for it.
You need to make sure you have enough room on all sides of the farm, level ground, a proper connection to water, and an electrical source.
5. What preparation do I need to do before starting?
The preparation you put into starting a container farm will depend on your personal situation, such as whether you already have the proper space, tools, and materials for it.
Additionally, you’ll want to consider preplanning your budget and what crops you’d like to grow so that you can adjust your expectations accordingly.
6. What do I need to buy separately?
Whether you’re renting or purchasing your container farm, you’ll need to know what materials and equipment it comes with, so you can plan to purchase anything else separately.
These things will need to be accounted for in your budget, and it’s best to know before starting in order to minimize financial surprises.
7. How much work does operating one unit require?
If you already have plenty of time on your hands, this might be less of a concern.
But if you’re only going to be able to put in a few hours of work each week, you might want to look into getting some help.
In general, you should budget for at least 20 hours of work time for your container farm each week.
8. Who will do the labor?
As mentioned in the previous section, if you can’t fully commit your time to maintaining your container farm, you should look into hiring someone.
If you plan to hire someone, you’ll have to make sure to include that in your budgeting as well.
And if you’re going to take on the work all on your own, you should ensure that you’ll have enough time to do so before you start.
9. What plants can I grow in it?
Before starting a container farm, you should know what crops you’re most interested in growing.
Container farms grow a lot of different types of crops, but the most ideal ones will depend on what type of hydroponic system it uses.
You’ll want to make sure your desired crops align with what you’ll actually be able to grow.
10. What are the expected yields?
Whether you’re using the container farm to feed people or to sell your produce, knowing what to expect is important.
You should make sure the farm has the ability to yield enough to match your needs, both in terms of mouths to feed and profit.
Now that you know what questions to ask, you can start finding the answers!
Check out our container farming guides on our website puregreensaz.com or call 602–753–3469 for more information.
WRITTEN BY
Pure Greens Arizona LLC
Pure Greens’ container-based grow systems offer a variety of interior layouts, sizes, and options so customers can create a farm that meets their needs.
Strawberry Growers Take Production Up in The Air to Answer Market Demand
Due to growing demand and challenges in cultivation and labour, more and more former open field strawberry growers have shifted to hydroponic or semi-hydroponic cultivation over the last couple of years
From Open Field to Semi-Hydroponic to Standing or Hanging Systems
Due to growing demand and challenges in cultivation and labour, more and more former open field strawberry growers have shifted to hydroponic or semi-hydroponic cultivation over the last couple of years. The next step for these growers is to lift their growing system in order to improve the working conditions, irrigation possibilities, and to lower the disease pressure. “The growing interest in the market in the berry range has pushed the industry to create new tools and production systems that years ago were unthinkable, thus creating a large decrease in labor costs”, says Isabel Ruis with Hydroponic Systems.
Growing production
The global production of strawberries has grown exponentially over the last decades. Especially in Europe, the acreage has increased by almost 50%. According to the numbers of trade maps also the Northern and Central American production has grown by almost 30 percent. “This huge development has been caused by the strong increase in demand, as strawberries are considered a fruit with a high content in vitamin C, almost equal to Citrus fruits”, says Isabel. The Spanish company has specialized in offering efficient solutions for hydroponic cultivation. “In Spain, around 93 to 95% of the production of the strawberry acreage can be found in the province of Huelva. This production is mostly destined for the European markets. The demand for higher quality and production urged growers to invest in the growing conditions and techniques, aiming at efficient use of resources, so to minimize the impact on the environment’, says Isabel.
She explains how in traditional ways of growing, where simple structures are used to protect the crop and there’s hardly any control over the climate, there’s also little control over the water and nutrients dosage and costs. “Irrigating strawberries is especially complicated because the crop is often grown under plastic, on very sandy soils with low capacity to retain water. Leaking of the water into the soil and contamination risks also caused criticism on the cultivation, especially from an environmental point of view.” In addition and especially important nowadays the plants being grown at soil level provide a problem for the labour force: the uncomfortable work makes it harder to find workers.
Semi-hydroponic as first step
Over the last years, many growers invested in a semi-hydroponic system: growing in substrates placed on the soil. “The need to rotate crops, developed mainly by family farmers in small areas, has encouraged the investigation of new forms of growth to meet the requirements of today’s markets. Since hydroponic growing can be done at any location, this can also occur close to distribution points and consumption points, therefore, saving on shipping and environmental contamination", Isabel explains.
Now they see how more and more growers chose to elevate their cultivation since it offers better control over the crop, a new opportunity to maximize production in lesser surface and reduce the use of resources further.
Up in the air
Standing or hanging systems have proven to be a solution for further development. The Elevated Hydroponic System, developed by Hydroponic Systems, has been one of the solutions enabling growers to do so. “By elevating the crop, the disease pressure is lowered so the use of chemicals will decrease. And thanks to elevating the crop, the working conditions are way better: more comfortable and more efficient. A reduction of at least 50% for the harvest costs is within reach thanks to these improved and optimized working conditions. And we can higher the production per square meter”, adds Isabel. “This is thanks to the improved growing conditions and to the higher planting density. By lifting the plants, we can grow up to 200.000 plants per hectare.’
She shows how lifting the crop will also reduce the contamination of the soil and leaking of water, making disinfection of the soil and deep fertilizing unnecessary. “The water is used more efficiently and growers get the opportunity to recirculate the drain water. To realize this and guarantee optimal use of water and nutrients, Hydroponic Systems created the spacer piece. This is a plastic gutter system that is used in many greenhouse operations that place their substrate slabs at surface level. The spacer results in better ventilation between the drain channel and the substrate with a reduction of disease pressure and a healthier root system as a result.
Uniform soil
“With this relatively simple solution, the soil is irrigated in a uniform manner, allowing a uniform development of the roots of the strawberry plants. It will result in a better quality of the roots since they deal with fewer diseases as the soil is aired better and the roots aren’t in contact with the drainages. This will reduce the need to apply chemical products”, Isabel says. “And it will result in better performance of the crop: the fruits will benefit from the better nutritional control and both the cultivation quality as the quantity will improve thanks to this.”
“As we can see, the growing interest in the market in the berry range in the last years has made the industry create new tools and production systems that years ago were unthinkable”, Isabel concludes. “Very important in this is also the reduction in labor costs, which is difficult and expensive to find due to the working conditions of working at ground level.
According to “Revista Mercados” in their article on the 02/2019 about the collection of strawberries, in the year 2019 23,000 positions were offered for workers to collect strawberries in Huelva, having only 970 people replied and showed interest, this figure is only 4.2% of the unemployed people registered in this area, showing a lack of interest in a province with 25% unemployment. The development of systems like Hydroponic Elevated Systems permits the growers to be more efficient while investing in quality and production: answering the market demand.”
For more information:
Hydroponic Systems
Murcia, Spain
info@hydroponicsystems.es
+34 968 89 81 81
www.hydroponicsystems.eu
Publication date: Fri 22 May 2020
© HortiDaily.com / Contact
Growing Upwards: Q & A on Vertical Farming
Over time, farming practices have evolved to use less energy, pesticides, water and other needed inputs to grow the foods we depend on. A type of farming that recently has grown in popularity is vertical farming
By Food Insight
OCTOBER 22, 2019
Over time, farming practices have evolved to use less energy, pesticides, water and other needed inputs to grow the foods we depend on.
A type of farming that recently has grown in popularity is vertical farming. Building off the base concept of how greenhouses operate, this agricultural system allows for large-scale farming to occur on vertically inclined surfaces. Fruits and vegetables can be grown without the use of soil or natural sunlight, and the produce is often able to grow faster than it does in a traditional farm setting. A key advantage of vertical farms is that they can operate in urban areas and don’t require wide-open land; their vertical surfaces can be easily incorporated into a city’s existing structures and buildings.
Vertical farming has now been used in locations where large-scale farming previously has not been possible, such as in urban spaces throughout Brooklyn, New York, and Chicago, Illinois. Vertical farming’s small land usage and positive environmental benefits have the potential to increase sustainability, lower food costs, and increase accessibility and food security across the country.
We’ve touched on vertical farming in previous posts, but to take a closer look, we caught up with expert Ricky Stephens, who works with Agritecture, a vertical farming, and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) strategist group.
Q: What is vertical farming?
Vertical farming is the growing of crops in an indoor/controlled environment setting, in vertical stacks. Typically, vertical farming is done without using soil as the main practice. Instead, vertical farming uses practices like: hydroponics (growing plants in sand, gravel or liquid, with added nutrients but without soil), aeroponics (growing plants with roots suspended in air and nutrients delivered in a fine mist), or aquaponics (using the waste produced by farmed fish as nutrients for hydroponically grown plants).
Q: Why do you think vertical farming is being used as an alternative to traditional farming?
The top reasons for using vertical farming that come to mind for me include:
Vertical farming uses significantly less water than traditional farming. Currently, global agriculture accounts for 70 percent of freshwater withdrawals (use of freshwater). Instead of using up so much water directly, vertical farming often utilizes indoor hydroponics to grow crops. Using a recirculating system to recycle water, indoor hydroponics uses up to 70 to 95 percent less water than would be used in a traditional outdoor in-soil setting.
Vertical farming also eliminates the need for pesticides while reducing hazards. By balancing the use of beneficial insects, having heightened biosecurity protocols, and being in a well-controlled indoor environment, vertical farms can operate pesticide-free.
Vertical farming reduces pressures on our overall land use and addresses our concerns surrounding land scarcity. Due to population growth and land degradation, we’re running out of arable land. Furthermore, with the over-development of certain urban areas into industrial-style buildings (factories, warehouses), there is a plethora of vacant and utilizable spaces in cities that are very close to consumers. These areas are suitable for creating controlled, crop-friendly environments that can further “eating local” efforts.
Q: Where do you see vertical farming being able to help our food supply chain from a supply and sustainability standpoint?
Vertical farming moves production closer to the point of consumption—this means potentially less food miles and increased vegetable access. Let’s take one example of a very commonly consumed and desired food item: leafy greens. Currently, 98 percent of the current U.S. leafy greens production occurs traditionally (as outdoor crops) in California and Arizona. Not only are these water-dense produce items grown in severely water-scarce regions, they are then shipped thousands of miles across the country (and sometimes around the world).
As an alternative, vertical farming can be very useful for the leafy greens industry. In fact, because vertical farming is indoors and unaffected by weather conditions, you can grow greater quantities of different types of leafy greens all year round. In turn, this food can be immediately injected into the local food supply, thereby increasing availability and decreasing food loss and food waste during transportation.
In the long term, vertical farms will increase the diversity of crop choices and become more focused on producing different varieties of highly nutritious and frequently consumed products like mushrooms and strawberries. Vertical farms will also play an integral role in our larger movement toward sustainability and supporting local and regional food systems.
Q: What advances do you think will occur/are needed for vertical farming in the next 5–10 years?
We need technology advances that allow normal people—not just tech entrepreneurs or those with monetary funds—to access fair financing for vertical farms. As it currently stands, vertical farming can be cost-prohibitive to launch and start. For vertical farming to become more widely implemented there is a need for innovations and advances that bring down the high initial investment costs. The good news is this has started happening in the greenhouse space already.
Q: What ag (agricultural) technology excites you the most and why?
Soon we will need to feed upwards of 9 billion people in this world. On one hand, ag technology must be better utilized by farmers. On a more global and sustainable level, any technology that will push us all towards a more circular economy is exciting.
Agricultural technology supported by circular economy principles will begin exploring new business models, processes, and bio-stimulants that will play a major role in transforming our food system to be less wasteful and more regenerative.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
My team travels the world educating the broader public on the importance and potential of urban agriculture every chance we get. We have organized several of our own conferences in New York and Atlanta. It’s energizing to be working in a field with so many people who are fueled by honest passion and the pursuit of positive change.
We thank Ricky for his urban ag insights and look forward to seeing how more farming advances like vertical farming can positively impact our food system. To learn more about Agritecture and vertical farming, check out the company’s website here at www.agritecture.com.
Article was written by Lily Yang, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Associate at Virginia Tech in the Department of Food Science and Technology
Digital Image Processing And Analysis For Plant Phenotyping
LemnaTec, based in Aachen, Germany, has been developing hardware and software for plant phenotyping since 1998
LemnaTec, based in Aachen, Germany, has been developing hardware and software for plant phenotyping since 1998. These systems use digital image processing for applications in research and development, which are used in breeding, science, agro- and biotechnology, as well as in the seed industry.
"Digital tools are the key to modern phenotyping", says Fred Corbett with LemnaTec. "Mendel's visual inspection of pea crosses has enabled groundbreaking discoveries in genetics and, even in the 21st century, phenotypic data is essential for plant research and breeding. Today, computer-aided analysis and machine learning are used for solution-oriented phenotyping."
In addition to tailor-made solutions for complex research questions - e.g. large installations for greenhouses and open field systems - LemnaTec supplies a range of products for routine applications in phenotyping and for seed testing.
"The classical "workhorses" for digital phenotyping are imaging sensors, in particular, high-resolution industrial cameras as known from other areas of image processing. These provide data on the size, shape, and color of the test objects", Fred explains.
"For the analysis of physiological properties, more complex sensor systems are also gaining in importance, such as fluorescence cameras that, in combination with special lighting and filters, provide data on the performance of the photosynthesis system of plants. Application-oriented analysis systems also include methods for evaluating plant diseases and pests."
Digital seed test
The digital seed test developed by LemnaTec is an application derived from phenotyping, which provides valuable services in the seed industry and for gene banks in determining germination capacity, germination quality, and seed quality.
"The experience gained from numerous large-scale installations and laboratory systems has been incorporated into a new product line that provides image recognition solutions for reliable documentation, analysis, and evaluation of data", Fred shows.
SeedaixpertThe Seedaixpert belongs to the new Aixpert product series and is suitable for paper-based germination and seedling emergence tests. "Unified imaging and analysis make data reproducible and standardizable. Modern image processing algorithms including machine learning provide reliable and comprehensive data, the quality and information content of which exceeds the classical visual assessment. In addition, the digital image data can be retrieved at any time so that complete documentation of the samples is guaranteed."
The Seedaixpert offers extensive accessories.
For more information:
Fred Corbett
LemnaTec GmbH
Nerscheider Weg 170
52076 Aachen, Germany
Phone: +49 2408 9818514
E-Mail: fred.corbett@lemnatec.de
Internet: http://www.lemnatec.com
Publication date: Tue 19 May 2020
The Decarbonization Promise of Indoor Agriculture is Still in The Seed Stage
The data we do have shows that a combination of efficiency improvements and grid decarbonization can make indoor farms a much better environmental choice for some crops
By Jim Giles
May 21, 2020
Here’s a tale of two chefs.
Both are based in the Midwest and both are preparing a Caesar salad. One uses lettuce shipped from where much of our lettuce is grown: The fields around Monterey, California. The other sources her greens from a nearby indoor farm.
Out in Monterey, the farmer used diesel-powered machinery, pumped water, fertilizer, and pesticides. At the indoor farm, precision systems provided the lettuce with exactly the amount of water and nutrients the crop requires — and no more.
The pickers in California discarded lettuces that didn’t look perfect. That wasn't an issue indoors: Conditions are so well controlled that almost all the crops met consumers’ exacting standards. Finally, when the crop was packed and ready, the indoor farmer drove 20 miles or so to drop the lettuce at our chef’s restaurant. The Monterey produce had to travel 2,000 miles.
Which chef is preparing the more environmentally friendly salad?
Let’s start with the bad news. The story above about indoor farming, a tale about technology can produce dramatic environmental gains — it doesn’t hold true. The Monterey lettuce is currently the better bet, according to a new analysis from the WWF.
For places that are food-insecure, this could be a real game-changer.
The problem with indoor farming, also known as controlled environment agriculture, is the electric grid. Indoor farms use LEDs to light crops. In St. Louis, Missouri, the focus of the WWF study, two-thirds of electricity comes from fossil fuel plants that pump out health-damaging particulates and planet-warming carbon dioxide.
The WWF team combined these and other impacts into a single score that captures total environmental harm. Lettuce grown in St. Louis greenhouses, which supplement LEDs with natural light, scored twice as high as the conventional crop. In a vertical farm lit entirely by LEDs, the difference was threefold.
Now to the good news: Our chef who sources from a nearby indoor farm may not be making the best environmental choice today, but she likely will be soon.
That’s partly because if we look beyond energy use, indoor ag delivers clear benefits. Indoor systems require little or even no pesticides and generate 80 percent less waste. They use less space, which can free up land for biodiversity. The WWF study found that precision indoor water systems use 1 liter of water to produce a kilogram of lettuce; for field-grown lettuce, the figure is 150 liters.
Another reason is that indoor ag’s energy problem is likely to become less serious. Market forces are already adding renewables to the U.S. electricity mix and pushing out coal. Technology improvements in the pipeline also will cut energy use in indoor farms.
PlantLab, a Netherlands-based startup, has developed an LED that’s more efficient in indoor ag settings because it emits light at the exact wavelengths used for photosynthesis. New crop varieties from Precision Indoor Plants, a public-private partnership that is developing seeds specifically for indoor use, may require less light to grow.
This tech is at an early stage, which makes it tough to quantify the future impact. But the data we do have shows that a combination of efficiency improvements and grid decarbonization can make indoor farms a much better environmental choice for some crops. Cutting energy use also will lower costs, making indoor farms competitive on price. It’s fascinating to speculate about what would happen if both these trends came to fruition.
Indoor farms likely would diversify, for starters. At present, indoor farms in urban areas profitably can grow leafy greens but little else. If energy costs come down, cucumbers, berries, and tomatoes also might make financial sense, suggests Julia Kurnik, director of innovation startups for WWF.
When this project ends, key players will already be invested and ready to move ahead with building a pilot system that can be replicated worldwide ...
With more diverse output, the farms could become local hubs that would strengthen the food system’s resilience to extreme weather events and other shocks. "For places that are food-insecure, this could be a real game-changer," Kurnik added.
Venture capitalists already have seen this future; hundreds of millions of dollars have flowed to indoor farming companies in recent years. That’s essential if this industry is to grow, but it’s also great to see an organization such as the WWF in the mix.
After studying the potential, the WWF has convened a diverse group of stakeholders to map out the expansion of indoor ag in St. Louis. In addition to business execs and investors, the group includes civic and community leaders.
"By working as a group to make those decisions," explains the report, "when this project ends, key players will already be invested and ready to move ahead with building a pilot system that can be replicated worldwide, making food production more environmentally sustainable."
I’ll certainly be keeping tabs on progress in St. Louis, and with indoor ag more generally. If you know of a particular project or related technology that deserves a mention, drop me an email at jg@greenbiz.com.
This article was adapted from the GreenBiz Food Weekly newsletter.
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How A Winnipeg Company Wants To Change Agriculture
Conviron has provided plant growth chambers and technology to the top government research agencies, universities and AgBiotech companies in over 90 countries around the world
Here are some other interesting tidbits about Conviron. Founded in 1964 by the Kroft family, CEL Group of Companies is headquartered in Winnipeg, MB. CEL comprises Conviron Canada, USA and Australasia. It also includes Argus Controls, a supplier of plant-centric environmental controls and automation systems used in greenhouse and indoor growing facilities.
Conviron has provided plant growth chambers and technology to the top government research agencies, universities and AgBiotech companies in over 90 countries around the world.
CEO Steve Kroft, often refers to his company’s solutions as 'weather in a box' because they mimic outside conditions and changing seasons over time through the automated control of temperature, light, humidity, irrigation and nutrients. In effect, it's a specialized type of high-tech greenhouse or indoor farm with environmental factors that can be precisely controlled.
The company has also delivered equipment to biotech companies like Medicago for the incubation and germination of tobacco plants critical for their research into plant-based vaccines for Ebola and SARs. Medicago recently announced it has produced a virus-like particle of the novel coronavirus, a first step towards producing a vaccine, which will now undergo preclinical testing.
Chambers range in size from six sq. ft. to over 2,000 sq. ft. depending on the application and includes lighting, temperature and humidity systems as well as a user-friendly control system to create and manipulate any kind of climate regime.
Argus Controls makes controlled environments for plant growth. It provides systems that automate the monitoring and controlling of all horticulture operations through on-site, remote and mobile interfaces.
Dating back to the early 1990s, Conviron has provided NASA with several chambers to support its research related to growing plants in outer space. The University of Guelph uses Conviron chambers and Argus controls systems in their high-tech facility in their research aligned with the Canadian Space Agency and International Space programs.
Since 2005, the National Science Foundation's Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica has been using an Argus control system to operate its food growth chamber that provides fresh vegetables and some much needed light, humidity and green space for the staff and scientists who winter at the station. The system operates the lighting, temperature control, and hydroponic nutrient feeding systems in the chamber, which is programmed and managed remotely from the University of Arizona.
Researchers at University College Dublin in Ireland can reconstruct prehistoric atmospheres using Conviron chambers and investigate plant evolution throughout Earth's history.
When canola was first developed in the 1970s, part of the research was done in Conviron chambers. Canola is the world’s only “Made in Canada” crop. In response to the ban of trans-fatty acids in food products, canola was developed by researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University of Manitoba in the 1970s, using traditional plant-breeding techniques.
Some of the turf used around the greens at Augusta National Golf Club was also developed in Conviron equipment.
Source: Economic Development Winnipeg.
Publication date: Fri 22 May 2020
VIDEO: Growing Healthy Food Indoors
How many of us live in apartments or townhomes and long for a big backyard to start a garden?
How Many of us Live in Apartments or
Townhomes And long For a Big Backyard to Start a Garden?
Well with new technology, indoor herb growers give anyone the chance to grow their own food. You don't even need a backyard anymore to grow healthy foods.
Now, you can do it all from the comfort of your home. In this article, we're going to talk about our favorite indoor herb grower right now and why you should try it for yourself!
Read more
Autogrow Cracks The Yield Prediction Code With FarmRoad
After three years of research, development, lab and farm trials; Autogrow’s FarmRoad solution has set the global benchmark for crop yield prediction with an initial 90 percent accuracy rate
After three years of research, development, lab and farm trials; Autogrow’s FarmRoad solution has set the global benchmark for crop yield prediction with an initial 90 percent accuracy rate.
“Accurately predicting harvest time and yield is the holy grail of agriculture. It allows clarity of availability to the entire food chain from the grower to the marketer and on to the consumer. Getting 90 percent accuracy rate up to six weeks out in our first three farms has been exceptional,” says CEO Darryn Keiller.
“Under-production and over-production can financially impact a farm. Under supply brings both less revenue, potential financial penalties from purchasers e.g. supermarket chains and the need to buy off a competitor to meet contractual requirements. Over production creates a surplus, which is then sold on the open market, usually at a price less than market value. It’s an unpalatable and expensive roller coaster ride.”
“When you consider the numbers, the ROI (return on investment) of increasing yield prediction of tomatoes by 10 percent - from 80 to 90 percent - based on a 30ha grower producing 60kg/sqm could be up to USD $1.3million. Savings can also be made with regards to labor by automating manual forecasting and through increased efficiency of farming practices.”
FarmRoad’s Yield Prediction model has initially been created to service large scale greenhouse tomato producers combining the biophysical understanding of crop varieties, with crop and environmental data and proprietary A.I. based models and engines. The service is built and hosted on AWS cloud, and can be delivered to any enterprise farm operator, anywhere in the world.
“Not only do we have on average 90 percent accuracy but we are achieving that working with three different growers in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, using a mix of hydroponic substrate and soil and utilizing three different tomato cultivars - Marnax by Axia Seeds, Maxeza by Enza Zaden and Merlice by De Ruiter Seeds; showing the flexibility of our AI-based prediction,” says Mr. Keiller.
Accurate yield prediction is dependent on available data and variables include weather, pest and pathogen events and management practices. The industry baseline for large scale greenhouse production ranges from no prediction to 80 percent certainty up to two weeks in advance for the more experienced growers. FarmRoad is 90 percent accurate from one to six weeks in advance and anticipates achieving 95 percent accuracy within six months.
“Tomatoes are one of the most complex plants to apply yield prediction, but there is also a substantial amount of data available due to the crop registration techniques growers utilize. The key to prediction is the availability of data and we have been incredibly lucky to work with some fantastic growers with over 40+ years of experience who have shared their knowledge and data,” says Chief Technology Officer Jonathan Morgan.
“The first step is getting the data, but the biggest challenge has been turning the data into a form that works. When you look at environmental data, it is great for controlling systems but it’s not easy to go from the real-time data to a prediction of how plants are going to grow. When you also add in unexpected variables like a grower changing from loose pick to truss tomatoes half-way through the growing cycle, then your accuracy rate can decrease.”
With yield prediction achieved, Autogrow is currently developing crop registration and crop planning services.
“Yield Prediction by FarmRoad, is one of our many industry-leading services designed to enhance crop productivity and make farm operators more profitable. With their personalized yield model, growers can utilize their prediction and trends to materially improve farm profitability. The future is A.I. and digital farming, and we look forward to working with large scale growers who are looking to utilize their own data and gain a competitive and financial edge,” says Mr. Keiller.
For more information www.farmroad.io or email info@farmroad.io
MEDIA QUERIES
Kylie Horomia, Head of Communications
(e) Kylie.horomia@autogrow.com
(m) +6421 733 025
(w) www.autogrow.com www.farmroad.io www.cropsonmars.com
Sales queries – info@farmroad.io
About Autogrow
Autogrow leverages the power of technology, data science, and plant biology to provide indoor growers affordable, accessible, and easy-to-use innovation – 24/7, anywhere in the world.
Our hardware, software, and data solutions support growers and resellers in over 40 countries producing over 100 different crop types.
We are the experts in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and continue to stay ahead of a rapidly evolving landscape.
Autogrow, Level 1, Building 3, 61 Constellation Drive, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 0632, New Zealand