Welcome to iGrow News, Your Source for the World of Indoor Vertical Farming
“Vertical Farming Costs Will Keep Going Down And Cut With Traditional Agriculture Costs"
“We want to bring sustainability to agriculture, and we are not going to be able to get there if we use traditional energy”, Cristián Sjogren, Co-founder and CEO of AgroUrbana says
Our plan is to supply our large operation with 100% renewable energy. AgroUrbana has three different approaches to it: one being, a solar farm with a combination of panels on the roof and on the ground. Secondly, a combination of powers on the roof and a power purchase agreement from a generator, coming from existing operating renewable power plants. The third approach is a contract with a generator to supply a 100% of our electrons from renewables, probably from both wind and solar farms. “We want to bring sustainability to agriculture, and we are not going to be able to get there if we use traditional energy”, Cristián Sjogren, Co-founder and CEO of AgroUrbana says.
Similar slope as LEDs five years ago
Chile started as a pioneer in renewable energy. “There’s a penetration of renewable energies going on in developing countries as they’re all going in the same road. We benefit from those competitive prices as well”, Sjögren continues. Pablo Bunster, Co-founder and CCO of AgroUrbana says: “When I started, ten years back, wind and solar were not as mature or competitive as they are today and there was a lot of discussion on what especially solar could do. Now, what you build is mostly wind and solar. That goes with technology and the curve of diminishing costs that you can see in technology when you factor in scale, plus where you can see it going.” Sjögren and Bunster see a similar trend in vertical farming. Such as, the cost of managing data, technology, and LED lighting.
Pablo Bunster and Cristián Sjögren
Bunster adds: “It’s relatable to solar panels as it’s the same slope. Five years ago, LEDs were considered very expensive, but too many people couldn’t do it because of the too high entry price to buy the lights. Today led is the new norm they go into everything and traditional light bulbs are out. When you see the slope on one side, which is data and on the other one, lights, you can see something very similar in the macrotrends of the renewable energy sector. There’s a huge opportunity to be able to be part of what could easily be a revolution in agriculture.”
‘Using technology to get there’
Sjögren states that vertical farming will become more evolving. AgroUrbana has the technology, the efficiency, the scale, and costs of capital. “As long there is more experience in this industry, you’ll see more capital and lenders as they will become more flexible and will understand the risks,” Sjögren says that food production needs to be increased by 70% in the next 30 years. “If we don’t bring technology to agriculture, we’re not going to get there. The good thing is that technology will allow us to increase performance and lower costs at the same time. There is going to be a point where vertical farming costs will keep going down and will cut with the traditional agriculture costs”, he adds.
Lettuce grown in AgroUrbana's pilot farm
Customer feedback
AgroUrbana received encouraging feedback from chefs to newspapers, to investors. Chefs are delighted with the food quality. The company started by focusing on high-end- and day-to-day restaurants. “After restaurants tried it, they were all about it and started posting about our products. They encouraged the quality of the product and that’s how we gained traction in the market around vertical farming”, Bunster affirms.
AgroUrbana has also received a few negative points on its packaging as 5% is plastic, despite in being recyclable. Bunster adds: “But we are working on this because we want 0% plastic in our packaging. Restaurants want to see prices; does it make sense on their profit line and do our customers keep buying from us? Then there is the consumers, a more sensitive sustainability group. They want to know how we grow our produce, what products were used for growing them and the impact food has on their planet. Chilean consumers would pay a higher premium to get a better product. We have addressed most of their concerns, which is: having a great product for the new generation. The story of traditional farming, which is a nice story but it doesn’t hold towards the future.”
A two-in-one product
Bunster continues: “AgroUrbana is already in the retail, e-commerce, restaurant and catering business. We might be about 10% above our closest competitor in retail but with far better product. The price signal communicates something in itself and we have that premium price.” According to Bunster, customers are looking for two things: convenience, that comes with ready to eat and health, healthy quality food. “They want to have food safety, where it’s produced and where it comes from, he says. You don’t find many products that can bring these two things in a package. They’re either convenient or healthy. Anything organic in Chile, has to be washed before eating, which is a choice and that’s perfect. But, we are able to bring the health of organic products and the convenience of more traditional products to the market.
Just a quick check-up on the microgreens
The millennials and generations after that have purchasing power are starting to control the market wallet. They’re not tech resistant, but they love technology. We have early on subscriptions, as people want our leafy greens in their houses every week. We need to take it further, which means doing it better and always drive down costs. It’s quality food for everyone and not only for a few.
Communicating the product to consumers “We are working on some storytelling videos so consumers know where the produce comes from. We just need to explain a little bit more on vertical farming. Especially in these times, vertical farming sounds as an abstract concept, but how do you communicate it? We just entered Chile’s top tier supermarket and talk are in place to further expand in retail. Our next step is to explain what vertical farming is through diagrams or an educational format”, Bunster says.
Sjögren says that millennials are 50% of the labor force. By 2025, they will be 75% of the labor force, so they are defining the market preference. He states that millennials are the generation that is reading product labels, more than any other generation in the past has done. “In the past, people were loyal to brands, volume vs. price, but that has completely changed. That is why this generation is perfect for vertical farming because they will value all these attributes that vertical farming brings. They will get informed; it’s just about finding the right communication strategy.”
For more information:
AgroUrbana
Cristián Sjögren, Co-Founder and CEO
cristian.sjogren@agrourbana.ag
Pablo Bunster, Co-Founder and CCO
pablo.bunster@agrourbana.ag
Publication date: Mon 17 Aug 2020
Author: Rebekka Boekhout
© HortiDaily.com
August Indoor Science Cafe August 25th, Tuesday 11:00 AM EST
This month's cafe will discuss a most frequently asked question -- "Are indoor-grown veggies more nutritious?"
This month's cafe will discuss a most frequently asked question -- "Are indoor grown veggies more nutritious?"
"Nutritional Composition of CEA Leafy Greens: a Case Study on Carotenoids of Kale Grown in Field, Greenhouse, or Indoors"
by
Dr. Neil Mattson (Cornell University)
Dr. Marianne Nyman (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
Please sign up so that you will receive Zoom link info.
Indoor Ag Science Cafe is an open discussion forum, organized by Chieri Kubota (OSU), Erik Runkle (MSU), and Cary Mitchell (Purdue U.) supported by USDA SCRI grants.
Sign Up Here
Cafe Archive & QA Forum
Please visit the Indoor Ag Science Cafe page in OptimIA website and ask your questions.
Submit Your General Questions for 'Indoor Ag Sci Queries'!
Please submit your questions (anonymously if you wish) about sciences and technologies of indoor farming to this submission site. Any questions are welcome! The site is always open for your questions. Selected questions will be discussed in our future Indoor Ag Science Queries series.
Indoor Ag Science Cafe is organized by the OptimIA project team funded by USDA SCRI grants program.
Previous café recordings are available in the OptimIA project website.
Please contact for more info: kubota.10@osu.edu
WEBINAR - Uncovering Warning Signs of Fungal Disease In Your Growing Environment - Thursday, August 27th - 4 PM EST
MEET YOUR HOSTS
Kayla Waldorff - Business Development Manager
Growing up in a farming family, it was no surprise Kayla studied agriculture and went on to work as a grower in a hydroponic lettuce farm. As a Business Development Manager, she helps growers of all sizes optimize their greenhouses and crops.
Daniel Than - Field Trial Specialist
After spending more than 10 years in biotech studying the interaction between plants and microbes, Daniel spent three years succesfully managing a farm growing crops for the NZ market before joining Autogrow.
VIDEO: Will Tech Make It Easier For Us To Grow Veg?
Vertical farming, where plants are grown in stacked layers, enables a greater number of crops to be grown in the same space
To View The Video, Please Click Here
Vertical farming, where plants are grown in stacked layers, enables a greater number of crops to be grown in the same space.
Yields can be increased further by optimizing the amount of light and nutrients each plant receives.
The technique is now moving from commercial applications to consumer products, but what are they like to use and why do people want them?
BBC Click’s Lara Lewington reports.
Swegreen Vertical Farm Goes In-Store in Gothenburg, Sweden
Swegreen's first automated farming unit takes place at ICA Focus in Gothenburg
Swegreen's first automated farming unit takes place at ICA Focus in Gothenburg
Swegreen inks contract with ICA Focus in Gothenburg, to become the exclusive producer of hyper-locally grown vegetables via an automated cultivation system inside the store itself. The agreement is based on Swegreen's subscription-based Farming-as-a-Service, which gives food retailers and restaurants the opportunity to offer their customers fresh crops all year round – harvested directly on-site or in-store.
From left: Andreas Dahlin, CEO at Swegreen. Elsa Adlersson, ICA Focus' responsible for the In-Store greenhouse. Marcus Petersson, chairman at Swegreen.
The contract between Swegreen and ICA Focus concludes that the Gothenburg-based store will be the first in Sweden to offer its customers hyper-locally produced greens grown from seed to fully-grown size inside a store itself. The cultivation facility, which is provided by the Swedish startup company Swegreen, is based on so-called hydroponic cultivation technology that is both resource-efficient and climate-smart. The technical solution also includes the company's special lighting and nutrient recipe, air conditioning system for control of heat, humidity, and CO2 content plus a complete digital monitoring – as well as a data-driven intelligent system for optimization of all cultivation processes.
Through Swegreen's subscription-based business model, Farming-as-a-Service (FaaS), the cooperation between the parties is based on a long-term commitment where Swegreen ensures efficient production at agreed volumes and quality.
- Our FaaS model means that every store and restaurant owner can offer hyper-local, fresh and high-quality crops that are fantastically nutritious and tasty – at very competitive prices, says Swegreen's CEO, Andreas Dahlin.
- We are very proud and happy to start this collaboration with ICA Focus. It is a store that has the will to be at the forefront, and we think there are going to be many who desire to follow their footsteps.
ICA Focus is located in the Gårda district in central Gothenburg, just a stone’s throw away from the famous amusement park, Liseberg, and the Swedish Exhibition and WTC. A flagship store that always has a large assortment of environmental-friendly products.
- Our customers have demanded more locally produced and sustainable greens in our assortment – and it will not be more local and greener than this! Says Daniel Åkerhage, Store Manager at ICA Focus.
- Now we look forward to our first on-site harvest, which we expect to take place later this month.
At full capacity, it is possible to deliver and harvest around 300 units of fresh salad heads and herbs per day in the cultivation facility in the ICA Focus store.
With hydroponic cultivation technology, where the crops grow without soil with lighting from special LED lamps, it is possible to grow vegetables in an urban environment – and thus produce food very close to the consumer. It also removes unnecessary, expensive, and climate-damaging transportations. In addition, the crops do not need to be sprayed by pesticides or herbicides – they are ready to be eaten directly off the growing system. Up to 95% of the irrigation water is reused via the recycling system. Nutrients are also recycled, while the plants receive carbon dioxide through a filtered air intake from the store itself.
Swegreen has developed the cultivation module to be able to create integrated plant environments together with partners in the food and restaurant sector. Therefore, Swegreen has developed a cloud-based control- and monitoring system to make production easy to manage. Through data collection of current factors in the cultivation environment, the system can continuously refine and further optimize the cultivation processes by the use of artificial intelligence.
For more information contact:
Andreas Dahlin, CEO of Swegreen, +46 70-924 00 32, andreas.dahlin@swegreen.se
Daniel Åkerhage, store manager ICA Focus, +46 76-117 16 20, daniel@icafocus.se
Swegreen is a Swedish FoodTech company that combines advanced technology, data science, and agricultural knowledge to be able to efficiently produce high-quality and climate-smart crops in an urban environment. The company offers a subscription-based cultivation service called Farming-as-a-Service (FaaS). It gives food retailers and restaurants the opportunity to offer their customers hyper-locally produced, fresh, nutritious, and tasty greens all year round. www.swegreen.com
ICA Focus is a unique grocery store that has been a rendezvous place for food-loving Gothenburgers for over 25 years. With an assortment of over 35,000 items, you have about twice as much to choose from as in an ordinary ICA store. ICA Focus also has its own bakery, charcuterie and restaurant. The store also has one of Gothenburg's best fish delicate retailers, Fisk i Focus. ICA Focus is located in Focushuset, Gårda, in central Gothenburg.
Infarm, The New Generation of Farm
Labeled as the new generation of farm, German startup Infarm farms everywhere—in supermarkets, restaurants, bars and warehouses—lowering the carbon print by cutting out millions of miles between the farm and the final consumer
Labeled as the new generation of farmers, German startup Infarm farms everywhere—in supermarkets, restaurants, bars and warehouses (Credit: Infarm)
by Melanie Epp
August 11, 2020
Infarm was founded in 2013 by Osnat Michaeli and brothers Erez and Guy Galonska. They built the world’s largest in-store farm in Metro’s flagship store in Paris.
(This article was first published in our sister publication AgriExpo)
Labeled as the new generation of farm, German startup Infarm farms everywhere—in supermarkets, restaurants, bars, and warehouses—lowering the carbon print by cutting out millions of miles between the farm and the final consumer.
It all started when two people from Israel came to Berlin and couldn’t find their typical herbs—and couldn’t understand why, when they tried, the herbs wouldn’t grow in Berlin. They picked up the idea of vertical farming and a hydroponic method of farming to create their farming system which resembles a giant glass-door fridge. They understood, then, that people would no longer need to import herbs from distant countries because they could be grown on-site, explained Key Account Manager at Infarm Jakob Peter
“We can grow herbs throughout the year at the same price. We’re focusing on cities for our pilot projects, but we’ll go into rural areas and plan on producing 1000 farms in the next years.”
The startup always looks for places in need before deciding where they should implement their idea in order to fill in the gaps. They’ve already put their farm in restaurants, including Good Bank Restaurant in Berlin, with several other projects underway. They’re currently operating more than 50 farms across Berlin in supermarket aisles, restaurants kitchens, and distribution warehouses.
The company has deployed operational farms in Copenhagen, London, and Seattle. One thousand in-store farms are being rolled out in Germany alone. Infarm is expanding to other European markets every day, partnering with leading supermarket chains, and planning its North America expansion program. For co-founder Osnat Michaeli,
“Recognizing the requirements of our customers, we have recently launched a new product: the DC farm, a ‘Seed to Package’ production facility tailored to the needs of retail chains’ distribution centers.”
Courtesy of Infarm
How the Farm Functions
The farms are connected to the internet and information is exchanged via the cloud. So they can “communicate with all the farms” no matter where they are. This hyper-connected solution is all about urban precision farming.
It’s 2m² with several levels and can produce 1,200 herbs per month (per farm), or 800 heads of lettuce at 800 grams each. It’s a modular system and can have both herbs and lettuce. It can be placed in offices, dead space, storage facilities and idle buildings.
The farm allows exact monitoring of light, climate, pH value of water, etc. and can be tailored depending on the type of produce. The company ensures transportability and availability of herbs and lettuce via the information stored in the cloud, attributing the system the title “harvest on demand”. Infarm generates transparency for end-users and can initiate discussion between family members when they see the farm. But the product has to be good for this concept to work.
“A fancy vertical farm with the best LED lighting system would be useless if the end result equalled bad produce.”
Its hydroponic system uses 90% less water than conventional farming and only needs water replacement twice a month for hygiene purposes. No pesticides are needed and the product can be taken directly from the farm, so it’s convenient. Herbs are always delivered with the roots and must be placed in water to remain fresh and good for two days. The door of the farm is always locked and only trained InFarm employees can open the door for hygiene reasons.
“We offer a service. We don’t sell a farm. We own the farm and you pay a monthly rent. We harvest for you. Our technicians come when there are issues with the farm.”
As each member thinks like a farmer, having a background in farming, they define themselves as a farming business. They even produced all the technical products involved in the farming system themselves.
Courtesy of Infarm
Retailers willingly welcome the concept as it provides a larger variety for clients, and an added bonus is that retailers can set their own prices.
After introducing the concept of in-store farming to the world from Metro Cash & Carry in Berlin, Infarm and Metro partnered again. In 2018, they inaugurated the world’s largest in-store farm in Metro’s flagship store Paris. The 80 m2 vertical farm produces approximately 4 tonnes of premium quality herbs, leafy greens, and microgreens annually. Metro will become completely self-sufficient in its herb production with its own in-store farm.
This urban farming solution of in-store farming impacts the environment in a positive way: It reduces CO2 simply by cutting down the supply chain, avoiding major transportations from various countries. The startup is currently in contact with universities to do research on how much CO2 they’re reducing compared to the typical supply chain.
Basil at Metro
Fifth Generation Grower Follows In His Father's Footsteps
Worldwide LocalSalads is a new vertical farming company, currently raising funds to build their first fully commercial warehouse farm
Matthew, son of Grahame Dunling
Worldwide LocalSalads is a new vertical farming company, currently raising funds to build their first fully commercial warehouse farm. The company was started by Matthew Dunling, who is the 5th generation grower of his family and son of Grahame Dunling. He has a passion to follow in his father’s footsteps and is powered by the knowledge that he has been taught by a pioneer in the industry.
Building his own view
Matthew has been working quietly behind the scenes as he builds what he calls a game-changing view on how vertical farming should be operating. "For the past few years I have been watching how vertical farms are being set up and operated and I still believe that so far from a truly commercial perspective they are a long way from being what experienced growers would call a commercial farm." Matthew’s view stems from his family's long involvement in commercial horticulture and growing up surrounded by commercial glasshouses in Yorkshire in the 1990s.
"I think when we are talking about sustainability, we have to realize that there are three elements to sustainability – social, environmental, and economical. Each of these has to have a positive impact and be profitable to allow the business to survive on its own and not on needing a constant stream of investment to allow it to survive."
Project and business model
What is looking like an exceptional project and business model with huge scale for growth and expansion is an exciting venture for someone who has so much family history in the industry.
"This farm will consist of a minimum of 2000 square meters, containing a fully automated system where we can produce quality produce which will bring the flavour back to salads. We have the most advanced technology allowing us to track, trace, and control every element in our warehouses from any location in the world. We can do this by using our custom computer system which has all the control parameters integrated on-board to realize the required conditions from climate, CO2, irrigation to lights, and nutrition.
"This feedback will be presented in data and graphical overviews allowing us to make decisions according to the required circumstances, and then via dashboards, the required settings can be made. So, a unit in the UAE can be controlled from the UK and every measurement unit changed remotely. Our track and trace system will also allow me to see daily sowings, harvest, and sales from anywhere in the world, therefore allowing us to anticipate and measure every detail from seed to harvest. With all this data we can guarantee the perfect crop for every punnet.
"The exciting part of this technology is that it is constantly learning and adapting based on crop requirements and growing results in combination with our domain knowledge and AI. Our product line to start with will be a combination of baby leaf salads and triple head lettuce, we will then introduce other crops which we have run successful trials on. We can produce the same quality and quantity daily and this ensures a 365-day supply chain allowing the consumer to have confidence in our brand."
Partnering with other companies
Matthew has partnered LocalSalads with some of the largest horticultural leaders from commercial growing on large scale projects around the world. "We have joined together some of the best companies in the world of horticulture, each with decades of experience, to create a bespoke commercial grow system that is unique to the industry. The ability to fully understand the ins and outs of growing and supplying an exceptional standard of crop to supermarkets while reducing our impact on the environment is the most important factor to me."
Worldwide LocalSalads are currently seeking investment to establish a commercial warehouse and to begin their expansion phase.
For more information:
Worldwide LocalSalads
Matthew Dunling, CEO
matthew@localsalads.com
Publication date: Fri 14 Aug 2020
Hydroponics – The Pros And Cons of Growing In Soilless Medium
Hydroponics is the practice of growing food with no soil involved. Hydroponic operations may bring food to places where it would be difficult to obtain. It may also assist in the flaws of our current food system
Posted by: Alejandro Gutierrez
Hydroponics is the practice of growing food with no soil involved. Hydroponic operations may bring food to places where it would be difficult to obtain. It may also assist in the flaws of our current food system.
In 2018, the CDC and the FDA issued two safety alerts for Romaine Lettuce in seven months. Consumers across the United States were urged to avoid Romaine lettuce because of E. coli infection concerns. It took weeks for the FDA to announce that the agency found the source of the contamination. The advisory prompted many food stores, including Whole Foods to remove all Romaine lettuce from their shelves.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay;
Situations like these are scary for consumers. And not surprisingly, they’re also angry. People are frustrated about how little they know about the source of fresh produce they buy at grocery stores. Urban farming ventures are taking advantage of concerns about the safety of fresh food. Food miles also become relevant. Consumers desire to avoid fresh food that may have been grown with unfavorable conditions. In some cases, pesticide drift from near farms also poses a threat.
Hydroponics offers an answer and a solution to all these concerns. And it presents an opportunity for healthy and eco-conscious people to gain control over the source of their fresh food.
Photo by Harits Mustya Pratama on Unsplash
Let’s look at the pros and cons of hydroponics. We’ll look at the advantages and disadvantages that apply to urban farming companies catering to local consumers. Followed by those to home gardeners who are involved in hydroponics on a vastly smaller scale.
The Pros and Cons of Hydroponics for Urban Farms
Advantages
In many cities, urban farms bring business to abandoned buildings and decaying neighborhoods. Their presence benefits the area and encourages the restoration of unused and abandoned buildings.
Urban farms create jobs in areas with limited or non-existent job opportunities.
Hydroponic growing offers training opportunities for young people in the community, providing skills they can be used in later life.
Community growing brings fresh food to “food deserts,” eliminating the excuse that area residents had for not eating healthier foods.
Growing hydroponically within the city gives people access to locally grown food that doesn’t have to travel so far.
Food grown on urban farms is picked at the peak of freshness, so it’s higher in nutrition.
Urban farms lower the carbon footprint of food production. Because they use so water efficiently, hydroponic systems are far eco-friendlier. And the food doesn’t have to travel as far. The use of LED lights increases the energy-efficiency of hydroponic systems.
Government officials have instant access to information about hydroponic produce and its path from the controlled environment to the consumer.
Consumers have the assurance that there won’t be any problems with bacterial contamination. They can trust the source of the produce they buy.
Access to high-quality fresh, locally grown produce means that they don’t have to buy more than they can use. This ensures they’re not wasting food or throwing money away.
Hydroponics eliminates the need to use chemical pesticides and insecticides
Photo by Nolan Issac on Unsplash
Photo by Fitleaf
Empty/Abandoned warehouse has the potential for Hydroponic Growing
Disadvantages
Urban agriculture doesn’t solve the problems of gang violence and crime in low-income neighborhoods but it’s a great start.
Businesses that want to establish urban farms in big cities have to go through lengthy applications. From the business license to the zoning permit, it may be a tedious process.
An urban agriculture venture isn’t likely to bring lots of jobs to the community in the short run. It is not until it establishes itself that results come in the long-run.
It will take time for the company to create the conditions for growing conditions. Assembling a hydroponic system that can handle large scale food production will also require some effort.
The company will need to consider transportation and parking needs for the employees. There may be concerns regarding parking for workers; having an impact on the parking situation for people who live in the neighborhood. However, a good solution with be biking
There may be a high cost of installing a backup power system (like generators). This is necessary because the damage of potential power failures would inflict significant losses.
Pros and Cons of Hydroponics for Home Growers
Positive Benefits of Hydroponic Gardening at Home
Hydroponics brings plants into the home, and the presence of plants improves air quality and overall health.
Hydroponics encourages people to take an interest in the origin of their food. It also gives them insight on what it takes to bring it to their tables.
Individuals who have hydroponics systems in their homes have access to better quality, fresher, and more nutritious food.
When you have a hydroponic system at home, you’re able to pick fresh produce just before using it. There is then less chance that fresh vegetables will sit in your refrigerator because you forget about them.
Because you can pick fresh food when you need it, you’ll cut the cost of your weekly grocery bills. The money you save from buying fewer groceries can go towards clearing debts or in savings.
You’ll get a tremendous and invaluable sense of satisfaction from being able to be more self-sufficient.
Since you’re buying the seeds for your hydroponics system, you can be certain of their origin.
You can plant and harvest fruits and vegetables grown at your own standard. You are free of paying the premium that is standard for food products that bear the “certified organic” label. This label usually carries the charge to the consumer.
Negatives of Hydroponic Gardening at Home
The cost of purchasing equipment. Regardless of whether you buy kits like the Tower Garden, or buy the components to build your own. While building a system isn’t cheap, the process is educational and fun.
Unless you buy a kit that provides instructions, you’ll have a harder time assembling your system and getting it started.
If you buy a kit, you’ll eventually need to purchase replacement parts, additional accessories, and supplemental nutrients. You should factor these things into the total cost of buying and operating a hydroponics system at home.
No matter how energy-efficient your system manufacturer claims it is, there will be an extra load on your electrical system. A hydroponic system will increase your utility bill throughout the year. With this issue, eco-friendly alternatives arise, such as solar panels which should be implemented if possible.
Unless you buy a system that is fully automated, you’ll have to constantly monitor nutrient and water levels. You may also have to turn the lights on or off. Don’t expect to have a productive hydroponic garden unless you’re willing to put the effort in. Checking your plants every day is a must. Observing them will ensure that their growing conditions are acceptable.
Failing to add water when the reservoir needs it, may burn your motor out, and you may weaken or kill the plants. That would be a significant financial setback.
A power failure will alter the growing conditions in your hydroponic unit. An extended power failure will deprive your plants of light, water, and oxygen. That’s a recipe for their death.
Hydroponics is no different from traditional gardening in that you get what you put into it. Some of the most significant advantages include being able to grow what you want and when you want to grow it, not being tied to traditional gardening seasons, and not having to do as much maintenance as you would if you tried to grow your food in the ground. A well-maintained hydroponic garden will give you access to healthy and nutritious food at any time. You’ll never have to rush to the grocery store for something because you don’t have it on hand.
Photo by Fitleaf
Choosing Seeds For Microgreens 101: Everything You Need To Know
In this article, you’re going to learn everything there is to know about microgreen seeds so you can start a healthy, thriving garden
When it comes to choosing seeds for microgreens, you’ll want to ensure you pick quality seeds. In this article, you’re going to learn everything there is to know about microgreen seeds so you can start a healthy, thriving garden.
Look for Untreated Seeds
One of the differences between growing microgreens and larger plants is that microgreens need to start from untreated seeds. Gardening seeds are usually treated with fungicides and insecticides, which isn’t harmful since the seeds start small and grow into large plants. But microgreens are 1 to 2-inch plants and treated seeds pose a higher risk, which is why it’s essential to choose seeds of microgreens that are untreated.
When ordering seeds for microgreens, make sure that it explicitly states that the seeds are untreated, and if you aren’t sure, it’s best to clarify with the company before ordering.
Order From Reliable Sources
It’s better to order from garden seed companies than sprout seed sources when it comes to finding quality microgreen seeds. Garden seed companies are more transparent about their seeds and provide a plethora of information. While you can expect a slightly higher cost, you’ll be able to find the right amount of information to guide you in your microgreen journey.
What to Look for From a Seed Packet/Catalog Page
When you purchase microgreen seeds from reliable sources, you can expect to find the right kind of information from the seed packet. If your seed packet/catalog page has the following information on it, then you’ve purchased from a reliable source:
CULTIVAR Name ● When you can spot the cultivar name on a packet, you can identify the specific variety of plant. A cultivar is when there are specific varieties of a single species of a cultivated plant such as broccoli where there’s Purple broccoli, broccoflower, and more. Being able to see the cultivar name will help you continuously find your favorite seeds over and over again.
Date of Harvest ● If your packet includes the date of harvest, you will be able to forecast your seed’s lifespan. If your packet doesn’t include this, the rule of thumb is to use the seeds within five years of purchase.
Germination Rate ● If your seed has a germination rate lower than 90%, then it won’t be suitable for microgreen growing. This is because the errant 10% will rot. When it comes to growing microgreens, the faulty 10% seeds can cause the other seeds to rot since they’re close to each other.
Organic Certification ● Make sure your packet says “organically grown” or “naturally grown” for optimal results.
Botanical Names ● These are the scientific names of each plant and are usually italicized and written in Latin or Greek. Knowing the botanical names of your preferred seeds will help you always identify the seeds you’re wanting to buy.
Choosing seeds for microgreens can be a daunting task if you’re a beginner, which is why we’ve developed these 3 steps to consider when choosing your seeds. We at the Nick Greens Grow Team see the value in growing microgreens at home, and we want to share our knowledge with you. Feel free to subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel to get weekly updates on how to grow microgreens from the comfort of your home!
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CubicFarm Systems Corp. Announces The Appointment of Sandy Gerber As Head of Marketing
As Head of Marketing for CubicFarms, Ms. Gerber is responsible for creating and launching a global marketing strategy that successfully positions CubicFarms in the market and drives lead generations and sales
VANCOUVER, BC, AUGUST 4, 2020 – CubicFarm® Systems Corp. (TSXV:CUB) (“CubicFarms” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Sandy Gerber as Head of Marketing, effective immediately.
As Head of Marketing for CubicFarms, Ms. Gerber is responsible for creating and launching a global marketing strategy that successfully positions CubicFarms in the market and drives lead generations and sales.
Ms. Gerber, an award-winning marketer, and communications strategist, has revitalized marketing and communications programs for companies of all sizes for over 20 years, including some of Canada’s most beloved brands such as Molson Canada, Appleton Estate, BC Lottery Corp, the University of British Columbia, and St. John Ambulance. Her marketing and communications expertise includes differentiation strategy, brand development, customer experience, business development, and digital content marketing.
Ms. Gerber previously held executive and senior marketing leadership positions in a wide range of industries including advertising, consumer goods, heavy equipment, and non-profit.
Her innovative marketing strategies include Molson Canada’s online community, “iam.ca”; Canada’s first e-gaming platform, “PlayNow”; the revitalization of St. John Ambulance’s iconic 900-year-old brand; and Wesgroup Equipment’s successful “G.R.I.T.” customer service program.
She is the author of two books and the founder of three successful companies. As the CEO of NEXT Marketing Agency, Ms. Gerber set a new standard for B2C and B2B innovative marketing, growing the agency into one of British Columbia’s Top 100 Fastest-Growing Companies.
CubicFarms CEO Dave Dinesen commented: “I’m excited that Sandy has joined our team. Her ability to define and refine a company’s message to better connect with customers is exactly what we’re looking for. I’m looking forward to Sandy’s help in telling the CubicFarms story – that we’re leading an industry and we are passionate in helping our grower customers be successful in both the fresh produce and livestock feed sectors.”
Sandy Gerber, Head of Marketing, commented: “I am excited to create a global brand presence and differentiated marketing strategy for CubicFarms to grow exponentially. CubicFarms possesses a winning combination of industry-leading technology and growing expertise, fast-paced culture of innovation, and vision to improve food production efficiencies and food security – to ultimately help farmers feed the world sustainably and profitably.”
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor it’s Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
About CubicFarm® Systems Corp.
CubicFarm Systems Corp. (“CubicFarms”) is a technology company that is developing and deploying technology to feed a changing world. Its proprietary technologies enable growers around the world to produce high-quality, predictable crop yields. CubicFarms has two distinct technologies that address two distinct markets. The first technology is its patented CubicFarm™ System, which contains patented technology for growing leafy greens and other crops. Using its unique, undulating-path growing system, the Company addresses the main challenges within the indoor farming industry by significantly reducing the need for physical labour and energy, and maximizing yield per cubic foot. CubicFarms leverages its patented technology by operating its own R&D facility in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, selling the System to growers, licensing its technology and providing vertical farming expertise to its customers.
The second technology is CubicFarms’ HydroGreen System for growing nutritious livestock feed. This system utilizes a unique process to sprout grains, such as barley and wheat, in a controlled environment with minimal use of land, labour, and water. The HydroGreen System is fully automated and performs all growing functions including seeding, watering, lighting, harvesting, and re-seeding – all with the push of a button – to deliver nutritious livestock feed without the typical investment in fertilizer, chemicals, fuel, field equipment, and transportation. The HydroGreen System not only provides superior nutritious feed to benefit the animal but also enables significant environmental benefits to the farm.
Information contact:
cubicfarms.com
Kimberly Lim
VP, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
Mobile: 236.858.6491
Office: 1.888.280.9076
Email: kimberly@cubicfarms.com
Our mailing address is:
CubicFarm Systems Corp.353 – 19951 80A AveLangley, BC V2Y 0E2Canada
Farming In The Desert: Are Vertical Farms The Solution To Saving Water?
When I told people I was going to grow tomatoes in the desert, they thought I was crazy," Sky Kurtz, founder of Pure Harvest Smart Farms, told DW
Jul. 23, 2020
By Isabelle Gerretsen"
When I told people I was going to grow tomatoes in the desert, they thought I was crazy," Sky Kurtz, founder of Pure Harvest Smart Farms, told DW.
With just an average 12 days of rain a year, less than 1% arable land, a desert location, and an 80% import rate for food, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) seems an unfavorable place to set up a farm.
Kurtz is one of several entrepreneurs using high-tech farming techniques to boost crop production in the Emirates. Pure Harvest built the first climate-controlled greenhouse in Abu Dhabi in 2017.
Prompted by arid conditions and a desire for greater food security, the country is investing millions in technologies — such as vertical farming — that could make it an unlikely agricultural pioneer.
Vertical farms can grow a rich variety of different crops by stacking them in layers under LED lighting in climate-controlled greenhouses and watering them with mist or drip systems. The process is tailored to each crop's specific needs, resulting in high-yield, year-round harvests."
It takes 30 to 40 days to grow leafy greens out in the field. We can grow that same crop in 10 to 12 days," says Marc Oshima, co-founder of Aerofarms. The company received funding from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office to build the capital's largest indoor vertical farm, with 800 different crops, by 2021.
Water Scarcity and Fossil-Fuel Reliance
The technology uses minimal land and up to 95% less water than conventional agriculture.
The hydroponics system places the plants' roots directly into a water-based and nutrient-rich solution instead of soil. This "closed-loop" system captures and recirculates all the water, rather than allowing it to drain away — useful for a country like the UAE suffering from extremely high water stress.
Globally, agriculture accounts for 70% of freshwater withdrawals, and UAE is extracting groundwater faster than it can be replenished, according to the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA)."
Water is very expensive over in the UAE, but energy is cheap as it is subsidized," says Jan Westra, a strategic business developer at Priva, a company providing technology to vertical farms.
The artificially controlled environment is energy-intensive because the air conditioning and LED lights need a constant source of electricity.
This bringing forth of life in the desert could come at a high environmental cost. Most of that energy comes from carbon-emitting fossil fuels, even as the Middle Eastern country feel the effects of climate change.
By 2050 Abu Dhabi's average temperature is predicted to increase by around 2.5°C (36.5 F) in a business-as-usual scenario. Over the next 70 years, patterns of rainfall are also expected to change.
Integrating Renewable Energy
Although Pure Harvest is building a solar-powered farm in neighboring Saudi Arabia, its UAE operations get electricity from the carbon-intensive national grid.
Investing more in renewables "is a goal of ours," Kurtz told DW. He said the company has not set a clean energy target but is working on various green power projects, including a plan to integrate solar power generated in UAE into its operations.
However, Willem van der Schans, a researcher specializing in short supply chains at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, says sustainability and clean energy should be "inherent in the technology and included in plans when starting a vertical farm."
He argues that many vertical farming companies are not sustainable in terms of energy as they still view clean power as an optional "add-on."
Ismahane Elouafi, director-general of the government-funded ICBA in Abu Dhabi, acknowledges that vertical farming has some way to go before achieving "real sustainability," but she believes the innovations are "promising."
Improved battery storage, increasingly efficient LED lights, and cheaper solar panels will help, she adds.
Local Solutions
By 2050, the UAE government wants to generate almost half its energy from renewable sources.
Fred Ruijgt, a vertical farming specialist at Priva, argues that it's important to factor transport and refrigeration into the energy equation. Vertical farming uses more energy to grow crops than traditional agriculture, but because crops are grown locally, they do not have to be transported by air, sea, or truck over long distances."
The energy-saving is difficult to calculate exactly, but the advantages of locally grown crops are huge," he says, adding that those grown in vertical farms not only use less water and pesticides but that they also have a longer shelf life due to minimal transportation time.
Food Security and Coronavirus
In 2018, the UAE set out its vision to become a hub for high-tech local food production.
Companies and investors have flocked to the region, attracted by the 0% corporate tax rate, low labor costs, and cheap energy. With their help, the UAE aims to reduce its reliance on imports and make its food system more resilient to shocks like climate change and pandemics.
Oshima from Aerofarms says the coronavirus pandemic has brought "greater appreciation of how fragile the supply chain is and raised questions about food safety and security."
When the UAE went into lockdown in April, imported supplies of perishable goods like vegetables fell and business boomed for local suppliers.
ICBA's Elouafi said they have helped keep the UAE well-stocked during the pandemic."With the help of local food production and adequate imports, there has been absolutely no shortage of food in the UAE," Elouafi told DW.
Climate change, however, poses an altogether more complex threat to the country in the long-term. Given climate change's likely impact on food production, she says vertical farming has shown it is "an economically viable proposition even with harsh climatic conditions."
Reposted with permission from Deutsche Welle.
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CEA Success Story About Small Family Farms Using CEA Technologies To Feed Their Local Communities
To learn more about Snuck Farm and what they're up to, check out their website and instagram. If you’re near Pleasant Grove, Utah, consider visiting their Farm Stand or ordering a Snuck Share!
To learn more about Snuck Farm and what they're up to, check out their website and instagram. If you’re near Pleasant Grove, Utah, consider visiting their Farm Stand or ordering a Snuck Share!
Would you like to be featured in a Grower's Highlight, or do you know someone who would be a good fit? Let us know!
How Leafy Greens Growers Have Turned Food Safety Challenges Into Opportunities
Growing lettuce and other leafy greens in a controlled environment presents its own set of challenges and opportunities
July 30, 2020
Editor’s Note: This article is the second of a three-part series on food safety concerns in the production of leafy greens in a controlled environment.
Click here to check out Part One of the series, which covered the formation of the CEA Food Safety Coalition.
Growing lettuce and other leafy greens in a controlled environment presents its own set of challenges and opportunities. During United Fresh Live in June, Marni Karlin, Executive Director of the CEA Food Safety Coalition, moderated a discussion that outlined how indoor growers who make food safety a priority, rather than dismissing it as a problem unique to field-grown crops, can inadvertently create market opportunities for themselves. The panel featured growers of all types (greenhouses, vertical farms, and warehouses) and sizes. Here are a few insights from the discussion.
Don’t Overlook Irrigation and Growing Media
Jackie Hawkins, Senior Manager of Food Safety at BrightFarms, says irrigation water is likely potable if it comes from municipalities or wells. However, it can still be contaminated, so don’t assume it’s clean and forsake the necessary testing.“Test your incoming water, treat it if necessary, and test it again,” Hawkins says.
Growing media, as well, may not seem like a concern because many leafy greens producers are not growing in soil. “But the seeds might have been grown in media, so it’s important to do routine monitoring of your media as it comes into the greenhouse,” Hawkins says.
From Data Comes Solutions
Michael DeChellis, Co-Founder of Livingston Greens, a small indoor farm in Montana, says it’s critical for greenhouse producers to compile the data they’re able to collect from growing in a controlled environment to create a plan for developing a safer product.“
For small farms, working with other growers in the CEA Food Safety Coalition is a great opportunity,” DeChellis says. “Our members share data, and this culture of collaboration can help us identify ways to overcome challenges.”
For example, DeChellis cites a mold issue at Livingston Greens, which he addressed by using temperature and humidity data to highlight the problem area and the conditions that caused the problem.
Consider Design Upgrades
Simon Yevzelman, Managing Partner and Leader of Biosecurity at Planted Detroit, a vertical farm in the Motor City, says his company saw the concerns of food safety looming, so it opted to temporarily suspend production so it could enhance its production systems with food safety as a guiding principle.“
Thanks to those efforts, we are now in an expansion mode,” Yevzelman says.
Full Company Responsibility
Oscar Camacho, President of Superior Food Safety, a California-based consulting company, says any greenhouse production system should be designed to optimize best food safety practices.“
The system needs to work across the entire company,” Camacho says. “This means communication from one end of the production line to the other is critical.
Retailers and Consumers Care
Chris Livingston, General Counsel at Bowery Farming, a vertical farming company in New York, says the CEA Food Safety Coalition is currently developing a standard specific to controlled-environment production that addresses unique challenges such as water management and infrastructure.“
Our goal is to have a seal that members can use to show their customers they are complying with standards unique to our industry,” Livingston says. “We are also developing a research agenda based on food safety topics.”
Stay tuned for Part 3 of this series, which will focus on how the coronavirus pandemic added value to CEA-grown leafy greens.
Harvesting Microgreens 101: What You Need to Know
Learning when to harvest microgreens is an essential step to the growing process. Since these tiny leafy vegetables tend to grow fast, it’s critical to know when to harvest them
Learning when to harvest microgreens is an essential step to the growing process. Since these tiny leafy vegetables tend to grow fast, it’s critical to know when to harvest them. In this article, we’re going to cover everything there is to know about harvesting microgreens.
Harvesting Microgreens
You can harvest the microgreens during two stages of their growth. Once the seedlings start to grow, you’ll notice the first leaf or pair of leaves which are known as cotyledons. You can harvest your microgreens during this stage, or you can wait until they grow their next set of leaves, which are known as true leaves.
It’s essential to harvest your greens during either of these stages, which can happen within the first two weeks. If you wait too long to harvest, they will start to yellow or have stunted growth. Signs of plant stress can happen from several factors such as soil quality, plant species, and more. This is why it’s best to harvest your microgreens when the cotyledons or true leaves appear.
How to Harvest Your Microgreens
The best times to harvest your microgreens are during the early morning or evening. If you harvest during these times, your microgreens are more likely to be fresh and healthy.
When harvesting microgreens, you’ll need a pair of scissors. Your microgreens should range from about 1 to 4 inches in length. Make sure to cut your microgreens about an inch above the soil. After trimming, wash the ends to remove any unwanted soil or dirt. If you are not cutting above the cotyledons, then the microgreens will not grow any further. You can compost the tray after you’re done harvesting the microgreens.
Washing and Drying
Depending on how you’re growing your microgreens will determine how you’ll wash them. If you’re growing them in soil, it’s recommended to wash the ends to rid them of any leftover soil or dirt so it won’t ruin the taste of your food. However, if your microgreens are growing from other methods, you won’t have to wash them. It’s best to wash your microgreens in cold water to maintain overall freshness. Make sure to remove damaged leaves or other problem areas to avoid an undesirable taste.
Drying your greens is an easy and simple process. Layout the greens in front of a fan and let them dry for a few minutes, and turn them over every so often to ensure they dry completely.
Storing Microgreens
Stored microgreens can last up to several days in the refrigerator. To correctly store your plants, we suggest placing them between paper towers inside a food grade container. This can help extend their shelf life for up to a week or two.
Harvesting microgreens is a simple and easy-to-understand process. Once you’ve harvested your greens, have fun adding them to your salads or dishes of any kind! We at the Nick Greens Grow Team provide useful growing tips to those who want to grow microgreens at home. Make sure to subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel to stay up to date with new at-home growing tips and tricks!
#microgreens #harvestingmicrogreens #harvestingnature #harvestingtime #growmicrogreensathome #growingmicrogreens #storingmicrogreens #harvestyourmicrogreens #washmicrogreens #harvestmicrogreens #dryingmicrogreens #harvestyourgreens
Controlled Environment Agriculture Open Data (CEAOD) Project
The use of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence techniques could provide CEA researchers and commercial growers an opportunity to optimize crop production efficiency and unveil new methods to improve production yield
Date: August 4, 2020
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. EDT
Presented by: Erico Mattos, GLASE Director, and Kenneth Tran, Koidra
Click Here to Register
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is a data-driven scientific discipline. In CEA operations all the environmental parameters are monitored and controlled to provide optimal conditions for crop growth. Recent technological advancements made the use of sensors and controls more accessible to CEA growers allowing them to precisely adjust these parameters.
The use of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence techniques could provide CEA researchers and commercial growers an opportunity to optimize crop production efficiency and unveil new methods to improve production yield. However, there is a lack of a centralized repository and a standard methodology for data sharing.
Join GLASE Director Erico Mattos and Koidra CEO Kenneth Tran on this GLASE Webinar to learn about the Controlled Environment Agriculture Open Data (CEAOD) project. This initiative aims to promote data sharing to accelerate Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) research through the establishment of a free centralized platform for the CEA community. Researchers and commercial growers are welcome to join and learn more about it.
Kenneth Tran was part of the winning team at the first International Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge held at Wageningen University in 2018. The team defeated four other international teams, consisting of experts in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and horticulture. Erico Mattos is working with Cornell University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Researchers to develop a guideline for data collection and upload to the CEAOD project.
Indian Grower Capitalizes On Market Opportunities With AI
Things are looking up for the greenhouse produce market in India. "We see an increase in demand in the Indian market, especially in many cities where we supply", says Sachin Darbarwar, founder of Simply Fresh
Sachin Darbarwar, Simply Fresh
Things are looking up for the greenhouse produce market in India. "We see an increase in demand in the Indian market, especially in many cities where we supply", says Sachin Darbarwar, founder of Simply Fresh. Last year, the grower invested $30 million in expanding the greenhouse operation, and that investment appears to be paying off.
"With more awareness on hydroponic farming and more emphasis on food safety, consumers today are selective in their buying and prefer produce, which is clean, safe, and traceable", Sachin tells us. "With the current global scenario and special focus on health and immunity, we only see this demand increasing in future."
Sachin and Shweta Darbarwar, founders of Simply Fresh
Simply Fresh not only supplies its produce to the local market, however: "We have exported our produce to the UAE, and will shortly resume our exports to countries like the UK, USA, and South East Asia."
So they look across the border, and not just when it comes to exporting their produce. "Our greenhouse structure was designed and delivered to us by Cravo, a Canadian company that specializes in retractable greenhouses", Sachin tells us. They source their seeds from various domestic and international suppliers as well, like Rijk Zwaan. "Depending on crop type we reach out to different vendors to get the best variety of seeds to have high-quality produce for our consumers."
Nutraceuticals
Under their nutraceutical vertical, Simply Fresh grows varieties of medicinal plants. "These have three times more alkaloid content than field grown plants, and serve as raw material for nutraceutical companies", Sachin explains. "The choice to grow these has been a successful move as we are able to provide medicinal plants which are traceable and with higher alkaloid content, which reduces the cost of extraction. Also, all our fresh produce and medicinal plants are safe, traceable and grown using sustainable farming techniques without any use of pesticides."
It's been a bit of a pioneering project to grow those "non-traditional" greenhouse crops: "They are very challenging as globally there are not many growers who have grown this and can share best practices/knowledge on how to grow them and how they behave without soil", Sachin tells us.
Farm in A Box
Like any modern grower, Simply Fresh also makes use of AI, having implemented it in creating data points and making decisions on data points. "For example, we use AI in forecasting yield, predicting seeding charts, space utilisation, traceability, managing crop workflows and knowledge line."
The Farm in A Box (FiAB) platform, developed by the grower, plays a central role in this strategy. "It helps us track everything from the very initial stage of sending, plant profiling, monitoring plant health and nutrient level requirement at each stage of the plant growth.
"We also use the same FiAB platform to plan and forecast the yield required for future and for our internal CRM management, to collect and process orders received from different vendors from various cities."
The company is constantly developing the platform, and in future FiAB may become available for other growers to use as well.
That's not the only thing they have in store for the future: Simply Fresh will be further expanding, growing to 40 acres on their current site in Phase 2 of the expansion.
For more information:
Simply Fresh
www.simplyfresh.co.in
Publication date: Wed 22 Jul 2020
Author: Jan Jacob Mekes
© HortiDaily.com
New Digital Publication And Podcast Launched by Agritech Specialist, IGS
Covering the theme of global sustainable food security, the inaugural edition of Clima features interviews with Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive at the James Hutton Institute and Michael Dean, co-founder of specialist agrifood venture capital platform AgFunder
Edinburgh, Scotland – 12 June 2020 - Indoor agritech specialist IGS has today launched Clima, its new digital publication and accompanying podcast series. Through Clima, IGS will welcome industry-leading interviewees and share thought pieces on some of the most fundamental issues facing the world, including supply chains, agricultural innovation, and indoor growing.
Covering the theme of global sustainable food security, the inaugural edition of Clima features interviews with Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive at the James Hutton Institute and Michael Dean, co-founder of specialist agrifood venture capital platform AgFunder.
Professor Colin Campbell, who leads the world-renowned James Hutton Institute near Dundee, Scotland, explores what he believes are the greatest barriers to achieving a secure, sustainable food supply and the role science and technology have to play in attaining this goal. Continuing the theme, Michael Dean shares his thoughts on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and explores the future of food supply chains.
David Farquhar, Chief Executive of IGS, commented: “At IGS we are very aware just what a challenging time this is for our customers and partners, with many countries across the globe still considering the right strategies to alleviate COVID-19 restrictions. Clima was born from our desire to bring the industry together and drive collaboration, informed discussion, and debate which we hope will help to create a more sustainable and secure food eco-system for the future.
“We are very excited to launch Clima publicly and to have the opportunity to share the insights of two brilliant interviewees, both of whom are leading their fields. We hope that readers of Clima and those who listen to the podcast get as much out of it as we have in the process of producing this first edition.”
To subscribe to Clima and to access the first edition, please visit www.igsclima.io.
About IGS:
Founded in 2013, IGS brought together decades of farming and engineering experience to create an agritech business with a vision to revolutionize the indoor growing market. Its commitment to innovation has continued apace and it has evolved the applications of its technology beyond agriculture to create solutions for a wide variety of indoor environments that enhance life for people, plants, and animals.
IGS launched its first vertical farming demonstration facility in August 2018, based at the James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie.
For more information visit www.intelligentgrowthsolutions.com or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.