Welcome to iGrow News, Your Source for the World of Indoor Vertical Farming
Aquaponic Growers, Researchers, Educators, And Enthusiasts:
Hi Everyone,
Friday and Saturday Passport Tickets for the Putting Up Shoots conference are now on sale. Head to our Putting Up Shoots homepage to purchase tickets and for more info.
Best wishes,
Brian Filipowich, Chairman
Aquaponics Association
From now until the September Putting Up Shoots conference we'll be rolling out a steady stream of conference previews. Check out the content we've already featured:
The Aquaponics Association is proud to present our tentative program for the Sept 21-23 Putting Up Shoots conference!
Check it out here: http://bit.ly/2MHWXO0
Oh my! A tremendous learning experience with the world's top experts and over SIXTY unique sessions. You don't want to miss it!
ALSO - The conference room block discount at the Hartford Hilton ends TODAY! Get your hotel room ASAP. Click here for the room block:
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/H/HFDHHHF-NAA-20180920/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG
Nick Savidov, Lethbridge College: Development of the First Zero-Waste Food Production System Based on Aquaponics
Ryan Chatterson, Aquaponic Engineering and Design: Finding Profitability in an Ever-Changing Aquaponic Landscape
Kevin Savage, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy: An Engineering Design Process Model to Teach STEM Education through Aquaponics
The Husky-Ponics Tour - visiting the University of Connecticut Spring Valley Student Farm and Bigelow Brook Farm
Carlos Leon, Acuaponia: Bio-Engineering for Commercial Aquaponics
Ken Armstrong, Ouroboros Farms: The Future of Aquaponics is Now
Vendor Spotlight: Stalite Environmental
This is a small fraction of all the great content we have in store. For tickets and other conference information, head to our Putting Up Shoots conference homepage.
PUTTING UP SHOOTS 2018 SCHEDULE
Don't forget we still have space for presentation proposals in our four learning tracks: Commercial Aquaponics, Community Aquaponics, Aquaponics Research & Food Safety, and Aquaponics in STEM Education.
We hope to see you in September!
Brian Filipowich, Chairman
Aquaponics Association
P.S. Don't forget to check if you qualify for the STEM & Community Aquaponics Discount:
Apply for the STEM & Community Discount!
Mariculture or Marine Farming, Algae and Aquaculture: Revolution In Food and Biomass Production (REFAB)
Internet | Registration | Programme | Conference Leaflet (PDF) | Future Protein Award
1-2 October 2018, Maritim Hotel Cologne, Germany
++ Almost final programme online ++ Almost 100 participants from 19 countries registered ++ More than 500 leading international experts and 40 exhibitors are expected to attend the conference ++
New concepts of sustainable aquaculture that dissolve the borders between land and ocean. The conference “Revolution in Food and Biomass Production (REFAB)”, Cologne, 1-2 October 2018 will show recent innovation concepts and technology developments towards the longevity and sustainability of this industry. The ocean has much more to offer than traditional fish farming and, as of today, we use only a fraction of its potential.
The REFAB conference will present four examples of modern aqua- and mariculture solutions to answer most relevant questions on the potential of mariculture for the future food security and the application of the existing technologies, such as modular floating farms, aquaponics and production of diverse foods from algae and seaweeds. Please see below the companies and research institutes, that will provide insights at REFAB.
1 October 2018:
Sustainability revolution in food and biomass production based on nine innovation pillars
Early Bird Discount!
Early Bird Discount of 30% valid by end of August!
Register now!
Exhibition opportunities & Future Protein Award
The price of a booth (table, chair, pin board, power connection, 6qm) is 750 EUR (excl. 19% VAT). Further information here.
Acknowledgment
The nova-Institute would like to acknowledge BIOCOM AG (DE) and Dr. Bronner's for supporting the conference as Bronze Sponsors and the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V. (FNR, DE) as Premium Partner of the conference. Become a sponsor now!
Join the revolution, visit the conference, meet the leading entrepreneurs of the new industry!
See you in Cologne.
Kind regards,
Michael Carus
CEO nova-Institute
Virginia Smart Farming Conference on Using Controlled Environment Agriculture
August 8, 2018, created by Joyce Latimer
Join us for the 2018 Virginia Smart Farming Conference on Using Controlled Environment Agriculture to be held on Thursday, September 13, 2018, at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, VA.
From farms to greenhouses to warehouses, controlled environment agriculture is growing in the field of agriculture. Join academic and industry experts for this one-day event focused on the latest advances in protected culture, sensor technology, lighting, computer vision, automation, and vertical farming. Hear from technical experts as well as Virginia producers who have been successful in incorporating controlled environment agriculture into their business models.
Neil Mattson, Ph.D., Director of the Cornell University Controlled Environment Agriculture group will kick the conference off with his Keynote Address on Building a Controlled Environment Agriculture Business: Site, Structure, Crops, and Growing System. Later Neil will talk about niche markets filled by successful vertical farms and energy modeling in vertical farms and greenhouses.
In addition, Chris Higgins of Hort Americas will be joining us as a Special Guest Speaker for the Smart Farming Conference with an update on LED lighting options for commercial vertical farms as well as a presentation in the greenhouse track on using technology for climate control and reducing labor needs.
With speakers on using CEA on the farm, in the greenhouse, and in vertical/indoor farms, there is something for everyone. Check out the full program, speaker bios, and registration link on our website.
https://www.hort.vt.edu/sfcea/
Pre-registration ends September 4, 2018. Space is limited. Exhibitor space and sponsorship opportunities are still available.
About the Author:
Joyce Latimer
Professor, Horticulture, Virginia Tech
Joyce Latimer is a Professor and Greenhouse Extension Specialist at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg VA. Her specialty is in perennials production, problem solving, and plant growth regulation of herbaceous perennials under greenhouse and nursery conditions. Joyce also works with greenhouse energy efficiency education and implementation programs.
Joyce has been recognized for her Extension service to the industry with the Alumni Award for Outreach Excellence (Virginia Tech, 2010), Horticultural Initiative Award (Southeast Color Connection, 2010), and the Outreach Excellence Award (Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2007).
See What’s Powering Indoor Agriculture at Electrification 2018
The Following Content Is Sponsored By The Electric Power Research Institute
How can the electrification of indoor agriculture impact water usage, transportation emissions and the elimination of soil and additives?
EPRI’s Electrification 2018 Conference will provide a forum to dig deeper into the key benefits that electricity provides the indoor agriculture industry and how emerging electric technologies are powering the future of sustainability.
Explore the Indoor Ag Industry
- Explore the Industrial Electrification - Technologies and Implementation conference track to learn how indoor agriculture is solving food and sustainability issues—from improving food safety and reducing food waste to growing more nutritious food for a planet with declining resources.
- Understand the electric technologies powering the industry, including electric lighting and thermal and sensing controls.
- See our agenda of breakout sessions and featured speakers for more information.
Experience Expert Insights at Panel Sessions Including:
- Advancing Agriculture and Food Production with Electricity
- The Promise and Potential of Indoor Agriculture
- Smart Cities: Connecting Buildings, Transportation, Indoor Ag, and More
What is EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute)?
EPRI conducts research, development, and demonstration projects for the benefit of the public in the U.S. and internationally. Our R&D evaluates electricity's potential in powering the technologies of today and tomorrow, and how electricity could transform indoor agriculture and other industries where power is a key input. We invite you to join us in this journey at Electrification 2018 and explore the various R&D underway now to understand the benefits, costs, and opportunities associated with efficient electrification.
We Hope To See You In Long Beach In August!
Sincerely,
Electric Power Research Institute
MEET. LEARN. ELECTRIFY.
REGISTER NOW
In the meantime, stay informed on EPRI and Electrification.
Subscribe to the Electrification 2018 updates and Electrification newsletter to get the latest industry news.
Does Indoor Farming Hold The Key To The Global Food And Nutrition Challenge? Indoor Farming Visionaries Gather For Major Summit In New York
Does Indoor Farming Hold The Key To The Global Food And Nutrition Challenge? Indoor Farming Visionaries Gather For Major Summit In New York
The world is on the cusp of a global agri-food revolution, powered by technology innovation. Globally, we face enormous challenges of water scarcity, hunger and malnutrition as the traditional food supply chain struggles to feed a population set to grow by more than a third by 2050. In the United States alone, the next 30 years will see the population swell by an enormous 112 million from its 328 million today. (Source: https://www.census.gov).
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, there are just 60 harvests left before the world’s topsoil is completely depleted, after decades of chemical-heavy intensive farming and erosion through deforestation and global warming. By 2050, the amount of arable and productive land per person will be only a quarter of what it was in 1960.
Already, we have growing inner-city populations that lack access to affordable fresh food, with increasing malnutrition and obesity, the effects of which impact our communities and stress our health infrastructure.
This month, over 200 agribusiness leaders, entrepreneurs and investors from around the world will gather in New York to discuss how indoor farming offers a solution. At the indoor AgTech Innovation Summit on June 20-21, they will discuss the challenges that need to be met to build sustainable, profitable and healthy local and national food systems.
Serving as the summit’s Strategic Partner is Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE), the country’s leading owner, operator, and developer of collaborative life science, technology and AgTech campuses, and the company’s venture capital arm, Alexandria Venture Investments, which invests in cutting-edge AgTech companies. With its position at the forefront of emerging innovation in AgTech, Alexandria Venture Investments led a blue-chip investment syndicate to create the AgTech Accelerator, a unique start-up venture development fund focused on discovering and developing agricultural technology companies.
“Through our sustainable, vibrant environments and our strategic investments in agricultural innovation, we continue to support the next generation of companies and technologies that are essential to the growth of the AgTech sector,” said Joel S. Marcus, Executive Chairman and Founder of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc./Alexandria Venture Investments, who will co-moderate the panel discussion Investor Debate: What Type of Capital Does This Sector Need to Grow. “We recognize the immense potential of indoor farming to benefit the health and well-being of the people in our communities and ultimately to help solve the critical challenges of global hunger and nutrition.”
Indoor farming’s precision systems create optimal growing conditions, delivering exactly the right amount of water, nutrients, and light directly to the plant, using up to 90% less water than traditional agriculture. Grown indoors in a controlled environment, with no need for pesticides or herbicides, the produce is as clean and organic as it’s possible to be.
Historically, the indoor sector has struggled with cost-efficiencies at scale, limiting its produce to a premium price-point. At last, breakthroughs in LED efficiencies, power optimization, AI and machine-learning are reducing costs and increasing yields, enabling indoor-grown produce to compete on price-point with traditional open field produce. The super-fresh locally-grown model is now within reach of being achievable on a massive scale, making healthy fresh food affordable to millions.
Brooklyn Borough President, Eric L. Adams will open the Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit with insights into how the indoor farming revolution is transforming New York’s thriving communities.
He is joined by leading innovators and operators from around the world, including AeroFarms, FreshBox Farms, Shenandoah Growers, Plenty, Infarm (Germany), Gotham Greens, Bright Farms, Square Roots, Bowery Farming, Badia Farms (UAE) and the Japan Plant Factory Association.
The summit will host senior representatives from the biggest names across agribusiness, food, and finance: Bayer, Monsanto, Cargill, Kelloggs, McCain, InVivo, US Foods, Barclays, Wells Fargo, Finistere Ventures and Tyson Ventures, alongside technology developers including IGS, Cornell CALS, Fluence, Motorleaf, Priva, OSRAM and Signify, with pitches from six agtech start-ups showcasing their breakthrough solutions.
This powerhouse audience will focus on best practice, defining growth opportunities and the need for collaboration in this fast-emerging precision ag sector.
The Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit is part of the World Agri-Tech Innovation Series of summits focused on international networking and deal-making for agribusinesses, solution providers, entrepreneurs and investors.
For full information about the event program and speakers, visit www.indooragtechnyc.com
NL: GFIA To Feature Speakers From Mars One, Copa-Cogeca, And GODAN
June 20-21, Utrecht
NL: GFIA To Feature Speakers From Mars One, Copa-Cogeca, And GODAN
The Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) will open in Utrecht, the Netherlands next week as European and Industry leaders join together to debate the biggest challenges to drive sustainable agriculture for increased productivity and food security in Europe and the World. GFIA takes place from 20th to 21st June 2018, a partner of the first International Week for Smart Food Production (IWSFP), which brings together the food and agriculture industries on a global scale for the first time and marks a significant step towards addressing food security and cultivating change to sustainably feed nine billion people by 2050.
Keynote speeches will set the agenda around the future of food security at Europe’s largest showcase of sustainable agtech for the two-day exhibition and conference during the opening ceremony at Jaarbeurs Expo Center, Utrecht from 10:30 am - 11:30 am on 20th June. Opening addresses will be presented by Bas Lansorp, CEO, and Co-founder of Mars One, the Dutch foundation that aims to land the first humans on Mars in 2030; Pekka Pesonen, Secretary General, Copa - Cogeca - the united voice of farmers and their cooperatives in the European Union and André Laperrière, Executive Director, GODAN who promote the proactive sharing of open data to make information about agriculture and nutrition available, accessible and usable.
Nicola Davison, GFIA Show Director said: “GFIA has emerged as a global authority on sustainable food production, driving innovation through exhibitions and conferences across the World. We believe in cultivating change through driving a global vision that showcases the latest game-changing innovations and technology whilst delivering local relevance. GFIA Europe will bring stakeholders a pioneering conference and exhibition to foster meaningful dialogue, collaboration, recognition and year-round action between regional food producers, buyers, innovators, policymakers, and investors. As proud partners of the International Week for Smart Food Production, the second edition of GFIA Europe will for the first time bring together the food and agriculture industries alongside a series of other pioneering agricultural events including VIV Europe 2018, European Halal Expo and the Proagrica Future Farming Theatre.”
She added: “The conference agenda this year will include high-level panel discussions on the role of Europe in global food security and importantly discuss the steps that have been taken over the past year by European governments, industry, and organizations to support it. We will also address adapting agriculture to climate adaptation in European agriculture; the role of circular economy for agriculture at a regional, national, continental and global level; and the role of agriculture in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Key innovations which will be showcased as part of the conference will include: N2 Applied who have developed a breakthrough technology enabling livestock farmers to process animal manure and produce nitrogen fertilizer locally that can contribute to a mind-shift in significantly reducing the livestock CO2 footprint and compliance with environmental regulations; VITO Remote Sensing online tools that are designed to extract accurate information at high update rates and support precision agriculture and environmental monitoring; beam technologies who alongside its partners are pioneering new ways to minimize chemical and drug use through low energy electron beam equipment; and Cropio who monitor over 50+ countries to successfully interpret data from optic and SAR satellites to validated and calibrated data points over the world for crop health management.
The opening ceremony is free to attend, on a first-come-first-served basis, with registration required online at www.gfiaeurope.com. Full access to the conference tickets: from €399 +VAT this includes entry into the International Exhibition, Opening Ceremony, Main Conference, Innovations Theatre, Proagrica Future Farming Theatre, partner workshops, daily delegate lunch, refreshments during networking breaks, priority access to technical tours, plus access to an online meeting system and app to facilitate networking with exhibitors and other attendees.
Publication date: 6/18/2018
Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit Taking Place At New Lab Innovation Hub In Brooklyn
- 3 WEEKS TO GO until @IndoorAgTech Innovation Summit! Full event details here: https://bit.ly/2FI1ubU New York, June 20-21, 2018
iGrow News readers can use the discount code IGR300 when you register to receive $300 off a delegate pass!
With resident space, on-site Product Realization, specialized programming, and access to a network that includes city agencies, venture capitalists, domain experts, and leading corporations, New Lab makes innovation move faster.
New Lab’s reputation as a center for innovation and technology makes it the ideal venue for the Indoor AgTech Innovation summit.
The inaugural Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit will focus on building and investing in more sustainable, profitable and healthy food systems and the role that vertical and indoor farming can have in serving local, regional and national food systems.
To find out more about the Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit, visit: https://indooragtechnyc.com/
iGrow is proud to be a marketing partner of the Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit in New York.
Use partner code IGR300 to save $300 on a delegate pass.
With 3 weeks to go until his keynote session at Indoor AgTech in New York, we spoke to Nate Storey, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at Plenty to discuss the company's meteoric rise and its ongoing mission to make affordable fresh produce accessible to everyone.
Q&A with Nate Storey, Plenty
What changes are needed to the current distribution model for this to happen, and what are the new technologies and approaches that will support the growth of indoor farming?
Follow them on Twitter: @IndoorAgTech #IndoorAgTech
Indoor Ag-Con Insights
Indoor Ag-Con Insights
This year’s event featured information on hiring practices, aquaponics and a look at a new high-tech growing facility.
May 29, 2018
Chris Manning
While currently in the trial stage, Oasis Biotech’s facility could begin selling leafy greens to customers in the summer of 2018; this photo is from outside the clean room. Photo: Chris Manning
This year’s Indoor Ag-Con took place from May 2 to 4 in Las Vegas. In addition to workshops and a trade show, attendees had the chance to hear from different industry leaders on topics such as how to hire staff for urban farms and whether or not aquaponics has gained traction in the produce industry. Some attendees also had the chance to tour a new, high-tech growing facility in Las Vegas.
Hiring for urban agriculture
Like many other parts of the green industry, many urban and/or vertical farms consider labor to be one of their primary concerns. Even in some densely populated areas — New York City, for example — some growers have had a hard time meeting staffing needs.
At Indoor Ag-Con, a panel addressed these two concerns. Two business owners — Tobias Peggs, co-founder and CEO of Brooklyn greens grower Square Roots, and Nona Yehia, the co-founder, and CEO of Jackson Hole, Wyoming grower Vertical Harvest — offered their insights into how to combat labor concerns.
According to Peggs, Square Roots has developed an environment that people want to work in and that sets people up for future success. For new employees who may or may not have a traditional horticulture background, Square Roots has a 12-month program that teaches employees how to grow; it comes with a salary, freedom to innovate and the chance to learn from experienced growers. Peggs believes the program is designed to build up people who invest themselves into it, citing employees who have gone to work for start-ups like Plenty or as independent urban farms owners; many employees also stay at Square Roots after the initial 12-month program. As for Yehia, she says turnover is the biggest issue her business faces. However, they work to combat this issue, and find a stable workforce, by approaching it from two fronts. The first is promoting the idea that Vertical Harvest is working to positively impact the world, and the idea that people want to work somewhere that is offering the community a service. Secondly, she says Vertical Harvest engages with Jackson Hole’s community and offers people with disabilities a job that provides them with an opportunity to develop real-world skills.
Aquaponic boom
At Indoor Ag-Con, Square Roots’ Tobias Peggs and Vertical Harvest’s Nona Yehia explained how they address labor concerns at their businesses. Photo: Chris Manning
One panel at Indoor Ag-Con asked when aquaponics would gain traction. According to the panel — which consisted of Jason Green from Brooklyn-based grower Edenworks, Tracy Nazzaro from Hilliard, Florida grower Traders Hill Farm and Rebecca Nelson from Aquaponics manufacturer Nelson & Pade Aquaponics — it already is.
Green, whose business is primary customer is Whole Foods locations in New York City, says Edenworks’ model is to rebuild the supply chain with on-demand fulfillment. He says Edenworks can deliver greens in a third of the time it would take a field operation to grow the same amount. Nazzaro says having a sustainable growing method and contributing to the local food economy are reasons why aquaponics work. She also cites Wisconsin grower Superior Fresh, who will soon open the largest aquaponics facility in the U.S., as proof that aquaponics can be a profitable business model.
The key for continued growth, Nelson says, is educating the public about aquaponics and making it accessible. Both she and Nazzaro says new crop development will also be key to aquaponics’ future growth.
The future in plain sight
New to Indoor Ag-Con this year was a tour to Oasis Biotech’s facility in Las Vegas. Owned by Oasis’ parent company, Sanan Bio, the facility uses clean-room grow rooms to produce leafy greens. To enter the grow rooms, workers must wear protective suits that aim to prevent any outside contaminants from affecting the crops. The facility also features research and development labs that will pull data points from different trial areas — starting with propagation and ending with the final harvest — to determine which varieties are performing the best.
Oasis Biotech is still in the trial phase and may not begin taking orders from Las Vegas-area restaurants until this summer at the earliest. But when it does, it will be able to dedicate different grow rooms to different restaurants in downtown Las Vegas that request a specific product. It also already has a retail brand — Evercress — that will launch when the company is ready to take its production out of the trial stage.
Aquaponics Association Calls For Presentations For Their 2018 Conference
Aquaponics Association Calls For Presentations For Their 2018 Conference
By urbanagnews
June 1, 2018
The 2018 Aquaponics Association Conference will be held in Hartford, CT at the Hilton Hartford Hotel. Mark your calendars from Friday, September 21, 2018, through Sunday, September 23, 2018, for this exciting three-day conference.
The conference will run for three days and feature: the top aquaponics experts from around the world; tours of commercial aquaponics operations; a vendor showroom; interactive discussions and social events for aquaponics growers of all stripes to collaborate. We will continue to update you with more information about the topics that will be discussed as well as provide videos from last years conference.
https://aquaponicsassociation.org/2018-conference/
The deadline for presentation proposals is July 1, 2018.
Interested presenters can fill out the form here: https://aquaponicsassociation.org/2018-call-for-presentation/
The Conference Committee will make the selection within 15 days of the Presentation Proposal and will notify selected presenters.
Last Chance to Sign-Up For The Free LED Conference at GreenTech - June 13th
Last Chance to Sign-Up For The Free LED Conference at GreenTech - June 13th
Crop science, vertical farming, and cannabis industry experts are in the speaker's line-up of the LEDs & Innovators Conference 2018 held on Wednesday, the 2nd day of GreenTech. The conference consists of three blocks participants may choose from, it is free of charge for GreenTech visitors but seats are limited and only a few left.
Program:
10.20 – 11.30 Crop Science and Light
12.00 – 13.30 Vertical Farming Innovators Panel
14.00 – 15.00 Hard Science Talk on Cannabis
The Crop Science and Light session will cover topics of speed breeding, basil cultivation and peronospora control with LEDs. (presented by Ms. Stefanie Linzer, Biologist of Valoya, the provider of LED grow lights and Dr. Giovanni Minuto, the Director of CeRSAA, the Italian agriculture research institute).
The Vertical Farming Innovators Panel follows and the speakers line-up consists of:
- Mr. Richard Ballard (Co-Founder, Growing Underground, London)
- Mr. John Apesos (CEO & Co-Founder, GROWx, Amsterdam)
- Mr. Mark Korzilius (CEO & Co-Founder, Farmers Cut, Hamburg)
- Mr. Thomas Zöllner (Vice Chair, Association for Vertical Farming) and
- Mr. Lars Aikala (CEO, Valoya).
During this session, the panelists will briefly present themselves and their companies after which we will go through the questions submitted by participants in advance, in the sign-up form. This will be followed by additional questions from the audience. This panel is a unique opportunity to hear directly from the heads of some of the most known European vertical farms about the ins and outs of vertical farming.
The Hard Science Talk on Cannabis session will be hosted by Dr. Gianpaolo Grassi, one of Europe’s leading figures on Cannabis sativa research and head researcher of the research institute CREA-CIN in Italy. Dr. Grassi has been running a comparative study on the effects of various LED spectra on cannabis, more specifically on accumulation of secondary metabolites such as THC, CBD, terpenes etc. The effects were compared against HPS lighting. Some of the data will be presented.
To learn more about the conference and sign-up click here.
About Valoya Oy
Valoya is a provider of high end, energy efficient LED grow lights for use in crop science, vertical farming, and medicinal plants cultivation. Valoya LED grow lights have been developed using Valoya's proprietary LED technology and extensive plant photobiology research. Valoya's customer base includes numerous vertical farms, greenhouses and research institutions all over the world (including 8 out of 10 world’s largest agricultural companies).
Additional information:
Valoya Oy, Finland
Tel: +358 10 2350300
Email: sales@valoya.com
Web: www.valoya.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valoyafi/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/valoya
Last Chance to Sign-Up For The Free LED Conference at GreenTech - June 13th.
Last Chance to Sign-Up For The Free LED Conference at GreenTech - June 13th.
Crop science, vertical farming, and cannabis industry experts are in the speaker's line-up of the LEDs & Innovators Conference 2018 held on Wednesday, the 2nd day of GreenTech.
The conference consists of three blocks participants may choose from, it is free of charge for GreenTech visitors but seats are limited and only few left.
Program:
10.20 – 11.30 Crop Science and Light
12.00 – 13.30 Vertical Farming Innovators Panel
14.00 – 15.00 Hard Science Talk on Cannabis
The Crop Science and Light session will cover topics of speed breeding, basil cultivation and Peronospora control with LEDs. (presented by Ms. Stefanie Linzer, Biologist of Valoya, the provider of LED grow lights and Dr. Giovanni Minuto, the Director of CeRSAA, the Italian agriculture research institute).
The Vertical Farming Innovators Panel follows and the speaker's line-up consists of:
- Mr. Richard Ballard (Co-Founder, Growing Underground, London)
- Mr. John Apesos (CEO & Co-Founder, GROWx, Amsterdam)
- Mr. Mark Korzilius (CEO & Co-Founder, Farmers Cut, Hamburg)
- Mr. Thomas Zöllner (Vice Chair, Association for Vertical Farming) and
- Mr. Lars Aikala (CEO, Valoya).
During this session, the panelists will briefly present themselves and their companies after which we will go through the questions submitted by participants in advance, in the sign-up form. This will be followed by additional questions from the audience. This panel is a unique opportunity to hear directly from the heads of some of the most known European vertical farms about the ins and outs of vertical farming.
The Hard Science Talk on Cannabis session will be hosted by Dr. Gianpaolo Grassi, one of Europe’s leading figures on Cannabis sativa research and head researcher of the research institute CREA-CIN in Italy. Dr. Grassi has been running a comparative study on the effects of various LED spectra on cannabis, more specifically on accumulation of secondary metabolites such as THC, CBD, terpenes etc. The effects were compared against HPS lighting. Some of the data will be presented.
To learn more about the conference and sign-up click here.
About Valoya Oy
Valoya is a provider of high end, energy efficient LED grow lights for use in crop science, vertical farming and medicinal plants cultivation. Valoya LED grow lights have been developed using Valoya's proprietary LED technology and extensive plant photobiology research. Valoya's customer base includes numerous vertical farms, greenhouses and research institutions all over the world (including 8 out of 10 world’s largest agricultural companies).
Additional information:
Valoya Oy, Finland
Tel: +358 10 2350300
Email: sales@valoya.com
Web: www.valoya.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valoyafi/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/valoya
NL: Innovations Theatre Showcases Smart Food Production - June 20-21, Utrecht
The Innovations Theatre, an initiative by GFIA, Europe’s largest showcase of sustainable agtech, will introduce over 40 technologies through talks and demonstrations from companies leading the way with new techniques and trends in sustainable agriculture and food production
June 20-21, Utrecht
NL: Innovations Theatre Showcases Smart Food Production
Technology innovations and solutions from start-ups and entrepreneurs from across the world that will drive the future of sustainable agriculture and smart food production will be showcased in Europe next month during the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) at Jaarbeurs Expo Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands from 20th to 21st June 2018.
The Innovations Theatre, an initiative by GFIA, Europe’s largest showcase of sustainable agtech, will introduce over 40 technologies through talks and demonstrations from companies leading the way with new techniques and trends in sustainable agriculture and food production.
Innovations confirmed will include: Vito Remote Sensing that use state of the art drones for developments in phenotyping for plant breeding; Trapview’s pest monitoring solution that utilizes AI for enhancement in pest control; Bo Mill that uses infra-red analysis for grain sorting and advanced digital technology revolutionizing precision irrigation; Cerescon’s selective asparagus harvester only previously achievable manually; Netafim NetBeat’s revolutionary irrigation system that combines real-time data for crop, soil, weather and irrigation to build a personalised irrigation strategy; Agricultural Natural Biostimulants that boost yields and profits whilst sustaining the fragile soil ecosystem; smatrix a voice-based software for mobile data collection designed for use in demanding conditions such as test fields, greenhouses and climatic chambers; and many more.
GFIA Europe, takes place during the International Week for Smart Food Production (IWSFP) alongside other major B2B agriculture expos such as VIV Europe and the European Halal Expo. European leaders and thousands of agribusinesses, innovators, food industry professionals, farmers, NGOs and development experts from around the world will share ideas, actions and debate in responding to the most significant challenges needed to drive sustainable agriculture for increased productivity and food security.
Nicola Davison, GFIA Show Director, said: “GFIA was born on the belief that continuous innovation in agriculture is the only way to support a food secure future. GFIA Europe as partners of International Week for Smart Food Production will continue this momentum with the vast number of new innovations being showcased for the first time in Utrecht. For businesses looking to remain competitive and profitable, GFIA Europe provides hundreds of products and solutions to improve yields, combat pests, save water, improve animal health or decrease inefficiencies.”
This year’s exhibition will focus on key sectors including indoor farming and hydroponics; aquatech; and crop production. Entry into the exhibition and Innovations Theatre is free and tickets for the main conference start at €399 +VAT and include entry into the International Exhibition, Opening Ceremony, Main Conference, Innovations Theatre, Proagrica Future Farming Theatre, partner workshops, daily delegate lunch, refreshments during networking breaks, plus access to an online meeting system and app to facilitate networking with exhibitors and other attendees. For further information on GFIA Europe and to register visit www.gfiaeurope.com
Publication date: 6/4/2018
GreenTech Amsterdam 2018 The Organic Farmers Fair In The Spotlight
GreenTech Amsterdam 2018 The Organic Farmers Fair In The Spotlight
GreenTech Amsterdam 2018: The Organic Farmers Fair in the spotlight
- 01 May 2018 | GreenTech
With over 450 exhibitors, global market leaders and innovators, GreenTech Amsterdam offers a comprehensive range of horticultural technology. The exhibition – which is 20% bigger than in 2016 – provides a platform for greenhouse builders, (vertical) horticulture suppliers, machine companies, soil & substrate producers, lighting partners and seed suppliers.
New this year is The Organic Farmers Fair (TOFF) that spotlights innovations and knowledge of organic agricultural technology and was organized together with IFOAM, FIBL, and their five partners - Bejo, DCM, Steketee, Koppert Biological Systems and Delphy – and with Wageningen University & Research as a supporting partner. TOFF is the international meeting place for organic growers as well as conventional farmers considering switching to organic. GreenTech and TOFF will take place from 12 - 14 June 2018 at RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre, the Netherlands.
Organic production is booming
Consumers increasingly value organically grown products; the global market has grown steadily for decades by an average of some 10% per year, to a current level of 100 billion euros. Interest in organic farming is also rising among farmers and horticulturalists due to the expanding market, the good pricing for products and thanks to the solutions this holistic approach offers for soil fertility, non-chemical weed control and the management of diseases and pests.
TOFF in detail – programme, and range
Knowledge sharing in the TOFF theatres plays an important role in this edition. There the audience can participate in various sessions that discuss the most relevant themes in the field of organic farming. GreenTech will feature speakers including:
- Darko Znaor and Martien Lankester (Avalon) will present the results of a recent study into true cost accounting for organic farming in comparison to conventional production in the Netherlands. Does switching to organic farming really generate more money if you also take the environmental and health costs into account?
- Wijnand Sukkel (WUR) will present the results of and insights provided by multi-year research conducted in the Dutch province of Flevoland. Which advantages does strip cultivation offer with respect to crop resilience, yield, and quality? To what extent can this be put into practice by large-scale, professional companies?
- Panel discussion: experts from Bejo, FIBL and other organizations provide their opinion: which techniques should you allow in vegetable seed breeding or not and why? A hot topic in agriculture, politics and definitely also in the organic sector.
- Leonard Mol (Steketee) will discuss Precision weed control and the utility and effect of precision hoeing.
- Koppert Biological systems, Biobest, DCM and knowledge institutions such as WUR and the University of Amsterdam will provide a status update on the latest developments in the field of organic crop protection.
- Organisations such as FIBL, Bionext, and LBI will share their insights into the conservation and improvement of soil fertility; one of agriculture’s biggest long-term challenges.
- TOFF On tour - Daily field trips will be organized to Bejo Zaden, Lepelaar Biodynamic Farm Shop, and Huiberts Organic Flowerbulbs. For more details: www.greentech.nl/toff/visiting/
Free registration until 5 June
If you wish to attend TOFF, and so GreenTech too, you can register for free until 5 June at www.greentech.nl From that date onwards an online ticket price of € 40 including VAT will apply. On exhibition days tickets can only be purchased from the ticket office for € 70
US (NY): Startups Look To Redefine Indoor Agriculture
June 20-21, New York
US (NY): Startups Look To Redefine Indoor Agriculture
Six international agtech start-ups have been selected to pitch their technologies to a panel of ‘Sharks’ and an audience of 200 leading international indoor and vertical farming operators, agri-food businesses and VC investors at the upcoming Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit on June 20-21 in Brooklyn, New York.
AgTech Accelerator, a unique start-up venture development fund focused on discovering and developing emerging agricultural technology companies, is the Innovation Partner for the summit. Novel farming systems, such as those being showcased, have the potential to transform and modernize the global food system and are among AgTech Accelerator’s key strategic focus areas.
“Our mission is to identify and shape breakthrough research efforts that will improve efficiencies in the agricultural value chain, fuel the future of farming and enhance human health,” said John Dombrosky, CEO of AgTech Accelerator, who will serve as a Shark for the Technology Showcase.
“As the summit’s Innovation Partner, we’re supporting ground-breaking technologies that hold the promise to catalyze the global growth and adoption of indoor and vertical farming, a rapidly evolving space that provides an innovative way to increase food production in a healthy, sustainable and local way. The world of agriculture is moving toward a more sustainable model and we are steadfast in building the next generation of companies discovering and developing innovative farming solutions.”
Following a call for entries, six start-ups were chosen to present based on their fresh ideas and approaches as well as their robust go-to-market strategy. They will each have seven minutes to present their solution and outline business plan, followed by questions from the panel and audience. The presenting companies are as follows:
- Arugga, a start-up company from Israel, is developing an autonomous ground robot for the global greenhouse farming market, focusing first on tomato greenhouse farming. The Arugga robot will harness artificial intelligence to monitor and treat every individual plant, serving as an invaluable tool to pollinate flowers, optimize yield prediction and detect pests, diseases and other stress conditions with immediate treatment.
- City Farm Systems (CFS)’s protected IP offers the most sustainable, environmentally friendly and economically viable urban farms. The UK company’s CloudGro® approach uses cloud computing to manage automated, lightweight greenhouses. This eliminates the costs of distribution for the hardest to transport fresh produce by growing at the point of need using unproductive space and resources. AI and machine learning create grow-to-order crop plans and allow harvests to be buffered to match immediate demand, reducing waste and increasing sales.
- LUNA by iUNU is a comprehensive platform that combines continuous imaging with AI, machine learning and computer vision to give indoor growers advanced insights into plant health, readiness, yield forecasting, incipient disease, nutrient deficiency and pest detection. Called a ‘gamechanger’ by Greenhouse Grower magazine, LUNA creates an unparalleled integration of the growing operation to business support tools such as inventory, space and labor management.
- Phospholutions has developed an OMRI certified soil amendment to enhance growing substrate for improved fertilizer efficiency. The controlled-release technology soaks up key nutrients in the soil, maintaining plant availability, improving nutrient retention and plant uptake, and stimulating root growth. Less fertilizer needs to be applied, with up to 98% staying in the soil until it is taken up by the plant. The amendment can be recharged with nutrients for years to come offering benefits to the soil and cost-savings over the long term.
- PLANTX, based in Tokyo, Japan, is an indoor agriculture technology company that develops plant science and technology for vegetables in a pesticide free environment, and plant machinery which enables vegetables to grow five times more efficiently.
- Smart Spectrum develops intelligent software and sensor solutions that improve the quality, predictability and profitability of indoor horticulture through autonomous systems. Its core technology, AgEYE is the largest and most accurate deep learning platform completely dedicated to agriculture; which is used to modify environmental factors to produce uniquely different harvest characteristics of plants.
The summit will welcome major international operators from across the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Asia including Plenty, Shenandoah Growers, AeroFarms, InFarm, Gotham Greens, Badia Farms, Bright Farms, Church Brothers Farms, Bowery, FreshBox Farms, Square Roots and associations including the Japan Plant Factory Association (JPFA) and Association of Vertical Farming (AVF).
Co-located with Future Food-Tech (June 19-20), the Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit is part of the World Agri-Tech Innovation Series of summits hosted by Rethink Events, focused on international networking and deal-making for food and agribusinesses, solution providers, entrepreneurs and investors.
For more information:
Publication date: 5/24/2018
Indigo Ag CEO To Headline Next Month's AgTech Nexus USA In Boston
The fourth annual AgTech Nexus USA (formerly called GAI AgTech Week) here at the Harvard Club, June 6-7, will feature David Perry, CEO and president of agtech start-up Indigo Ag, the top funded agtech start-up of all time, as the keynote speaker.
Indigo Ag CEO To Headline Next Month's AgTech Nexus USA In Boston
NEWS PROVIDED BY Global AgInvesting
May 21, 2018
BOSTON, May 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The fourth annual AgTech Nexus USA (formerly called GAI AgTech Week) here at the Harvard Club, June 6-7, will feature David Perry, CEO and president of agtech start-up Indigo Ag, the top funded agtech start-up of all time, as the keynote speaker.
Boston-based Indigo Ag last year earned the title of Boston's newest "unicorn" when a $156 million Series D funding round bumped the company, established in 2014, to a value of $1.4 billion. Venture capitalists and even public pension funds have been eager to invest in the privately-held business with the hopes that it will perfect its mission to treat seeds with naturally occurring microbes to make crops more tolerant of stressful conditions. Indigo, which also offers software to help farmers improve profitability, has sequenced the genome of more than 40,000 microbes that can help ward off disease, be more resistant to drought, and better utilize nutrients.
Perry will participate in an interview-style presentation, moderated by Greg Duerksen, president of agribusiness executive search firm Kincannon & Reed, on the opening morning of the event. He will speak to an audience that includes the latest innovators and investors in the burgeoning sector about Five Forces That Will Shape Agriculture, highlighting the opportunities in the sector, and the need for increased investment to support more R&D and entrepreneurs with the disruptive technologies that will help sustainably feed the world's growing population.
Other featured speakers to take the AgTech Nexus stage include Jack Bobo, chief communications officer at Intrexon Corporation, a synthetic biology company that develops revolutionary solutions to the world's most pressing problems in food, energy, and health; and Isha Datar, executive director of New Harvest, a not-for-profit organization that focuses on accelerating cellular agriculture with the vision of building a post-animal bioeconomy where animal products are harvested from cell cultures grown in labs.
Bobo, who has delivered more than 300 presentations on the future of food and the role of science and technology in feeding the world, was named in 2015 by Scientific American as one of the 100 most influential people in biotechnology today. He will speak at AgTech Nexus on Fads, Trends and Values – What Drives Consumer Food Preferences and Why It Matters, which will focus on the greater transparency that consumers are demanding in the foods they buy and in the supply chains that bring that food to their table. He also will cover how food companies' response to this sea change will determine their financial future as well as the health of the public and the planet.
Datar has worked to advance cellular agriculture research since 2009, including funding early stage, foundational research in academia in order for ready-to-market technologies to be developed for commercial use. She co-founded two disruptive food technology start-ups in 2014: Muufri, which makes milk without cows, and Clara Foods, which offers the world's first animal-free egg white. At the event, she will present Cellular Agriculture: A Future Food Solution?
Other key speakers at the event hail from AeroFarms, Anterra Capital, BrightFarms, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Cargill, Conservis, Data Collective (DCVC), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Sustainable Insight Capital Management, TechAccel and more. See the full agenda for details.
AgTech Nexus USA, a brand of Global AgInvesting, is a two-day conference where attendees are immersed in the innovations and investment opportunities surrounding this compelling, nascent sector where in just the indoor farming section alone, is predicted to have a CAGR of 30.7 percent between 2015 and 2020, reaching the value of US$3.88 billionby 2020.
Learn more at www.agtechnexus.com or follow us @agtechnexus.
Global AgInvesting, a brand of HighQuest Group, is the world's most well-attended agriculture investment conference series and leading resource for events, research, and insight into the global agricultural sector. GAI has hosted more than 9,000 attendees since 2009, and currently produces five annual events in New York, Boston, Tokyo, London & Dublin. www.globalaginvesting.com
CONTACT: Michelle Pelletier-Marshall
mmarshall@globalaginvesting.com
+1.978.887.8800, x117
SOURCE Global AgInvesting
Related Links
The Vertical Farming Panel at GreenTech
The Vertical Farming Panel at GreenTech
The LEDs & Innovators Conference 2018 is set to be one of the highlights of GreenTech this year. A full day conference will gather some of Europe’s leading vertical farmers, crop science researchers and cannabis cultivation specialists in one room.
The vertical farming panel will be held from 12.00 till 13.30 (Wednesday, June 13th) and the speaker's line-up consists of:
- Mr. Richard Ballard (Co-Founder, Growing Underground, London)
- Mr. John Apesos (CEO & Co-Founder, GROWx, Amsterdam)
- Mr. Thomas Zöllner (Vice Chair, Association for Vertical Farming) and
- Mr. Lars Aikala (CEO, Valoya).
Farmers Cut, a Hamburg based vertical farm has just been added to the speaker's line-up and will be represented by Mr. Mark Korzilius, its Co-Founder & CEO. In addition to having some of Europe’s leading figures in the vertical farming industry on stage, this event will be an opportunity for the audience members to network and source business partners.
To learn more about the conference and sign-up click here. Seats are on a first-come-first-served basis and the number is limited.
In the video below you can learn more about Farmers Cut and Valoya, its lighting supplier and the organizer of the LEDs & Innovators Conference 2018 at GreenTech.
About Valoya Oy
Valoya is a provider of high end, energy efficient LED grow lights for use in crop science, vertical farming, and medicinal plants cultivation. Valoya LED grow lights have been developed using Valoya's proprietary LED technology and extensive plant photobiology research. Valoya's customer base includes numerous vertical farms, greenhouses and research institutions all over the world (including 8 out of 10 world’s largest agricultural companies).
Additional information:
Valoya Oy, Finland
Tel: +358 10 2350300
Email: sales@valoya.com
Web: www.valoya.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valoyafi/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/valoya
Click Here
Photo Report: 6th Annual Indoor Ag-Con
Photo Report: 6th Annual Indoor Ag-Con
Networking opportunities, interesting speakers and exploring new technologies. On the sixth edition of the Indoor Ag-Con it was al present and we will inform you completely on it. But first get ready for some photos!
Organizer Newbean Capital every year unites the indoor farming industry in the Las Vegas Convention Center and on May 3rd & 4th this year it was no different. Networking opportunities were the main reason for many visitors to come to the event, but also the talks of the big players in the industry were visited very well.
The emerging indoor growing market attracts also many opportunists and it becomes clear during the event a lot is still to explore in the indoor farming market. From financing to closing the chain and from special bred varieties to focussing on the market, the indoor farming industry is developing rapidly but offers many opportunities for further growth.
An important topic in the industry is the rise of new crops. After the leafy greens of course, cannabis is also a settled crop by now, but what else is on the horizon? Strawberries for sure, but also other medical plants and growing opportunities are talk of town.
Over the next couple of weeks, we'll update you completely on the opportunities in this growing industry. Let's take a look at some photos first!
Check out the photo report here.
Publication date: 5/7/2018
Author: Arlette Sijmonsma
Copyright: www.hortidaily.com
Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit Comes to Brooklyn
Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit Comes to Brooklyn
On June 20-21, Brooklyn will host the inaugural Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit, presenting new opportunities for investment and collaboration in the fast-growing fields of vertical and indoor farming.
Created with an Advisory Board of industry leaders, the program will explore the commercial strategies, business models and partnerships needed to scale this emerging industry, and showcase the latest innovations in automation, lighting, environmental control, and plant science.
The summit will bring together a unique mix of operators, food producers, technology developers, plant scientists, retailers, financiers and city planners to share best practice in building sustainable, profitable and healthy food systems.
There are lots of opportunities to get involved in the debate. If you have a great story to tell, a game-changing solution to showcase, or would like to share your expertise on one of our panels, please call us on +44 1273 789989 or email Senior Conference Producer, Abigail Ryder for more information.
Indoor AgTech
Jennie Moss
Founder & MD, Rethink Events
jennie.moss@rethinkevents.com
The Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit will be held June 20-21 in the contemporary venue of New Lab in Brooklyn, New York. The event runs immediately after the Future Food-Tech Summit on June 19-20 at the same venue, offering delegates the opportunity to attend both summits with a joint pass.
Hosted by:
Organizers of:
Copyright © 2018 Rethink Events, All rights reserved.
International Forum On Food and Nutrition
International Forum On Food and Nutrition
There are questions about food, which seem to be about a distant future. But they are not. Tackling the complexity of such challenges now is the only way to ensure a future for the Planet and for the People. How do we feed a growing global population with more sustainable agricultural practices? How can we recast the relationship between food systems and migration to guide policy priorities in the EU Agenda? Why is food so essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals? The International Forum on Food and Nutrition will answer these questions with concrete proposals to inspire policymakers, new generations, and civil society.
The International Forum on Food and Nutrition, organized by the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition (BCFN) in partnership with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN) will be held at The Square, Brussels, on June 6, 2018 to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
The BCFN Forum has always been an extraordinary opportunity for discussing among global leaders concerning the major challenges our planet is facing. Over the years, the event has welcomed hundreds of speakers from all over the world - including Nobel prize winners, policymakers, scientists, international organizations
and representatives of the private sector - click here to see the confirmed speakers. Today, the Forum has become the platform of reference, internationally renowned for its contribution to the global debate on the sustainability of our planet.
The Brussels edition will provide a whole-istic platform of the concrete best practices in relation to nutritional challenges, food loss and waste and agrifood sustainability, emphasizing the problems we are currently facing and indicating how to overcome them in the light of the United Nations'Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Furthermore, we will focus on the on-going discussions at European Institutions level regarding the Common Agricultural Policy and the current geopolitical framework, emphasizing the close connection between migration flows, food security and climate change.
The BCFN Forum in Brussels is the first event of the BCFN roadmap for 2018, which includes another two International Forums: in addition to the one in Brussels, we will be gathering together in New York on September 28 and, as previous years, in Milan on November 27 and 28.
Your contribution is important to us.
Register now on the Barilla Foundation website to take part!
The Current State of Indoor Farm Economics
THE CURRENT STATE OF INDOOR FARM ECONOMICS
Our sibling company, Contain Inc, is providing the white paper that will be provided in hard copy exclusively to participants in this week’s Indoor Ag-Con. Ahead of that, they have provided us with a sneak peak of its contents:
Contain Inc is an alternate finance company focused on the indoor agriculture market. It solves one of indoor farmers’ most pressing issues as it cuts initial farm build costs by 80% by utilizing 3-5 year equipment leases. As a provider of capital to the industry, Contain Inc has a keen interest in better understanding how and why indoor farms are successful. Its team spends a good deal of time attempting to understand the drivers of farm economics, and it is this theme that we cover in the white paper that will be released at Indoor Ag-Con this week.
What’s the Current State of Indoor Farm Economics?
THIS BLOG POSTING PROVIDES AN EXCERPT FROM THE CONTAIN INC WHITE PAPER THAT WILL BE RELEASED AT INDOOR AG-CON ON MAY 2-3, 2018
The greatest criticism of indoor farms has long been that they are not economically viable, and – in the view of some – never will be. Professor Albright of Cornell University created the most often cited criticism of industry economics, arguing in 2014, that widespread adoption of controlled environment agriculture would increase the cost of certain foods beyond market acceptance. The failure of some of the first generation of North America’s indoor farms seemed to confirm this skepticism, even though most fast-growing young industries are characterized by high startup failure rates.
Yet, software firm Agrilyst found that just over half of respondents to their survey of indoor farms said they operated profitably, and market forces are driving more towards this benchmark. New technologies, falling costs for existing technologies, economies of scale, and better access to capital, along with time itself, all have a part to play.
What do we Know so Far?
As it is young as a commercial industry, we are only beginning to see trends in indoor farm economics. For example, there is some evidence that longer standing farms are more likely to be profitable than newer ones, though there is likely to be some survivorship bias in the data. All else being equal, larger farms are more profitable than smaller ones.
One of the long-observed aspects of agriculture is that it’s a cyclical industry, contributing to booms and busts throughout history. From an economist’s perspective, one of the attractions of indoor agriculture is that it offers the possibility of a less cyclical way of farming. Though the industry is too young for any trend to have developed, theoretically, the steady income stream from indoor farms – which harvest daily rather than periodically – should aid in smoothing long-observed farm business cycles.
To inform our work at Contain Inc, we have developed a proprietary model of the exogenous factors – influences that are not in the control of the grower – that impact indoor farm economics. In this multivariate model, the two indicators proving the greatest significance with p-values < .05 are industrial rents and population density, each of which are location-dependent variables. Consequently, our current “top ten most favorable” indoor farm locations are biased towards larger urban conurbations. We note that this model is dynamic and that we moderate it frequently as we capture new data.
What Trends are Driving Farm Economics?
We see indoor farm economics continuing to improve as:
Moore’s Law is at work in the industry – Indoor farming is benefiting from falling capital expenditure costs, particularly for LED lighting. As LED prices have fallen by 85% in the last five years, they are forecast to fall from over 60% of capex costs in 2011 to under 15% by 2026.[1]
Automation & AI – Growers are increasingly adapting automation to improve nursery, harvesting and post-harvesting operations, improving yields and cutting costs as a consequence.
Plant Genomics – Indoor farmers are turning their attention to breeding seeds that are designed to work better in indoor systems to provide higher yields, better taste and better nutrition.
Lower Cost of Capital – As funding options like lease financing from Contain Inc become more prevalent, growers can afford larger, more efficient farms. As indoor agriculture becomes more mainstream, we anticipate that average interest rates will fall as lenders recognize the lower risk inherent in the practice. Better insurance rates, such as those offered by Contain Inc’s collaboration with InterWest Insurance will also help to reassure lenders that indoor agriculture is bankable.
Beyond the technical and scientific barriers that indoor growers, academics and equipment suppliers break each day, better and more nuanced understanding of the economic factors that underpin indoor agriculture can help to drive the industry further towards profitability. This remains an important aspect of Contain Inc’s mission to support indoor growers.