Welcome to iGrow News, Your Source for the World of Indoor Vertical Farming
UK: Heliospectra To Supply New Technology For John Innes Centre
This order of Heliospectra’s fully controllable Elixia LED lights complements the previous orders made by the customer and will be part of a project retrofitting glasshouses automated by Heliospectra’s helioCORE light control software
Heliospectra, an intelligent lighting technology provider for greenhouse and controlled plant growth environments, announces a new order from the John Innes Centre in the United Kingdom. This order of Heliospectra’s fully controllable Elixia LED lights complements the previous orders made by the customer and will be part of a project retrofitting glasshouses automated by Heliospectra’s helioCORE light control software. The order value is SEK 2.4 million (£ 200,000).
The John Innes Centre is an independent, international research center of excellence in plant science, genetics and microbiology. To meet the challenge of feeding a growing population, plant breeders and scientists are continuously looking for ways to increase genetic gain in crop production. As a result, the John Innes Centre has become one of the world’s leading research centers on speed breeding which is a cultivation technique allowing researchers to shorten the breeding cycle and accelerate research studies through rapid generation of crops.
“A growing human population and changing environment have increased the concern regarding food security. We desperately need crops better suited to today’s climate. At the John Innes Centre, we are well-known for our speed breeding research and are conducting ongoing crop research on a range of different crops. For that, we need a solution that allows for complete control of all environmental parameters, such as light, temperature, and humidity,” said John Lord, Horticulture Manager at John Innes Centre. “Heliospectra’s ELIXIA lights enable us to upgrade our lighting environment to market-leading lighting standards with spectrum-based control. We have the capability to program each individual wavelength to adapt to individual crop needs.”
”The John Innes Centre is one of Europe’s leading research institutions with critical speed breeding expertise as the world is accelerating food production to support an additional two billion people by 2050. Heliospectra continues to work with the John Innes team to expand their large-scale helioCORE installation. We look forward to supporting their work and significant advancements in crop performance with our pioneering horticulture lighting, automation, and light control solutions,” said Peter Nyberg, Head of Technology and Development at Heliospectra.
Heliospectra's ELIXIA light creates clear business benefits for cultivation teams and researchers around the world. The fully adjustable LED lighting solution is compatible with Heliospectra's helioCORE light control software, enabling growers to improve the quality of plants and accelerate harvest and production cycles while providing consistent and standardized returns 365 days a year.
The order will be delivered in Q3 and visible in the accounts for Q4 2019.
For more information:
Heliospectra
Box 5401 SE-402 29 Göteborg Sweden
Phone: +46 31 40 67 10
Fax: +46 31 83 37 82
info@heliospectra.com
www.heliospectra.com
Publication date: 9/19/2019
Magic Johnson Says This Hospital-Run Greenhouse Is Changing Health In N.J.
Basketball legends, greenhouses, and hospitals might not seem to have a lot in common, but Magic Johnson, this particular greenhouse, and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center sure do
September 27, 2019
Amanda Brown| For NJ Advance Media
Basketball legend and entrepreneur Magic Johnson (left) toured the greenhouse at Newark Beth Israel. Community Wellness Coordinator Lorraine Gibbons (right) shows him some of the crops they grow.
By Brianna Kudisch | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Long rows of fresh herbs and vegetables neatly line the enclosed and sunlit space, filling it with an earthy scent and an abundance of green. Tiny plants of basil peek out from their squares, string beans grow on winding vines on the left side of the entrance, and toward the back, a lone bright lemon hangs from its stem.
“Oh yeah, this is great,” Earvin “Magic” Johnson says to the greenhouse’s community wellness coordinator, gently touching the yellow fruit in admiration.
Basketball legends, greenhouses, and hospitals might not seem to have a lot in common, but Magic Johnson, this particular greenhouse, and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center sure do.
Johnson, 60, toured the hospital’s greenhouse—the only hospital to have one in New Jersey—Thursday afternoon, as part of the hospital’s health and wellness initiatives and partnership with Johnson’s own company, SodexoMAGIC. Both organizations are working to increase access to nutritious food and wellness in the city, along with educating people on healthy lifestyles.
Eighteen percent of Newark’s 72,000 children live in extreme poverty, compared to 7% of New Jersey children overall, the hospital said in a release. More than half of the children receiving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Essex County live in Newark, it also said.
Johnson and Darrell Terry, the hospital’s president and CEO, talked about the limited access those kids have to fresh fruits and vegetables while they’re growing up -- something they’re aiming to change now.
“You had the bodegas, but you didn’t have the access,” Terry said. “So we’re not only trying to educate about it, but provide the access. I was born in this hospital, and grew up not far from here, and you’re right, there was no supermarket, so you go to the bodega. You didn’t have these healthy options, so people chose what was convenient and cheap.”
“And you can see it, you can touch it, you can eat it,” Johnson added, referencing the hospital’s greenhouse and farmer’s market, a weekly program at the hospital that invites urban community farmers to sell their goods. “You know, I’ve been to a lot of hospitals, but I’ve never seen fresh produce right here and they can pick it up right here. That’s been amazing to see.”
Amanda Brown| For NJ Advance Media
Basketball legend and entrepreneur Magic Johnson (center) toured Newark Beth Israel along with President and CEO Darrell K. Terry (left). He took a look at their greenhouse and farmers' market and spoke to the employees. Amanda Brown| For NJ Advance Media
The Beth’s Greenhouse, which started in 2016, utilizes hydroponic growing, which grows plants in a water-based, nutrient-rich solution, instead of soil. About 100 pounds of food— cultivated and harvested at the greenhouse—is sold every week at the Farmer’s Market and donated to local food pantries.
Located in the hospital’s lobby every Thursday, the Farmer’s Market opened in 2011, as one of the hospital's first wellness initiatives. From Granny Smith apples and parsnips to butternut squash and microgreens, there was a variety of fresh produce at the most recent market.
And in October 2017, the hospital started accepting NJ SNAP benefits at both the greenhouse and the farmer’s market, allowing people to affordably purchase fruits and vegetables.
Newark Beth Israel is the first and only hospital-based vendor in New Jersey that allows people to use SNAP for its locally grown produce, it said. Proceeds from sales are reinvested in programming for health and wellness activities in the community, a release said.
But more than providing access to healthier foods and wellness programs, the hospital and Johnson said they want to educate on and encourage lifestyle changes. He stressed that practicing what he’s preaching is a crucial step in impacting the community.
“So I had my protein shake, I eat egg whites,” he said, “So my diet changed years ago, and so, now maybe to say (to someone else), ‘Hey, I’m doing it myself.’”
Last year, the hospital partnered with SodexoMAGIC to provide food services for both employees and patients. The company focuses on diversity and inclusion within the community, Terry said.
Amanda Brown| For NJ Advance Media
Basketball legend and entrepreneur Magic Johnson toured Newark Beth Israel, a RWJBarnabas Facility. He took a look at their greenhouse and farmers' market and spoke to the employees.
This week marked the first time the basketball hall of famer visited the hospital, and people were excited. Throngs of people closely surrounded Johnson as he moved through the hospital, their arms extended with their phones, in hopes of taking a selfie with the star, whose infectious smile was hard to miss.
Johnson graciously obliged, taking photos with as many people as possible, and greeting everyone individually, with a warm handshake and a sincere “How are you?”
In his concluding talk to a packed auditorium at the hospital, filled with enthusiastic doctors, nurses, staff, and community members, Johnson spoke of his childhood and his dreams growing up. The basketball player, who has lived with HIV since 1991, talked about the importance of healthy living and said Terry is doing “great things, out of the box things” at the hospital.
“This is a true community-based hospital, with its leader being born right here, and also having ties to the community,” Johnson said. “So I love it, I love being a part of something. It’s changing mindsets, attitudes, and now, your body.”
Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
Follow her on Twitter @briannakudisch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.
CANADA: NatureFresh Farms Celebrates Strong Start To Season For Newly-Developed 32-Acre Greenhouse In Leamington, ON
After nine months of construction, the fully completed facility measures 32 acres in total area and, to the gutter, is 7.3 meters tall. With ample space to grow hundreds of thousands of pounds of Tomato varieties for every season to come
NatureFresh Farms is celebrating a 20-year growing milestone with a strong start to the first season at their newly-developed 32-acre greenhouse in Leamington, ON.
After nine months of construction, the fully completed facility measures 32 acres in total area and, to the gutter, is 7.3 meters tall. With ample space to grow hundreds of thousands of pounds of Tomato varieties for every season to come, NatureFresh Farms is growing just over 15 acres of Tomatoes-on-the-Vine and over 15 acres of a diverse range of Specialty Tomato varieties, including Red Cherry, Red Grape, and Cocktail Tomatoes.
For their first crop, NatureFresh Farms successfully planted 235,000 Tomato plants in May 2019. With it only taking 8-9 weeks from planting to reach the first harvest of Tomatoes, their team started picking Tomatoes in June 2019 and will continue until late next Spring. A crew of 80 team members will be working every day to pick, pack, and ship their Tomato products, with the Growers, Scouts, and Crop workers attending the plants, offering their expertise for a seamless growing season.
Matt Quiring
Executive Retail Sales Accounts Manager Matt Quiring isn’t surprised by the great success of this new facility to meet demands for fresh local produce that is available year-round: “NatureFresh Farms made a major commitment to year-round consistency in supply, quality, and flavor five years ago when we built our greenhouse in Ohio for winter production. This allowed us to offset the typical growing season for Canada and it has been a tremendous success for our retail partners – and consumers have shown support for the USA-grown program from the start,” said Matt. “That demand continues to grow each year. We are excited to be able to offer retailers and consumers in Ontario and Canada that same consistency in supply, quality, and flavor that local products offer!”
This state-of-the-art greenhouse is also equipped with innovative technology, creating the best growing environment possible. The use of self-driving cart systems, High-Pressure Sodium supplemental lighting fixtures, and Vertical Circulation Fans are just a few examples of the innovative technology being used in this cutting-edge facility – all of which will help the NatureFresh Farms Tomato crop grow during the winter months and produce high-quality food on a consistent basis.
The completion of this greenhouse brings NatureFresh Farms to over 200 acres of family-owned facilities. With 20 years of providing quality greenhouse-grown vegetables all year-round, NatureFresh Farms looks forward to the future – with continued advancements in sustainable technology and product innovation on the horizon.
NatureFresh Farms & NatureFresh Farms Sales Announce Internal Leadership Developments
NatureFresh Farms doesn’t only grow delicious produce – they also grow their people into confident, forward-thinking leaders
Leamington, ON (September 23rd, 2019)
NatureFresh Farms doesn’t only grow delicious produce – they also grow their people into confident, forward-thinking leaders. Cornelius Neufeld and Frank Neufeld have each been working in the greenhouse farming industry for over 20 years, gaining invaluable experience and knowledge that has accelerated their professional growth and development. In recent months, both Cornelius and Frank have taken on more prominent management roles within the NatureFresh Farms and NatureFresh Farms Sales organizations – helping each company achieve their ambitious goals for expansion and business growth.
Cornelius began his journey with NatureFresh Farms in 2011 as a Labor Manager. In 2015, Cornelius was presented with an opportunity to start working in Delta, Ohio as the Operations Manager at a brand-new 45-acre greenhouse facility. After 4 years in this role, Cornelius has now transitioned into a more expansive role – as Operations Manager for all NatureFresh Farms facilities located in both Canada and the United States.
For Cornelius, a new role means new opportunities to learn and work with farm-level team members in both Canada and the U.S.: “I’m excited to work alongside the great people we have at both our Canadian and American farms. I wouldn’t want to do what I do with any other company – the team at NatureFresh Farms is truly unique and the opportunities for professional development here are endless. This new role will have its challenging moments, but challenges are what make our successes that much more rewarding.”
It was also in 2011 that Frank started working at NatureFresh Farms as a Warehouse Manager. In 2016, Frank assumed the Operations Manager role for all the company’s greenhouse facilities based in Leamington, ON, which at the time totaled 130 acres. In recent months, Frank has fully transitioned into a new role as the Sales Manager with NatureFresh Farms Sales – introducing him to a new side of the greenhouse vegetable business.
An eager team and opportunities for exponential growth has Frank excited for his new role with NatureFresh Farms Sales: “I plan to bring even greater structure to this young company that is quickly growing and full of potential. Like my previous role allowed, I’m also looking forward to growing our Sales staff so that they can find greater professional success. This team is enthusiastic and eager to make NatureFresh Farms Sales one of the best produce marketers in the world – there is a lot to be excited about here.”
Both Cornelius and Frank identified the same key challenge within their new roles – to ensure that, in the coming years, they find the most capable individuals to join the NatureFresh Farms and NatureFresh Farms Sales teams. As each business continues to expand and more job opportunities are created, both Cornelius and Frank agree that it is essential to find key individuals who will help bring NatureFresh Farms and NatureFresh Farms Sales to even greater heights.
-30-
About NatureFresh Farms -
NatureFresh Farms has grown to become one of the largest independent, vertically integrated greenhouse vegetable farmers in North America. Growing in Leamington, ON and Delta, OH, NatureFresh Farms prides itself on exceptional flavor & quality. Family owned NatureFresh Farms ships fresh greenhouse grown produce year- round to key retailers throughout North America.
SOURCE: NatureFresh Farms | info@naturefresh.ca T: 519 326 1111 | www.naturefresh.ca
Greenhouse Vegetables Available On Remote Islands
The greenhouse kit from Teshuva Agricultural Projects (T.A.P.). is the first one across the Indian Ocean. According to Eric Le Vieux of Esprit Vert Ltd, the local representative of TAPKIT in this region, it should be the first of many
Visitors to the LUX Hotel can from now on enjoy their greens super-fresh. That might not seem very strange - but please keep in mind that the company is located in Belle Mare Plage. Indeed, one of the most beautiful beaches on the world, but also located very remotely: on Mauritius.
That the guests can eat their fresh greens is because the hotel has recently purchased a TAPKIT. The greenhouse kit from Teshuva Agricultural Projects (T.A.P.). is the first one across the Indian Ocean. According to Eric Le Vieux of Esprit Vert Ltd, the local representative of TAPKIT in this region, it should be the first of many.
Open field cultivation
“In Mauritius, as with Seychelles and Maldives, a big percentage of the island’s fruits and vegetables are still imported. Although the greenhouse sector is long-established and continues to develop, the majority of the vegetables we grow are from open field cultivation. The amount of chemical crop protection being used has been creating serious problems not only for the human food chain but also in the ecosystem. There is now a strong movement towards cleaner, more safe production, and the TAPKIT is a perfect opportunity to reduce and even eliminate pesticide use altogether.”
In the beginning of August, the TAPKIT was ready. “We installed an in-line water chiller to lower the irrigation water down to the optimum temperature for the roots to take up the nutrients. Now the unit is getting up to full production. The produce will be enough to meet the requirements of the hotel and may be available to the staff and employees.
Chefs of the hotel visiting the site
Hotel and resorts
“The TAPKIT is an attractive option for large hotels and resorts”, says Eric, "because it provides uniform production all year round, for a wide variety of greens and culinary herbs - all of which are essential daily ingredients for resorts accommodating many guests. Also, many of the world’s leading hotels can be found in remote areas, like small islands or even sandbanks (atolls), where imported produce is hard to acquire still fresh, and likewise, local agriculture is hard to achieve. The TAPKIT raises the quality and the freshness in a big way and it's very exciting to tell customers (hotel guests) that their salads and herbs have travelled zero miles - farm to fork!"
"In addition to being a great financial investment, hotel groups are very committed to improving their sustainability programs, and the TAPKIT is an important enabler for this to happen. We hope to build our next one for a hotel located in Maldives. My team and I are excited about the roll-out of TAPKITs across the Indian Ocean. And most of all, we appreciate the support of our partners in Israel, at Teshuva, who provide vital agronomic support for our growers to make sure they get the most of the greenhouse.”
For more information:
Teshuva Agricultural Projects
60 Nof Harim St., Olesh, 42855 Israel
+972-9-8940507
+972-50-7922579
+1-201-5803003
office@taprojects.com
www.taprojects.com
Publication date: Thu, 26 Sep 2019
Author: Arlette Sijmonsma
© HortiDaily.com
Fully Operational, Modern Hydroponic 45,000 sf Greenhouse For Sale In Pennsylvania
It is a fully operational automated hydroponic greenhouse with a glass roof, computer controls, sophisticated HVAC and irrigation systems, artificial lighting and cold storage
By urbanagnews
September 4, 2019
BrightFarms, leading grower of hydroponic salad greens and herbs, is set to open a 280,000 sf facility in central Pennsylvania later this year. At that point its existing Pennsylvania greenhouse in Bucks County will become surplus to requirements. It will be ready for occupancy by a new user late in the first quarter 2020.
It is a fully operational automated hydroponic greenhouse with a glass roof, computer controls, sophisticated HVAC and irrigation systems, artificial lighting and cold storage.
For more information, contact Sean O’Neill at soneill@brightfarms.com.
TAGS Business For sale Greenhouse
SUNY Chancellor Johnson Awards $50,000 In Seed Funding To Winner of High-Tech Start-Up Pitch Competition at SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Re-Nuble, which develops an on-site nutrient system for farmers to manufacture their own fertilizer, won the competition and was presented with a $50,000 check as seed funding to help the start-up commercialize its product
September 17, 2019
Event Connects High-Tech SUNY-Based Entrepreneurs with Nation’s Largest Source of Seed Funding
Re-Nuble Awarded First-Ever TAF MVP
Albany – State University of New York Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson today awarded the first Technology Accelerator Fund Most Valuable Pitch (TAF MVP) winner, a high-tech start-up company competition, which capped a day-long event for New York State entrepreneurs at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Re-Nuble, which develops an on-site nutrient system for farmers to manufacture their own fertilizer, won the competition and was presented with a $50,000 check as seed funding to help the start-up commercialize its product.
"This competition is a great example of New Yorkers, particularly our students and faculty, utilizing their talents, skills, and entrepreneur spirit to develop the latest cutting edge technology and innovation into valuable products," said SUNY Chancellor Johnson, an engineer and entrepreneur herself during her career. "I applaud Re-Nuble on their winning pitch, and will continue to follow the exciting work of each of these ten up-and-coming companies."
The competition featured pitches from 10 start-up companies currently working with some of the world’s most advanced technologies. Each start-up is affiliated with a SUNY campus business incubator or accelerator program. The pitch competition followed an all-day event hosted in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which welcomed the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Road Tour on its first-ever visit to Albany. SBIR is a major national source of funding for start-up companies on the verge of commercialization, investing $3 billion annually. Nearly two dozen agency administrators attended the event, meeting with about 275 entrepreneurs to provide feedback and help them refine their ideas.
"SUNY is proud to connect some of our most inventive and entrepreneurial minds to this key source of federal seed funding," said SUNY Polytechnic Interim President/SUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development Grace Wang. "We are committed to helping our SUNY-based start-ups convert cutting edge research into market-ready products and services that can stimulate economic growth and lead to advancements in a variety of important fields."
"Every year, we meet entrepreneurs from around the country looking to turn their big idea into another great American innovation story. We are committed to supporting America’s small businesses owners wherever they are," said SBA Acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton. "This tour reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that these innovators are aware of SBA’s resources to help them reach that goal."
Joining SUNY and the SBA in sponsoring the Albany SBIR Tour are SUNY Summer Startup School, NY Small Business Development Center, Innovate 518, UAlbany Innovation Center, ip.com, NYSTAR, and Empire State Development.
The SUNY TAF MVP Competitors include:
Aviate Audio was founded in 2017 and is developing a wireless device for musicians who use traditional ‘effects pedals’ or ‘stomp boxes that can be controlled by the musician at the instrument. Aviate Audio is a University at Buffalo Incubator client.
beYOUty Tech was founded in 2019 and is developing technology to enable real-time personalization of beauty products for every user. beYOUty Tech is a member of the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator at Binghamton University.
Excelsior Biofilms was founded in 2017 and is developing a way to treat microbial biofilm infections beginning with wound dressings. Technology invented at Binghamton University. Excelsior Biofilms is also a member of Koffman Southern Tier Incubator at Binghamton University.
Ferric Contrast was founded in 2017 and is developing an iron-based replacement for gadolinium-based Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Technology invented at the University at Buffalo. Ferric Contrast is also a University at Buffalo Incubator client.
FlexSurface was founded in 2014 and is developing a new catalyst technology which will meet the increasingly stringent emissions regulations and will replace systems that contain low levels of Platinum Group Metals. This technology was developed at Binghamton University.
Mechanismic was founded in 2017 and is developing a kit called SnappyXO which will deliver an all new way to engage students using STEM robotics. This technology was invented at Stony Brook University.
POP Biotechnologies was founded in 2016 and is developing a versatile platform that can be used for rapid, cost-effective screening, development and manufacturing of vaccines. POP Biotechnologies is a University at Buffalo Incubator client.
Re-Nuble was founded in 2011 and is developing an on-site nutrient system that enables farmers to manufacture their own fertilizer on-site using otherwise unusable waste produce. Re-Nuble is a client of the Clean Energy Business Incubator Program at Stony Brook University.
SupreMEtric was founded in 2019 and is developing a new tool for on-site crime investigation in the form of a portable device for non-destructive and confirmatory identification of all bodily fluids. This technology was invented at the University at Albany.
sxRNA was founded in 2017 and is developing a mechanism to perform RNA switches which can then be integrated into many applications new including RNA-based medicines, diagnostics, and molecular tools. This technology was developed at the University at Albany and SUNY Poly.
About SUNY’s Technology Accelerator Fund
Launched in 2011, TAF strategically invests in SUNY’s most disruptive innovations developed by faculty and students to accelerate their development and commercialization. SUNY and its Research Foundation have invested over $2.8 million to successfully advance the commercial readiness of 50 SUNY innovations. The program has also catalyzed the investment of an additional $14.5 million from external partners, including federal agencies, industry licensees and angel investors.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, with 64 college and university campuses located within 30 miles of every home, school, and business in the state. As of Fall 2018, more than 424,000 students were enrolled in a degree program at a SUNY campus. In total, SUNY served 1.4 million students in credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs in the 2017-18 academic year. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Its students and faculty make significant contributions to research and discovery, contributing to a $1.6 billion research portfolio. There are 3 million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum.
To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu.
The Future of Food - AppHarvest Is Growing A Better Tomato
Gosnell said the technology is “very unique” for the United States, but it's been used elsewhere in the world where the need for sustainable, indoor agriculture is more pressing
By JEREMY D. WELLS Journal-Times
September 11, 2019
Dean Crockett, with AppHarvest, helps a participant put on a VR headset for a virtual greenhouse tour.
JEREMY D. WELLS | JOURNAL-TIMES
There is little that Appalachian foodies appreciate more than a good, garden fresh tomato in season. They may debate the best way to bread a fried green tomato, or the proper condiment for a juicy tomato sandwich (the correct answer is salt and pepper only, by the way, so there is no need to argue about what brand of mayonnaise), but one thing that is undeniable is the love for the savory fruit. Once summer is over, though, and garden fresh tomatoes are gone, the excitement pales.
Everyone who loves them has had the experience of picking up a gorgeous, plump, firm, red tomato in a grocery store, getting home and slicing into it with anticipation, only to find that it's dry and tasteless.
“Like the cardboard box it came in,” is a common description of these “hot house” tomatoes that you find in the winter.
But the problem, explained Matt Gosnell with AppHarvest, isn't necessarily that it was grown in a hot house. In fact, many of the so-called “hot house tomatoes” might have actually been grown outdoors.
The problem, he explained, is in the picking.
Because of the long transport time from California or Guatemala that these off-season fruits undertake, they aren't picked at the peak of ripeness. Instead they are picked early and allowed to ripen on the truck as they are moved to market.
AppHarvest expects to fix this problem. By growing fruit much closer to the markets where it will be sold, they can afford to leave their tomatoes on the vine longer, allowing them to ripen properly and for their flavors to develop.
If they have their way, next winter you might be able to pick up a grocery store tomato that is every bit as juicy and tasty as the ones from your own summer garden. This is all thanks to a growing technology that has already been thoroughly tested in other countries around the world.
“There are a couple of unique things about it,” said AppHarvest's VP of Development Matt Gosnell. “First we have to talk about our retention pond, which is ten acres and will hold a three-month supply of rain water we will use and recirculate through our facility and hydroponic system, so it will be a near net-zero water facility,” he said.
This means they won't need to purchase any outside water to grow their crops, and they won't be contributing to waste water disposal for the community.
But the other thing tomatoes need is light, and they plan to make use of those sunny days as much as possible.
“We're collecting rainwater; we're also using sunlight. That differentiates us from the vertical farms you might have read about where you retrofit a warehouse, stack trays (and use all artificial light),” he added.
That doesn't mean they won't be using any artificial light. They've got a state of the art LED system, and lights will be used to regulate the temperature in the environment, but the plants will get the full spectrum of the sun's rays to grow the plants as close to nature as possible.
“Our strategy is: we're here in Kentucky which gives us a lot of land, and we want to use what God gives us, which is the sun and the rainwater, so the warehouse model isn't exactly what we're going after. Our facility is 60 acres under glass, 2.7 million plus square feet. This is a monster. Three quarters of a mile from one end to the next. So, in terms of the controlled environment itself, it uses different technologies depending on what type of produce you're growing. In this case, tomatoes, which like high heat.
So we're using combination high pressure sodium lighting, which is traditional for tomatoes, as well as interspersed LEDs. It's actually going to be the largest LED lighting system in the world, under glass. That, at the same time, brings our energy costs down and also provides us with a heavier fruit, more dense fruit. So it's a win-win for us. We spend a little more money up front, and we get a great return on it, in terms of more volume, more product, as well as making us a more sustainable facility.”
Gosnell said the technology is “very unique” for the United States, but it's been used elsewhere in the world where the need for sustainable, indoor agriculture is more pressing.
“We're getting this technology from people who have been doing this very efficiently for decades. I'm talking about the Dutch, principally. The Israelis are also very good at this. These are people that had to do this. Post WWII the Netherlands was in heavy food need, so they developed this technology out of necessity and perfected it over the decades. So we're bringing that technology to Kentucky.”
Another advantage of this system over traditional agriculture is the efficiency of space.
“We can grow in one acre what would take ten acres (in traditional field based agriculture),” Gosnell said. “This is a result of controlling the environment, controlling the water, controlling the nutrients, pH, and giving a plant exactly what it needs. So, compared to open field agriculture, not only are you more efficient, but you take the guesswork out of the possibility of worsening storms, too much or not enough water, pests. These things, we take all the guesswork out of it.
So we've got a predictable four to five harvests a year. We can give you the date. We can give you the volume. Because we know exactly what we're growing and the quantity... We're really excited that this is going to be our first project, of what we hope is going to be many, here in the bluegrass.”
The other side of the product's value in being produced locally, once it's grown, is the shipping.
“If you look at a tomato market, specifically, six billion pounds of tomatoes are consumed each year in the United States. Almost four billion of that comes from Mexico,” Gosnell said. “So we've all had the experience of biting into what looks like a very ripe and tasty tomato, only to find it utterly tasteless. This is because it's picked when it's not yet ripe, it's sprayed, it's put on a truck.
Then it's five to six days north to a market. So we're saying, 'Hey, we're going to get you something grown in Kentucky. It's going to be fresher. It's going to taste a lot better. It's going to be healthier, with more nutrients. And we're going to get it to you in a quicker time at a decreased price than what you are paying now.' So it's a win-win-win for us all around, and it's been a really exciting thing to see come to fruition.”
Contact the writer at jwells@journal-times.com.
Combining Artificial Intelligence With Urban Farming Can Be A Game Changer For Developing Countries
An Israeli agtech company called Seedo might have the solution for the challenges of urban agriculture in vulnerable areas such as the Caribbean, that struggle with environmental and climate factors that lead to crop loss
September 1, 2019
Daphne Ewing-Chow Contributor
An Israeli agtech company called Seedo might have the solution for the challenges of urban agriculture in vulnerable areas such as the Caribbean, that struggle with environmental and climate factors that lead to crop loss.
A Seedo container is the size of a small fridge. SEEDO
Latin and America and the Caribbean is the most urbanised region in the world with up to 80% of the region’s population residing in cities (UN-Habitat 2012). While urbanization is an important element of economic growth and modernization, the diminishing ratio of food producers to food consumers in urban settings negatively impacts local food systems, causing populations to be more susceptible to non-communicable diseases, obesity and undernourishment.
Urban farming practices such as rooftop gardens, community greenhouses and vertical farms have provided an alternative to rural agriculture, but given the high cost of urban land, space and size limitations, non-conducive environmental conditions and limited human resources, these methods have not been without their challenges.
Vertical farming’s “closed and controlled” approach has been successful in eliminating the risk of insects, pests and diseases that are prevalent in traditional agricultural systems but the infrastructure required has typically been cost-prohibitive and highly reliant on fossil fuels (solar power is typically not enough).
Seedo is the world's first fully-automated and controlled indoor-growing technology for the "at-home" market— the self-driving car of agriculture. Compact commercial containers that resemble small refrigerators utilize AI algorithms to produce optimal water and light conditions— essentially controlling the weather— through a hybrid system of hydroponics and aeroponics.
Seedo can grow fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs— up to five species at a time per system, and has become extremely popular within the cannabis industry.
“The advantage of Seedo technology is that you can grow a wide range of crops in any climate and any season with no knowledge of how to grow and still achieve high-quality crops,” says Seedo’s CEO, Zohar Levy. “Seedo’s AI algorithm makes life easy for growers and of course, it is pesticide-free. You can enjoy fresh and tasty food year-round.”
The team at Seedo has recognized the relevance of their technology for environmentally vulnerable communities. In May 2019, the company qualified as a registered vendor for the United Nations Global Marketplace and intends to establish pilot programs in countries suffering from extreme climates. In a nod to its applicability to sustainable and climate-smart development, Dr. Jendayi Frazer, the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and one of the United States’ leading voices in international policy, has joined Seedo’s Board of Directors.
“Making AI technology such as Seedo accessible and affordable at the grassroots level will enable food systems to be localised without soil exploitation, deforestation or exposure to climate risk,” says Levy.
At the time of publication, a Seedo system retailed for a mere $2,400— a small fraction of the cost of typical vertical farming systems. The price includes the Seedo box, filters (water, air), starting nutrients and access to the Seedo app, which allows users to receive notifications about growth, health and harvest time. But the real savings are in the diminished risk of crop loss and the elimination of labour requirements. According to Levy, Seedo can do away with the estimated 40% of annual farm costs that are funnelled into wages, salaries and contract labour expenses.
Levy, in a recent report to shareholders, indicated that the combined capabilities of artificial intelligence, big data, robotics, and remote grow technologies makes Seedo and optimal solution for farmers “in a variety of "at-risk" markets. Stackable containers afford dramatic savings in land-use, water consumption and human labor needs… independent of climate conditions.”
According to the International Data Corporation, global spending on artificial intelligence will grow to around $58 billion by 2021. The agriculture sector has been particularly responsive to these technologies, particularly in environmentally vulnerable contexts. In the context of the Dominican Republic, artificial intelligence has enabled the growth of the agricultural sector to 14% of GDP.
Seedo could be a huge advance for small island economies that disproportionately struggle with climate change impacts, food insecurity, knowledge gaps and limited capital or farming technology.
I’m an environmental writer with a focus on food and agriculture, and commute between the Southern Caribbean (Barbados) and the Northern Caribbean (Cayman Islands). I have a Master’s Degree in International Economic Policy from Columbia University and am passionate about Caribbean social, economic and environmental issues. I am intrigued by the resilience of the Small Island Developing States of the region as well as the opportunities for sustainable and regenerative growth through agriculture. I recently headed up communications for a climate change in fisheries project (CC4FISH) at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and have worked in development banking, environmental not-for-profits, and in the venture capital industry. My work has appeared in wide cross-section of Caribbean newspapers and magazines, the Sunday Times (of London), Elite Daily, Elephant Journal and other publications. Follow me on Twitter at @daphneewingchow.
Read More
Investment Brings New Life, New Jobs For RecoveryPark
After working for more than a decade to launch its first social enterprise, RecoveryPark is poised to break ground in November on a commercial-scale hydroponics greenhouse that will create jobs and eventually, equity ownership for Detroiters facing employment barriers
September 08, 2019
Project has attracted investments from three high-profile investors
Will establish Detroit's first commercial-scale hydropronics grower
Expected to sow and harvest first crop, baby leaf lettuce, in August 2020
Justin Phillips, farm associate at RecoveryPark, harvests greens from the nonprofit's pilot hydroponics growing operation. Photo: Bill Bowen
After working for more than a decade to launch its first social enterprise, RecoveryPark is poised to break ground in November on a commercial-scale hydroponics greenhouse that will create jobs and eventually, equity ownership for Detroiters facing employment barriers.
The $10 million project on East Palmer Street near Chene will bring farming — albeit a different type — back to a part of the city that was once home to flower and vegetable seed producer D.M. Ferry & Co. and establish Detroit's first commercial-scale hydroponics grower.
It's attracted three high-profile investors: Stephen Polk, CEO of Birmingham investment company Highgate LLC.; Jim M. Nicholson, co-chairman, PVS Chemicals Inc.; and Walter Tripp Howell, retired international director of Jones Lang LaSalle in Washington, D.C., and an ex-pat of the Detroit area, who learned of the project during the 2018 Detroit Homecoming.
Detroit-based Nextek Power Systems is also considering an equity investment, its CEO Paul Savage confirmed.
Those investments will make up about a third of the $12.5 million raised to cover bridge operational funding for the nonprofit RecoveryPark over the past several months and construction and startup costs for the climate-controlled greenhouse operation, which is set to launch in August 2020, RecoveryPark CEO Gary Wozniak said last week.
A 28-year loan backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Small Business Administration and a 10-year loan backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, both made through the Greater Nevada Credit Union's Greater Commercial Lending arm to for-profit company RecoveryPark JV LLC, are set to close in October, rounding out funding, Wozniak said.
Wozniak projects the greenhouse operation, run by the for-profit company, will yield $6 million in revenue its first year and $18 million annually within four years with two planned expansions that will triple its "acres under glass."
RecoveryPark has already proven the business model through pilot hydroponics and high-tunnel or soil-based growing operations a couple of blocks away near its headquarters on Chene, Wozniak said. It has contracts to supply lettuce to Detroit wholesale distributor Del Bene Produce that produced $180,000 in revenue last year and are set to do about the same this year.
It's now in talks with retailers including Nino Salvaggio and Meijer, Wozniak said.
Next to tomatoes, leafy greens are the second most in-demand vegetable, he said. And recent romaine lettuce recalls have spurred demand for hydroponically grown lettuce and greens even more.
The greenhouse will help RecoveryPark achieve its social mission, said Wozniak, who is himself a recovering addict and ex-offender.
"Our mission is to create jobs for people with barriers to employment: people coming out of prison and/or drug treatment programs," Wozniak said. "Our vision is to do that by creating jobs in the food industry and eventually we'll transfer majority ownership to the workforce in those businesses."
The new greenhouse will also help change the way consumers view food by establishing local, hyper-fresh options and local accountability for the quality of that food, he said.
Joint venture
RecoveryPark JV will be jointly owned by the nonprofit RecoveryPark as minority owner and the equity investors holding a combined 70-percent stake. RecoveryPark will look to buy back equity from the investors over 10 years, before transitioning ownership to employees, Wozniak said.
Charles Motley, COO, RecoveryPark JV LLC; and Gary Wozniak, president and CEO of the nonprofit RecoveryPark. Photo: Bill Bowen
Automotive and manufacturing veteran Charles Motley has joined the new company as COO.
Motley, 47, brings 25 years of experience at manufacturing companies, most recently serving as vice president of manufacturing at Wixom-based gun sight manufacturer Trijicon Inc.
With his experience and expertise in construction and team management, process flow, lean systems and continuous improvement skills, "he's taking us from being a church committee to being a real business," Wozniak said.
Motley, a native Detroiter, said he was attracted by the opportunity to give back at this point in his career.
"We're committed to taking ... not just the greenhouse (but) the whole area ... from being blighted to being a stronger economic centerpiece for the city," he said.
Beyond their investments, each of the equity investors brings specific expertise and is helping mentor the startup greenhouse company, Wozniak said. Polk has given advice on managing the stress of pulling together financing for the greenhouse while balancing operational and funding needs for the nonprofit. Nicholson was instrumental in driving to hire someone like Motley to lead the greenhouse operations. Howell has brought an understanding of the farm-to-table movement and marketing for the food industry.
The RecoveryPark greenhouse venture has a lot of interesting facets and is a good approach to helping Detroit, Polk said. "It's early on, (but) we're excited about it."
When you look at the neighborhood where the new greenhouse will be located, it's a tough area to build a food economy, he said. But RecoveryPark's plan will reclaim land and put it to good use.
The goal of helping people come back from addiction and other challenges is also a beneficial project for Detroit, Polk said.
And the opportunity to turn it into a profitable venture is also interesting. "They've had a good start getting their products from the existing test facility into local restaurants. People like the homegrown aspect of it," he said.
"With the local food scene in Detroit, I think the drive for local produce will continue to grow."
Howell said he's been interested in agriculture since he was growing up in Grosse Pointe. That interest and his desire to make a difference in Detroit drew him to the RecoveryPark greenhouse project.
"I've been an investor in a series of restaurants in the Washington, D.C., region, and I've found that the lettuce product is hard to get a hold of, expensive, and when we receive it on the East Coast, there's so much that's thrown away," he said.
The opportunity to have something grown locally, harvested locally and consumed within days of being harvested is attractive, he said.
Coupled with that, "I think the fact that the Department of Agriculture is getting involved in a farm that's in an urban setting ... is a next-generation move," Howell said.
"The way the social side meets the for-profit side is just a good model for so many things. I really want to see this succeed."
Demolition of a former Kroger store and former potato chip manufacturing building at 2259 East Palmer St. near Chene, about two miles north of Detroit's Eastern Market, is underway to make room for the new, 2-acre greenhouse. Site preparation is set to begin Nov. 1.
The hydroponics greenhouse will be located in an Opportunity Zone, but the deferment of capital gains tax associated with those low-income zones was not a factor in attracting the initial investments to the greenhouse project, Wozniak said.
Gakon Horticultural Projects
RecoveryPark and a group of investors plan to break ground Nov. 1 on Detroit's first commercial-scale hydroponics greenhouse, similar to this Gakon Horticultural Projects building in the Netherlands.
The greenhouse itself will be assembled from a kit shipped here by Netherlands greenhouse manufacturer Gakon Horticultural Projects.
Hamilton Anderson Associates is the local architect on the project and O'Brien Construction as general contractor.
Next summer, Motley said, he'll look to hire and train 12-15 people coming out prison and/or drug recovery programs. Through a contract with the nonprofit RecoveryPark, they'll be lined up with supportive services like transportation.
The greenhouse will operate year-round with a continuous growth cycle, with seeding at one end of a large pond of water and trays of plants slowly moving across the water over 12-14 days for harvesting on the other end.
Motley projects the annual costs to operate the greenhouse will run about $800,000.
RecoveryPark will get three cents of every dollar of revenue from the joint venture as a royalty, he said, projecting that will be about $350,000 the first year and increase with each expansion. The joint venture company will also pay a set amount each month per employee to RecoveryPark to provide wrap-around support services.
By the time the greenhouse has 6 acres of crops, RecoveryPark should be receiving about $1 million each year from the for-profit joint venture, enough to be self-sustainable, Wozniak said.
While the greenhouse takes shape, Motley is working with Detroit companies Skidmore Studio and Nebulous Concepts LLC on brand development and marketing. He believes it's important to include RecoveryPark's mission on packaging, if possible, to help people understand why buying the product is important, he said.
The new company plans to take taste testing of its leafy product — possibly under the "RecoveryPark Farms 313" brand — directly to retail locations in January and hopes to have contracts with retailers in place by about the end of the first quarter, Motley said.
"We're building brand awareness through wholesale, (but) expect to see retail sales really be a big part of the growth."
Initially, the greenhouse will focus on growing baby leaf lettuce "but we're doing a lot of research over the next three or four months to say 'OK, these are other options that consumers are looking at that might fit our portfolio,'" Motley said.
Going forward
As Motley takes on oversight of the greenhouse operations, Wozniak and RecoveryPark will look to new pastures.
The nonprofit will look to shift the high-tunnel growing it's done in recent years to a niche farming business or education and community gathering program, Wozniak said.
The nonprofit will shrink to four to six employees. It will focus on providing support services for greenhouse employees and developing other social enterprise pilots such as new lines of tomato seeds, an indoor fish farm and/or a small greenhouse to grow starter plants for other growers.
RecoveryPark currently operates on a $1.2 million budget with nine full-time employees after laying off employees last year when it shut down the high-tunnel growing operation to save money on heating costs over the winter and let the ground regenerate.
Part of moving forward will be settling old debts.
"We've got a lot of debt on our balance sheet and are looking for creative ways (to settle it)," Wozniak said.
RecoveryPark has pitched the idea of converting debt to stock ownership in RecoveryPark Farms, the nonprofit's holding company for the social enterprises, and is working on deals to convert $1.8 million of debt into stock ownership in the holding company. If it's successful in those conversions, it will be left with 57-percent ownership in the holding company.
The Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, which made a $400,000 program-related investment loan to the nonprofit in 2016, is in the process of looking at the conversion terms, said Meredith Freeman, who is serving as interim executive director of the Fisher Foundation while Executive Director Doug Stewart is on sabbatical.
Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
Meredith Freman
"I really applaud them for their commitment not only to the city and the neighborhood but to keeping that social aspect in place around making sure they are employing those who have challenges to employment. ... they've never let that go," she said.
"It could have been easier business-wise to let that go, but they made that commitment, stuck to it, and we are really happy to support that."
Letter
Aquaponic Inventor Neil Whichelow Left To Flounder
Neil Whichelow will have to find a home for scores of trout and tilapia after he was told he would be turfed out of his greenhouse by Plumpton agricultural college
20 August 19
Laurie Churchman @lauriechurchman Reporter
AN INVENTOR who built an aquatic experiment that could “save humanity” has been told to pack his bags – with 70 fertiliser-generating fish.
Neil Whichelow will have to find a home for scores of trout and tilapia after he was told he would be turfed out of his greenhouse by Plumpton agricultural college.
Over the past six years in Brighton’s Stanmer Park, Neil has built a world-leading test bed for aquaponics – a novel, soil-free farming technique that uses waste from fish farming to grow crops.
The doors at Neil’s experimental biome open to a blast of tropical air and the sound of trickling water.
Hundreds of exotic plants grow in clay bead beds propped on top of fish tanks.
Luffa sponges droop from the ceiling. Fairy lights illuminate orange seed-pod lanterns. Trout swim beneath clusters of strawberries. There are yams, goji berries, and spiky bitter gourds.
Water is pumped through a tangle of pipes and tubes, running through the seed beds into a bubbling nitrogen chamber below, and back into tanks.
Neil said: “The brilliance is, the plants clean the water for the fish. There’s no soil, and it’s all pesticide-free. It’s a whole ecosystem under one glass roof.”
On an aquaponic farm, bacteria convert the ammonia in the fish excrement into nitrogen – which is in turn used to feed the plants without the need for soil. It is a radical farming technique that Neil believes could help feed a planet in climate crisis.
But as Plumpton Agricultural College shifts site, Neil will have to dismantle everything he’s worked on. He said: “It’s a tragedy.
“For years now I’ve been working unpaid seven days a week because I believe in this. Others believe in it too. They rely on it.
“Our designs help thousands of people, from hard-pressed farmers to refugees. Using our research, people all over the world can grow food. That’s not bad for a project we started with a £10 fish tank from a car boot sale.”
Today, the greenhouse’s glass panels are being packed up, and Neil is wondering what to do with all the fish.
“I might actually have to stick them in the freezer,” he said. “If we can’t find a new site fast, we’ll have to eat them. It’s a shame because I don’t know how long it will take me to raise this number again.
“The aim was to feed the 5,000. But that’s going to take some thinking through now. I’m hoping we can use this as a chance to expand.”
A spokeswoman for Plumpton College said: “The current campus will no longer exist in the present space, and unfortunately Neil’s project won’t be included in new site.”
USA - Indiana - 'FARMacy' Restaurant/Greenhouse To Launch Here, With Global Hopes
Pending city council rezoning approval and the issuance of building permits, Barber intends to construct a $5 million to $8 million prototype aquaponics greenhouse, restaurant and exercise facility, to be called FARMacy, on West Jackson Street, a block west of the St. Mary's Church
Seth Slabaugh, Muncie Star Sept. 6, 2019
Glynn and Kellie Barber stand in a client's greenhouse in Daleville.
(Photo: Jordan Kartholl/The Star Press)
MUNCIE, Ind. — Glynn Barber, an urban-agriculture entrepreneur, sets a container of ripe, black-cherry heirloom tomatoes on the conference table in his Briarwood Lane office on a recent morning.
"Do me a favor," he says. "Take one of those tomatoes home and set it in a window. Tell me if it rots. I guarantee it will never rot, it won't draw the first gnat, it won't draw fungus, it won't draw mold. It'll dry out, and take almost a year to do it, guaranteed."
Besides being sweet and juicy, he believes the tomatoes taste so clean and pack so many nutrients that it warrants marketing them —and similarly grown produce — as "pharmaceutical grade."
Pending city council rezoning approval and the issuance of building permits, Barber intends to construct a $5 million to $8 million prototype aquaponics greenhouse, restaurant and exercise facility, to be called FARMacy, on West Jackson Street, a block west of the St. Mary's Church.
Barber has patented an aquaponics system — a combination of aquaculture, or raising fish in tanks, and hydroponics, or raising plants in troughs of water — called Environmentally Controlled Sustainable Integrated Agriculture (ECSIA).
The cherry tomatoes used in his demonstration to The Star Press were raised in an ECSIA greenhouse in Daleville doing business as Healthy Life Organics.
Barber's greenhouse systems also are operating in a number of other locations across the country — including one owned by the city of East Chicago; the North Central Indiana Teen Challenge in Elkhart; Wapahani High School; and Urban REAP in Waco, Texas — plus Haiti.
Tomatoes grow year-round inside a Daleville greenhouse. (Photo: Jordan Kartholl/The Star Press)
And Barber has much, much bigger plans.
The Muncie FARMacy is intended to be a model for 50 to 75 more of these facilities to be built across the country over the next three to five years, says another person at the conference table, venture capitalist Peter Florio, of Capital Gains Corp., Palm Harbor, Fla.
"Peter brought 100 percent of the money to the table," Barber said.
"Looking at these products," Florio said of the ECSIA system and related ventures, "I can tell you it's probably a long time before anybody catches up with the technology or innovation. It really is that far ahead. It's so far advanced and run so efficiently that it's not close to the realm of traditional aquaponics. We think it's huge. We see it as a global market."
Peter Florio, Palm Harbor, Fla., is an investor in Glynn and Kellie Barber's planned aquaponics chain. (Photo: Seth Slabaugh, The Star Press)
Capital Gains Corp. says it is planning an initial investment of $200 million. The company is associated with Barclay Group, a real estate firm with the same Palm Harbor street address as Capital Gains. Barclay Group's name appears on FARMacy architectural drawings by EMPAD Architecture, Clearwater, Fla.
► Daleville aquaponics startup grows powerhouse food
The FARMacy facility in Muncie would include a juice bar and The Blue Crayz restaurant with seating for 67 patrons; two research labs; a commercial kitchen for locally made food products like barbecue sauce; an exercise center with patented, low-impact machines; and a 9,000-square-feet aquaponics greenhouse, to contain about four fish tanks, 90 troughs and 450 growing trays.
"To help us tell our story, the restaurant name, The Blue Crayz, was chosen as spin from the fresh water lobster, also known as the Australian red claw crayfish, that is grown in our system underneath the floating plants," said another person at the conference table, Barber's wife Kellie. "It is also one of our mascot cartoon characters used in the educational materials and coloring books for children."
An architectural rendition of the proposed FARMacy facility in Muncie. (Photo: Photo provided)
The restaurant will offer salad blends using greens for healthy diets targeting individual health concerns, such as diabetes, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disorders, she said.
"We also will offer several healthy, chemical-free protein options to add to salads … With the nutrient-dense, intense-flavored produce we grow, we guarantee you won’t have a tasteless salad from our restaurant," she went on.
Glynn Barber gives a demonstration, piling leafy greens onto a scale on the conference-room table. "Two ounces is a lot of greens," he says, as it takes him a couple of handfuls to tip the scale at two ounces.
The FARMacy will include a drive-thru window where Barber envisions customers picking up two-ounce salads of healthy fruits and vegetables prescribed by doctors.
"This product will keep for weeks," Barber said. "The shelf life on our product is fantastic, the reason being it is so nutrient dense it doesn't rot or draw pests. We are growing pharmacy-grade food. We are not out to compete with the big-box stores. We're literally looking at food-prescription-type programs."
The salads won't include lettuce. It's not nutrient-dense enough.
The Healthy Life Organics ESCIA greenhouse in Daleville, for example, grows produce that ranks high on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list of "powerhouse fruits and vegetables," including watercress (No. 1), chard (No. 3), chives (No. 14), kale (No. 15), arugula (No. 18), tomatoes (No. 27), and strawberries (No. 30).
A Daleville-based aquaponic greenhouse grows a variety of vegetables year-round. (Photo: Jordan Kartholl/The Star Press)
Longevity spinach, turnip greens and beets are among many other crops Barber's systems are growing.
Powerhouse foods are strongly associated with reduced chronic disease risk on the basis of 17 nutrients of public health importance, such as fiber, protein and vitamins A, B-12 and C.
"We are targeting disease with fruits and vegetables," Barber said, holding up a copy of the book "Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself."
Barber has approached a major heath insurance company about coverage for "prescription food." He's also working with local doctors and faculty at Ball State University.
Glynn and Kellie Barber are growing food to fight disease. (Photo: Seth Slabaugh, The Star Press)
"I am a huge advocate for this food production system and believe it can transform communities," Scott Truex, an associate professor of urban planning at Ball State and co-founder of the Sustainable Communities Institute, told The Star Press. "All of these projects integrate the ECSIA system with other value-adding objectives that we believe will allow a community to create a new food eco-system that is a catalyst for change."
The institute believes that food, water, and energy are the triggers to transform a community.
"When a community must depend on systems that can fail at any moment, its members are vulnerable," the institute says. "Systems must be developed that maximize resources and build wealth for the local economy, rather than outsourcing the resources to Wall Street."
► BSU students build mobile greenhouse
Here's how the ESCIA system works: fish waste is mineralized to make nutrient-rich water that flows into troughs where plants float in growing trays. Freshwater lobsters, aka crayfish, eat the dead ends on the plant roots. Plant-filtered water flows back to the fish tank, fresh and clean, after going through a water-polishing system.
Barber says FARMacy's 9,000-square-feet aquaponics greenhouse — much larger than the "satellite" or "family farmer" greenhouses like the ones at Wapahani, East Chicago and Elkhart — can replicate a 40-acre farm field while using less water than a family of four, while operating on only 22 amps of power.
Members of a Gary church visits the Teen Challenge ECSIA greenhouse in Elkhart. (Photo: Photo provided)
The FARMacy's "farmer's commercial" greenhouse module is designed to grow up to 3,600 pounds of produce weekly, along with 4,800 pounds of yellow perch annually.
"That's a lot of salad," Barber said. "We don't mention a lot about aquaculture because we don't grow enough fish to make a dent. The fish are just a nutrient source for us. We're much like a pet store. We're not breeding fish, not raising fish, we are feeding fish and mineralizing that fish waste to grow fruits and vegetables."
The IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Foundation will ask city council at its Sept. 9 meeting to approve a change in zoning to allow construction of the FARMacy project in the 2500 blocks of West Jackson/Main streets, south of BMH. The foundation owns the property, which is mostly vacant lots used for storage.
"We are excited to lease the land for a project which has the potential to improve access to fresh produce, forge community partnerships and provide a mechanism for health education and research," physician Jeff Bird, president of the hospital, told The Star Press.
A Daleville-based aquaponic greenhouse grows a variety of vegetables year-round. (Photo: Jordan Kartholl/The Star Press)
The rezoning request ran into some opposition when it was introduced at the council's August meeting.
Heavy-equipment operator and unsuccessful city council candidate Audie Barber (no relation to Glynn Barber), warned council that "if you open it up for a fish farm, then you've got to open it up for a pig farm, a dairy farm … We are opening ourselves up to bringing farms inside the city limits. Chicken farms. The next thing you know, Tyson will want to put up a big grow house over here for their chickens."
Attorney Maura J. Hoff, representing the hospital foundation, responded that city ordinance prohibits industrial livestock farms like Audie Barber was talking about. She provided council little information about the project.
Council President Doug Marshall and councilman Jerry Dishman voted against introduction of the the rezoning ordinance, but seven other council members approved it.
► Funny farmer makes headlines
When The Star Press first wrote about Barber's ECSIA system, in 2014, there were literally hundreds of people designing and building their own aquaponics systems, ranging from a fish tank with herbs in the kitchen to small systems capable of supplying farmers markets or local restaurants.
At the time, Laura Tiu, aquaculture extension specialist at Ohio State University, told the newspaper, "I've yet to see a large, commercial-scale operation. We've not yet seen a model system that is economically proven that can be replicated. I believe that this is what Glynn, as well as many others, are trying to achieve."
She compared characterized aquaponics primarily as a hobby. But that was then.
What does Tiu — now a fisheries/aquaculture/marine education extension agent at the University of Florida — say now?
She still remembers Barber, whom she calls "an aquaponics pioneer in the Midwest."
Tiu is now seeing a few commercial-scale aquaponics operations that appear to be profitable, including northeast Florida's Traders Hill Farm, which advertises leafy greens "that grow faster, taste better, last longer and waste nothing." Its customers include grocery stores and restaurants.
As far as a $200 million investment in Barber's venture, Tiu said, "In my experience, just throwing money at something is not what makes it work — careful business planning is. With aquaponics, the ability to access and serve specialty markets seems to be one of the keys.
"I believe that farms located in areas with high demand of organic/natural produce, unique produce, willingness to pay more for produce, will have the best success rate. I still don’t think it’s a cheap way to grow food, but it certainly opens up areas where traditional crop practices are not available."
A Daleville-based aquaponic greenhouse grows a variety of vegetables year-round. (Photo: Jordan Kartholl/The Star Press)
An Air Force veteran and former tool and die maker, Barber exudes confidence, energy and enthusiasm.
After giving The Star Press a 45-minute presentation of his business plan, he asked: "Are you getting the picture? Are you disappointed? Isn't this amazing?"
The components that make up the ECSIA system, such as pumps, clamps, fiberglass and plastic, are all being manufactured in Indiana, including Anderson, Redkey, Eaton, Lafayette, Elkhart and Muncie. A fresh water lobster hatchery is set up in New Castle.
Barber invented the system in his garage in Redkey out of necessity — treating his son's schizophrenia with healthy food — after consulting potheads growing elite marijuana; university researchers; doctors and others.
His business plan includes a partnership with Marion-based Insurance Management Group to provide ECSIA growers insurance coverage, including greenhouse structures, equipment, ECSIA system modules, business income, system breakdowns, off-premise power interruption, liability, and workers compensation.
"We are the only company that has this," Barber said. "We don't make a dime on the insurance, which costs $1,183 a year."
The red claw crayfish is the inspiration for the name of the FARMacy's Blue Crayz restaurant. (Photo: Kellie Barber)
In addition to the proposed chain of FARMacy facilities, Barber has taken steps to construct his first commercial-size ECSIA module in Daleville, with 48 fish tanks, 1,080 troughs and 5,400 grow trays. It is designed to produce up to 45,000 heads of leafy greens, 6,000 pounds of fruiting vegetables and 700 pounds of fish per week.
"We've never built one that big," Barber said. "It will have robotic harvesters and things that we've developed to put there. It will be a big research and development center and a full-blown production center."
Barber says he's also getting ready to build a factory in Daleville to manufacture ECSIA components.
The staff at ECSIA headquarters, doing business in the Lyndenbrook Place office park as Balance Holdings LLC, includes an office manager, an environmental scientist, a marketing manager, and an artist.
A drawing of a freshwater lobster/crayfish that is the namesake of a FARMacy restaurant proposed on West Jackson Street in Muncie (Photo: Seth Slabaugh, The Star Press)
Barber expects each FARMacy facility across the country to attract 10 to 15, easy-to-maintain "satellite" or "co-op growers" using ECSIA technology.
"We will partner with and buy from those satellites but we won't own them," Barber said.
A "satellite greenhouse" similar to the one in Elkhart, managed by an ex-heroin addict, can generate $300,000 to $400,000 in revenue per year at a cost of less than $50,000 a year, according to Barber, who says it takes three men two hours a day to operate the greenhouse.
Anyone with an eighth-grade education can follow the greenhouse's operating manual, which runs a couple of hundred pages long, he added.
Joey Sarver manages the Teen Challenge ECSIA greenhouse in Elkhart. (Photo: Photo provided)
A graduate of the Central High School class of 1986, Barber said he chose to headquarter his venture here because "Muncie was the birthplace of sustainable agriculture with the Ball jar."
Ball Corporation was a manufacturer of glass jars used for home canning of fresh, high quality food.
"This isn't a feel-good thing," Barber says of his undertaking. "This is about the health of a community."
Contact Seth Slabaugh at (765) 213-5834 or seths@muncie.gannett.com
CO2 Enrichment, Acclimation, And Efficiency In Hydroponic Growing
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an essential requirement for photosynthesis and can be somewhat overlooked by newer growers. Being odorless, invisible, and only a small fraction of our atmosphere, CO2 often doesn’t get the same attention as nutrients, lights, and other plant-growth factors
Lynette Morgan | August 23, 2019
Takeaway: While many commercial growers use carbon dioxide to boost crop quality, yield, and growth rates, Lynette Morgan explains how home hydroponic horticulturists can also take advantage of CO2 enrichment.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an essential requirement for photosynthesis and can be somewhat overlooked by newer growers. Being odorless, invisible, and only a small fraction of our atmosphere, CO2 often doesn’t get the same attention as nutrients, lights, and other plant-growth factors.
The use of CO2 enrichment to boost yields, quality, and growth rates under hydroponic production is, however, widely used in commercial greenhouse horticulture and has an even greater potential in enclosed growing spaces. While simply pumping in some additional CO2 may seem like a straightforward option, the use of this technology is a little more complex if its potential is to be maximized and problems minimized.
CO2 Enrichment
Ambient CO2 levels in air are a little more than 400 ppm (or 0.04 per cent by volume), however, plant tissue contains an average of 45 per cent carbon that comes entirely from CO2. By boosting CO2 levels surrounding the leaf surface, above ambient levels, the rate of photosynthesis increases up until the point where some other factor, such as the speed at which plant enzymes will work, is reached.
Email Newsletter
Join thousands of other growers who are already receiving our monthly newsletter.
Essentially, the transfer of CO2 from the surrounding air to the reaction centers in the leaf chloroplasts depends both on the concentration difference between the air and these sites, and the intervening biochemical resistance in various leaf tissues. This means that while CO2 enrichment will boost photosynthesis, there comes a point were further increases will not occur and plant damage becomes a possibility. Determining this optimal level of CO2 enrichment for a particular plant or stage of growth is where the application of CO2 needs some careful thought.
Carbon dioxide enrichment has become more popular in recent times with hydroponic growers using a range of low- and high-tech options to boost CO2 levels. The most common methods of generating CO2 include burning hydrocarbon fuels and the use of compressed, bottled CO2. Smaller growers with a very limited growing space may use dry ice (solid, very cold CO2) which releases CO2 as it “melts” under warm conditions.
Fermentation or the decomposition of organic matter (composting and fungi) are still effective but less accurate ways of boosting CO2 levels through natural processes. Whichever method is used to generate CO2, levels should be regularly monitored, either with a hand-held CO2 meter or as part of the environmental control system in the growing area.
Read also: The Benefits of Adding CO2 During the Cloning Stage
Enrichment levels
If CO2 enrichment is to be applied, then determining the correct level is as important with this gaseous element as it is with nutrient levels. The benefits and levels of CO2enrichment is crop dependent, but most plants respond well to levels in the range of 500–1,500ppm. Below 200ppm, CO2 begins to severely limit plant growth, but more than 2,000ppm of CO2 becomes toxic to many plants.
More than 4,000ppm is a risk to humans. An excess of CO2 will cause crop damage in the form of CO2 toxicity, which is often misdiagnosed as mineral deficiencies or disease symptoms. Mild CO2 toxicity can cause stunting of growth, or leaf-aging type symptoms, while excessive levels may cause leaf damage such as chlorosis (yellowing), necrosis (death of leaf tissue), curling and/or thickening of the leaves.
There is much debate over which level of enrichment is ideal for each crop, under various different growing conditions, however, the most economic use of CO2 is in enriching crops to above ambient levels, but not more than 1,200ppm. Most commercial growers enrich to within the range of 600-800ppm where an increase in growth and yields of between 20-30 per cent are common.
While CO2 enrichment is largely used on fruiting crops such as tomatoes, capsicum, and cucumber, it can benefit a wide range of plant species. Indoor gardens with ornamental, potted, and flowering plants also respond to CO2 enrichment with increased rates of growth and leaf area, increased rates of flowering, more lateral breaks, earlier flowering, greater flower number, reduced flower drop, and increased flower diameter as well as improved leaf color and reduced time to maturity. Carbon dioxide also assists with root development on cuttings and clones in many species and may be applied via enrichment of the air or through the use of carbonated mist.
CO2 Efficiency
To make the most of CO2 enrichment, other growth factors need to be considered and manipulated. Carbon dioxide enrichment will produce the best results in terms of plant growth, yield increases, and shortening the time to maturity where there is high light to power rapid levels of photosynthesis.
If light is insufficient or below the light saturation point for the crop, then boosted CO2levels cannot be fully utilized by the plants. Temperature also plays a role in the efficient use of CO2. Under conditions of high light and CO2 enrichment, temperatures can be run higher than they would normally, and this maximizes the effect of additional CO2.
Studies have shown that for tomato plants, a threefold level of CO2 enrichment will increase net photosynthesis by about 50 per cent in both dull and bright light, but if leaf temperature is also raised (to 86°F), the increase in net CO2 fixation can be as high as 100 per cent in bright light. This means that while boosting CO2 in an indoor hydroponic system will boost growth rates, consideration should be given at the same time to manipulation of the other environmental factors of light and temperature if the valuable CO2 is to be used with the highest degree of efficiency.
Another often overlooked factor is CO2 distribution around the plants. Simply releasing or generating CO2 for enrichment into the growing area is often not sufficient to get the maximum rate of photosynthesis unless this is directed and circulated over leaf surfaces. A stale boundary layer of moist air, depleted in CO2 due to photosynthesis, can form directly around the leaf surface and this needs frequent removal and replenishment.
Whatever source of CO2 generation is being used, it is vital that the enriched atmosphere is thoroughly mixed so the valuable CO2 is delivered to plant surfaces for uptake and assimilation. Small mixer fans can be used to gently circulate the air away from the source of CO2 generation and toward the crop.
To monitor this process, hand-held CO2 meters are useful to check levels in and around the canopy rather than just at the point of CO2 release. Keeping a check on CO2 levels inside a small growing area is vitally important, no matter what the source of CO2 used. It can be difficult to judge how much CO2 the plants are taking up and in tightly sealed growing environments, CO2 accumulation can occur and cause plant damage.
Read also: The Symbiotic Relationship Between CO2 and Ventilation
CO2 Acclimation
CO2 enrichment is undoubtedly a great growth-promoting tool for hydroponic growers, however, it has its limitations and risks.
Plants have the ability to adjust and adapt to increasing CO2 levels, so that over time, acclimation occurs. When CO2 enrichment is first introduced to a crop, there is a rapid increase in photosynthesis and growth, but as plant growth continues, the effect of the increased CO2 levels becomes less and less so that by the time the crop is completed, overall yields were not as high as the increase in early yield.
Numerous studies have reported this effect with plants grown continuously at high CO2 levels having a photosynthetic rate that tends to decrease with time. If a crop grown at elevated CO2 levels is suddenly given only ambient CO2, it will recover back to normal rates of photosynthesis within five days.
Some growers have attempted to prevent this acclimation of crops to high CO2 levels by only supplying CO2 intermittently, or avoiding the use of CO2 enrichment until a vital stage of development, such as flowering or fruit set, has been reached when the boost in photoassimilate is most valuable to yields. Studies have shown the problem of CO2 acclimation can be reduced or eliminated if the plant has strong “sinks” for the assimilate produced in the leaves.
These sinks for assimilate include rapidly developing tissues such as buds, flowers, and fruits. Plants with a low sink strength often end up with carbohydrate accumulating in the leaves under CO2 enrichment, which in turn triggers acclimation and a reduction in photosynthesis. Despite the issue of plant acclimation to high CO2levels limiting the overall potential boost to growth, CO2-enriched plants still produce photosynthetic rates higher than those grown at ambient CO2 levels.
Carbon dioxide enrichment is a worthwhile tool for indoor and greenhouse growers which is well proven in a wide range of crop species to increase growth rates and yields. However, as with most high-tech techniques, it requires monitoring, attention to detail, and careful consideration of the effect on biochemical processes. If CO2 is to be used at maximum efficiency, correct rates of application, adjustments to light and temperature, timing of enrichment, and consequences of CO2 acclimation all need consideration.
Written by Lynette Morgan
Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B. Hort. Tech. degree and a PhD in hydroponic greenhouse production from Massey University, New Zealand. Lynette is a partner with Suntec International Hydroponic Consultants and has authored several hydroponic technical books. Visit suntec.co.nz for more information. Full Bio
USDA - NIFA Conference Sept. 9 - 12, 2019
Developing sustainable and strategic plans to feed the future in the face of growing global challenges will demand interdisciplinary vision, collaboration and innovation
USDA - NIFA Conference At Biosphere 2
September 9 - 12, 2019
Developing sustainable and strategic plans to feed the future in the face of growing global challenges will demand interdisciplinary vision, collaboration and innovation. Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) implemented as fully enclosed, multi-level indoor agricultural food production systems, Vertical Farms (VF), will complement future greenhouse (GH) plant production systems and will offer innovative technological solutions for issues at the food-energy-water nexus.
The purpose of the conference is to Plan an Interdisciplinary Controlled Environment Indoor Agriculture R&D Roadmap and Coordinated Research Plan. It is supported by USDA/NIFA-AFRI program and is hosted by the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ and Biosphere 2, Oracle, AZ
This conference (September 9 – 12) will facilitate interdisciplinary discussions centered on several major thematic R&D areas for CEA/VF/GH, each of which will interface with the others to identify cross-disciplinary areas of synergy, opportunity and need. Thematic areas include:
Economics: focus questions and discussions will include: what are good metrics of success in these systems from both industry and community perspectives? Can we develop a pipeline to quantify environmental and social benefits of these systems in a Benefit-Cost Analysis framework? How scalable are these systems? What are environmental impacts, life cycle analyses?
Engineering: focus questions and discussions will include: how to increase lighting efficacy, light use efficiency, and reduce cost? How to control and modulate CO2? How to design and enhance air circulation and to optimize HVAC? How to minimize labor input and integrate innovative automation and robotic systems? How to improve water use efficiency and cycling?
Production Systems: focus questions and discussions will include: how to manage crops to integrate with improve environmental controls, nutrient delivery and automation. How to improve plant architecture to enhance crop productivity and reduce waste? How to improve logistics and enhance labor efficiency?
Plant Breeding: focus questions and discussions will include: what makes a crop a good candidate for indoor farming/what are priority candidate crops for these systems beyond what is currently grown? What traits should be privileged in breeding programs for indoor farming? How can gene editing and genomic techniques be leveraged to integrate novel financial opportunities into these growing systems, such as increased nutritional content, enhanced water, nutrients and light use efficiencies, or pharmaceutical production? How CEA production systems can alter the structure of microbial communities associated with plants, growing media, and determine how the alterations affect plant nutrient and water uptake and utilization?
Pest and Disease Management: focus questions and discussions will include: what are the major viral, fungal, and insect pathogens in these systems and how are they best addressed? Integrate Pest Management for reduced chemical control? How to develop and implement a rapid and simple digital imaging system for pest and disease diagnosis? How to improve the efficiency of pest and disease management while not harming beneficial insects and pollinators?
Food Nutrition and Safety: focus questions and discussions will include: how alterations to growing media and environment will impact food quality, flavor, nutrition content and food safety? How do indoor growing conditions alter the microbial communities of plants? How do they impact product quality and shelf life?
Industrial Ecology in Closed Systems: focus questions will include: how can we better design more energy and resource efficient systems? Can we build holistic energy models? Can we create industrial ecosystems where one industry’s effluent is another’s intake? How would we model/quantify the ecosystem services provided by a functioning ‘closed loop industrial ecosystem’?
Conference participants are additionally welcome to join writing teams and collaborate on a proposal for a coordinated agricultural project (CAP) grant on VF that builds off of conference discussions. Writing teams may also choose to develop proposals for relevant funding programs at USDA-NIFA SAS, SCRI, NSF/USDA/DOE INFEWS, and NSF
Deadlines
Pre-registration ends June 30th
invitation to attend conference July 15th
Final registration, room reservations and payment due August 1st;
Conference events begin Monday September 9th
For more information about the conference please read the Project Summary.
For more information about conference activities please read the Conference Program Schedule and Format.
Conference Program Schedule & Format.pdf
For more information about Biosphere 2 please read the following document.
Want to make the most of your time in Tucson? Go to Visit Tucson to discover things to do during your visit!
New Ag International Digital Week | 14-17 October 2019 | Online Event, Free To Join!
The New Ag International Digital Week is an online event, free of charge, taking place on the 14-17 October 2019, will be a 4-Day Webcast Series focusing on: Specialty Fertilizers, Precision & Digital Ag, Biostimulants & Biocontrol, Irrigation & Greenhouse Technologies
To facilitate year-round engagement with Specialty Products among the Ag community, New Ag International and KNect365 Life Sciences are pleased to introduce this special digital platform for you to engage remotely, watch sessions, access videos, and interact with the community through live polling and Q&As.
The New Ag International Digital Week is an online event, free of charge, taking place on the 14-17 October 2019, will be a 4-Day Webcast Series focusing on:
• Specialty Fertilizers
• Biostimulants & Biocontrol
• Irrigation & Greenhouse Technologies
• Precision & Digital Ag
More specifically:
DAY 1: MONDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2019
Precision and Digital Agriculture
DAY 2: TUESDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2019
Plant Nutrition
DAY 3: WEDNESDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2019
Irrigation Fertigation Greenhouse Technology
DAY 4: THURSDAY, 17 OCTOBER 2019
Biologicals
Looking For Urban Farming 'Silver Bullet' In China
After a successful first edition, the Urban Greenhouse Challenge is back.
After a successful first edition, the Urban Greenhouse Challenge is back. This time, student teams are developing an urban greenhouse in Dongguan, China. Fortunately, they're not left alone - partner companies, including main partners Rabobank and Country Garden Agriculture, are ready to help, and five top universities are involved: China Agricultural University, the University of São Paulo, Cornell, UC Davis, and of course Wageningen University & Research. We asked Marta Eggers, Project Officer WUR Student Challenges, to tell us a bit more about the upcoming challenge.
"Urban farming exists for a very long time already. Now there's a sort of revival of urban farming, and a lot of people are very excited about it. But we have a feeling that there's not a good model for how to do it. There's a lot of searching going on, but there's not a silver bullet solution yet."
The challenge is a way to come up with solutions that can inspire progress and boost innovation. "We want to make people enthusiastic about urban farming. We hope we can bring it to the next level", Marta says, referring to the challenge's slogan: 'Will you bring urban farming to the next level?'
Image: Spark Architects
Dongguan: Economic hub for China and the world
While the first Urban Greenhouse Challenge took place in the Netherlands, this edition is looking a bit further east. The choice for China seemed logical, given the relationship Wageningen University has with the country. "We have ongoing collaboration and very close links with China", Marta says, "and we also have a China office, so with this challenge, we're building on this collaboration."
The site itself is "one of the most fascinating areas in the world", she argues: the agropark of Dongguan is located in the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone. "It's like a special zone in China, a place where a lot of experiments take place. It's all very high tech and innovative. For instance, when paying, you don't use a credit card, but you pay with your face. It's an economic hub for China, but also for the world; it's a very fascinating place."
Part of that 'fascinating place' will be the Dongguan agropark. "It's going to be a very big project," Marta says, "with a mission to create a sort of clean island in a very urbanized area, and our project will be a part of it."
A rendering of the Dongguan agropark, with the challenge site in the foreground
Catalyst for change
Going beyond this particular project, the second Urban Greenhouse Challenge is really looking for a 'catalyst for change', Marta explains. "We really want to provide experiments for more innovation." Last year's challenge is evidence that this is indeed how it works - many of the participants have followed up, going further into the field of urban farming.
Another way in which the challenge seeks to be a source of inspiration is by bringing together disciplines that often don't work together, like architecture and agriculture. "Those are the groups that also don't really know each other. This will also spark new ideas and add value."
The winning design in the first Urban Greenhouse Challenge
Lessons learned
The UGC team's experience from the first edition of the challenge has geared them up for the second. "The first Urban Greenhouse Challenge was a big experiment. The idea of Wageningen organizing such a challenge came up in January 2017, and in June it was decided that the challenge would go through. So we didn't really have much time to prepare", Marta says, laughing. "When it started, we were still working out the details and running the challenge. It was crazy and very intensive, but we also learned a lot."
They used that experience for the second challenge. "We very much revised the format." The idea is the same: student teams developing a greenhouse in an urban environment and involving the local population, but a few things have been tweaked. "For instance, we have included milestones this time, we have very clear instructions for all the participating teams. We have also developed an online platform. We now have a website with a lot of functionalities to facilitate communication with teams."
Team GreenWURks, winners of the first UGC
Connecting student with companies
With the online platform that's been developed, participating students are able to get in touch with experts who can offer them advice. "We really hope that some interesting innovations will come out of this", Marta shares. "All our partners get access to the online platform, and the online platform is a meeting place. Via the online platform, you can initiate chat, which can be followed up by Skype calls or face-to-face meetings."
Getting in touch with companies isn't just beneficial for the students - there are mutual benefits. "We think this is a great HR opportunity for the companies. The people who join the challenge are really very eager students. They'd be the perfect employees because they are very ambitious, curious about the topic and very innovative."
If your company is looking to get in touch with those talented students, be sure to get in touch with the Urban Greenhouse Challenge team - they're still looking for expert partners.
For more information:
WUR Urban Greenhouse Challenge
studentchallenges@wur.nl
urbangreenhousechallenge.nl
Publication date: 8/29/2019
Author: Jan Jacob Mekes
© HortiDaily.com
Worker-Owned Greenhouse Grows Its Business In First Year
The largest urban commercial greenhouse in Massachusetts is marking its first year of production
he Wellspring Harvest greenhouse built on a "brownfields" site in Springfield, Massachusetts using hydroponic farming technology. At peak production it can put out 10,000 heads of lettuce a month.
CREDIT WAMC
Listen
The largest urban commercial greenhouse in Massachusetts is marking its first year of production.
Wellspring Harvest, a hydroponic greenhouse built on the once-badly contaminated former Chapman Valve property in Springfield’s Indian Orchard neighborhood, made its first delivery of lettuce to four Big Y supermarkets just about one year ago.
Like many new businesses, the first year has been a learning experience, according to Fred Rose, co-director of Wellspring Cooperative Corporation.
"We have learned an enormous amount about growing, about selling to different markets, about building our work team," said Rose.
The greenhouse now sells to over 25 stores including Whole Foods and seven institutional customers that include area colleges and two hospitals.
"That has been the real success, to get in the door in lots of important places," said Rose.
Wellspring, a non-profit that develops worker-owned cooperative businesses in low-income neighborhoods, initially spent over $1.2 million to purchase the 1- acre site and construct the greenhouse. An additional $250,000 had to be raised to subsidize operations as production ramped up during the first year.
" I think this fall we will get to full production and sales and break even by early spring. That is the idea," said Rose.
One of the greenhouse’s biggest customers is River Valley Co-op market in Northampton. General Manager Rochelle Prunty said there is a growing brand recognition for the lettuce with the Wellspring Harvest label.
" Produce is one of our biggest categories and we specialize in local produce. This lettuce to have it year-round is really special," said Prunty.
Mercy Medical Center in Springfield was an early investor in the greenhouse project. Now, Doreen Fadus, regional executive director of Trinity Health New England, said she’s trying to convince more of the organization’s hospitals to buy the lettuce.
" It is great lettuce," said Fadus. " No one is doing anybody a favor by buying it. It is a great product."
Eight people work at the greenhouse. Alicia Brown, who lives right across the street, was one of the first people hired. Now, after a year of learning the business she has become a worker-owner.
"It feels good to say I'm a part-owner," said Brown.
Wellspring has two other worker-owned cooperatives in Springfield: a furniture repair and re-upholstery business and a window restoration shop.
TAGS: WELLSPRING HARVEST WELLSPRING COOPERATIVE CORPORATION HYDROPONICS
Germany Presents The First Space Greenhouse Model
Scientists from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have presented in Bremen a model of a space greenhouse that could supply astronauts participating in space missions with fresh food
Scientists from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have presented in Bremen a model of a space greenhouse that could supply astronauts participating in space missions with fresh food.
The model was based on the results of the Eden-ISS project, through which vegetables were grown in Antarctica.
The design is based on a module that can be transported by a Falcon 9 rocket and that can be deployed on the surface of the Moon or Mars, covering an area of 13 m2, stated Daniel Schubert, the director of the Eden-ISS project. Schubert added that the DLR will be able to present the first prototype within five years.
The Eden-ISS project supplied researchers from the German base Neumayer III, in Antarctica, with fresh food during the polar winter. The food was grown in an insulated container with a cultivation area of 13 m2, where the plants grew at outdoor temperatures of up to 42 degrees Celsius below zero without soil, daylight, or pesticides. The necessary energy came from the Neumayer III station, located 400 meters away.
The experiment produced over 270 kilograms of vegetables under extreme conditions, including 67 kilograms of cucumbers and 46 kilograms of tomatoes.
How To Determine If LED Grow Lights Are A Good Investment
As LED grow lights continue to become more affordable, an increasing number of greenhouse growers and vertical farmers are considering whether the lights would benefit their production systems
Based on the benefits controlled environment growers are experiencing with LED grow lights, a return on investment (ROI) analysis could help you decide how quickly the payback would be for your operation.
As LED grow lights continue to become more affordable, an increasing number of greenhouse growers and vertical farmers are considering whether the lights would benefit their production systems. Add to this the testimonials of growers who have installed LEDs and the positive results they’ve gotten with commercial horticultural crops has caused more growers to look at the efficiencies these lights have to offer.
Comparing investment options
“The information on return on investment (ROI) for LED grow lights would have application to any type of equipment growers would be looking to purchase,” said Nathan Farner, president and CEO at North Ridge Solutions Inc. in Dallas, Texas, who is an adviser to Hort Americas. “Growers would be using a business case modeling approach to determine full project costs of various solutions and to understand what it takes to implement those solutions.
“Comparing the savings or increased revenue related to these investments would enable growers to say which option or scenario makes the most sense for their operations. Growers would compare their options and determine how long it would take to recoup their investment. Whether it is installing LED lights or some other capital infrastructure for a greenhouse, this ROI analysis would apply.”
Farner said one of the advantages of determining the benefits of LED lights with a specific crop is growers should have an opportunity to see whether the lights provide the results desired.
“Growers who are seeking to prove the benefits of LED technology have the ability to do a portion of their operation to become comfortable with it and to validate the results before making a large capital expenditure,” he said. “Growers can conduct a trial in a fairly small area of their greenhouses to prove LEDs deliver the results they desire. After this testing it should be a relatively easy decision for most growers.”
Improved crops
Farner said when doing a business case analysis growers can look at the revenue side and the expense side.
“Looking at the revenue side for LED grow lights, this would include increased yields whether this is reducing the time to crop maturity of a crop like leafy greens or increasing the amount of produce from a long term crop like tomatoes and cucumbers,” he said. “There could also be increases in quality including size and/or number of fruit, taste and color. An example of this is red lettuce grown under LEDs, not only are there improvements in yields, but there is also an enhancement of the red pigment in the leaves. Growers who are able to increase crop yields and quality are able to continue to sell a consistent product at a consistent price year round.”
Nathan Farner at North Ridge Solutions Inc. said looking at the benefits of LED grow lights from the revenue side would include increased yields whether this is reducing the time to crop maturity or increasing the amount of produce. Photos by Jessie Wood, State Fair of Texas
Farner said growers need to be sure they have a market for the increased product they are going to be able to produce by installing LEDs.
“In general that has not been an issue, especially considering the increased interest and demand for locally-grown food products,” he said. “LEDs are going to help improve the quality of the product and most customers are going to welcome that.
“If growers choose to quadruple the size of their greenhouse space carries a lot higher capital expenditure. In that case, the growers better be sure they have the market for the increased amount of product they are going to produce. Installing or replacing grow lights, that is less of a challenge to sell the additional amount of product based on my experience.”
Improved energy efficiency
Looking at the benefits of LEDs on the expense side Farner said this comes primarily from LEDs being more energy efficient than alternative lighting sources.
“On the expense side primarily what growers are looking at with LED lights is reducing their operating costs,” he said. “Comparing the electrical costs of other grow lights that aren’t as efficient, there should be a significant drop in electrical expenses by installing LEDs.
“When talking about the lighting model from an electrical perspective, it is more than just buying and installing the fixtures. Depending on the fixtures that are being installed, they may exceed the current power infrastructure for the electrical supply to the greenhouses. If this is the case, more electricity would be needed and would require an investment to increase the electrical infrastructure as well. Once growers understand their lighting plan and the electrical requirements for their facilities, they can determine their annual operating expenses.”
Identifying the best ROI
Farner said growers would need to work with commercial horticulture lighting suppliers like Hort Americas to develop a light plan for their operations. This plan would be based on a number of factors including the crops that will be grown, the light spectrum required for the plants, the amount of production space that will be lit, and the expected number of hours the lights would be operating.
Comparing the electrical costs of less efficient grow lights to LEDs, there should be a significant drop in electrical expenses by installing LEDs.
“Once growers know the number of fixtures it becomes fairly straight math to figure the cost of the fixtures along with the installation costs to determine the capital investment required up front,” he said. “Other components that would have to be considered include maintenance requirements and parts replacement.”
Farner said regardless of the type of equipment purchased, growers should be able to earn back their investment in three to five years.
“The shorter that timeframe the decision becomes much easier,” he said. “Just like with other businesses, growers making capital investments should be looking at the ones that offer the best payback. Growers should always be looking for new equipment, systems or efficiencies that increase yield, drive revenue faster or lower costs so that margins are higher. Growers working to find different ways to build efficiencies and reduce costs for their overall operation should be looking for those that have the fastest payback. Based on my experiences of working with growers, LED lighting is one of those investments where they can get those types of returns more quickly.”
For more: Nathan Farner, North Ridge Solutions Inc., (214) 507-8594; nfarner@northridgesolutions.com.
This article is property of Hort Americas and was written by David Kuack, a freelance technical writer in Fort Worth, TX.
Ontario Greenhouse Growers Look At Cutting-Edge Advances
“As a vertically integrated grower, we’re using all the latest technologies available to us to grow the best possible vegetables,” said Chris Veillon, chief marketing officer for Pure Hothouse Foods Inc. in Leamington, ON
In an effort to contend with labor shortages, pests, food safety, and other challenges, Ontario’s greenhouse growers are tapping into a number of innovations.
“As a vertically integrated grower, we’re using all the latest technologies available to us to grow the best possible vegetables,” said Chris Veillon, chief marketing officer for Pure Hothouse Foods Inc. BB #:170379 in Leamington, ON.
Some growers use high-pressure sodium lights to supplement natural sunlight.
Pure Hothouse Foods installed the lights in a few facilities, and Carl Mastronardi, president and CEO of Del Fresco Produce Ltd. BB #:194101 in Kingsville, ON, said this the type of light used in Del Fresco’s strawberry greenhouses.
Automation is another increasingly common theme.
“Automation to offset the growing shortage of general farm labor is constantly added where it makes good financial sense,” said Ray Wowryk, director of business development with Nature Fresh Farms Sales Inc. BB #:274537 in Leamington, ON, adding that many growers are using upgraded artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies to assist in crop management.
Some growers are also exploring indoor vertical farming, including Del Fresco.
“Our vertical farming is a very unique system—it doesn’t work like others where you’re growing in a warehouse on shelves,” Mastronardi said.
Called the LivingCube, he said it’s a very efficient growing method “where the plants actually get bathed by the light in the container. We’re going to grow microgreens and lettuce this way.”
The system produces living lettuce, basil, and microgreens all year, featuring 12 mechanized growing, germination, and irrigation machines, each built inside a proprietary insulated, 40-foot, stainless-steel growing chamber. The growing machines are individually climate controlled to optimize the environment and create a complete standalone growing system and independent growing facility.
Next, is packaging, and recent years have seen an uptick in demand for sustainability.
“Consumers are requesting more sustainable packaging,” Wowryk said.
In response, Nature Fresh has been working with retail partners to provide more eco-friendly options.
“Recently, we introduced a compostable tray for our mini cucumbers. Response has been very positive from our retail community, and customers have expressed gratitude through our social channels welcoming the change.”
Pure Hothouse Foods is also striving to reduce its carbon footprint with packaging alternatives.
“We’re transitioning our snacking tomato line to packaging that uses lidding film, which can reduce up to 25 percent of the plastic,” Veillon said. “The use of alternative bases such as palm fiber or sugarcane are emerging solutions that can be recyclable, biodegradable, or even compostable.”
Tagged greenhouse, ontario