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Outstanding Women in Ag Receive WIA Demeter Award of Excellence
BOSTON, July 27, 2021 – Three ag industry all-stars have been named recipients of the Women in Agribusiness Demeter Award of Excellence, an honor bestowed each year to women who have achieved excellence in their field and/or who have exhibited an outstanding contribution to the agribusiness industry. Presented by HighQuest’s Women in Agribusiness (WIA) division, this year’s recipients are: Dr. Toni Bucci of AgBiome, Anne Cleary of Wilbur-Ellis and Dr. Vicky Salin of Texas A&M University.
Each recipient will be recognized at the 10th annual Women in Agribusiness (WIA) Summit, which will be held in-person (and online) this year at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, September 21-23.
The annual award, so named for Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture, also seeks out women who have demonstrated a positive impact on her clients, her company, her colleagues or the agribusiness sector as a whole.
Dr. Toni Bucci
Chief Operating Officer, AgBiome
Dr. Toni Bucci has over 20 years of experience in the agricultural sector – from an R&D biologist at BASF to currently AgBiome’s chief operating officer, a position she has held since 2018. She also leads the commercial organization where she is responsible for attracting and retaining scientific and commercial talent. Under Toni’s leadership, Howler®, a revolutionary fungicide that harnesses the power of the plant microbiome, was launched and is now registered in 49 U.S. states. She is currently working on her second fungicide launch – Theia™ – which promises wide success as well. “During this time, she has led an organization in product development and growth, motivated her colleagues, and has inspired the industry of agribusiness as a whole to become the best it can be,” as was said in her nomination letter.
Toni also has stood out in her efforts in mentorship by growing the company’s program. “Toni’s approach to AgBiome’s mentor program is rooted in attracting and retaining the brightest talent. With a passion for building female leaders in science, Toni is an example and inspiration for her female colleagues entering the field. Her enthusiasm for mentoring and sharing her knowledge and skills with others is highly appreciated by all of her AgBiome mentees,” as was noted in her nomination application.
Anne Cleary
Vice President of Human Resources, Wilbur-Ellis
Anne Cleary was commended in her Demeter nomination letter for her “ability to adapt and even anticipate change that has helped her to lead positive business transformation. And she’s done so with agility, a strong sense of vision, and always with humor and empathy.” She also is credited with centralizing the company's HR systems across the U.S., Canada and Asia – and for the creation of THRIVE (a nod to the company’s purpose) to unify and enhance the recruiting, onboarding and ‘reboarding’ experience for all employees.
When in-depth analysis of the company’s demographics revealed that women represented only 30 percent of their workforce, Anne drove efforts to look at pay equity, growth opportunities, recruiting practices, and culture for women. This led to the establishment of the first employee resource group, the Women of Wilbur-Ellis (WoW), and to incorporating diversity and inclusion as part of the broader company business plans.
John Thacher, Wilbur-Ellis’ executive chairman, said: “She turned it [the HR department] from a transaction-focused organization into a strategic business partner.” Added John Buckley, company president, and CEO, “When I came to the company four years ago, it was important to me that our HR leader possesses the skillset I knew we would need. But equally important, did they have their finger on the employee's pulse? Did they have a clear understanding of what employees are thinking and feeling? With Anne, we have both.”
Dr. Vicky Salin
Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University
Dr. Salin was one of the founding supporters and board members of WIA and has been instrumental in growing WIA’s student scholarship program. “Dr. Salin was eager to be a part of the creation of Women in Agribusiness in 2012 and remained the on advisory board for several years,” said Joy O’Shaughnessy, WIA event director and COO of HighQuest. “She continues to be involved in this event in various ways, including supporting several of her ag students in attending the WIA Summit each year. This feeds the workforce pipeline and results in a high percentage of these students becoming the new hires with our attending companies.”
In her work, Vicky, who also is chair of the Intercollegiate Faculty of Agribusiness at Texas A&M University, researches food safety, traceability, and efficiency of enterprises involved in food distribution. She provides economic and financial research for the Scientific Advisory Council of the World Food Logistics Organization, an affiliate of the Global Cold Chain Alliance. Vicky serves on the Board of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, where she monitors entrepreneurial ventures and other means to commercialize agricultural technologies to enhance food security in Africa.
Learn more about the Demeter Award and the Women in Agribusiness Summit at womeninag.com, and visit us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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About Women in Agribusiness
Women in Agribusiness (WIA) is a business unit of HighQuest Partners, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) global agribusiness consulting, events, and media firm. The Women in Agribusiness Summit took root in 2012, and since then initiatives have grown to include WIA Membership, WIA Demeter Award of Excellence, Student Scholarships, and the WIA Today blog. Learn more at womeninag.com.
Urban Crop Solutions SpaceBakery Project Wins First Place At Global Space Exploration Conference
The winning SpaceBakery project is an interdisciplinary cooperative research project between seven partners, of whom, Urban Crop Solutions is the lead vertical farming technology and research partner
The Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX) took place in St. Petersburg in June 2021. The conference brought together several leaders and decision-makers in the international science and space exploration community. Urban Crop Solutions and partners were selected to present two projects of the 250 that were presented during the conference. The SpaceBakery project was awarded the first-place prize.
Organised by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and Roscosmos (the Russian space agency responsible for space flights and aerospace research), the conference gathered several international stakeholders from the science and space exploration community, on a year which marks the 60th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s spaceflight.
The winning SpaceBakery project is an interdisciplinary cooperative research project between seven partners, of whom, Urban Crop Solutions is the lead vertical farming technology and research partner. The objective of the consortium is to develop the next generation of bread products to support future space missions and aid the long-term survival of settlers on Mars, in addition to being applicable for modern agriculture. The overall goals and objectives of the consortium were presented by the Puratos Group (Belgium), the leading commercial partner of the SpaceBakery project.
Urban Crop Solutions also presented another joint project, the ‘variable climate biosphere’ that they have designed. The variable climate biosphere is a macro life support system that aims to create the best-suited environment for humans and plants to thrive together during extended periods of isolation, either on another planet – namely, the moon and Mars – or on earth in an underground shelter. The presentation showcased the 3D renderings, as well as the results that have so far been obtained.
“Our approach to partner with ambitious global industrial groups and research institutions for controlled indoor farming solutions is finally paying off. We feel that we are at the cutting-edge with our technology, products and services in the fast-emerging urban farming industry – whether it is in space, in cities, on the surface or beneath it.” – Maarten Vandecruys, CTO and co-founder of Urban Crop Solutions
ABOUT UCS
Urban Crop Solutions is a Belgium-based pioneer in the fast-emerging technology of indoor vertical farming. It has developed over the past six years, 220+ plant growth recipes in its research centre in Waregem, Belgium. To date, UCS has delivered over 25 projects in multiple global locations. Their farms are being operated both for commercial and research purposes. Uses range from the production of leafy greens, microgreens, and herbs for food retail, service and industrial use, and scientific research across multiple institutions.
Website: www.urbancropsolutions.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbancropsolutions
Twitter: www.twitter.com/U_C_Solutions
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/urbancropsolutions
For more information on this press release, on Urban Crop Solutions and their products and services, or the SpaceBakery project, you may contact Maarten Vandecruys, Serge Ameye or Lucie Beckers.
Maarten Vandecruys
Founder & CTO, UCS
maarten.vandecruys@urbancropsolutions.com
Serge Ameye,
Space, Tunnels & Special Projects, UCS
serge.ameye@marsbakingsociety.space
Lucie Beckers,
Research Manager Agronomy, Puratos Group
LBeckers@puratos.com
Nature Fresh Farms Wins Big In The Tomato Category At This Year’s Leamington Greenhouse Vegetable Awards
The Greenhouse Competitions has been a local event that Nature Fresh Farms looks forward to every year and is always proud of placing and especially honored to earn top spots for some of their favorite varieties!
Leamington, ON (June 15th, 2021) – Greenhouse Competitions in Leamington, Ontario, made a return this year hosting its annual Greenhouse Vegetable Awards this past weekend. Showcasing the best greenhouse-grown produce from leading North American growers, family-owned Nature Fresh Farms came back to the competition, prevailing in their yearly tradition of receiving many top accolades, including overall winner of the Hottest Tomato with their newest Umami Cherry Tomato, in addition to winning the entire Bite-Sized Tomato category with their Axiany placing third, Orange Cherry receiving second, and their Umami Cherry Tomato awarded first place.
Nature Fresh Farms took home awards in the following categories:
- Best Overall Tomato
- Best Tomato on the Vine Cluster Tomato Category 1st & 2nd Place
- Best Bite-Sized Tomato Category 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place
- Best Specialty Tomato Category
- Sweetest Strawberry Category 2nd Place
- Coolest Cucumber, English Cucumber Category 2nd Place
- Hottest Tomato, Beefsteak Tomato Category 2nd Place
- Hottest Tomato, Roma Tomato Category 3rd Place
- Perfect Pepper, Orange Bell Category 2nd Place
- Perfect Pepper, Red Bell Category 2nd Place
- Perfect Pepper, Yellow Bell Category 2nd Place
The Greenhouse Competitions has been a local event that Nature Fresh Farms looks forward to every year and is always proud of placing and especially honored to earn top spots for some of their favorite varieties!
“Every year this event draws a lot of local attention with the grower base,” shared Director of Sales, Matt Quiring. “This year’s event presented us with a clean sweep on the Bite-Sized Tomato Category taking home 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in one of the most highly sought-after Tomato categories.
In addition to that, we walked away with the Best Cluster, Best Specialty Tomato, and Best Overall Tomato for the 2nd consecutive year the contest has run. It is always great validation to see that our growing processes and seed selection strategies are paying off. With this year being our first year entering into the strawberry segment, we are excited to have also received 2nd place overall proving that we will be a force to contend with in the future!”
Nature Fresh Farms is thrilled to be a Farm Level Sponsor with all funds raised from the Greenhouse Vegetable Awards going to R.E.A.C.H International. This local charity has continuously hosted this annual competition which celebrates Essex County as being the largest greenhouse industry in North America. As a recognized and registered Canadian charity, R.E.A.C.H International’s humanitarian efforts assist the poor all over the world with their main project currently in Uganda.
Lead photo: Matt Quiring (left); Benny Teichroeb (right)
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About Nature Fresh Farms -
Continuously expanding, Nature Fresh Farms has become one of the largest independent, vertically integrated greenhouse vegetable farms in North America. As a year-round grower with farms in Leamington, ON, Delta, OH, and Mexico, Nature Fresh Farms prides itself on consistently delivering exceptional flavor and quality to key retailers throughout North America, while continuing to innovate and introduce more viable and sustainable growing and packaging solutions.
SOURCE:
Nature Fresh Farms | info@naturefresh.ca T: 519 326 1111 | www.naturefresh.ca
2021 CEA Awards
We are excited to announce the winners of the 2021 CEA Awards. The awards were established to recognize distinguished individuals and organizations in the Controlled Environment Agriculture industry across North America
We are excited to announce the winners of the 2021 CEA Awards. The awards were established to recognize distinguished individuals and organizations in the Controlled Environment Agriculture industry across North America.
The winners were selected by a prestigious, independent awards committee comprised of agriculture professionals from Artemis, Cargill, Fluence by OSRAM, and Schneider Electric. The committee received over 130 qualified nominations for the awards and selected 11 category winners and 3 honorable mention awards.
“It has been inspiring to see our industry step up through the pandemic and continue innovating in every facet of the value chain. I am privileged to honor the outstanding contributors via the 2021 CEA Awards,” said Steve Graves, Vice President of Business Development at Fluence by OSRAM and Committee Member.
“All of the winners have had a tremendous impact on our industry this past year. It’s an honor to acknowledge the work of these companies and individuals,” said Allison Kopf, CEO of Artemis and Committee Member.
Top Employer Award
This award honors an employer who has created a great workplace environment.
Winner - AppHarvest, Inc.
Honorable Mention - NatureSweet
Brand Excellence Award
This award honors a brand that has recently dominated on store shelves.
Winner - Dream Greens by AeroFarms
Health and Safety Award
This award honors a company or individual who has gone above and beyond to create a safe and healthy workplace, as well as safe and healthy products in the wake of COVID-19.
Winner - Sudeshna Nambiar, Lakeside Produce
Sustainability Award
This award honors a company or individual who has focused on operating a sustainable facility.
Winner - Legion of Bloom
Produce Person of the Year
This award honors an individual who has made an immeasurable impact on the produce industry in the past 12 months.
Winner - Daniel Malechuk, Kalera
Honorable Mention - Hiroki Koga, Oishii
Cannabis Person of the Year
This award honors an individual who has made an immeasurable impact on the cannabis industry in the past 12 months.
Winner - Wanda James, Simply Pure
Innovative New Packaging Award
This award honors innovation in packaging and highlights new packaging concepts that have launched in the past 12 months.
Winner - Mucci Farms
Honorable Mention - Nature Fresh Farms
Innovative New Product Award
This award honors a new product launched in the past 12 months.
Winner - Wendy’s Sandwich Leaves & Salad Blend by Inspired Greens
Disruptor Award
This award honors an individual who has a spirit of innovation and is constantly looking to disrupt the status quo.
Winner - Stephen Ritz, Green Bronx Machine
Rising Star Award
This award honors an individual with < 3 years of experience in the CEA industry.
Winner - Cory Roof, Ogallala Greens
Industry Connector Award
This award honors a consultant or advisor who helps growers make the best decisions possible.
Winner - Agritecture
Congratulations to all of the winners for having an incredible impact on the CEA industry this past year. Stay tuned as we will be sharing each winners’ story on our website over the next few weeks.
Plenty Produce Honored Twice By Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas
Leading vertical farm recognized for its flavorful, crispy lettuce as well as its partnership with Driscoll’s to grow indoor strawberries
Leading vertical farm recognized for its flavorful, crispy lettuce as well as its partnership with Driscoll’s to grow indoor strawberries
May 04, 2021
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Plenty, the flavor-first vertical farming company with a mission to improve the lives of people, plants, and the planet, today announced it has been named a finalist and Honoree in two separate categories for Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards. Plenty was recognized in the 'Established Excellence: 5-14 Years in Business' category honoring the company’s launch of its popular Crispy Lettuce. In addition, Plenty was recognized as an Honoree alongside Driscoll’s, the leading consumer brand in fresh berries, in the Food category for its partnership to grow Driscoll’s proprietary flavorful strawberries year-round in Plenty’s vertical indoor farms.
“There is no question our society and planet are facing deeply troubling times. So, it's important to recognize organizations that are using their ingenuity, impact, design, scalability and passion to solve these problems”
“It's an incredible honor for Plenty to be recognized not only for our achievement in food innovation, but also the work we are doing with partners like Driscoll’s,” said Nate Storey, co-founder, and chief science officer at Plenty. “2021 promises to be a year of continued innovation, as we add more crops to our indoor towers and prepare to open the world’s highest-output vertical farm in Compton, California. We are changing what we eat, how we eat and how we source and distribute our food while preserving our most precious natural resources.”
Launched in July 2020, Plenty's Crispy Lettuce is grown in a controlled environment that allows the plant to reach its full flavor and nutrient potential while protecting it from weather, pest, and pathogen threats. Plenty's Crispy Lettuce delivers a new level of versatility. With the light, fresh crunch consumers crave, it's the perfect salad foundation, crispy injection, or sandwich topping. Find out where to buy Plenty produce here.
The partnership between Driscoll’s and Plenty was announced in October 2020. Together, the two companies are working to bring flavorful strawberry varieties to market, leveraging the benefits of a controlled growing environment while also creating opportunity for berry expansion into regions that have historically been difficult to serve. Read more about the partnership here.
Fast Company's 2021 World-Changing Ideas honors the businesses, policies, projects, and concepts that are actively engaged and deeply committed to pursuing innovation when it comes to solving health and climate crises, social injustice, and economic inequality. Now in its fifth year, the awards showcase some of the world's most inventive entrepreneurs and companies tackling exigent global challenges across transportation, education, food, politics, technology, and more. Plenty was named a finalist out of a total of 4,000 nominees.
“There is no question our society and planet are facing deeply troubling times. So, it's important to recognize organizations that are using their ingenuity, impact, design, scalability and passion to solve these problems,” says Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “Our journalists, under the leadership of senior editor Morgan Clendaniel, have discovered some of the most groundbreaking projects that have launched since the start of 2020.”
The complete list of winners, finalists, and honorees can be found at fastcompany.com.
About the World-Changing Ideas Awards
World Changing Ideas is one of Fast Company's major annual awards programs and is focused on social good, seeking to elevate finished products and brave concepts that make the world better. A panel of judges from across sectors choose winners, finalists, and honorable mentions based on feasibility and the potential for impact. With a goal of awarding ingenuity and fostering innovation, Fast Company draws attention to ideas with great potential and helps them expand their reach to inspire more people to start working on solving the problems that affect us all.
About Driscoll’s
Driscoll’s is the global market leader of fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage, Driscoll’s is a pioneer of berry flavor innovation and the trusted consumer brand of Only the Finest Berries™. With more than 900 independent growers around the world, Driscoll’s develops exclusive patented berry varieties using only natural breeding methods that focus on growing great-tasting berries. A dedicated team of agronomists, breeders, sensory analysts, plant pathologists, and entomologists help grow baby seedlings that are then grown on local family farms. Driscoll’s now serves consumers year-round across North America, Australia, Europe and China in over twenty-two countries. As a fourth-generation grower and the son of one of Driscoll’s founders, J. Miles Reiter serves as Chairman and CEO.
About Plenty
Plenty is an American farming technology company that frees agriculture from the constraints of land, weather, seasons, time, distance, pests, natural disasters, and climate. The company's plant scientists, engineers, and farmers have developed its indoor vertical farming technology to grow nutrient-rich and pesticide-free plants with extraordinary flavor. Plenty’s proprietary towers and intelligent platform make it the only vertical farm that can grow multiple crops with consistently superior flavors and yield. Plenty's flagship farm and headquarters are located in South San Francisco, and the company operates the largest of its kind Research and Development farm in Laramie, Wyoming. Plenty is currently building the world's highest-output, vertical, indoor farm in Compton, California.
Contacts
Driscoll’s: Fran Dillard, press@driscolls.com
Plenty: Jane Gideon, press@plenty.ag
Pure Flavor® Receives International Taste Award For New Cloud 9® Tomato
Strategically grown in high-tech greenhouses in Canada, USA, and Mexico, Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes are available year-round
Leamington, ON (February 1st, 2021) – While consumers continue to look for more healthy snacks in the fresh produce aisle, greenhouse vegetable grower Pure Flavor® is launching their new Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes to help meet the growing demand for consistently flavorful options. After extensive product trials and consumer taste testing, many are heralding the new tomato variety as an everyday snack game changer.
“We taste hundreds of tomatoes every year searching for something special - unique colors, shapes, sizes, but most importantly flavor. From the first taste of the Cloud 9® variety, we knew we had found it”, said Jamie Moracci, President. With fruit like flavor, the new Cloud 9® Tomatoes are going to redefine what snacking tomatoes should taste like as an everyday item, not just as color in a salad. “We have created the Cloud 9® Standard for quality and look forward to consumers enjoying this premium and hand-selected bite-sized tomato every day”, said Moracci.
Strategically grown in high-tech greenhouses in Canada, USA, and Mexico, Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes are available year-round. With a distinct color, unique shape, and a fruit-like flavor profile, Pure Flavor® has conducted extensive product trials in key growing regions to create the appropriate growing formula to consistently produce an exceptional snacking tomato.
“From the first bite, you know this will be memorable: it’s a fresh snacking experience that comes from an unwavering commitment to quality”, commented Matt Mastronardi, Executive Vice-President. Available in a variety of formats, Pure Flavor®’s award-winning Cloud 9® Tomato is available starting February 1st to be shipped throughout North America. “We hand-select a limited quantity of the most vibrant tomatoes so you can enjoy bold, balanced flavor that sweetens any snack or homecooked meal”, said Mastronardi.
Pure Flavor® recently received the prestigious Superior Taste Award Certification from the International Taste Institute (Brussels, Belgium) for the Cloud 9® Tomato. The reviewing Jury, consisting of more than 200 renowned European Chefs & Sommeliers from over 20 countries, critically tested & analyzed the Cloud 9® Tomato and highlighted these characteristics to award the product the Superior Taste designation:
Very clear, ripe tomato flavor with a marked sweetness; the taste lingers for a long time on your palate
These tomatoes have an original shape, and the size makes them ideal as a snack or for use in the kitchen
An intense red color with a soft texture and sweet taste; nice and juicy – good balance between sweetness & acidity
The product is very versatile; can be used in numerous different recipes and types of cuisines, suitable as a snack, in pasta, salads, stews, with various proteins (beef, poultry, fish), or even a Gazpacho
“It’s a strict process where all products are blind tasted; this means that the samples are anonymized, we do not see the packaging and do not know the brand name nor the producers’ name - we don’t even know from which country the product comes from. This forces us to be completely objective as we do the sensory analysis. Only truly good products are certified”, stated Stijn Roelandt – Sous-Chef at Hof van Cleve, 3 Michelin stars and member of the Jury, International Taste Institute.
The launch of a sweeter snacking tomato comes at a time when consumers are looking to enjoy a wider variety of healthy foods to eat at home. Cloud 9® offers consumers a healthy new snack option that will “make life’s sweetest moments even sweeter” – figuratively and of course, quite literally.
Video #1: https://youtu.be/CrsCQTszdp0
Video #2: https://youtu.be/hQIwq8M2Tfs
“The award-winning Cloud 9® tomatoes burst with a fruity sweetness that enriches any dish or eating occasion, every recipe you create deserves to be a showstopper”, said Chris Veillon, Chief Marketing Officer.
In anticipation of the new product launch, Pure Flavor® spent the last 16+ months developing the Cloud 9® brand to ensure that consumers could go beyond the package to enjoy all aspects of the tomato.
“Our team has developed dozens of recipes, conducted in person tasting surveys before the pandemic and hundreds of digital preference surveys during the Love For Fresh campaign late last fall, to creating engaging web & social content in lifestyle situations – we needed to effectively communicate that Cloud 9® is not just another salad topper, it’s the sweetness you crave with the quality you deserve. We think it’s a tiny taste of heaven™”, said Veillon.
To learn more about Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes, please visit: https://www.pure-flavor.com/cloud9/
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About Pure Flavor® -
Pure Flavor® is a family of greenhouse vegetable growers who share a commitment to bringing A Life of Pure Flavor™ to communities everywhere. Our passion for sustainable greenhouse growing, strong support for our retail & foodservice customers, and focus on engaging consumers is built on a foundation drawn from generations of growing expertise.
We are the next generation of vegetable growers, inspired to put quality, flavor, and customers first by providing greenhouse-grown vegetables from our farms that are strategically located throughout North America.
About the International Taste Institute –
The International Taste Institute, founded in 2005 and based in Brussels, Belgium, evaluates and certifies the taste of food and drink from all over the world. Its jury is composed of over 200 renowned Chefs and Sommeliers from 15 European culinary or sommeliers associations.
The Taste Institutes performs objective sensory evaluation: its jury follows a rigorous blind tasting methodology in which product samples are anonymized to avoid any bias in the scoring. In addition to the scoring of the various sensory analysis criteria, the jury provides comments and eventually suggestions for further product improvement or food pairing suggestions.
* New Deadlines * Center of Excellence Announces: Indoor Farming "Best in Class" Awards!
Companies that score the highest in each category will be nominated for an “Indoor Ag Center Best in Class Award” (TM)
Center of Excellence Announces
Indoor Farming
"Best in Class" Awards!
Who Can Enter
Indoor Vertical Farms
Plant Factories
Greenhouses
Grow System Solution Manufacturers
Lighting Companies
How to Enter
Go to: https://indooragcenter.org/awards/
New Deadlines for Submissions:
Manufacturers: Feb 1, 2021
Growers: Feb 15, 2021
There Is No Fee To Enter
Companies that score the highest
in each category
will be nominated for an
“Indoor Ag Center Best in Class Award” (TM).
Learn More
Our vision is to accelerate the growth of the indoor farming industry. We believe we can do that by recognizing excellence. Consequently, we have embarked upon an ambitious program to collect bench-marking data on indoor farm operations and equipment used to run vertical farms and greenhouses. Each year we will review the data and publicly recognize key stakeholders for their excellence in several categories.
iFarm Is Taking Part In The Grand Finale of The Global Startup Awards Day
The award ceremony will be held on January 27. It is a great honour for us to be nominated
iFarm is taking part in the Grand Finale of the Global Startup Awards Day. The award ceremony will be held on January 27. It is a great honour for us to be nominated.
We appreciate you taking the time to help us grow!
Vote for iFarm
Center of Excellence Announces: Indoor Farming "Best in Class" Awards!
Indoor Farming
"Best in Class" Awards!
Who Can Enter
Indoor vertical farms
Plant factories
Greenhouses
Grow system solution manufacturers
Lighting companies
How to Enter
Go to: https://indooragcenter.org/awards/
Deadline for Submissions: January 15, 2021
Companies that score the highest in each category will be nominated for an “Indoor Ag Center Best in Class Award” (TM).
Learn More
Our vision is to accelerate the growth of the indoor farming industry. We believe we can do that by recognizing excellence. Consequently, we have embarked upon an ambitious program to collect bench-marking data on indoor farm operations and equipment used to run vertical farms and greenhouses. Each year we will review the data and publicly recognize key stakeholders for their excellence in several categories.
Become a Member of the Center of Excellence for Indoor Ag
Know an organization or an individual who would like to join the Center? Please forward this email.
Anyone can sign up for our mailing list or a free or paid membership by going to: https://indooragcenter.org
We are dedicated to providing unbiased insights on indoor and vertical farming.
Join the Center of Excellence
INDIA: Simply Fresh Receives ‘Telangana Best Brand Award’ by CMO Asia
The awards recognize, identify, and celebrate outstanding brand building & marketing initiatives by organizations, individuals, and teams for their innovation, uniqueness, consistency, and performance
The Award Recognizes The Best
And Most Innovative Brands Across Categories
Hyderabad, 01 December 2020: Simply Fresh, has been awarded the ‘Telangana Best Brand’ award by CMO Asia ‘2020. The award was presented at a virtual felicitation ceremony. The awards recognize, identify, and celebrate outstanding brand building & marketing initiatives by organizations, individuals, and teams for their innovation, uniqueness, consistency, and performance.
Simply Fresh, an innovative agri-tech startup, using precision farming techniques, has commissioned India’s largest 140-acre ‘Plant Factory’ in Telangana. The company uses plant profiling & nutrient management in climate-controlled greenhouses. The greenhouses have retractable roofs & walls, are equipped with growing systems (benches, gutters, pots, etc.), and supported by AI-driven fertigation and irrigation system. Simply Fresh leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) through its proprietary software Farm in A Box (FiAB), which tracks the plant’s life cycle from the initial stage of seeding, plant profiling, monitoring plant health, and nutrient level requirement at each stage of growth. This gives the brand ‘Simply Fresh’ the unique attributes of transparency and ensures quality and consistency in the product.
Speaking on the recognition Mr. Sachin Darbarwar, Founder and CEO of Simply Fresh India said “It is a great honour to receive the award from CMO Asia this year. The award encourages us to work hard and bring outstanding quality for produce including nutraceutical crops, medicinal & aromatic plants, leafy greens, and vine crops using precision farming techniques; for the customers through sustainable agriculture practices.”
About Simply Fresh India:
Simply Fresh Private Limited was founded in 2013 by two Indian software engineers, based in Australia, Sachin Darbarwar (CEO) and Shweta Darbarwar (CMO). With a strong understanding of the technical processes associated with farming techniques, the duo shifted back to their hometown Hyderabad, where they started implementing the latest farming techniques that are inspired by international farming practices.
Simply Fresh uses global technology in farming based on international standards using precision farming techniques. The farm uses AI technology in farming for growing, nourishing, picking, and processing. Farming uses sustainable practices that do not exhaust natural resources. Simply Fresh Farms produces a full line of Medicinal plants and fresh produce year-round at our greenhouses located in Hyderabad. They are a grower-owned processor adhering to industry-leading food safety and quality standards.
For more information please Visit Us on: simplyfresh.co.in
For more information please contact: KONNECTIONS
Anurag Kumar - 8686072400 / anurag.kumar@konnections.co.in
Scottish Technology Firm, IGS, Named As A 2020 Red Herring Top 100 North America Winner
IGS is an agritech innovator delivering state-of-the-art vertical farming technology designed to help producers improve the productivity of their crops – including yield, quality and consistency – whilst dramatically driving down the cost of power and labour
30 November 2020
Scottish-based agritech and smart spaces business, IGS Limited, has been named amongst the winners of Red Herring’s Top 100 North America 2020 event, which recognises some of the world’s most exciting and innovative technology companies.
IGS is an agritech innovator delivering state-of-the-art vertical farming technology designed to help producers improve the productivity of their crops – including yield, quality and consistency – whilst dramatically driving down the cost of power and labour. The company was shortlisted from thousands of entries before being invited to present at Red Herring’s virtual conference on November 17th and 18th where they were selected to join the final 100 winners.
Previous winners of the awards include household names such as Alibaba, Kakao, Skype, Spotify, Twitter and YouTube.
David Farquhar, CEO of IGS, commented: “We are delighted to see IGS included in the Red Herring’s Top 100 North America 2020 list. It’s an incredible accolade for a relatively small company based in Scotland to have been recognised alongside major global players in the world of technology and innovation. This achievement is truly testament to the ingenuity and forward-thinking approach of our team.”
Industry experts, insiders and journalists who examined the entrants against a wide variety of criteria including financial performance, innovation, business strategy, and market penetration. Winners were selected from a wide variety of verticals, from FinTech and Artificial Intelligence to Security, IoT, and many more industries.
“2020’s crop of Top 100 winners has been among our most intriguing yet,” said Red Herring chairman Alex Vieux, “What has excited me most is to see so many people forging niches in high-tech and cutting-edge sectors. Some of the technical wizardry and first-rate business models showcased at the conference has been fantastic to learn about. We believe IGS embodies the drive, skill and passion on which tech thrives. IGS should be proud of its achievement - the competition was incredibly strong.”
A full list of the 2020 Red Herring Top 100 North America Winners is available here.
Ends
Notes to editors:
For more information: please contact Kate Forster on kate@intelligentgrowthsolutions.com / +44 7787 534999 or Georgia Lea on georgia@intelligentgrowthsolutions.com / +44 7897 539954.
About IGS:
Founded in 2013, IGS brought together decades of farming and engineering experience to create an agritech business with a vision to revolutionise the indoor growing market. Its commitment to innovation has continued apace and it has evolved the applications of its technology beyond agriculture to create solutions for a wide variety of indoor environments which enhance life for people, plants and animals.
IGS launched its first vertical farming demonstration facility in August 2018, based at the James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie.
For more information visit www.intelligentgrowthsolutions.com or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Nature Fresh Farms Wins Presidents Choice Fresh Product of The Year Award
Each year the award is distributed by Loblaw Companies Limited to one of their nominees. The criteria requires the product to be unique and stand alone as first to market in Canada, additionally, it must be a commercial success
Leamington, ON (November 25, 2020) – This year Nature Fresh Farms proudly accepted the PC Fresh Product of the Year Award for their Ontario Greenhouse Mixiany Cherry Tomatoes.
Each year the award is distributed by Loblaw Companies Limited to one of their nominees. The criteria requires the product to be unique and stand alone as first to market in Canada, additionally, it must be a commercial success, that is, it needed to have generated further sales and profit, thus having a major impact on the category for the period. The winner is determined by a ballot vote by colleagues of Loblaw Companies Ltd, with the award being presented virtually this year.
“We are honored and excited to receive this award as it truly is a testament to our team’s commitment to research and development,” said Vice President John Ketler. “Innovation is an integral part of the Nature Fresh Farms identity and thanks to our Discovery Center we are able to bring fresh flavorful product, like our Mixiany Tomatoes, to market.”
The Mixiany Cherry Tomatoes were performing very well in their research trials and were officially launched in Spring of 2020. This is a significant accomplishment for Nature Fresh Farms as the criteria for the award covered products launched between Fall 2017 to Summer 2020.
“We’d like to thank the entire LBL-PC team for their support and confidence in our product,” shared Director of Sales, Matt Quiring. “Our Mixiany Cherry Tomatoes is just one example of how our devotion to quality and flavor is reflected in our products and it is extremely rewarding to see it received so well by both Loblaws and our consumers.”
Nature Fresh Farms research team works hard at identifying these new varieties that taste exceptional and continue to look for new opportunities to offer more products to consumers. PC Greenhouse Mixiany is available in supermarkets owned and operated by Loblaw Companies Ltd and can be found in Ontario, Quebec and The East.
-30-
About Nature Fresh Farms -
Continuously expanding, Nature Fresh Farms has become one of the largest independent, vertically integrated greenhouse vegetable farms in North America. As a year-round grower with farms in Leamington, ON, Delta, OH, and Mexico, Nature Fresh Farms prides itself on consistently delivering exceptional flavor and quality to key retailers throughout North America, while continuing to innovate and introduce more viable and sustainable growing and packaging solutions.
SOURCE: Nature Fresh Farms | info@naturefresh.ca T: 519 326 1111 | www.naturefresh.ca
80 Acres Farms Finalist At 2020 Red Herring Top 100 North America
Finalists for the awards are among the continent’s brightest and most innovative private ventures. Red Herring’s editorial team has chosen their place among North America’s tech elite
11.15.2020 (80 Acres Farms) has been selected as a finalist for Red Herring’s Top 100 North America award, one of the technology industry’s most prestigious prizes.
Finalists for the awards are among the continent’s brightest and most innovative private ventures. Red Herring’s editorial team has chosen their place among North America’s tech elite, during the months-long process that takes into account criteria including disruptive impact, proof of concept, financial performance, market footprint, and quality of management.
For over two decades Red Herring’s team has seen through the tech sector’s hype to select brands that have become industry benchmarks. Previous Top 100 finalists have included Alibaba, Facebook, Google, Skype, SuperCell, Spotify, Twitter, and YouTube.
The Top 100 North America has become not only a springboard for some of tech’s biggest names, but a valued and trusted tool for venture capitalists, experts, and analysts predicting trends at the industry’s sharpest edge.
“Selecting finalists for this year’s Top 100 has proved more difficult than ever,” said Alex Vieux, publisher and chairman of Red Herring. “North America has been tech’s beating heart for years–but never have I seen such an exciting, disruptive, and innovative generation as we have in 2020. “
“80 Acres Farms fully deserves its place among our finalists, and I’ve every confidence it will make a significant impact in the tech world,” added Vieux.
"We are thrilled to be recognized by Red Herring for our world-class technology that grows the cleanest and most nutritious fruits and vegetables in our vertical farms for customers in our local communities," said Mike Zelkind, CEO, and Co-founder of 80 Acres Farms.
About Red Herring
Red Herring is a global media company which unites the world’s best high technology innovators, venture investors, and business decision-makers in a variety of forums: a leading innovation magazine, an online daily technology news service, technology newsletters, and major events for technology leaders around the globe. Red Herring provides an insider’s access to the global innovation economy, featuring unparalleled insights on the emerging technologies driving the economy.
About 80 Acres Farms
80 Acres Farms is a vertical farming leader providing customers with the freshest, and most nutritious fruits and vegetables at affordable prices. Utilizing world-class technology and analytics, the Company offers customers a wide variety of pesticide-free food with a longer shelf-life that exceeds the highest standards in food safety.
For further information, please contact us at:
rebecca.haders@eafarms.com | +1 513-910-9089
Agritech Business IGS Wins Innovating Scotland Award At Environment Business Awards
Intelligent Growth Solutions Ltd (IGS), the Scottish-based indoor AgriTech and Commercial Lighting business, was one of 12 companies rewarded for a commitment to sustainability at the 20th VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards, held in Glasgow on 14th November 2019
IGS wins Innovating Scotland award at Environment Business Awards
Agritech business shows sustainability commitment through vertical farming innovation
Edinburgh, Scotland – 20 November 2019 - Intelligent Growth Solutions Ltd (IGS), the Scottish-based indoor AgriTech and Commercial Lighting business, was one of 12 companies rewarded for a commitment to sustainability at the 20th VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards, held in Glasgow on 14th November 2019.
Intelligent Growth Solutions was named winner in the Innovating Scotland Award category, sponsored by ScottishPower, for the way the business has combined and patented technologies to deliver total controlled environment agriculture and address challenges facing food sustainability and supply.
Innovating Scotland Award sponsor Barry Carruthers from ScottishPower with VIBES winner David Farquhar from Intelligent Growth Solutions.
David Farquhar, Chief Executive of IGS, commented: “We are so pleased to be recognized with the Innovating Scotland Award. Our commitment to delivering a sustainable future is at the heart of everything we do at IGS and has been integral to our development. We need solutions that are sustainable, economically viable and provide food security. Our systems will play a part in providing these solutions to a truly worldwide market.
“Our success is testament to the hard work and dedication of our team who work tirelessly to deliver solutions to the challenges facing global food security in an efficient and environmentally friendly way.”
At the event over 400 business figures came together to celebrate the achievements of innovative Scottish businesses which are demonstrating vision in implementing environmental best practice.
Twelve awards were presented on the day recognising the focus and efforts of a range of companies including Intelligent Growth Solutions, Diageo, and Findra in helping to meet Scotland’s ambition to be a world leader on tackling climate change and inspiring others to follow their lead.
The 2019 event marked twenty years of VIBES, which over the years has recognized 220 businesses for their commitment to sustainability within their sector. The announcement of the winners follows a rigorous judging process which included a written application, three rounds of judging panels and a site visit for each of the 36 shortlisted businesses, to assess their environmental processes.
Commenting, Bob Downes, chair of SEPA and head of the VIBES judging panel, said: “The scale of the environmental challenge facing humanity, from climate change to plastics in our oceans, is enormous, with a real urgency to act. The most successful businesses in the future will be those that are not just compliant, but which are also low carbon, low material use, low water use, and low waste, and which see environmental excellence as an opportunity. This is at the core of SEPA’s One Planet Prosperity regulatory strategy.
“It is very encouraging to see the diverse range of businesses, small and large, which are taking important steps to reduce their impact on the environment and which understand how environmental excellence can also benefit their bottom line. I would like to congratulate each of this year’s winning businesses and organizations, and hope that others will be inspired to follow in their footsteps.”
The variety of businesses awarded show that operating sustainably is an option for all, regardless of size, scale or sector. There are many benefits to be enjoyed from embracing the economic opportunity of sustainability, with winners enjoying a range of associated positives including increased resource efficiency, resilience, competitiveness as well as a stronger working culture and implemented best practice in their daily activities.
Each of the 2019 VIBES - Scottish Environment Business Awards winners is now eligible to enter the next European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) which is open to winners and runners up of RSA Accredited award schemes. VIBES is the only Scottish based RSA Accredited award scheme.
For more information on VIBES - Scottish Environment Business Awards please visit www.vibes.org.uk
- Ends -
About IGS: IGS was formed in 2013. Its purpose was to bring indoor horticulture to commercial reality by combining efficient internet-enabled smart lighting with automation and power management. The founders’ experience combined extensive knowledge of horticulture, industrial automation and big data.
IGS launched its first vertical demonstration facility in August 2018 and is now selling a revolutionary controlled-environment growth system. The location of IGS’ facility at the James Hutton Institute, a world-leading crop research facility, was deliberately chosen to enhance collaboration opportunities for the benefit of customers. Scientists and researchers at the Institute are working with the team at IGS to better understand how growing indoors can impact different varieties of crop growth, as well as driving increased productivity.
For more information visit www.intelligentgrowthsolutions.com or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
VIBES - Scottish Environment Business Awards is a strategic partnership between Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Government, Scottish Water, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Zero Waste Scotland, and Energy Saving Trust.
The Awards are further supported by CBI Scotland, the Institute of Directors, the Federation of Small Businesses, Bright Green Business, Quality Scotland and Scottish Council for Development and Industry.
The Awards are accredited by the RSA Environment Awards Accreditation Scheme (www.rsaaccreditation.org).
The full list of winners:
Adapting Scotland Award, sponsored by Adaptation Scotland:
Biomatrix Water Solutions Ltd
Circular Scotland Award, sponsored by Scottish Leather Group:
Renewable Parts Ltd– Refurbishment Centre
Engaging Scotland Award, sponsored by Wave Utilities:
Aberdeen Performing Arts
Hydro Nation Scotland Award, sponsored by Scottish Government:
Diageo- Leven
Innovating Scotland Award, sponsored by Scottish Power:
Intelligent Growth Solutions
Leadership Scotland Award, sponsored by SEPA:
ACS Clothing Ltd
Moving Scotland Award, sponsored by TravelKnowHow
TechnipFMC
Partnership Scotland Award, sponsored by The Glenmorangie Group
Outer Hebrides Local Energy Hub (OHLEH)
Product Scotland Award, sponsored by Devro:
IES
Service Scotland Award, sponsored by Bright Green Business
Vegware
Small Business Scotland Award, sponsored by University of Stirling Management School:
FINDRA
Mucci Farms Wins Best Sustainable Packaging Award At Fresh Summit 2019
“To win this category, in particular, is exciting because sustainability is by far the top of mind subject in the food industry today,” says Emily Murracas, Director of Marketing
October 21st, 2019 (Anaheim, California) – Mucci Farms announces that they have been awarded the top prize for Best Sustainable Packaging at the PMA’s Fresh Summit Conference and Expo for Simple Snack, a plastic-free, backyard compostable series of packaging. “To win this category, in particular, is exciting because sustainability is by far the top of mind subject in the food industry today,” says Emily Murracas, Director of Marketing.
“We’ve been recognized in the industry for flavour and innovation over the years, so we are ecstatic to be able to package those award-winning products in a package that helps to address a global concern. It’s also very special to win in a competitive category that included submissions from packaging suppliers and fellow marketers.”
A vertically integrated greenhouse grower extensively committed to sustainability at all ends of the business, Simple Snack adds to those commitments. The package is composed of a tray made from agricultural waste and the lidding film is made of sugar-cane and wood fibers using a process that emphasizes social and environmental responsibility.
“Consumer feedback over the last several months has been almost exclusively focused on the reduction of plastic, so we feel like we’ve addressed that concern by coming up with a truly plastic-free package,” said Fernanda Albuquerque, Packaging Development Manager. “We also saw the value of being able to add key messaging to the tray which gave our designers a larger canvas for branding, information, and education.”
A dedicated partner of the Produce Marketing Association, Mucci Farms also sponsored the annual Center for Growing Talent 5k race, which seamlessly fits with their company objectives to be a health and wellness conscious brand. Race participants were served refreshing smoothies made with the Award Winning SmucciesTM Sweet Strawberries. Additionally, the company had a sampling station at the show entrance where attendees could take home a sample of their very own Simple Snack package.
On the show floor, the Mucci Farms team welcomed buyers and attendees to their world of colours that included their entire lineup of offerings including their newest item, Zingers shishito peppers and the highly sought after CuteCumber Poppers. With chefs on hand putting together a variety of flavourful samples, the Mucci Farms booth has become a featured destination every year.
The Fresh Summit Conference & Expo took place from October 18-20 in Anaheim, California.
For Info:
Ajit Saxena
Public Relations & Digital Marketing Manager
519-326-8881 Ext 2253
asaxena@muccifarms.com
Solar Foods Receives World's Most Prestigious Design Award
Solar Foods is a foodtech company developing globally revolutionary solutions for food production. The bioprocess and technology developed by Solar Foods enable food production without agriculture. In the future, harvesting can comprise of an entirely new harvest grown in a clean environment, while complementing existing protein sources with new natural protein
06/09/2019
Solar Foods, the Finnish company producing protein by using carbon dioxide and electricity, has been presented with the Index Award supported by the state of Denmark. The 100,000 euro award is given for the most impactful solution significant to the environment and improving people’s lives.
The Index Award is a biennial award supported by the state of Denmark. The total award fund is €500,000 divided between the winners in five award categories. Index Award has existed since 2005 and is the biggest money prize in its class. This recognition, also called the “Nobel prize for design”, acknowledges actors solving global problems in areas such as equality, food production, and plastic pollution.
Participants include projects from all over the world, with the finalists and winners judged by an international jury. Other winners of this year’s prize include Microsoft and Xbox, with previous winners including Elon Musk. The award is under the patronage of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
Denmark has the ambitious goal of being a carbon-neutral country by 2050. Therefore, many Danish companies have set themselves the target of becoming the most responsible company before anyone else in their business.
“It is a magnificent feeling to know you are taking part in global responsibility. Researchers must turn the inventions and technologies incubated in laboratories into reality and commercialise them faster to benefit humankind. The Solein® protein is an excellent example of an innovation urgently needed by humans and the entire globe,” says Pasi Vainikka, CEO, Solar Foods.
Solar Foods is a food tech company developing globally revolutionary solutions for food production. The bioprocess and technology developed by Solar Foods enable food production without agriculture. In the future, harvesting can comprise of an entirely new harvest grown in a clean environment, while complementing existing protein sources with new natural protein.
At the core of the company’s operation is a sense of enormous responsibility: using renewable energy for producing food in a way that has the lowest possible environmental burden.
“The report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the rainforest wildfires in Amazonia are recent examples of the dire news we are witnessing about the state of the globe and its food system. At Solar Foods we develop solutions that disconnect natural resources from economic growth and food production. That’s how we are contributing to a solution in the crisis of global food supply,” Vainikka says.
Cleanest natural protein
Solar Foods is introducing a globally revolutionary protein for foodstuffs for consumers made in its bioprocess developed in-house. The Solein protein, suitable to be added to a variety of products, is produced mainly from air and electricity. In the future, Solein protein can be grown and harvested anywhere: in the middle of a desert, or even in space.
Solein is natural protein at its cleanest. Its production minimises harmful environmental impact, thereby providing transparent support for sustainable development. Revolutionary on a global scale, Solein is a protein for solving problems in managing the global food crisis and the overexploitation of natural resources. Solein is the product of natural evolution over hundreds of millions of years by using the diversity of nature.
At present, Solar Foods is studying the applicability of the Solein protein to different diets and consumer preferences. The protein includes no additives, instead, consumers will know it as an example of an ethical, clean source of protein. Solein’s amino acid composition is like that of soya and algae, therefore optimal for human needs.
Solar Foods aims at starting the first stage of commercial production of the protein during 2021.
Download Solar Foods Presentation
More information:
Pasi Vainikka, DSc (Tech), CEO, Solar Foods Oy, tel. +358 40 5825 987, pasi@solarfoods.fi
Solar Foods is a food-tech company that develops revolutionary innovations for food production at a global level. Solar Foods is an active player in solving the global food crisis and securing sustainable use of natural resources by disconnecting food production from agriculture. Solein® is a registered trademark of Solar Foods. www.solarfoods.fi
SUNY Chancellor Johnson Awards $50,000 In Seed Funding To Winner of High-Tech Start-Up Pitch Competition at SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Re-Nuble, which develops an on-site nutrient system for farmers to manufacture their own fertilizer, won the competition and was presented with a $50,000 check as seed funding to help the start-up commercialize its product
September 17, 2019
Event Connects High-Tech SUNY-Based Entrepreneurs with Nation’s Largest Source of Seed Funding
Re-Nuble Awarded First-Ever TAF MVP
Albany – State University of New York Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson today awarded the first Technology Accelerator Fund Most Valuable Pitch (TAF MVP) winner, a high-tech start-up company competition, which capped a day-long event for New York State entrepreneurs at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Re-Nuble, which develops an on-site nutrient system for farmers to manufacture their own fertilizer, won the competition and was presented with a $50,000 check as seed funding to help the start-up commercialize its product.
"This competition is a great example of New Yorkers, particularly our students and faculty, utilizing their talents, skills, and entrepreneur spirit to develop the latest cutting edge technology and innovation into valuable products," said SUNY Chancellor Johnson, an engineer and entrepreneur herself during her career. "I applaud Re-Nuble on their winning pitch, and will continue to follow the exciting work of each of these ten up-and-coming companies."
The competition featured pitches from 10 start-up companies currently working with some of the world’s most advanced technologies. Each start-up is affiliated with a SUNY campus business incubator or accelerator program. The pitch competition followed an all-day event hosted in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which welcomed the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Road Tour on its first-ever visit to Albany. SBIR is a major national source of funding for start-up companies on the verge of commercialization, investing $3 billion annually. Nearly two dozen agency administrators attended the event, meeting with about 275 entrepreneurs to provide feedback and help them refine their ideas.
"SUNY is proud to connect some of our most inventive and entrepreneurial minds to this key source of federal seed funding," said SUNY Polytechnic Interim President/SUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development Grace Wang. "We are committed to helping our SUNY-based start-ups convert cutting edge research into market-ready products and services that can stimulate economic growth and lead to advancements in a variety of important fields."
"Every year, we meet entrepreneurs from around the country looking to turn their big idea into another great American innovation story. We are committed to supporting America’s small businesses owners wherever they are," said SBA Acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton. "This tour reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that these innovators are aware of SBA’s resources to help them reach that goal."
Joining SUNY and the SBA in sponsoring the Albany SBIR Tour are SUNY Summer Startup School, NY Small Business Development Center, Innovate 518, UAlbany Innovation Center, ip.com, NYSTAR, and Empire State Development.
The SUNY TAF MVP Competitors include:
Aviate Audio was founded in 2017 and is developing a wireless device for musicians who use traditional ‘effects pedals’ or ‘stomp boxes that can be controlled by the musician at the instrument. Aviate Audio is a University at Buffalo Incubator client.
beYOUty Tech was founded in 2019 and is developing technology to enable real-time personalization of beauty products for every user. beYOUty Tech is a member of the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator at Binghamton University.
Excelsior Biofilms was founded in 2017 and is developing a way to treat microbial biofilm infections beginning with wound dressings. Technology invented at Binghamton University. Excelsior Biofilms is also a member of Koffman Southern Tier Incubator at Binghamton University.
Ferric Contrast was founded in 2017 and is developing an iron-based replacement for gadolinium-based Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Technology invented at the University at Buffalo. Ferric Contrast is also a University at Buffalo Incubator client.
FlexSurface was founded in 2014 and is developing a new catalyst technology which will meet the increasingly stringent emissions regulations and will replace systems that contain low levels of Platinum Group Metals. This technology was developed at Binghamton University.
Mechanismic was founded in 2017 and is developing a kit called SnappyXO which will deliver an all new way to engage students using STEM robotics. This technology was invented at Stony Brook University.
POP Biotechnologies was founded in 2016 and is developing a versatile platform that can be used for rapid, cost-effective screening, development and manufacturing of vaccines. POP Biotechnologies is a University at Buffalo Incubator client.
Re-Nuble was founded in 2011 and is developing an on-site nutrient system that enables farmers to manufacture their own fertilizer on-site using otherwise unusable waste produce. Re-Nuble is a client of the Clean Energy Business Incubator Program at Stony Brook University.
SupreMEtric was founded in 2019 and is developing a new tool for on-site crime investigation in the form of a portable device for non-destructive and confirmatory identification of all bodily fluids. This technology was invented at the University at Albany.
sxRNA was founded in 2017 and is developing a mechanism to perform RNA switches which can then be integrated into many applications new including RNA-based medicines, diagnostics, and molecular tools. This technology was developed at the University at Albany and SUNY Poly.
About SUNY’s Technology Accelerator Fund
Launched in 2011, TAF strategically invests in SUNY’s most disruptive innovations developed by faculty and students to accelerate their development and commercialization. SUNY and its Research Foundation have invested over $2.8 million to successfully advance the commercial readiness of 50 SUNY innovations. The program has also catalyzed the investment of an additional $14.5 million from external partners, including federal agencies, industry licensees and angel investors.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, with 64 college and university campuses located within 30 miles of every home, school, and business in the state. As of Fall 2018, more than 424,000 students were enrolled in a degree program at a SUNY campus. In total, SUNY served 1.4 million students in credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs in the 2017-18 academic year. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Its students and faculty make significant contributions to research and discovery, contributing to a $1.6 billion research portfolio. There are 3 million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum.
To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu.
Brookwood Teacher Wins National Award From EPA
Carrie Settles Livers is the only teacher in Georgia to be recognized with the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators, which recognizes teachers from kindergarten through 12th grade for using the environment as a context for learning for their students
Brookwood High School science teacher Carrie Settles Livers, right, helps seniors Ellie Schutter, center, and Michael Hopf tend to plants on Thursday at Brookwood High School. Staff Photo: Taylor Denman
Carrie Settles Livers
A Brookwood science teacher who operates an aquaponics lab in her classroom was recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency for her innovative approach to teaching environmental science.
Carrie Settles Livers is the only teacher in Georgia to be recognized with the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators, which recognizes teachers from kindergarten through 12th grade for using the environment as a context for learning for their students.
Settles Livers receives a Presidential Award plaque and an award of up to $2,500 to be used to further professional development in environmental education along with a congratulatory letter from a senior official from EPA and the White House. Gwinnett County Public Schools will will also receive up to $2,500 to fund environmental educational activities and programs.
Up to two teachers from each of EPA’s 10 regions, from different states, were selected to receive this award. The White House Council on Environmental Quality in partnership with the EPA aims to honor, support and encourage educators who incorporate environmental education in their classrooms and teaching methods.
In a Natural Resource Management Course, Brookwood students operate an aquaponics lab and harvest the produce with an entrepreneurial mindset. The produce has been produced and sold at events such as the Lilburn Farmers Market to help raise money for other academic experiences.
“Instead of just having a school garden, we decided we want to fuse (Ag-STEM) with the entrepreneur mindset,” she told the Daily Post earlier this year. “I wanted this program to be sustainable to have seed money to feed people year after year.”
During the aquaponics project, her students learn about the importance of sustainable farming practices and how agricultural farming using scientific concepts of genetics, botany, physics, and environmental engineering can help tackle issues that contribute to food deserts in their community.
The course also provides students with examples of career opportunities in environmental science. The National Sales Director from Organic Valley Farms spoke to students about the company’s sustainable business model. The Chief Executive Officer of Hatponics, which produced the equipment for Brookwood’s lab, shared the story of his startup company.
A representative from the University of Georgia’s extension center discussed fall gardening practices, water consulting firm contracted by Gwinnett County spoke about water conservation and the City of Snellville’s Economic Development Advisor spoke about his honey bee farm and concerns of colony collapse disorder.
Settles Livers has also been named to the University of Georgia’s 40 Under 40 list, was a recipient of a Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education and has organized applications for grants to fund Brookwood environmental science projects.
LettUs Grow Wins National Shell Enterprise Development Award
LettUs Grow makes cutting edge technology for greenhouses and vertical farms with the mission to create a more sustainable future for the world’s eating habits
The Sustainable Indoor Farming Company Takes
Home A Financial Prize to Help Scale The Company
23RD JULY 2019
LettUs Grow makes cutting edge technology for greenhouses and vertical farms with the mission to create a more sustainable future for the world’s eating habits.
And their efforts to make ethical eating possible aren’t going unnoticed – LettUs Grow’s Co-founder and Managing Director, Charlie Guy, has been crowned national winner of the Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
This award is more than just a title too – the startup has been gifted with £30,000 to help scale the indoor farming company.
The only way is up
Charlie is incredibly humbled and grateful for the recognition. He says, “I am truly honoured to have won amongst such an impressive group of finalists. Making it through the competitive process for the national competition is fantastic validation for the potential impact of our technology.
“It’s a testament to the amazing work from our whole team over the past three years, to bring our unique indoor growing products to market. We’re looking forward to working with the best growers from around the world, to realise the full impact of our technology over the coming years!”
LettUs Grow’s incredibly unique aeroponic indoor farming tech enables crops to grow without sunlight or soil – and what’s more is this revolutionary innovation reduces water and fertiliser use by up to 95%, without requiring pesticides or herbicides.
This new system of growing our food has the potential to make an incredible environmental impact on delivering your food from farm to fork as farms can be situated in either rural or urban locations.
The judges were hugely impressed by the breath of positive impact LettUs Grow could have. Ana Avaliani, Head of Enterprise Hub at the Royal Academy of Engineering and judge on this year’s panel says, “Despite working in the increasingly popular sector of vertical farming, Charlie impressed the judges with LettUs Grow’s truly innovative patent-pending technology with a unique farm management software for indoor and vertical farms.
“I’m excited to watch the business scale and expand into markets outside the UK, deliver on its mission to reduce the waste and carbon footprint of fresh produce and see how Shell’s funding can support this growth.”
A passionate pitch
The finalists took part in a day of pitching to bid for the number one spots. Charlie’s clear enthusiasm for LettUs Grow impressed the judges, as Ana tells us, “Charlie himself has all of the makings of an entrepreneur: his vision for the company – to grow the world’s leading vertical farming business – was evident in every aspect of the presentation, and his passion to feed people in a more sustainable way was clear.”
All the finalists were then invited to attend StartUp Connect, a Shell event for low carbon startups with the ambition to scale up.
Founder of StartUp Britain, Oli Barrett, hosted the afternoon, which connected 100 low carbon entrepreneurs with over 300 senior executives and bright minds with the ability to help get their startup off the ground.
Congratulations to LettUs Grow for the prize and award! Check out LettUs Grow’s website for more information about them, or follow them on Twitter here: @LettUsGrow.
Literally Growing An Award-Winning Hardware Business Lettus Grow Wins 2019 Hardware Award At The Sparkies
Developing new indoor farming technologies is not just tackling a major problem but also winning awards. LettUs Grow in Bristol is developing aeroponics that allow crops such as strawberries and even trees to be grown indoors under LED lights.
9TH JULY 2019
Developing new indoor farming technologies is not just tackling a major problem but also winning awards. LettUs Grow in Bristol is developing aeroponics that allow crops such as strawberries and even trees to be grown indoors under LED lights.
The company won the Hardware Award at last week’s Sparkies for its technology, to sit alongside a number of awards and deals, including time in the Oracle and John Lewis technology incubators.
The company was set up by three engineers from the University of Bristol, where there is a focus on how to be as green as possible, says said Ben Crowther, co-founder and chief technology officer.
Being in Bristol and the strong ecosystem has been a key part of the success of the company. “We’ve got a really good ecosystem here to bounce idea off along the way,” he said.
You may like: Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator’s first Bristol-based cohort pitch to top UK investors
“I’m a systems engineer and I was really interested in our food supply chain, primarily in the reduction of food waste, but then also making it more resilient to weather change and freak events to make sure we can all eat as we grow as a population and reduce the carbon footprint while doing it,” he said.
The aeroponics they developed uses 95% less water than hydroponics as it is a closed loop system based around a mist that carries water and nutrients to the roots of the plants and everything is filtered and re-used.
“Our core advantage is we have a completely novel irrigation system – our aeroponics is simple,” he said. “We don’t use high pressure nozzles that are prone to breaking, it’s a really, really simple system that we developed. That means we have increased growth rates compared to hydroponics.”
“We do use more power but the benefit is that you can position production right by the point of consumption or distribution,” he said.
“We don’t think it should replace hectares of fields. Indoor farming, greenhouses and open field farming each have their different roles,” he said. “If you can grow it in a field grow it in a field, it makes much more sense. But in many places its just not possible as it uses too much water and pesticides and the soil is degrading quite rapidly, so having a baseline production of crops that are very sensitive to environmental conditions has significant benefits.”
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The company has also done a deal with renewable energy supplier Octopus Energy so that it can use cheap renewable energy, for example at night, to grow the crops. “Vertical forms will be a really important part of the electrical production grid to use the surplus renewable energy so you can use infrastructure projects to smooth out demand,” he said.
The company provides technology to people building vertical farms, and has demonstrated herbs and micro-greens which are popular with indoor farms, but can also grow strawberries and even trees.
“We use specialist horticultural lighting and we partner with LED suppliers for that,” he said. “They are tuned for different types of crops, generally on read an blue with differing levels of green and white. We partner with a world leading researcher at the University of Bristol on circadian rhythms for plants on how we can apply this to our misting technology.”
“The John Lewis one is an interesting opportunity for future collaboration,” he said. “It’s a really exciting opportunity to work with a well known UK brand to do exciting stuff which could be in a number of areas, whether that’s in-store or otherwise.”
This is a key part of the strategy. “We are interested in supermarkets and food producers in general as vertical farming can provide a very stable rate of supply, really reliably for a low carbon cost.”
The company has also developed software called Ostara that logs all the data, automate all the irrigation and lighting schedules to reduce the labour cost and make everything as easy as possible for the farmer. “We provide insights and recipes for growth as aeroponics is a novel technology and our control hardware is tied to our core irrigation technology so we are a distributed IoT system within a confined area. We also provide cloud services such as analysis and insights to our customers – if you buy a farm from us we are invested in the growth of our customers.”
TAGS: Bristol
Nick Flaherty
Nick Flaherty is one of the UK’s leading electronics technology journalists. Based in Bristol, he has been covering the latest developments in semiconductor, embedded software and electronics technology for the last 25 years as a writer, editor, analyst and consultant. His experience at the leading edge of technology has enhanced a wide range of technical trade publications around the world, including EETimes Europe and Electronic Engineering Times in the US, as well as SouthWest Innovation News, Electronics Times, Electronic Engineering and Electronics Weekly. He has edited MicroTechnology Europe and Electronic Product Design magazines and was launch editor of Automotive Electronics magazine.