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World Food Programme Italia Named As Patron For The Fourth Edition of Seeds&Chips, The Global Innovation Summit
World Food Programme Italia Named As Patron For The Fourth Edition of Seeds&Chips, The Global Innovation Summit
“2.6 million people in Northeast Nigeria are facing hunger and 450,000 children are severely malnourished”.
Seeds&Chips ticket sales will go to supporting World Food Programme works in North East Nigeria, and the Summit will also promote ShareTheMeal, the first app designed to fight global hunger.
Milan, 26 February 2018 – The fourth edition of Seeds&Chips – The Global Food Innovation Summit (7-10 May 2018, MiCo Milano Congressi) will be under the patronage of the World Food Programme (WFP) Italia.
The WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization dedicated to combatting world hunger, which currently afflicts 815 million people around the globe. Seeds&Chips, which each year brings influential figures in the field of food and agricultural innovation from across academia, politics, and international institutions to Milan, will donate a portion of its ticket sales to the WFP’s emergency food operations addressing severe malnutrition in Nigeria.
Marco Gualtieri, President and founder of Seeds&Chips commented: “This year, we have once again enthusiastically joined the WFP’s initiatives and we are happy to be able to contribute to aiding the Nigerian people. The Summit has always united food, sustainability, and innovation through partnerships between startups, companies, opinion leaders and global media to address larger themes within food and the new solutions that technological development can offer, not just for the most economically advanced countries but particularly for those populations who live in poverty and struggle with a scarcity of resources.”
Beyond supporting the food assistance programs of the WFP, Seeds&Chips will be promoting ShareTheMeal, the app developed by the WFP which allows users to give food assistance to a child with a simple tap on a smartphone. Through the app, it takes only 0,40EUR cents to provide one day of food relief to one child.
“Since ShareTheMeal’s launch two years ago, more than one million people have downloaded the app and have shared more than 21 million meals with thousands of hungry children, in order to support WFP’s most critical food emergencies.” says Massimiliano Costa, Head of ShareTheMeal. “In the world, smartphones outnumber hungry children 20 to 1. This means that if we join our forces and donate through ShareTheMeal, we can reach zero hunger. For this reason I thank WFP Italia and Seeds&Chips for giving the possibility to all Summit’s participants to support WFP operations in North East Nigeria, where ShareTheMeal is aiming to provide life-saving food assistance for 100 days to those children most at risk.
“Innovation has a crucial role to play in the fight against hunger, not only for the World Food Programme but for everyone working to improve the lives of those furthest behind,” said Robert Opp, Director of Innovation and Change Management at WFP. “The availability of new technologies and approaches today presents a tremendous opportunity. We need to test these approaches to find out what works and what doesn’t, and then scale up the most promising innovations.” Mr. Opp also noted the importance of conferences like Seeds & Chips, which represents an opportunity to further our thinking and forge new partnerships for Zero Hunger.
"New technologies and innovation applied to sustainable development represent an extraordinary opportunity for WFP", said Vincenzo Sanasi d'Arpe, President of WFP Italia. "In some of the most remote areas, the use of innovative technologies has allowed us to find more effective and unprecedented solutions to provide food assistance to the most fragile populations. We are proud,” continued President Sanasi, “to give our patronage once again to Seeds&Chips, to whom we are very grateful for their continued support of WFP humanitarian operations in North-East Nigeria. Together with Seeds & Chips we encourage everyone to support WFP by downloading ShareTheMeal, the first app against world hunger. "
The WFP notes that in the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in North East Nigeria, violence inflicted by Boko Haram affects the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. 2,6 million of people suffer from hunger and 450,000 children are severely malnourished. Violence and insecurity are causing a mass exodus: 1.62 million people live in IDP camps or communities in Nigeria and tens of thousands are forced to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, such as Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Many of those who left the country are now beginning to return, and lack basic needs like food and housing
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Seeds&Chips, The Global Food Innovation Summit, founded by entrepreneur Marco Gualtieri, is the largest Food Innovation event in the world. The Summit is a showcase entirely dedicated to promoting innovative food solutions and talent from around the world, with an exhibition hall for innovators to present their work. Together, actors from all points in the global food chain discuss the themes and projects that are changing the way in which food is produced, transformed, distributed, consumed, and recycled. At the Third edition of the Global Food Innovation Summit, President Barack Obama made his first post presidency appearance as a Keynote speaker, taking his place among 300 speakers and 240 exhibitors from around the world. In four days, the Summit recorded 15,800 visitors and 131 million social media impressions. The Fourth edition of The Seeds&Chips Global Food Innovation Summit takes place at MiCo, Milano Congressi, from May 7-10, 2018. Among the speakers scheduled to appear are Former US Secretary of State John Kerry and Howard Schultz, Executive Chairman of Starbucks.
The United Nations World Food Programme is the largest humanitarian agency dedicated to fighting global famine through emergency food assistance and improving the nutrition and resilience of communities suffering from malnutrition. Every year, WFP provides assistance to approximately 80 million people in nearly 80 countries. The WFP is 100% funded through voluntary donations and takes contributions from governments, companies and individuals.
WFP Italia is a non-profit organization working in support of the World Food Program and is the reference point in Italy for those who wish to support the WFP.
WFP’s ShareTheMeal app is a mobile-first fundraising tool that allows users to feed a child, with just a tap on their device and for as little as US$0.50. Since its launch two years ago, more than 1,000,000 people have joined the community worldwide. Users have shared over 21 million meals with thousands of hungry children in some of WFP’s most critical operations, including Yemen, Syria and South Sudan. The app has been awarded the Social Impact Award at the 2017 Google Play Awards.
AgTech Day Cocktail Reception - March 23rd - Des Moines, Iowa
March 23, 2018
AgTech Day Cocktail Reception - March 23rd - Des Moines, Iowa
Free
DESCRIPTION
The Iowa AgriTech Accelerator will host its first-ever AgTech Day on Friday, March 23 during National Ag Week.
This event serves as an opportunity to connect early-stage AgTech companies with The Accelerator’s community of mentors and supporters during an industry-wide holiday celebrating agriculture.
The day-long event will take place at the Science Center of Iowa in Des Moines. We plan to invite a limited number of AgTech startups for one-on-one mentor meetings in the morning, a Q&A panel over lunch, and additional mentor meetings in the afternoon to conclude by 5 p.m.
Following the day’s activities, we will host a cocktail reception from 5–7 p.m. with remarks at 5:30. The reception is open to AgTech Day attendees, mentors, and investors, so please save the date and RSVP to the reception here.
You are invited to the cocktail reception at the Science Center of Iowa to network with the AgTech startups between 5-7:00 p.m. Remarks will be given at 5:30 p.m.
Parking: Park at the Science Center of Iowa parking ramp (vouchers provided) or on-street parking.
Please join us in support of National Ag Week and AgTech startups who are changing the status quo.
What 'Organic' On Your Food Label Really Means
What 'Organic' On Your Food Label Really Means
- CERISE OBERMAN and TIM HARTNETT In the Know
February 25, 2018
Let’s be clear from the start: Grocery store labels are confusing.
What does it mean, for example, when a product is labeled organic or natural or cage-free? The claims are endless and often meaningless. For instance, there are no established standards for claiming a food product is “natural,” “pesticide-free” or “vegetarian-fed.” There are, of course, resources that can help us decipher this alphabet soup of labels. These include websites from both governmental and non-governmental agencies.
Let’s start with the label “organic,” which is actually regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP). Established in 2002, this program implemented the first federal standards to define “organic.” Food producers must be certified by the National Organic Program before using a label of “organic” on any food, feed or fiber product.
The range of components regulated by these standards includes the quality of the soil, the use of pest and weed control, the use of antibiotics and the humane treatment of livestock. (More on this last category later.) Additionally, certified organic products cannot contain any genetically modified organisms. For a picture of the full scope of the NOP program, specific details and additional resources, visit the USDA National Organic Program web pages.
Oh, if that this was all we needed to simplify our decision making in the grocery. Because guess what? Under the umbrella term of “organic,” there are several different standards that can be used.
Let’s see how this translates to food products by taking a stroll down a supermarket aisle. Let’s start with one of the most basic commodities — bread. Breads on the shelves may carry a USDA organic seal, but they are not all the same. One loaf of bread is labeled: “100% organic.” This is a USDA regulated label that can only be used if all ingredients in the bread are USDA certified organic ingredients (with the exceptions of water and salt). A second loaf of bread is labeled simply “organic." This too is a regulated label but it requires only 95 percent of the ingredients to be certified by the USDA as being organically produced. A third loaf of bread states, “Made with organic (name ingredients).” This is also a regulated label, but it only requires that 70 percent of the ingredients be certified organic.
A final loaf of labeled bread says it is “natural.” This label is neither defined nor regulated and thus there is no guarantee that this item contains any organic ingredients. Conversely, it could be 100 percent organic but not certified by USDA and therefore, unable to promote its contents as organic. To read more in-depth about these distinctions, visit the USDA pages titled, “Organic 101: Understanding the ‘Made with Organic’ Label.”
The labeling puzzle only becomes more confusing as you move from the bread aisle to the egg aisle. A glance at the number of labels on egg cartons is dizzying: “Vegetarian-fed,” “Natural,” “Farm Fresh,” “Cage-free” and “Free-range,” just to name a few. It is important to know that when it comes to eggs the USDA National Organic Program only regulates the term “certified organic.”
An egg carton that carries a “certified organic” label means the laying hens were fed organic feed free of pesticides and antibiotics. Additionally, they have to be “cage-free,“ a government standard that does not necessarily mean that the hens have not been raised in a crowded industrial setting. Since the variety of other egg labels on egg cartons are not regulated, it is impossible to know exactly what they mean, beyond trying to make us feel better about the eggs we purchase.
There is an organization, however, The Cornucopia Institute (CI), whose mission is “Promoting Economic Justice for Family Scale Farming,” and whose website can help us sort through the egg confusion. CI publishes an “Organic Score Card” for eggs. While all the eggs it evaluates are organic, the difference is in the treatment of the hens in terms of their living environment. From “Top Rated,” defined as farms that go “beyond organic” in the treatment of hens to “Poor,” connoting industrial standards, this website deciphers the confusing world of eggs simply and directly. Check it out to see what it says about the eggs you are buying: www.cornucopia.org/scorecard/eggs.
With the growth of local farms and farmer markets, “organic standards” can be challenging to determine. Some local farmers may be certified as part of the USDA National Organic Program while others may be certified by even stricter animal standard organizations like Animal Welfare Approved (www.animalwelfareapproved.us) or Certified Humane (https://certifiedhumane.org).
Other local farmers may be using organic farming methods and meeting humane animal raising standards, but are not certified for a variety of reasons including time and money. Talk to your favorite local farmer about their farming standards if what you eat is of utmost importance to you.
And as for beef, pork, poultry, and lamb ... well, that will need to wait for a future column.
Cerise Oberman, SUNY Distinguished Librarian Emeritus, retired as dean of Library & Information Services at SUNY Plattsburgh. She can be reached at cerise.oberman@plattsburgh.edu. Tim Hartnett is an associate librarian at SUNY Plattsburgh, Reach him at tim.hartnett@plattsburgh.edu.
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Urban Agriculture Advances in Cuba
Cuba's urban and suburban agriculture program was formally organized in 1997, with a tradition that goes back to 1987 when Raúl, then Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, proposed the planting of organic gardens across the nation's cities.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Urban Agriculture Advances in Cuba
Havana, Feb 13.- Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Councils of State and Ministers, was congratulated for his contribution to urban and suburban agriculture on the 20th anniversary of the program and the 30th of organic gardens, in recognition of his initiative and support for the development of this effort.
During a national meeting to evaluate the sector's 2017 performance, accepting the distinction was José Ramón Machado Ventura, second secretary of the Party Central Committee and a vice president of the Councils of State and Ministers, who also conveyed Raúl's congratulations to agricultural workers and encouraged them to aspire for greater productivity and better use of the soil, rotating crops to maintain regular availability of produce for the urban population.
Cuba's urban and suburban agriculture program was formally organized in 1997, with a traditional that goes back to 1987 when Raúl, then Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, proposed the planting of organic gardens across the nation's cities. (Granma)
Philips Lighting Horticulture LED Solutions Adds Honey Electric To North America Partner Network
Honey Electric specializes in electrical contracting for commercial, agricultural, industrial, and solar installations in the province of Ontario and is now positioned to offer Philips GreenPower LED lighting to their horticulture customers in Ontario and beyond.
February 19, 2018
Philips Lighting Horticulture LED Solutions Adds Honey Electric To North America Partner Network
Eindhoven, The Netherlands -- Philips Lighting (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, has signed a partnership agreement with Honey Electric, an electrical construction and maintenance services firm located in Chatham, Ontario, Canada.
Honey Electric specializes in electrical contracting for commercial, agricultural, industrial, and solar installations in the province of Ontario and is now positioned to offer Philips GreenPower LED lighting to their horticulture customers in Ontario and beyond.
“We’re seeing a surge in the interest and adoption of LEDs in a variety of horticulture applications. Therefore, it is important that growers across North America have access to our LED technology through a broad network of partners with proficiency and knowledge in a variety of areas,” said Ron DeKok, Director of North America Horticulture at Philips Lighting. “Honey Electric is a great fit for our partner network because of their knowledge of the industry and readiness to collaborate and transact but can also manage and oversee installations.”
"Honey Electric Ltd.'s partnership with Philips Lighting allows us to continue to further strengthen our ability to serve our customers’ lighting needs in market segments where interest for LED lighting is growing fast,” said Joe Gillier, Agriculture Division Manager of Honey Electric.
Philips Lighting continues to expand its U.S. and Canada partner network, further demonstrating the commitment by the company to lead the horticulture industry as the innovative LED lighting systems provider for the greenhouse industry.
For further information, please contact:
Philips Lighting – North America Horticulture LED Solutions
Barbara Perzanowski
Tel: +1 720-900-8315
E-mail: barb.perzanowski@philips.com
Honey Electric
Joe Gillier
Tel: +1 519-351-0484
Email: joegill@honeyelectric.com
Need For Modern Technology Use In Agriculture Stressed
Use of modern techniques and technologies in Agriculture is the need of the hour which carries equal significance for both the businessmen and the men of science and technology.
Need For Modern Technology Use In Agriculture Stressed
Rukhshan Mir (@rukhshanmirpk) February 14, 2018
Use of modern techniques and technologies in Agriculture is the need of the hour which carries equal significance for both the businessmen and the men of science and technology
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News
Use of modern techniques and technologies in Agriculture is the need of the hour which carries equal significance for both the businessmen and the men of science and technology.
It was the upshot of the speeches delivered at a seminar on 'High-Value Agriculture' held here at Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Wednesday. The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, Ceo Yuksel Seeds, Turkey Yaqub Yuksel, Convener LCCI Standing Committee on Mechanized & High Value Agriculture Mian Shafqat Ali, Ex-vice Chancellor Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi Dr Rai Niaz Ahmed, Dr Khawaja Asif, Mian Shaukat Ali, Faisal Iqbal Sheikh and Naeem Hanif also spoke on the occasion.
The experts said that there was a dire need for reforms in the agriculture sector and addition in the cropped area as a country could not afford to stay where it was today in terms of cropped areas and per hectare yield, because it was already running well short of per capita food availability.
They said that yield gap in the four major crops of Pakistan was three times from the best producers in the world such as China and Egypt.
They said that low yield had contributed to the poverty in rural areas besides forcing the country to import agriculture produces to feed its population.
Malik Tahir Javaid said the agriculture sector of Pakistan continued to be the single largest and dominant driving force for growth which contributed almost 19.5 percent in Gross Domestic Product.
It was the main source of livelihood for 42.3 percent of total labour force despite the fact that agriculture mechanization in Pakistan was very limited. He said that area under cultivation for important crops accounted for 23.85 percent of the value added in overall agriculture.
Wheat accounted for 9.6 percent of the total value added in agriculture and cotton production was 10.67 million bales. For the sake of increasing the share of agriculture sector in GDP, the existing area of cultivation had to be increased on war-footing.
Malik Tahir Javaid said that due to lack of technology usage in the agriculture sector, we face the problem of crops yields gaps. The average yields production in the agriculture sector of Pakistan was far below the level of those countries that used the technology in their agriculture sector, he said, citing that level of yields of different crops was 50 to 83 percent lower than the average of other countries of the world.
He said the prospects of Pakistan's economic prosperity heavily depended on the performance of agriculture sector. It had to be evaluated that government was giving subsidy to farmers at various stages of purchasing fertilizers, pesticides, seeds as well as selling their output at support prices but still this sector had not succeeded in enhancing the level of productivity.
He said that in the present scenario of water scarcity, the sustainable food security of Pakistan had to be ensured by way of adopting new techniques. "There are many developing countries like Pakistan which are encouraging corporate farming and in parallel to that, they are fostering high-value agriculture that includes vertical farming, hydroponics farming, aquaponics farming and arctic farming etc.
If government helps the farmers in acquiring these technologies at affordable prices then it is highly likely that new employment opportunities will be created and the productivity will also increase." Mian Shaukat Ali said that Chamber of Commerce and Industry played an important role to promote agriculture sector of any country.
All Chambers of Commerce and industry of Pakistan should pay attention to agriculture so that they could highly contribute to the development of this sector. He said that another problem of the agricultural sector was lack of agricultural graduates or their non-seriousness towards agricultural developments, adding that had they worked for the development of this sector seriously it would be beneficial for the country.
Pythium Root Rot on Hydroponically Grown Basil And Spinach
Pythium Root Rot on Hydroponically Grown Basil And Spinach
FEBRUARY 12, 2018 URBAN AG NEWS
by Neil Mattson for eGro (https://e-gro.org/pdf/E301.pdf)
Waterborne diseases that infect roots are a common production issue in hydroponic production. Several species of the water mold, Pythium, attack greenhouse crops. Basil and spinach are susceptible to economically devastating levels of Pythium root infection in hydroponics. In this article, we will present symptoms of Pythium infection and management strategies.
Many Pythium species, are generalists, meaning they can attack a wide range of plant species. Pythium aphanidermatum and Pythium dissotocum are two species commonly reported in hydroponics. Both species can produce zoospores, a mobile propagule that can propel itself through water.
Figure 1. Roots from basil growing in hydroponic rafts (deep water culture) exhibiting root discoloration from Pythium root rot. Photo: Neil Mattson, Cornell University
Symptoms of Pythium Root Rot
As Pythium infects and colonizes roots it can lead to a visible discoloration (browning) and decay of the root system (Figures 1 and 2). Overall root system development may be poor with few lateral roots or root hairs (Figure 1). Often the outer portion of the root (cortex) sloughs away leaving behind the inner part of the root (steele). This leads to the characteristic “rat tail” appearance of Pythium infected roots. The root system can eventually turn slimy and black.
Figure 2. Roots of baby leaf spinach growing in a Speedling tray in raft hydroponics infected with Pythium root rot. Notice discolored roots with poor branching. Photo: David de Villiers, Cornell University
Figure 3. Baby leaf spinach infected with low levels of Pythium root rot. Notice slightly discolored roots. No shoot symptoms are evident but overall plant size may be somewhat reduced. Photo: David de Villiers, Cornell University
Shoots of affected plants may not initially show symptoms of Pythium infection, however, the plants may be reduced in overall size (Figure 3). As the disease progresses, plants may become severely stunted and leaves may be chlorotic (yellow) which is often mistaken for a nutrient deficiency when it is really caused by poor root system development (Figures 4 -6). Plants may also wilt due to the inability of the root system to support plant water needs. At first, wilting may take place during only the hottest, brightest time of the day, but eventually wilting may become permanent.
Figure 4. Leaves of baby leaf spinach infected with Pythium aphanidermatum (A) are chlorotic and greatly reduced in size compared to uninfected control plants (B). Photo: Ted Alhanti , Cornell University
Figure 5. Hydroponic basil infected with Pythium root rot demonstrating chlorosis (yellowing) of leaves as well as stunted plants. Photo: Neil Mattson, Cornell University
Figure 6. Hydroponic basil showing varying degrees of plant stunting and chlorosis due to infection from Pythium root. Photo: Neil Mattson, Cornell University
Management
Once plants are infected, Pythium can be very difficult to control. Therefore the best approach to Pythium management is adopting a suite of practices that reduce or eliminate exposure to the disease organism, restrict its spread, and promoting environmental conditions that reduce disease proliferation.
Exclusion and Sanitation
There are several ways Pythium can enter greenhouse operations, including from: water (especially surface water sources), soil and plant residue from workers’ shoes, air-borne dust, greenhouse tools, previously infected plants/seedlings, and some container media. Follow good hygiene practices to limit entry such as: foot baths to sanitize shoots and boots, sanitization of tools, and inspection of new plant material prior to transplanting. If the water source is found to harbor waterborne disease a treatment system should be installed. Container media with organic matter (such as peat, coir, compost, etc.) can occasionally contain Pythium. Source materials from a reputable supplier with quality control procedures in place.
Because of the prevalence of Pythium it will be difficult (or impossible!) to completely restrict Pythium from hydroponic operations. Therefore, it is important to periodically sanitize surfaces that come into contact with plants or the hydroponic nutrient solution, such as: pond or NFT channel surfaces, irrigation tubing, tools, and carts or other receptacles used to hold plants or move them around. Sanitize containers or seedling trays before reusing. When sanitizing surfaces be sure to remove debris/organic matter first. Be sure to include inspection of plant roots in your routine IPM scouting practices. Toss infected plants at the first sign of Pythium. Don’t reuse growing media.
Environment
Environmental conditions that favor Pythium include excessively high fertility, waterlogged substrates (for example, in the seedling stage), low dissolved oxygen, and extreme temperatures. Injury to roots such as through mechanical damage, allowing roots to dry out, or extreme temperatures can provide an entry point to Pythium. Maintain a target root zone temperature of 68 to 75 °F (20 to 24 °C). Lower temperatures favor establishment of Pythium dissotocum and higher temperatures favor development of Pythium aphanidermatum. At Cornell University, we have found that use of a water chiller to reduce hydroponic pond temperatures to about 68 °F is an effective way to reduce, but not completely eliminate, Pythium aphanidermatum from ponds with baby leaf spinach. Low dissolved oxygen levels in hydroponics have also been reported to increase Pythium infection. Therefore it is important to ensure adequate aeration so as to achieve greater than 6 ppm dissolved oxygen and ideally saturated dissolved oxygen (about 8- 9 ppm O2) in nutrient hydroponic solutions.
Biofungicides
Biofungicides are microbial-based products that act to prevent disease development. Several commercially available products are labeled for control of root-disease of greenhouse vegetable crops, see the excellent e-Gro article on this topic here. Some of these materials are primarily suited for use in substrates (such as seedlings or larger plants growing in container media) while some are also meant for use in hydroponic nutrient solutions. Biofungicides should be used as a preventative control strategy before a problem arises (rather than as a curative). Always follow the product label, and be sure to check if a given material is registered for use in your state.
In summary, if you are growing hydroponic basil or spinach you will almost certainly come across Pythium. However, careful attention to your growing practices and sanitation procedures can limit this disease to an occasional annoyance rather than an annihilating nemesis.
References
- Penn State Extension. 2017. Pythium, online factsheet. Retrieved on January 23, 2018 from https://extension.psu.edu/pythium
- Raudales, R.E. and McGehee, C. 2016. Pythium root rot on hydroponic lettuce. e -Gro Edible Alert. Volume 1, Number 4. Retrieved on January 23, 2018 from https://e -gro.org/pdf/E104.pdf
- Raudales, R.E. and McGehee, C. 2017. Biofungicides for control of root diseases on greenhouse- grown vegetables. e- Gro Edible Alert. Volume 2, Number 7. Retrieved on January 23, 2018 from https://e -gro.org/pdf/E207.pdf
- Sutton, J.C., Sopher , C.R., Owen -Going, T.N., Liu, W., Grodzinski, B., Hall, J.C. and Benchimol, R.L., 2006. Etiology and epidemiology of Pythium root rot in hydroponic crops: current knowledge and perspectives. Summa Phytopathologica , 32 (4), pp.307 -321.
Publication date: 1/31/2018
How To Use Microgreens
How To Use Microgreens
February 13, 2018
You’re on a Valentine's date, order a heart-shaped pizza with veggies because your date enjoys the occasional basil or arugula on their pizza. Let’s say you order and expect the normal piece of grown parsley fusing with the cheese…You realize this is not the case while you receive the pizza. You find tiny leaves fusing with the succulent melting cheese. You take your first bite: Heaven. It not only taste good but microgreens look extremely cute. This is your entrance to the world of microgreens! After this you become inspired to grow and use them in more of your everyday foods that you prepare at home. Microgreens will do that to you. Impress you more than your date.
Product Uses
Tasty little morsels that they are, microgreens are quite versatile, and can be used in a number of ways. Put them on sandwiches, in salads, on tacos, pizza, soups, anywhere you’d put lettuce or sprouts or cooked them in stir fry. Use them as an eye-catching garnish or ingredient on virtually any dish, meat and fish included. They are generally intended to be used fresh and raw. They make an excellent salad main ingredient, too....just toss with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing and perhaps a little tomato. Voila! A taste sensation that will have you coming back for more!
Microgreens on Sandwiches
Many people are unsure on how to use microgreens. Sandwiches can be fat and heavy. Microgreens pack a punch of light flavor and freshness, weighing out earthier flavor's and providing added nutritional value. Using microgreens in sandwiches can also provide a blessing through an added crunch of texture. Switch up the variety of microgreens depending on the ingredients of the sandwich to take your sandwich to the next level.
Microgreens in Salads
Microgreens salads are both tasty and nutritious. Because different microgreens varieties hold such different flavor profiles, they can be combined to build salads with a light and spicy flavor, or hit the taste buds with a punch of sweet or mild, it's up to you. Microgreens can also be a fantastic addition to a typical leafy greens salad. Add a punch of flavor and nutrition to your salads with a spicy microgreens like red ruby streak mustard.
Microgreens in Nutritional Shakes
Having a clamshell of microgreens that you can grab and use in nutritional shakes every morning or throughout the day can help you live a happier lifestyle, if that's what you are pursuing. Some microgreens varieties have proven to pack up to 40 times the nutritional value versus mature plants.
Other Uses For Microgreens
Microgreens are often used in Wraps, Sushi, Stir fry's, Soups, Tacos and in meat dishes. Microgreens are versatile and flavorful and can compliment in any dish. And yes, they make powerful and delicious garnishes, but they are more than just garnishes.
You should always stay curious and adventurous while cooking or growing microgreens. Remember microgreens are a lifestyle – a fruitful journey.
Microgreens Recipe
Author: Malibu Kitchen
Recipe type: Breakfast
Cuisine: Gluten-free, Detox, Vegetarian
Serves: 2
Ingredients
2 slices multi-grain or gluten free bread, toasted
1 ripe organic avocado, pitted, peeled, and sliced
1/4 lemon, cut into wedges
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup Asian micro mix or other microgreens
1/4 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted
Instructions
Divide avocado slices evenly and place on top of toast slices. Using a butter knife, carefully smash avocado slices. Squeeze lemon slices over avocado, sprinkle with salt and pepper, top with microgreens, drizzle with sesame oil, then complete with a sprinkling of sesame seeds.
Nutrition Information
Serving size:2 Calories:253 Fat:16 g Protein:4 g Cholesterol:0
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Tags: microgreens using microgreens leafy greens urban agriculture
Q&A: Driscoll’s Head of Emerging Technology On Harvesting Robotics and Open Innovation
Q&A: Driscoll’s Head of Emerging Technology On Harvesting Robotics and Open Innovation
FEBRUARY 7, 2018 EMMA COSGROVE
As head of R&D strategy and emerging technology at Driscoll’s, Nolan Paul has a unique view of the agtech startups in the specialty crop space.
The global berry seller has become known for its technological innovation in breeding and genetics, but the company’s focus on robotics is less well-known. Paul told AgFunderNews that Driscoll’s wants to support the development of automated strawberry harvest and is in contact with many if not all of the startups working in this area of robotics. That interest has led to investments in Harvest CROO and Agrobot and field trials with more.
Strawberry growing is long overdue for a shake-up and stakeholders know it. Robotic harvesting technologies are not quite ready for wide use. Labor is becoming more scarce as immigration uncertainty in the US continues and also because strawberry picking at ground level is a particularly grueling task. Some growers, inside and out, are raising up growing surfaces to waist-height to mitigate these issues and Driscoll’s is in the position to help and encourage its growers to keep up with the times.
We caught up with Paul ahead of the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit, where he’ll play the shark in several startup pitch presentations, to discuss how Driscoll’s works with startups and lessons learned while trying to determine the future of strawberry growing.
Driscoll’s is constantly testing and verifying technologies, but can growers afford to make major investments in technology right now?
Nolan Paul
It depends on what we’re talking about. The startups are recognizing that this is an issue and moving to a service model where you de-risk the technology for the grower base. They’re not going to have to pay a half a million dollars for a piece of equipment. But at some point, we come in. I think it’s not going to be as simple as just the robotics, let’s say, for harvest. It’s a combination of the robotics and the growing system and actually the genetics too. In that combination of all three is where you’ll really see the success. So Driscoll’s will come in, certainly on the breeding, on the genetics side, we’ll optimize for traits like mechanization. But on the growing system too, we’re supporting our growers with that, we help them out. And of course, we’re dedicated to investing in the development of ag technologies on behalf of our growers.
What is your assessment of the harvesting robotics field? Are outdoor growers transitioning to waist-height tables as well as indoor growers? And does that mean that harvesting machinery could work indoors and outdoors?
The good news is that the last couple years have seen a crop of harvesting startups pop up. Honestly, I doubted that would happen so quickly but I’m glad I was wrong. So today Driscoll’s is currently in active conversations with six automated strawberry harvesting startups. And they’re all taking a unique approach, which is great.
The challenges are certainly different. I think when you look at the visioning systems, that will be the same, but the robustness, the durability, and the scale will be different. And I think that’s what we’re seeing — some startups perhaps don’t appreciate the scale that will be required for outdoor farms in the US. If you’re growing in a greenhouse or a glasshouse, you know that’s one thing. But when you need to be out on a 100-acre ranch, those robots, those harvesters need to cover a lot of space and it’s probably not a reasonable thing to assume that you can just have a bunch of these robots going through a field. It’s hard for a grower to manage that. So I think there is a certain fleet size that can only be so big.
I think that’s something we’ve found that perhaps some of the startups haven’t looked at. And I don’t think you’ll just see one winner, I think you’ll see different solutions going into indoor farming whether that’s greenhouse or glasshouse or vertical farm and solutions for outdoors. I think the ones that are successful have the vision to scale from strawberries to other crops and perhaps indoors that’s easier to do. I think that’s a big deal. I’m still skeptical that harvesting robots are going to be successful if you just focus on one crop. And that’s really where we want to work with the startups, to help them understand that narrative, so they’re able to raise VC money.
That’s fascinating coming from you. It seems like Driscoll’s has done a pretty good job of making a big market for strawberry technology.
Yeah, it’s an interesting space. We’ve certainly recognized in the last three years how we engage with startups has to change because there are a lot of people who give them lip service. But what we’ve realized is you have to really be structured the right way. It’s not even about the money — there’s plenty of money. You need people who can work alongside these startups and move at the same speed.
It’s easy to go pitch ideas to a CEO, but to actually execute on them is really tough. And certainly we’re learning and getting better at it. Some of these large companies almost want to own what the startup is doing – to have a competitive edge. A lot of times, unless you’re really big, it just doesn’t work and you almost end up killing the startup.
Why doesn’t it work?
Well, I think most of the companies aren’t big enough to justify exclusivity — certainly not in the specialty crop space. It’s a very high, high-value space, but we’re fragmented. There are a lot of one to five billion dollar crops in the US across grapes, strawberries, nuts, and vegetables. But in and of itself it’s not big enough for a startup to scale. It’s important for folks to focus. But you have to have the vision of how you’re going to scale. The right strategic corporate can be a good partner for startups. But they need to recognize that, if you’re working with a startup it’s great that you’re an anchor customer, but you want the startup to be around in two, four, six, 10 years. And the only way they’re going to be around in six to 10 years is if they’ve been able to scale up and either be acquired or maybe, they have to create that scale themselves. I think people are too short-term when they interact with startups.
Farmers for America - New Documentary Screening in Fairfield, Iowa 2/17 and 2/18
Farmers for America - New Documentary Screening in Fairfield, Iowa 2/17 and 2/18
A Documentary to Celebrate, Inspire, and Support Young Farmers
Saturday, February 17 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 18 at 2:00 pm
Orpheum Theatre, Fairfield, IA (NOTE LOCATION CHANGE)
Saturday evening features a panel discussion with director Graham Meriwether and area farmers
Farmers for America, a new documentary from director Graham Meriwether (American Meat), traces the extraordinary changes coming to Americas food system as more and more consumers flock to farmers markets, embrace farm-to-table lifestyles and insist on knowing where their food is coming from. At the center of the film are the farmers, young and old, who provide the spirit and energy to bring urban and rural America together over what both share in common: our food. These farmers reflect nothing less than the face of America.
With the average age of todays farmer at 60, and rural America losing population as the cost of land and equipment soars, this film reveals the people waiting to take their place, the practices theyre championing and the obstacles they must overcome.
After the film on Saturday evening, Meriwether will be present to facilitate a conversation with a panel of local farmers of all backgrounds- from small-scale niche production to large-scale commodity farmers. Meriwethers goal is to bring these two perspectives together and forge a shared path towards our next agriculture.
Admission by donation.
Click here for more information on the film.
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BCFN YES! 2018 Competition Motice Now Online
Like every year, the BCFN YES! (Young Earth Solutions) 2018 Research Grant Competition invites young researchers from all over the world to submit projects aimed at promoting agricultural and food sustainability.
BCFN YES! expresses the key values of the BCFN Foundation: the commitment to engage young people, the drive towards innovation and the desire to find new paths of sustainability, with an international and a multidisciplinary spirit.
Who can participate in BCFN YES!
As in previous editions, the competition is open to young PhD students and post doctoral researchers under the age of 35.
Awards
BCFN YES! will award the excellence in research with three grants of up to EUR 20,000 for the period of one year, to support the activities of the winning projects.
When to apply
Candidates must submit their applications by June 14, 2018, 11:59 CEST.
How to apply
Candidates can register for the competition, individually or as a team, on the BCFN Foundation website.
To apply, candidates must submit a research proposal aimed at improving the sustainability of the food system. Projects for the 2018 competition must address one or more of the following research areas:
1. Sustainable and healthy diets.
2. Sustainable agriculture.
3. Food security.
Learn all the details about the application procedure and research areas.
Trump’s EPA Chief is Reshaping Food and Farming: What You Need to Know
Trump’s EPA Chief is Reshaping Food and Farming: What You Need to Know
The legendarily anti-EPA Scott Pruitt is trying to undo the agency’s work through rollbacks, inaction, and decimating its workforce.
BY LEAH DOUGLAS | ENVIRONMENT, Food Policy, Pesticides
02.05.18
Since assuming leadership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last February, Scott Pruitt has found himself at odds with environmental organizations, community advocates, farmers, and increasingly lawmakers.
Just last week, Cory Booker (D-NJ) confronted Pruitt in a Senate hearing about his recent efforts to roll back regulations that set a minimum age for farmworkers who handle pesticides. The rules include requirements for a minimum age of 18 for applying pesticides and for buffer zones around pesticide-spraying equipment. Booker said he feared that the rollback would have a “disproportionate impact on low-income folks and minorities.”
Booker’s concerns mirror many aired by others invested in the country’s environmental policies. Pruitt has made wholesale changes to the EPA over the last year, and his impact on food and farming have been no less sparing. His rollbacks of Obama-era regulations on pesticides, water safety, and farm runoff and close alignment with the seed and chemical industry has caused deep concern for both advocates and scientists. And as Pruitt’s EPA marches forward in rolling back or delaying environmental protections, many longtime staffers are opting to leave the agency they’ve supported for decades rather than supporting his agenda.
“This EPA is not interested in protecting people from harmful pesticides,” says Karen Perry Stillerman, a senior analyst at the advocacy group Union of Concerned Scientists. “It’s more interested in bowing to the wishes of Dow [Agrochemical].”
Before his tenure at the EPA, Pruitt infamously sued the agency 14 times. While most of those lawsuits were focused on preventing new regulations to limit carbon and mercury pollution from power plants, his approach to ending regulation has remained constant throughout.
In November 2016, he signed on to a lawsuit against the Waters of the United States rule (WOTUS), which details which bodies of water are regulated under the federal Clean Water Act, and was updated and expanded with the 2015 Clean Water Rule.
As EPA chief, Pruitt has worked quickly to stop implementation of the rule, which many conventional farm and industry groups have opposed, arguing that it is an example of the agency’s overreach. In June, the EPA began its efforts to rescind the rule, and last month the Supreme Court ruled that challenges to WOTUS would be sent back to federal district courts, several of which have issued stays against implementing the rule. Then, Pruitt responded last week by announcing a two-year delay in implementing WOTUS while his EPA works to repeal and replace it.
Pruitt rejected the EPA’s own scientists’ recommendation to ban the insecticide chlorpyrifos after years of internal and external research on the pesticide’s potentially harmful health effects. The chemical was banned in 2000 for household use, but is still used in some commercial farming. A New York Times investigation found that new EPA staff appointed by Trump had pushed career employees to shift the agency’s position on the chemical, and in early February Pruitt noted he would also urge the federal Marine Fisheries Service to also reconsider its findings that chlorpyrifos threatens fish species. A number of states have sued the agency in an effort to force it to implement the ban; California has also moved to ban the chemical’s use in the state in hopes of skirting the EPA’s inaction.
Pruitt has defended his deregulatory efforts, saying they’re in the interest of “cooperative federalism.” In his view, this type of deregulation empowers the states to take on more regulatory responsibility, while preventing the overreach of federal agencies.
Among Advocates, Anger at Changes and the Status Quo
Many agriculture and environment advocates don’t think Pruitt’s deregulatory efforts will improve the working relationship between the federal government and the states. John O’Grady, president of the American Federation of Government Employees National Council #238, which represents over 1,000 EPA employees, says “we’ve been doing cooperative federalism for years.” But “this administration is kind of twisting it” to justify incorporating direct input from more corporations, and to defund environmental regulatory work that has been happening in the states, he says.
Pruitt has supported Trump’s budget proposals, which would cut 20 percent of the funding states rely on for staffing and environmental program work, such as one program established in 2009 to restore and clean up contamination—from agriculture and other sources—in the Chesapeake Bay. More environmental regulations have been targeted for rollback than in any other sector.
And despite his stated interest in diffuse governance, Pruitt is reportedly keeping a tight rein on the EPA’s ongoing work. Michele Merkel, co-director of Food & Water Watch’s Food & Water Justice program and Tarah Heinzen, a staff attorney of the program, note that since many top positions at EPA remain unfilled, much of the agency’s business is flowing through Pruitt himself. Heinzen says that, consequently, there is “far less autonomy at the regional level,” and that state agencies are finding it challenging “to even gather information.”
Conventional agriculture groups, however, are mostly in agreement with the newly defined priorities of Pruitt’s EPA. When Pruitt addressed meetings of the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in early 2017, he was reportedly given standing ovations. Others say it is still too early to tell whether the changing priorities of this EPA will dramatically affect the relationship between the EPA and farmers.
On the one hand, the biggest players in the “[agriculture] industry have always had the EPA pretty captured,” says Merkel. Indeed, EPA’s regulatory trends have shown a shift toward more self-regulation in the agribusiness sector. There has also been a decline in the number of inspections and enforcement actions by the agency against concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) since the final years of the Obama administration.
And while many farmers have traditionally had an antagonistic relationship with the agency, Tom Driscoll of the National Farmers Union says the idea that farmers have a “knee-jerk distrust of EPA is a bit overstated.” He adds that the farmers he works with are “invested in a clean and healthy environment” and many farmers are still hoping to work with the EPA toward better conservation practices.
Plummeting Morale Inside the Agency
Between April and December, 770 employees left the EPA, many taking buyouts and early retirements. O’Grady says that some of these departures could be unrelated to the political environment. But, he says, some could be “related to people being disgusted with the program that this [administration] is putting in place.” Regardless of their reasons for leaving, many are not being replaced—barely one-third of the 624 EPA positions that require Congressional confirmation have been filled, with another third sitting vacant with no nominees.
Other EPA employees have gone to the media or other forums to speak out against the current administration—but not without consequence. Several employees who’ve spoken out publicly against the recent actions of the EPA have had their emails scrutinized. Many reports suggest that the internal staff morale is low. While the administration fears information leaks, many employees fear the agency will retaliate without proof if they are suspected of leaking information.
Pruitt has repeatedly condemned the EPA under Obama for treating states and industry as “adversaries,” preferring to see them as “partners.” That philosophy has translated into bringing many former industry representatives in to fill major EPA roles.
A November 2017 Center for Public Integrity investigation into 46 political appointees at the EPA found that the majority had worked for an either an organization with a history of climate change denial or an industry commonly regulated by the agency. The appointees include a former senior director of the American Chemistry Council (whose members include Dow, Monsanto, and Bayer), former senior counsel at the American Petroleum Institute, and former legislative affairs director for the National Association of Chemical Distributors.
And the appointees go beyond the agriculture and energy industries. In May, Pruitt appointed his friend and personal banker Albert Kelly, to lead the new Superfund Task Force. Just two weeks prior, Kelly had been fined by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for financial misdeeds that resulted in his being banned from rejoining the banking industry by the FDIC.
Pruitt has also reportedly spent much more of his time in meetings with industry reps than environmental organizations or citizen groups. A trove of documents detailing his schedule during his first three months at the helm of the agency show dozens of meetings with or travel to events sponsored by General Motors, Shell Oil executives, CropLife America, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Cement Association, and the National Mining Association. Meanwhile, between March and September, Pruitt met with just five environmental groups.
Some of Pruitt’s deregulatory actions, particularly those targeted at Obama-era executive orders, could only last for a short while if they were soon overturned by a new administration. But others, like unwinding WOTUS, would take years of litigation and rulemaking to get back to where the Obama administration left off.
And staff at EPA could also prove hard to replace. John O’Grady points out that the agency has shrunk from 18,000 employees in 1999 to around 14,500 today, and he predicts the Trump administration will cut several thousand more jobs. After all the cuts, “there’s still the same amount of work,” he says. The staff that remain at EPA “are dedicated, they’re trying to get the work done.” But as morale falls, many are burning out. And those who stay must face an agency that seeks to unwind decades of its own efforts to fight climate change, regulate harmful chemicals, and protect the country’s waterways.
Top photo CC-licensed by Gage Skidmore.
2018 U.S. Farm Bill Campaign
2018 U.S. Farm Bill Campaign
JANUARY 18, 2018 URBAN AG NEWS
About every five years the Federal Government passes a massive, far-reaching “Farm Bill” with the main aim of providing an adequate national supply of food and nutrition. The Bill affects all facets of the U.S. food system including nutrition assistance, crop subsidies, crop insurance, research, and conservation. The 2014 Farm Bill directed the spending of about $450 billion.
The 2018 U.S. Farm Bill is on track to ignore aquaponics unless we make our voices heard! Here are some ways to get involved:
- Share a copy of the: Aquaponics Association 2018 U.S. Farm Bill Fact Sheet PDF
- Click here to join the: Aquaponics Association 2018 Farm Bill Coalition. Coalition Members will:
- be signed onto Farm Bill Coalition messages to Congress;
- receive updates and information about the 2018 Farm Bill; and
- receive action alerts when opportunities arise for you to get involved.
- Click here to read the Aquaponics Sign-on Letter to Congress.
Here’s the Aquaponics Association’s 2018 Farm Bill Fact Sheet:
Notice of Public Meeting For The Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture
Notice of Public Meeting For The Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture
A Notice by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture on 01/29/2018
Publication Date: 01/29/2018
Agencies: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Dates: The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, 2018 from 1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. local time (Pacific Time).
Document Type: Notice
Document Citation: 83 FR 4026
Page: 4026-4027 (2 pages)
Agency/Docket Number: Docket No. NIFA-2018-001
Document Number: 2018-01577
AGENCY:
National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.
ACTION:
Notice of public meeting for the Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture of the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council.
SUMMARY:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is publishing this notice on behalf of the Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture (IWGA) of the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council to announce a public meeting of this group. This public meeting provides an opportunity for the IWGA to discuss ongoing and planned activities in support of aquaculture development in the United States with stakeholders. In turn, this meeting provides an opportunity for the stakeholders to discuss issues of relevance to the IWGA members in attendance.
DATES:
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, 2018 from 1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. local time (Pacific Time).
ADDRESSES:
The Aquaculture America 2018 Conference will take place at Paris Las Vegas Hotel, 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas, NV 89109. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
IWGA Chair and Aquaculture National Program Leader Dr. Gene Kim, USDA NIFA; email Gene.W.Kim@nifa.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture (formerly known as the Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture) was created by the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-362, 94 Stat. 198, 16 U.S.C. 2801, et seq.) and is chaired by the Department of Agriculture, with vice-chairs from the Department of Commerce and Department of the Interior. The IWGA reports to the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council. The purpose of the coordinating group is to increase the overall effectiveness and productivity of Federal aquaculture research, transfer, and assistance programs. In fulfilling this purpose, the coordinating group:
(1) Reviews the national needs for aquaculture research, technology transfer and technology assistance programs;
(2) Undertakes planning, coordination, and communication among Federal agencies engaged in the science, engineering, and technology of aquaculture;
(3) Collects, compiles, and disseminates information on aquaculture;
(4) Encourages joint programs among Federal agencies in areas of mutual interest relating to aquaculture; and
(5) Recommends specific actions on issues, problems, plans, and programs in aquaculture.
The IWGA addresses issues of national scope and importance and may form national task forces or special projects to facilitate a coordinated, systematic approach to addressing critical issues and needs. More information is available at http://www.ars.usda.gov/ iwga.
This notice invites the public to participate in this IWGA meeting. The location is at the Aquaculture America 2018 Conference venue, which allows for stakeholder interaction at what likely is the largest gathering of U.S. aquaculture research, extension, and private sector representatives. Attendance or response to this notice is voluntary. We are not requesting information as part of an ongoing regulatory process. Although this will Start Printed Page 4027be a discussion of stakeholder issues of concern, will not be considered formal public input on regulations, as the IWGA is not a regulatory body. Responses to this notice may be used by the government for program planning on a non-attribution basis. Information obtained from the discussions occurring during this meeting may be used for program planning and federal coordination among Federal agencies, and may guide future Federal agencies' activities that are national in scope. USDA requests that no business proprietary information or copyrighted information be submitted in response to this notice. No registration or fee is needed to attend this IWGA meeting. Please note that there will be no other method for interaction for this meeting, aside from in-person attendance. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to email their contact information to the email address below for planning purposes: Dr. Maxwell Mayeaux, Aquaculture Program Specialist, USDA NIFA at: mmayeaux@nifa.usda.gov.
The agenda for this meeting is as follows:
Agenda
I. Overview of Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture Activities
II. Reports on Federal Interagency Initiatives
a. Agency updates on regulatory reform
b. Overview of national aquaculture statistics reporting and the Census of Aquaculture
c. Interagency collaboration on research, extension and outreach activities
d. Other Agency Updates
III. Public questions and discussion on IWGA activities
Done at Washington, DC, on January 19, 2018.
Sonny Ramaswamy,
Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2018-01577 Filed 1-26-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
Autogrow Opens Virtual Innovation Community
Autogrow has opened a virtual agtech and science lab and is inviting indoor ag developers, growers and enthusiasts to join in building a dynamic and innovative community.
Autogrow Opens Virtual Innovation Community
8 February 2018
Autogrow has opened a virtual agtech and science lab and is inviting indoor ag developers, growers and enthusiasts to join in building a dynamic and innovative community.
Following on from the launch of their Jelly SDK, APIs and Autogrow Cloud platform last year, the Autogrow Lab was set up as a collaborative environment for continued research and development of control systems for indoor agriculture.
“The industry is a fragmented hardware landscape with software and data technology being introduced into the mix. Our goal is to bring much of that together in an open platform, add in the science of plant biology and create a space for discussion, invention and pushing the boundaries,” explains Chief Technology Officer Jeffrey Law.
“Being virtual ensures that anyone, anywhere and at any time can join in the discussion add to the research or utilize our applications to create next-generation ideas. The industry is moving incredibly fast but a lot of that is happening behind the scenes. We think by creating a collaboration space we can ensure the entire agtech community will benefit from the increased pace.”
Users will have access to Autogrow’s APIs and SDKs for control systems, technical documentation, compiled research and be able to contribute to tech blogs. The Lab will have a strong focus on the marriage of tech and data with plant science.
“To really understand what’s required in different environments such as greenhouses, protected cropping, and plant farms, you have to look at the plants from a biological perspective, then adjust the environment to suit,” says Dr. Tharindu Weeraratne, Director of Crop Science and Agronomy.
The Lab is open to anyone with an interest in agtech with a focus on transparency and creating a repository for education and sharing advances with the community.
“I was asked recently whether I’d be afraid someone would create a better control system by using our API. My answer to that was – I hope so. I hope that people start creating better, smarter systems for indoor ag which in turn drives everyone to work harder,” says Mr. Law.
“Anyone who’s afraid of change or new ideas need to step aside and make way for those that want to innovate and improve our industry and in turn keep everyone on their toes - we included.”
Visit - lab.autogrow.com
About Autogrow
Established in 1994, Autogrow (www.autogrow.com) is committed to creating original ideas for agriculture – and making them a reality.
With a global headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand, an office in the U.S. and growers and resellers in over 40 countries, Autogrow provides affordable, accessible and easy-to-use innovation – 24/7, anywhere in the world.
By leveraging the power of technology, data science, and plant biology through a team of software designers, engineers and crop science experts - Autogrow continues to push innovation boundaries to gain the best result for the growers.
CPMA Launches The Canadian Food Safety Fund to Support Food-Safety Research and Projects
CPMA Launches The Canadian Food Safety Fund to Support Food-Safety Research and Projects
2018
As the voice of the produce industry in Canada, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association has identified food safety as a top priority to ensure the ongoing viability and growth of the fresh produce sector in Canada. Understanding that a food-safety incident in one commodity group or segment could have devastating repercussions throughout the industry, CPMA is proud to launch the Canadian Food Safety Fund.
“We actively recognized the need for ongoing Canadian-focused research and education in the areas of pathogens, regulatory changes and best practices so members can stay at the forefront of food safety in Canada,” said Ron Lemaire, CPMA president. “We saw a unique opportunity to help support research projects that would typically be cost-prohibitive to many of the smaller companies that make up our membership. The fund will therefore facilitate and disseminate the important work, current and future, occurring in the produce industry.”
The CFSF’s main goals are to support vital, Canadian-focused, food-safety research; to develop educational programs and key information for CPMA members on existing and emerging food-safety challenges; and to increase government outreach, including in the U.S. and Mexico, to address food-safety issues for CPMA members.
Through the CFSF, CPMA members can be confident that their organization is committed to continuous improvement within the Canadian food-safety system. Members will be able to suggest or initiate commodity specific projects to address opportunities or challenges faced by their businesses; contribute to the overall body of scientific knowledge which, in turn, will result in the development of new, more efficient, more economical practices within the industry; and seek out the advice of CPMA’s new food-safety expert, Jeff Hall.
“CPMA is already working with academia, governments and other associations to move these goals forward,” said Hall. “A part of our mandate is to provide members with information, through education, research or other projects, on food safety and related issues. We’re committed to partnering with a broad base to ensure that we create a body of research that will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the industry.”
As a part of this renewed food-safety focus, CPMA will be hosting a series of information sessions on the upcoming Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act, which is now in force. These sessions are available free to CPMA members and media and will take place in January and February 2018 in select Canadian and U.S. locations. For more information on the CFSF and the ongoing initiatives to strengthen Canadian knowledge in food safety, visit www.cpma.ca/foodsafety.
Understanding Water pH in Hydroponics
Understanding Water pH in Hydroponics
February 1, 2018
It’s a hot summer afternoon and you decide to water your plants because they’re wilted. You ask yourself a question, why do they keep dying? pH measures acidity or alkalinity which you must understand in order to grow a healthy plant. If you were gardening on a hot day maybe your water supply isn’t great. That’s another story.
Introduction
Why is pH important? If the pH of a solution is not within the correct range the plant will not have the ability to absorb some of the essential elements required for proper plant growth. All plants have a particular pH range, which will produce healthy growth, and this level will vary from plant to plant, but most plants prefer a slightly acidic growing environment (5.8 to 6.2). Most plants can survive in an environment with pH values between 5.0 and 7.0.
Plants grown in acidic environments can experience a variety of symptoms, including aluminum (Al), hydrogen (H), and/or manganese (Mn) toxicity, as well as nutrient deficiencies of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg).
Conversely, in alkaline environments molybdenum (Mo) and macronutrients (except for phosphorus) availability increases, but phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co) levels are reduced, and may adversely affect plant growth.
From the chart, you can see that each element can become more and less available to the plants as pH changes. If the pH of your solution is out of the desired range, one or more of the essential elements will become unavailable to the plant, causing nutrient deficiencies, which will result in slow growth rates, and poor yields.
pH Control
Chemical reactions can be inhibited or promoted by the concentration of hydrogen ions in a mixture. We can measure this on a pH scale. Industrial acidic substances are 2.0 pH - lemon, 5.0 pH - coffee, 7.0 pH - milk, 9 pH - baking soda, and 12+ pH - lye. Almost anything that contains hydrogen ions or lack of them can, therefore, produce a pH. As your plant grows through its life cycle, it absorbs minerals from the water and deposit waste materials of its own. The removal of nutrients and addition of waste material can cause water pH levels to fluctuate, so in order to allow for the normal course of chemical reactions to take place, we need to maintain a desirable pH level. If we don't, we can experience nutrient lockout.
Water pH
Water also has a pH so remember to check your water source. For example Your medium is 6.0 pH but you want it to be 6.2. You mix a+1 pH and then add it hoping for a 6+1=7. However, you forgot that the water you diluted with wasn’t pH measured so you don’t know if you achieved 7 or not until you measure it. Measure your water and your medium to figure out exactly what pH you need. Here’s an example: Water is 5 and medium pH is 4. You would need +2 to make it 7. Then you need +3 for the medium to make it 7. What actually happens with pH-up and down is somewhat like this but the way you adjust it, by adding a little pH and testing and repeating the procedure, keeping in mind what your water’s pH is. You can always use the pH-up and -down buffering solutions to find pH stability.
pH- Getting back to neutral from acidic
If your soil’s pH in too acidic you will want to bring it back to a neutral 7. You can do this using lime( alkaline calcium oxide), a brittle white caustic solid obtained by heating limestone. You can find lime in containers at your grow shop and add it to your soil the next time you decide to water your plant. Growers know by trial and error how much lime they need to use to push acidic soil back to a pH level of 7. Not all limes work well so be sure to get the gardening lime.
pH- bringing back to neutral from alkaline
If the pH of your soil is too alkaline then you can bring it back to a neutral 7 by adding small amounts of any of the following. Moreover, most growers find a pH-down product more functional.
Liquid humic acid
Cottonseed meal
Lemon peels
Coffee Grounds
High-acidity fertilizer
These are acidic. Always introduce small amounts of the substance, checking the pH level the next day and readjusting as necessary. Make sure to protect your eyes and skin; you will need to wash them if you come in contact with the pH buffers.
Other pH problems
pH is important because low or high pH levels can cause nutrient lockout. pH irregularities can also cause growth stunting, leaf spots and wilting. Always check the pH level of your soil before treating a nutrient problem. pH is an essential part of growing that you must understand to have harmony with your plants. Thanks for reading.
If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy these post about nutrients:
"How to mix nutrients in a hydroponic system"
"Growing with A tank and B tank"
Tags:
pH hydroponics pH down hydroponic system acidic neutral alkaline water pH
UAE To Produce 60 Percent More Food By 2051
UAE To Produce 60 Percent More Food By 2051
Jasmine Al Kuttab/Abu Dhabi
February 5, 2018
The UAE stands in the vanguard of those supporting agricultural innovations and scientific research
The UAE aims to produce a whopping 60 percent more food to feed a global population of nine billion people within the next 33 years, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment announced on Monday.
During the fifth edition of the Global Forum for Innovation in Agriculture, held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Dr Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, said the globalised nature of the food supply chain means that no country, region or continent is immune to food insecurity.
"Given the growing scarcity of fresh water, the scale of degradation of arable land and the increasing volatility of weather as a result of the changing climate, the task at hand is immense," he said.
The minister stressed that the UAE is working hard towards achieving the production of at least 60 percent more food for export in just three decades.
"We believe this event will generate meaningful debate, actions, partnerships, and opportunities to help us - in just 33 years from now - produce at least 60 percent more food than we do today to feed a global population of nine billion.
"This is a challenge that transcends national borders and is one felt acutely here in the Middle East, where burgeoning populations in arid regions are placing a strain on the capacity of nations to feed their citizens."
Dr Al Zeyoudi said that innovation is thus crucial for agriculture, sustainability and food production. "We in the UAE, are among the countries in the region that stand in the vanguard of those supporting agricultural innovations and scientific research."
He pointed out that the UAE has had a unique experience in agricultural innovations. "This is spite of the hard climatic conditions and water scarcity, the country has succeeded thanks to political will and the adoption of modern farming techniques, in developing a sustainable farming sector that contributes to meeting some of the food requirements of the country."
UAE looks for collaborations
Dr. Al Zeyoudi added that the two-day forum, which is the world's largest showcase of agricultural technology, will help raise the level of collaboration between the UAE and other nations. "We recognize the need for global expertise, and welcome the opportunity for international involvement in the regional agricultural sector."
He said Abu Dhabi is ideally located on the shores of the Arabian Gulf, at the heart of the world's largest arid region. "There is the potential for innovative water-saving technologies, hydroponics and high-tech agriculture, amongst many technologies, to be deployed here to great success."
He pointed out that the public, private sectors, and the not-for-profit groups must work together to solve pressing challenges.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com
To Members of Congress, We Request That The 2018 U.S. Farm Bill Include Aquaponic Agriculture on a Level Playing-Field With Traditional Agriculture.
Aquaponic growers around the world have proven that we can provide the freshest, healthiest produce in any environment with the fewest resources. We employ water-based, recirculating systems of fish, plants and bacteria to produce vegetables, fruits and fish (edible or ornamental).
To Members of Congress, We Request That The 2018 U.S. Farm Bill Include Aquaponic Agriculture on a Level Playing-Field With Traditional Agriculture.
Attached is the final letter with over 200 of our signatures ready to be distributed to Congress.
THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP
The Aquaponics Association will be delivering copies to Congress... but this is only one slice of the pie, we all need to continue the push.
Here's how you can help:
- Send a copy directly to YOUR representatives. It will have much more impact if congressional offices receive info from their own constituents.
- Send a copy to agricultural press outlets.
- Post info on social media (pic below to use for image)
- Continue getting more people to sign up for the Coalition
REMEMBER the Farm Bill only happens once every five years so we have to make sure we get included in these programs NOW.
Final letter is Here
Thanks!
Brian
Sustainability and Global Food Systems
Sustainability and Global Food Systems
September 18, 2016 by Brian Colwell
Farmers and ranchers are already facing devastating impacts from the realities of Climate Change – including severe floods, extreme heat and drought, and increased pressures from changing disease and pest patterns.
Global Food Systems are under attack. We need Sustainability NOW!
Major advantages of conservation agriculture are:
- Reduced wind and water erosion of topsoil
- Increased water use efficiency through improved water infiltration and retention
- Increased nutrient use efficiency through enhanced nutrient cycling and fertilizer placement adjacent to seed
- Reduced oscillation of surface soil temperatures
- Increased soil organic matter and diverse soil biology
- Reduced fuel, labor and overall crop establishment costs, and
- More timely operations
Enter LEGUMES!
It’s a win-win situation for the environment AND the economy when it comes to introducing legumes into agricultural systems, says new research, but the
“…ability to reverse negative trends is jeopardized by Climate Change as food legumes are mostly grown rainfed and are being exposed to increasingly variable and extreme weather.”
That’s bad news, because Legumes are a #4IR “Smart Food”
Good for you, good for the planet, and good for the smallholder farmer. Pulses like chickpea and pigeonpea contribute towards the new Sustainable Development Goals to reduce poverty and hunger, improve health and gender equity, promote responsible consumption and help adapt to climate change.
Pulses are an amazing protein and might save the Planet!
Beans and Sustainable Agriculture:
- Lower Carbon footprint
- Water (In)Security
- Nitrogen Fixing & Soil Microbial Diversity
1. Lower Carbon footprint:
Pulses have a lower carbon footprint in production than most animal sources of protein. In fact, one study showed that one kilogram of legume only emits 0.5kg in Co2 equivalent, whereas 1kg of beef produces 9.5 kg in CO2 equivalent .
The very low contribution of legumes is well illustrated in the graph below. It shows that lentils are one of the foodstuff that contributes the least emissions, far fewer than turkey, salmon or other common sources of protein.
How do Beans reduce Carbon Emissions?
- Low water use results in low energy use.
- Reduces nonrenewable energy in the entire crop rotation by 22-24%. Pulse-Pulse-Wheat cropping has 34% less carbon footprint compared to a Cereal-Cereal-Wheat cropping pattern.
- Better farming practices, including use of pulse crops, can lower the average carbon footprint by 24 to 37%.
- Nitrogen fertilizers contribute to carbon footprint as its energy footprint is over 7.5 times more than other fertilizers such as phosphate and potash.
- Pulses help reduce use of chemical fertilizers by fixing nitrogen.
2. Water (In)Security:
It’s more efficient to obtain protein from crop products than animal products. Water used to produce 1g protein in milk, eggs and chicken meat is 1.5 times, for mutton it is 3.3 times and for beef 6 times more than that used for pulses. Crazy.
In addition, many pulses use water differently than traditional farming crops. They extract water from shallower depths, leaving deep soil water for the following crop (crop rotation). Water use characteristics of pulses effectively increases the water use efficiency of the entire crop rotation.
3. Nitrogen fixing and soil microbe diversity:
Pulses fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen fixing soil bacterias living inside their root systems.
“A 125-year debate on how nitrogen-fixing bacteria are able to breach the cell walls of legumes has been settled. Scientists now report that plants themselves allow bacteria in. The fact that legumes themselves call the shots is a great finding…”
Chickpea leaves 20.4 kg/ha of residual nitrate in the soil after harvesting which is the highest among pulses. Production and application of nitrogen fertilizer accounts for 57% to 65% of the carbon footprint of each crop. Pulses help in efficient use of soil phosphorus by breaking down insoluble phosphates in the soil.
Soil microbe diversity:
Different compounds from pulses feed soil microbes and this benefits overall soil health. Crops grow better in soils with diverse soil organisms as they help break down and cycle nutrients more efficiently.
Crops grow better in soils with diverse soil organisms as they help break down and cycle nutrients more efficiently. Presence of diverse soil organisms tend to ‘crowd out’ disease-causing bacteria and fungi, resulting in healthier plants. Growing pulse crops in rotation enables the other crops to benefit from these large, diverse population of soil organisms.
WOW! I didn’t know beans were so important!
With Climate Change offering massive disruption to global food and water security, and with legumes both impacted by and impacting agricultural carbon emissions, it’s important to understand WHERE legumes come from, how future production will be impacted by further climate changes, and what’s ALREADY being done.
There are 18 priority dryland cereal and legume farming (agri-food) systems worldwide:
The most important of these systems, in terms of area and population, are found in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
The farming systems in Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, Central Asia and East Asia are also important, but dryland cereal and legume crop distribution data show that South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are the most important regions for crop improvement and adapted crop management practices.
The high levels of malnutrition in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa can be addressed in part by nutritious DCL crops, which are often important sources of protein and micronutrients. Biofortification of DCL crops could be an important consideration in these areas. Clearly, the high rural and urban population found in, and depending on, DCL farming system regions suggest the importance of these systems for research and development aimed at improving agriculture and livelihoods.
In the case of the pulses: Chickpea, the common bean, cowpea, faba bean, groundnut, lentil, pigeonpea, and soybean.
“Grain legumes are often referred to as the ‘poor people’s meat,’ …They’re extremely important to those who cannot afford meat, milk or fish to meet their protein needs.”
In Africa, increasing areas of common bean are being sown while areas under mung bean and black gram have increased in South and East Asia. These increases are attributed mainly to the availability of improved varieties, such as shorter duration and more disease-resistant mung bean, rather than any improvements in agronomic management. Africa remains the major producer of cowpea, but there has been no appreciable increase in area sown or yield over the last decade. In contrast, cowpea area and yields have increased in Asia, probably as a result of availability of improved varieties. India is the major producer of pigeonpea, but area and yields have remained relatively stable over the past decade. Myanmar appears to be the only country where pigeonpea area and yields have increased. This has been mainly driven by the export market to neighboring India.
Beans in Africa:
Cowpeas are an important staple in the diets of 200 million Africans, roughly 18 percent of the population. Smallholders devote more land to groundnuts than any other legume in Sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 11 million hectares.
Beans are an important legume crop in Zambia, where 60 percent of the population lives in poverty and more than 350,000 suffer from food insecurity. Unfortunately, bean production in this African country is severely limited by diseases, insects, low soil fertility and drought.
In the east African nations of Malawi and Tanzania, chemical fertilizer is extremely expensive and supplies are extremely limited. Consequently, the ability of pulses to fix soil nitrogen in these regions is critical. Because of poor soil health and drought, these countries stand to reap many benefits from the production of pulses. Bringing improved pulse cultivars to the region is an important step to increase food security and improve health and nutrition.
“…small farmers in Africa are getting two to three times lower production rates than what can be done on research station sites… generally due to under-management – lack of use of improved seeds, poor varieties and suboptimal use of agronomic practices.”
Globally, the area sown to beans has increased primarily due to increases in both Africa and Asia.
The demand-supply gap for the legumes is perpetually increasing widening day-by-day which will lead to a huge shortfall in the supply to the ever increasing global population in coming years. The only option is to maximize the efforts toward developing improved high yielding cultivars possessing resistance/tolerance to the major stresses especially in context of Climate Change.
Moves toward more ecological-based approaches in managing nutrition, weeds, diseases, and pests of food legumes offer prospects for greater inclusion of food legumes in cropping systems.
Although adoption of conservation agriculture is widespread in large-scale commercial agriculture (especially in the cereals), it is only at initial stages in resource-poor smallholder situations. A boost in food legume production by resource-poor farmers is a dire necessity due to static or declining production trends for most of these commodities in developing countries, yet increasing global demand for legume grain.
Technology to substantially increase and stabilize yields of food legumes in most areas is available but its rapid adoption appears restricted by Industrialized Agriculture…
THE END???
Resources:
- BBSRC: BioScience for the Future
- NSAC’S BLOG
- Pest Management in Grain Legumes: Potential and Limitations
- New Phytologist
- Emerging genomic tools for legume breeding: current status and future prospects
- Catch the Pulse
- Global Pulse Confederation
- Dryland cereal and legume priority farming systems worldwide
- Translational Genomics in Agriculture
- Pulses Handbook 2016
- Breeding Annual Grain Legumes for Sustainable Agriculture
- Legumes in Sustainable Agriculture
- Legumes: the Solution to Human Health and Agricultural Sustainability
- Can legumes solve environmental issues?
- Legumes give nitrogen-supplying bacteria special access pass
- Introduction to Legumes (links to all articles by same author)
- These Plants Are the Pulse of Sustainable Farming and Healthy Eating
- Can We Improve the Nutritional Quality of Legume Seeds?
- Legume Innovation Lab
- AgBioResearch
- Use of grain legumes residues as livestock feed in the smallholder mixed crop-livestock production systems in Ethiopia
- Finding niches for legumes in smallholder farming systems
- LegumeCHOICE
- Innovations in agronomy for food legumes