Welcome to iGrow News, Your Source for the World of Indoor Vertical Farming
Vertical Grower Plenty Adds Former Impossible Foods’ Sales VP
"We are delighted to welcome Dana to the Plenty family as we continue to manage our substantial growth trajectory," Nate Storey, Plenty co-founder, said in the release
By CHRIS KOGER
January 14, 2021
Vertical farming company Plenty, South San Francisco, has added former Impossible Foods vice president of sales Dana Worth as senior vice president of commercial.
Worth led the debut of the plant-based Impossible Burger, building the sales and commercial teams for the company, according to a news release from Plenty. While at Impossible Foods, he helped sign deals with Starbucks, Burger King and other foodservice outlets to build the Impossible Burger brand.
"We are delighted to welcome Dana to the Plenty family as we continue to manage our substantial growth trajectory," Nate Storey, Plenty co-founder, said in the release. "Dana's experience working with fast-growing companies, such as Impossible Foods and PayPal, who are pioneers in their markets, will be instrumental as we accelerate both our corporate and commercial footprint and establish our platform as the standard for indoor vertical farming."
Plenty has promoted Megan Gillespie to vice president of farm operations and Daniel Malech to senior vice president of strategy and general counsel.
Gillespie, formerly of Tesla, joined Plenty in 2019 and has been pivotal in getting the company’s flagship farm operational. In 2020, she led an expansion strategy, tripling the production and ensuring product made it to stores and food banks, according to the release.
In her new role, Gillespie will oversee farm operations for Plenty's farms, including its latest facility - the world's first high-output, indoor vertical farm in Compton, California - bringing access to healthy vegetables and new jobs to the community.
Malech joined Plenty in 2018 as head of legal, advising the company on business strategy and implementation. His new role includes regulatory, compliance, and overseeing the company’s intellectual property portfolio.
Polygreens Podcast Episode: 009 - Hydroponic Consultant
Hydroponics is a growing method for beginners and experts alike
Hydroponics is a growing method for beginners and experts alike. This innovative farming system provides users with more controlled environments to grow their crops all-year-round. In this podcast, you will learn about hydroponics consulting, and we’ll cover the basics to get you started.
Nick GreensThe Nick Greens Grow Team has participated in many changes since they started developing indoor controlled agricultural environments in 2010. Our goal is to expand the vertical farming industry by helping ag-entrepreneurs manage their businesses better, avoid common mistakes, and improve crop yields based on what we have observed and developed over the past decade.
YouTube
Aquaponics Letter To The Biden-Harris Transition Team
In the Letter, the Aquaponics Association requests that the incoming Administration consider three actions to support the growth of aquaponics
January 7, 2021
The Aquaponics Association has sent a letter to the Leadership of the Biden-Harris Transition team for the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Commerce.
View the Aquaponics Letter to the Biden-Harris Transition
In the Letter, the Aquaponics Association requests that the incoming Administration consider three actions to support the growth of aquaponics: 1) fully establish the USDA Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production; 2) recognize new and emerging food production systems, such as aquaponics systems, as critical suppliers of food; and 3) ensure that aquaponics remains eligible for USDA Organic Certification.
Aquaponics will further establish the United States as a leader in sustainable agriculture and build a better future for generations to come.
January Indoor Ag-Conversations Webinar | AI and Robotics For Indoor Farms
You won't want to miss our first Indoor Ag-Conversations webinar session for 2021 as our expert panel takes a deep dive into AI & Robotics
LET'S KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING!
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020
2-3 PM EDT
You won't want to miss our first Indoor Ag-Conversations webinar
session for 2021 as our expert panel takes a deep dive into
AI & Robotics
Moderator:
Dr. Murat Kacira, Director of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center and Professor of Biosystems Engineering Department, University of Arizona
Panelists:
Adam Greenberg, CEO, iUNU
Samuel Bertram, CEO & Co-Founder, OnePointOne
Nick Genty, CEO, AgEye Technologies
LEARN MORE & SAVE YOUR FREE SPOT!
Nature Fresh Farms Advances In Sustainable Transportation Through The SmartWay Program
Nature Fresh Farms pledges to reduce freight transportation-related emissions by becoming a member of SmartWay
Leamington, ON (January 15, 2020) – Nature Fresh Farms pledges to reduce freight transportation-related emissions by becoming a member of SmartWay.
Over the past year, Nature Fresh Farms joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership to further its sustainable development and continue to lead in its environmental initiatives. SmartWay is administered in Canada by NRCan and is free to those interested in becoming members, aiming to help both shippers and carriers move goods efficiently, by maximizing load capacity and keeping fuel costs and environmental impact at a minimum.
SmartWay is an internationally recognized program that encourages its members to be more aware of their carbon footprint by helping them track fuel consumption and improve their overall performance. Through their membership, Nature Fresh Farms can use the program to measure the environmental impact of their freight supply and use recommendations from SmartWay to improve and modify their transportation and operation strategies. With Nature Fresh Farms’ commitment to reducing emissions, their goal is to have at least 80% of their carrier base SmartWay certified by 2023.
“It has always been important for Nature Fresh Farms to recognize and understand our carbon footprint in every area of our operations,” shared Leigh Ann Breault, Director of Logistics. “Making the necessary improvements to our freight supply chain, using the recommendations provided from SmartWay, will only help reinforce our position as an industry leader in sustainability.”
With environmental performance becoming increasingly important as a business metric, more companies are becoming aware of the benefits of being a part of programs such as this. Having over 3,600 North American companies signed on to the SmartWay partnership, Nature Fresh Farms membership demonstrates their continued environmental leadership and corporate responsibility.
-30-
Continuously expanding, Nature Fresh Farms has become one of the largest independent, vertically integrated greenhouse vegetable farms in North America. As a year-round grower with farms in Leamington, ON, Delta, OH, and Mexico, and with their Distribution Centers established in Leamington, Delta, and Laredo, TX, Nature Fresh Farms prides itself on consistently delivering exceptional flavor and quality to key retailers throughout North America, while continuing to innovate and introduce more viable and sustainable growing and packaging solutions.
SOURCE: Nature Fresh Farms | info@naturefresh.ca T: 519 326 1111 | www.naturefresh.ca
Indoor Saffron Farming With Special Reference To Hydroponic System
Indoor farming is a method of cultivating crops or plants normally on a large scale entirely indoors. It adopts methods such as hydroponics and utilizes artificial lights to provide nutrients and light necessary for plant growth
Saffron farming in contemporary times is facing challenges of area, production, and productivity drop
Indoor farming is a method of cultivating crops or plants normally on a large scale entirely indoors. It adopts methods such as hydroponics and utilizes artificial lights to provide nutrients and light necessary for plant growth. It allows us to grow crops around the year. But, we must make sure that our indoor room’s insulation has enough R-value to support farming 24×7.
The R-value is the measure of resistance to heat flow which is thermal resistance indicating the temperature difference when a unit of heat runs through it. It measures thermal resistance per unit area. It is the ratio between the difference in temperature between the warmer surface and the colder surface of a barrier and heat instability through the barrier.
The greater the R-value the greater is the resistance and vice versa. Saffron farming in contemporary times is facing challenges of the area, production, and productivity drop. Therefore, it is very important to improve the trio. Jammu and Kashmir lacks scientific ways of plucking saffron and almost all saffron growers prefer hand plucking.
Saffron Marketing is very inflated here because of the lack of proper technology and infrastructure for storage and processing facilities and mishandling during grading, packaging, and transportation. Indoor farming is very cost-effective. For more production and productivity levels, indoor growers need the proper mix of lighting and knowledge to use light in the right way. We can use LED lights which are cost-effective. They need to be at an appropriate distance from the plants so that they receive a suitable amount of light.
Soil is not the only solution for growing crops. We have a farming system that is exclusive of soil, often called soilless farming viz. the system of hydroponics. Under such soilless conditions, the roots of plants develop inside the wet torpid materials such as Vermiculite and Rockwool or in a liquefied nutrient solution which is a combination of vital plant nutrients in the water. Saffron cultivation and maintenance is not everyone’s cup of tea as it is a very painstaking task. It is very labour intensive. But saffron, if grown in a hydroponics system is very easy and less backbreaking than it would be traditionally.
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) and Deep Water Culture (DWC) are the most commonly used hydroponic systems. Former makes use of sequences of shallow gutters and in a very thin film solution is passed through the gutter’s length. Under greenhouse cultivation practices, this method is very common. No doubt, it is very easy on the pocket but not easy on the space or space-efficient. Latter makes use of a moving raft to uphold plants over a solution tank.
The solution is drawn very slowly from the sump through tanks so as to provide nutrients without harming roots. It is good under tropical climatic conditions and not very much supportive under temperate climatic conditions with mild to warm summers and cool to cold winters (Simmons, 2015) coupled with temperature instability. Saffron cultivation under hydroponic mechanism demands NFT and pin plates that are usually used. As far as pin plates are concerned, they are essentially provisional growing spaces where the roots of plants are developed and the bulbs are attached.
Plants developed with corms or bulbs in general and saffron, in particular, are grown best with Potassium and Phosphorus in great amounts for its growth and development. For sprouting or growth hydroponic nutrients are not strictly essential but the nutrients must be mixed, at less than 50 % water strength, with supplied corms.
Indoor saffron farming, especially using hydroponic systems, is a matter of germination and flowering. The moment saffron has bloomed or budded we don’t bother about its further growth because the only concern then is the harvesting of the stigmas. It is very important to choose the right proportion of nutrients and the nutrient solution ought to a holistic one intended to boost blooms. We must get appropriate flowering design or preparation from the market so as to be confident about dilution in accordance with the instructions from the market or expert.
On a regular basis, nutrient values should be calculated with the potential of hydrogen and electrical conductivity meters. Nutrients full of characteristics boost blossoming. Temperature plays an important role in saffron growth. It requires a good amount of temperature. The indoor hydroponic practice has many advantages and one such advantage is that temperature can be adjusted by the grower. For best blooming or budding a range of 15 degrees to 18 degree Celsius temperature during the day and night temperature not less than 12 degree Celsius is necessary. Too warm and too cold climatic conditions invite its underdevelopment. Accordingly, we need to set up such indoor growth chambers that provide dry temperateness of summer to encourage growth and cooler environments to persuade blossoming. Photosynthesis is equally important. Direct light of 15 hours per day is necessary for flower growth. Saffron indoor structure must be set up in the room where there are optimum light hours.
With dwindling saffron land alongside a dip in production, productivity, and marketing of saffron in Jammu and Kashmir, indoor farming can help with the threats and challenges that lie in the future. It can play a vital role in meeting the need for organic and pure home-based saffron full of attributes. In addition, the scientific cost-effective technologies this system adopts will open the vistas of know-how coupled with income, employment, and output prospects that restructure the saffron economy in general and agriculture setting in particular.
Binish Qadri is ICSSR Doctoral Fellow in the department of economics, Central University of Kashmir; Quarterly Franklin Member, London Journals Press.
Hydrobuilder Holdings Raises $70 Million And Combines West Coast Hydroponics Chain With Online Retailer
We are excited to bring together two proven leaders in hydroponics e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail as the initial partnerships within Hydrobuilder Holdings, which we believe is poised to be a leading omni-channel seller of specialty agriculture and hydroponics equipment and supplies
January 15, 2021
Hydrobuilder Holdings Acquires Hydrobuilder.com and GreenCoast Hydroponics to Form a Leading Omni-channel Seller of Specialty Agriculture and Hydroponics Equipment and Supplies
Secures over $70 million in financing from broad base of investors
PALM BEACH, Fla.-January 15, 2021-(BUSINESS WIRE)–Hydrobuilder Holdings LLC (“Hydrobuilder Holdings”) today announced its formation through the acquisitions of Hydrobuilder.com, a leading online retailer of hydroponics and horticultural supplies, and GreenCoast Hydroponics, the second largest hydroponics retailer in the United States, to create a leading omni-channel retailer of specialty agriculture and hydroponics equipment and supplies. Hydrobuilder Holdings secured over $70 million in financing from a broad group of investors, led by Broadband Capital Investments. As part of the transaction, the sellers of both Hydrobuilder.com and GreenCoast Hydroponics retained a meaningful equity stake in Hydrobuilder Holdings.
Hydrobuilder Holdings will be led by Markus Hockenson, Chief Executive Officer, and Avi Levine, Chief Financial Officer, both of whom bring extensive digital and retail experience, and a proven track record of driving revenue, earnings growth and value creation at private-equity owned companies. Hydrobuilder.com and GreenCoast will continue to be operated by their existing management teams under the newly-formed Hydrobuilder Holdings platform and substantially all team members from Hydrobuilder.com and GreenCoast will remain with Hydrobuilder Holdings.
Mr. Hockenson previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of International Car Wash Group and Vision Group Holdings, and has served in leadership positions at Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Starbucks, Advance Auto Parts, and TBC Corporation (Tire Kingdom). Mr. Levine previously served as Chief Financial Officer of International Car Wash Group, and has additional experience at Deloitte Consulting, Versa Capital Management, Flashpoint College and Driven Brands.
“We are excited to bring together two proven leaders in hydroponics e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail as the initial partnerships within Hydrobuilder Holdings, which we believe is poised to be a leading omni-channel seller of specialty agriculture and hydroponics equipment and supplies,” said Hockenson.
Hydrobuilder Holdings is uniquely positioned to provide commercial growers and home gardeners with the highest level of service, product selection, education and value.
Markus Hockenson, Chief Executive Officer
With strong investor support and significant follow-on interest from our investors, we have substantial growth capital to execute our organic and M&A growth strategies, and see significant opportunities to expand these businesses in the rapidly growing hydroponics, specialty gardening and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) markets.
Hydrobuilder.com Founder and President, Justin Marshall, commented, “Partnering with GreenCoast and joining Hydrobuilder Holdings is a dream come true. I am incredibly grateful and excited to be working alongside these experts and pioneers within the hydroponics industry as well as professionals from many outside business ventures. The combined knowledge and experience will allow us to take the Hydrobuilder.com platform and apply it to some of the most successful brick-and-mortar stores in our space by utilizing our custom IT infrastructure, which enhances automation while also providing an omnichannel approach to sales for our customers. With this combination, we’ll be able to scale and automate at a far greater speed than what was possible on our own. The amount of industry and historical knowledge will allow us to further position ourselves as a leading online retailer of hydroponics equipment and supplies.”
Jordan Weiss, Chief Executive Officer of GreenCoast Hydroponics, said, “We couldn’t be more excited to see our business develop and grow into an omni-channel national model. This will better integrate and support our customers’ needs across all of our three pillars: e-commerce, retail and commercial. Along with better serving our customers, we feel great about how this partnership will support our employees and the culture that we have worked 20+ years to build.”
Michael Rapp, Managing Partner of Broadband Capital Investments, added, “We are excited to be investing in the formation of Hydrobuilder Holdings. Justin, Jordan, and their respective teams have built best-in-class companies and have deep domain knowledge. Markus and Avi are world-class executives who understand how to drive efficiencies and scale enterprises, both organically and through acquisitions. We are serving a nascent but fast-growing end market and our customers are in need of a local supply chain partner who can offer a suite of products and services to solve problems and add value. We are excited by this opportunity and we look forward to building a leading company in this space.”
About Hydrobuilder.com
Founded in 2011, Hydrobuilder.com is based in Northern California and has rapidly grown to become a leading online retailer of hydroponics and horticultural supplies. The management team previously helped Build.com grow to over $1 billion in sales, and has built Hydrobuilder.com into a complete online hydroponic gardening center that is known for having the top product lines, a fast, user-friendly website and knowledgeable employees.
About GreenCoast Hydroponics
Founded in 1999, GreenCoast is a Southern California-based specialty agriculture/hydroponics products retailer and the largest independent retailer of its kind in the United States. GreenCoast operates 12 stores (10 in California, 1 in Las Vegas, and 1 in Portland, OR), that provide equipment, plant consumable products, and design services to growers ranging from the hobbyist to the largest licensed commercial operators. Senior management is known throughout the industry as experts in design of large-scale industrial growing facilities.
About Broadband Capital Investments
Broadband Capital Investment (BCI) is a boutique merchant bank that invests in high growth industries. BCI (and/or its affiliates) was the founding investor in Vroom.com (Nasdaq: VRM), a leading used car e-commerce company, co-led the management buyout of Hydrofarm Holdings (Nasdaq: HYFM), a leading hydroponics manufacturer and distributor, prior to its initial public offering, and invested in Montrose Environmental (NYSE: MEG), an environmental services provider offering measurement & analytical services as well as environmental resiliency & sustainability solutions.
Published by NCV Newswire
CEO Insights From Vertical Harvest: January 2021
I’m thrilled to say that last year, we completed a feasibility study to co-locate vertical farms with affordable housing
Vertical Farming & Affordable Housing
As many of you may know, Vertical Harvest is a business dedicated to impact. As we develop plans for our expansion, we seek out strategic partnerships to cultivate and enhance the impact our model of farming can have on communities.
I’m thrilled to say that last year, we completed a feasibility study to co-locate vertical farms with affordable housing. The results are nothing short of potential paradigm shift in the way we grow food for urban food deserts. Our model outlines a new way forward for enhancing community through innovation. We studied in detail how two such projects would work in two Chicago sites prime for new ways to increase health and wellness.
Funded by a contract award from Fannie Mae, and in collaboration with National Affordable Housing Trust Mercy Lakefront Housing, and GYDE Architects the study explores the development of a robust, holistic model to address healthy housing and food system inequities. It also explores ways to create a source for consistent, meaningful employment for underserved populations — something we know a lot about.
The study results present a business case to co-locate Vertical Farms and Affordable Housing. It successfully 1). quantifies the positive impacts on the low and moderate-income residents and broader community 2). confirms financial and operational feasibility 3). explores a variety of funding mechanisms to support co-location 4). further develops an employment model that serves under-served populations and 5). explores securing commitment from developers and investors.
Addressing housing, good food, and job creation at a commercial scale, the study essentially writes a holistic prescription for empowered, healthy, sustainable, and connected communities across the nation.
You can read the full study by clicking the button below
So what’s next?
In order to have substantial impact, our plan requires policy change, private and public financial support, and guidelines to create an integrated future that includes both healthy housing and food. We are partnering with local stakeholders to make this a reality.
We are working on it. Stay tuned.
Read Full Report
Commercial Urban Farming Course
Agritecture is bringing our knowledge from advising clients on the key best practices for CEA online!
Our online Commercial Urban Farming Course includes more than 2.5 hours of video learning - broken down into 6 comprehensive lessons - each lesson made up of digestible 5-10 minute modules.
Additional resources will help you translate insights into actions.
And finally, after completing 4 lessons, you’ll unlock a free webinar with one of our expert consultants.
WIA Virtual Meet Up
WIA Virtual Meet-Up Come with your ideas, thoughts, and questions as we brainstorm in small groups to strategize on Career Advancement
WIA Virtual Meet-Up Come with your ideas,
thoughts, and questions as
we brainstorm in small groups to strategize on
Career Advancement.
This topic-driven Meet Up will be held
Tuesday, January 26th, 5:00 PM CST.
Register via our Home Page
Know someone that would benefit from a Meet Up?
Please spread the word.
See you there!
Women in Agribusiness Team
eventinfo@highquestgroup.com
PUERTO RICO: Indoor Vertical Farming Jumpstarts Agribusiness
Francisco Santana founded Grupo Vesan in 2015 with a simple concept: farming differently and more effectively. He looked to indoor vertical farming and became the first company in Puerto Rico to adopt that model
Grupo Vesan Seeks To Provide Food Security
With Sustainable Practices
Unlike other lettuce produced in Puerto Rico, the ones grown via vertical farming are unaffected by saltpeter, a naturally occurring nitrate. Courtesy of Grupo Vesan
January 13, 2021
A small business in the southern region of Puerto Rico is seeking to revolutionize agribusinesses with sustainable practices while providing food security and reducing the need for imported produce.
Francisco Santana founded Grupo Vesan in 2015 with a simple concept: farming differently and more effectively. He looked to indoor vertical farming and became the first company in Puerto Rico to adopt that model. As previously reported by THE WEEKLY JOURNAL, indoor vertical farming allows farmers to generate fresh food items in a controlled environment with smaller required spaces.
“Everything is with artificial lights and it works with 62 degrees F of temperature. It is a completely different environment. We regulate the humidity and even the oxygen level is controlled. The concept of all these parameters is completely different from what one usually finds in the market,” Santana explained.
In its beginnings, Grupo Vesan started with a 40-foot wagon and is now producing a variety of fruits and vegetables in Canas Industrial Park in Ponce, working with a 20-foot ceiling and 14 different parameters that allow for a broader range of products. Even after Hurricane Maria devastated nearly 70 percent of the island’s hydroponics, the company stood strong.
As such, Santana hopes that more agribusinesses incorporate this system so that residents have access to fresh food in times of crisis. “One of the benefits of this system… is that it provides food security. What we project is that agriculture should move indoors,” he said.
“Agriculture in Puerto Rico is not where it should be. That is the main issue of food security tied to this subject of indoor vertical farming. On the other hand, at the technology level, we are the pioneers in this process. We promote the idea of impacting the agriculture of Puerto Rico for new generations. [The idea that] new generations are not going to go to traditional agriculture; that is not true. We have, for example, an alliance with the Catholic University of Ponce and they send students here. They are working in air conditioning, in a white coat, like a pharmacist. They are doing scientific research, but they are really doing agriculture,” he added.
Islandwide Agriculture
Another benefit of indoor vertical farming is that it can be employed virtually anywhere in Puerto Rico, regardless of the soil’s fertility or if the area is prone to flooding or droughts. In fact, Grupo Vesan was founded while the island was experiencing a drought that prompted the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (Prasa) to ration water.
Indoor vertical farming is also tied to the concept of “urban farming,” which is gaining popularity in Europe. That is, residents in any corner of Puerto Rico, including the San Juan metropolitan area or beachy municipalities like Dorado, can start their own agribusiness.
Likewise, this type of farming can be applied in spaces labeled as “brownfields,” which are areas that are contaminated and, therefore, unsuitable for traditional farming practices. Grupo Vesan even sells wagons for these purposes because one of their aims is to popularize this technique.
Environmental Impact
According to Santana, if more agribusinesses emerge with this model, the island would drop its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions because there wouldn’t be a need to transport fresh food via long distances. “It also provides fresher food to consumers and businesses like restaurants could apply the farm-to-table concept,” he said.
Moreover, Grupo Vesan packs its agricultural products with its roots in a pouch with water. This allows the product to have greater longevity, thus reducing food waste and allowing for financial savings by not having to purchase fresh fruits or vegetables as often. As an example, Santana stated that the lettuce produced by his company can last “two or even three weeks” without spoiling.
Apart from lettuce, Grupo Vesan also grows spinach, tomatoes, cilantro, peppers, broccoli, carrots and a variety of other agricultural products.
“Revenue, a sense of community, and environmental impact; those are the components of a sustainable company. In our case, we don’t use any insecticide or pesticide, none of that. Our products are practically organic,” he affirmed.
He added that the company is currently developing a project to grow strawberries, noting that indoor vertical farming could eventually minimize the need to import foods that can’t be grown in Puerto Rico via traditional farming.
Reporter for The Weekly Journal. She is a journalist with experience in social media management, translations, and digital marketing.
Follow Giovanna Garofalo, The Weekly Journal
PODCAST: Season 2 Episode 20 - Founder And Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Ceres Greenhouse Solutions, Marc Plinke
Ceres designs and builds advanced, energy-efficient greenhouses that grow year-round while saving energy and water
Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show Founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Ceres Greenhouse Solutions, Marc Plinke. Ceres designs and builds advanced, energy-efficient greenhouses that grow year-round while saving energy and water.
In this episode, Harry and Marc dissect Marc’s career trajectory, from his time at Synergistic Building Technologies to his current role with Ceres. Marc breaks down his passion for bringing about positive change in the world, the inspiring work he’s doing with Ceres, and the state of food in our society.
VIDEO: "Considerations for Marketing Vertical Farm Food Products To Consumers"
Science Cafe is organized by the OptimIA project team funded by the USDA SCRI grant program
"Considerations for Marketing Vertical
Farm Food Products to Consumers"
Dr. Bridget Behe
Michigan State University
This presentation 'Considerations for Marketing Vertical Farm Food Products to Consumers' was given by Dr. Bridget Behe (Michigan State University) during our 26th cafe forum on January 12th, 2021. Indoor Ag Science Cafe is organized by the OptimIA project team funded by the USDA SCRI grant program.
Cafe Archive & QA Forum
Our archived Indoor Ag Science Cafe page on OptimIA website now has a forum function! Please click on presentations of your interest and ask your quick questions. Notifications come to us and we should be able to respond promptly.
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 the USDA SCRI grants program.
Previous café recordings are available on the OptimIA project website.
Please contact for more info: kubota.10@osu.edu
Upcoming Cafes:
February 23rd, 11 AM Eastern - 'Indoor Farming in Mexico: Current Status and Opportunities' by Karla Garcia (Microgreens FLN and HortAmericas)
March 30th, 11 AM Eastern - 'USDA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants Program Overview' by Dr. Steven Thomson & Melinda Coffman (USDA NIFA SBIR)
Interested in giving a talk to share your thoughts and experiences? Please contact us!
Upcoming Courses/Events:
January 27-29, 2021 (accessible through March 15)- 'Workshop - Improving Production via Listening to Plants' Ohio State Greenhouse Management Workshop online
February 18 - March 10, 2021 - 'JPFA Online Training Course on Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting (PFALs)' Japan Plant Factory Association
The Mexican Tec Graduates Who Are Using Vertical Farming To Eradicate Hunger
Vertical farms use 90% less water than traditional agriculture and can meet the challenge of feeding more than 9 billion people
Vertical farms use 90% less water than traditional agriculture and can meet the challenge of feeding more than 9 billion people
Por Susan Irais
January 11, 2021
Not all fruit and vegetables can be grown using this technique, but a great variety can. (Photo: Courtesy of Verde Karma Fresh)
Every night, seven million people go to bed hungry in Mexico. It is estimated that the coronavirus pandemic will cause that figure to increase. According to the latest report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 130 million people will be affected by chronic hunger worldwide by the end of 2020.
Unfortunately for Mexico, the traditional agricultural industry uses a lot of resources and wastes a large amount of what it takes from the land.
For example, 34% of total production ends up in landfills due to inefficiencies during processing, storage, and transportation. What’s more, 40 billion liters of water are wasted annually due to poor irrigation.
“Fresh” products travel 300 to 1,000 kilometers and have already lost 45% of their nutritional value by the time they hit the shelves. But there is a complementary option for agriculture: vertical gardens.
Vertical Farming
“Vertical farming –in controlled environments– is a method of growing in vertically stacked layers, optimizing growing conditions and soil-less cultivation techniques, such as hydroponics,” says Leo Lobato Kelly, CEO of Verde Karma Fresh, a vertical farming company from Monterrey, Nuevo León.
The modern concept of vertical farming was proposed in 1999 by Dickson Despommier, Professor of Public and Environmental Health at Columbia University in the United States.
Due to climate change, this method has become a real alternative for countries like Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and now, Mexico.
Karma Verde Fresh (KVF) has spent the last five years developing farming systems and growing a variety of vegetables, sprouts, and seedlings in Monterrey, Nuevo León. “This has been achieved through an association with two universities and Tec graduate agronomists, using natural substrates, in this case: tezontle (volcanic rock). This substrate can be washed without contaminating the soil. By substituting mineral products, you allow fields to regenerate themselves, which is highly beneficial to the soil,” says the CEO of Karma Verde Fresh.
Not all fruit and vegetables can be grown using this technique, but a great variety can be (Photo: courtesy of Karma Verde Fresh).
Vertical farming systems use 90% less water and 95% less space than traditional farming and are 100% herbicide and pesticide-free. “Our crops can be adapted to any space, which allows us to be closer to the consumer, reduce our carbon footprint, and promote local purchases that are fresher,” says Leo Lobato.
Vertical farms keep crops fresh for longer, so they don’t lose any nutrients, using state-of-the-art LEDs that are extremely energy efficient. Energy can also be generated from renewable sources and this creates job opportunities.
Traditional Agriculture Plus Vertical Farming
“Vertical farming is another option within the agricultural industry, though it is intended as a way of complementing rather than replacing traditional agriculture,” adds Tagino Lobato from KVF.
Not all fruit and vegetables can be grown using this technique, but a great variety can be, “enough to have a balanced diet,” according to Leo Lobato.
For example, KVF produces lettuce, microgreens (mustard), Ballerina lettuce, Alexandria lettuce, peas, beetroot, large-eared lettuce, radish, Italian lettuce, and sunflowers, as well as others such as astro arugula, rocket arugula, spinach, coriander, chard, strawberries, and tomato seedlings.
Vertical farms are very beneficial. For example, they use 90% less water than traditional agriculture and they can be built anywhere, which means many spaces could be repurposed. (Infographic: Karma Verde Fresh)
This type of initiative hopes to feed the 150 million people who will be living in Mexico by 2050, of whom approximately will be in 80% urban areas, according to FAO estimates.
Karma Verde Fresh saw a great entrepreneurial opportunity in vertical technology. “We need this in all communities because we all need to eat better without damaging the planet. Vertical farming in a controlled environment has many possibilities. We can take it to schools or food bank centers,” says the co-founder of Verde Karma Fresh.
The company wants to make this innovation in agriculture available to everyone, so they are looking to make the technology accessible. For example, “we already have one of these vertical farms in Dr. Adriana Elizondo’s house in the Linda Vista neighborhood of Guadalupe in Monterrey. She’s farming with this prototype from her bedroom,” says Leo.
Karma Verde Fresh has two versions of the growing system: one for crops (KVF-AG6) and one for seedlings (KVF-AG10). (Photo: Karma Verde Fresh)
Mexico, The Land of Opportunity
The Lobato technology has already made deals with 20 international universities to take their equipment and establish laboratories. “By involving universities, we are hoping to find Mexican ingenuity that will produce better technology and create more employment opportunities in all Spanish-speaking countries,” he says.
KVF doesn’t just want to sell the technology but also to lower the costs by using Mexican technology. Sources of financing are being set up for all of the entrepreneurs who wish to take vertical farms to different levels.
The end product from vertical farms promotes local purchases that are more nutritious (Photo: Courtesy)
Receive Insights From The 2020 Global CEA Census Report
AgTech leaders Autogrow and Agritecture Consulting have concluded our 2nd Annual Global CEA Census, focusing on understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operations around the world
AgTech leaders Autogrow and Agritecture Consulting have concluded our 2nd Annual Global CEA Census, focusing on understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operations around the world.
Major insights of the Global CEA Census
“The optimism reflects what we have seen across many areas of the industry including increased technology adoption and increased consumer expenditure on fresh produce. And despite the challenges we’re seeing an overwhelming number of new entrants into the market,” says Autogrow CEO Darryn Keiller.
“What has not changed is the high percentage of new growers, almost 50%, that have no experience in agriculture before starting their business. That lack of experience has an impact on new technology solutions created and the need for more education to be available to support them. It also shows a real desire to make a difference considering their willingness to start during a pandemic.”
Other takeaways from the Census:
CEA businesses showing optimism and resilience despite the COVID hurdles
88% of growers surveyed are below age 50
29% of respondents receive funding from multiple sources
Receive The Full Report For Free!
Indoor Farming Services Provider Agrify Sets Terms For $25 Million IPO
Agrify was founded in 2016 and booked $9 million in revenue for the 12 months ended September 30, 2020. It plans to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol AGFY. Maxim Group LLC and Roth Capital are the joint bookrunners on the deal
Renaissance Capital Renaissance Capital
January 13, 2021
Agrify, which provides turnkey indoor farming solutions, announced terms for its IPO on Wednesday.
The Burlington, MA-based company plans to raise $25 million by offering 2.8 million shares at a price range of $8 to $10. At the midpoint of the proposed range, Agrify would command a fully diluted market value of $115 million.
The company claims to differentiate itself with a bundled solution of equipment, software, and services that is turnkey, end-to-end, fully integrated, and optimized for precision growing. Revenue mainly comes from core hardware products, the Agrify Vertical Farming Unit, as well as facility build-outs. Agrify provides products to a variety of agricultural segments, citing cannabis as a key market opportunity.
Agrify was founded in 2016 and booked $9 million in revenue for the 12 months ended September 30, 2020. It plans to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol AGFY. Maxim Group LLC and Roth Capital are the joint bookrunners on the deal.
The article Indoor farming services provider Agrify sets terms for $25 million IPO originally appeared on IPO investment manager Renaissance Capital's web site renaissancecapital.com.
Investment Disclosure: The information and opinions expressed herein were prepared by Renaissance Capital's research analysts and do not constitute an offer to buy or sell any security. Renaissance Capital's Renaissance IPO ETF (symbol: IPO), Renaissance International ETF (symbol: IPOS), or separately managed institutional accounts may have investments in securities of companies mentioned.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Rise Gardens Debuts Indoor Smart Garden With Alexa Integration
It’s hard to describe the feeling of pride that comes with eating something that you’ve grown yourself
By Cody DeBos
January 15, 2021
Image: Rise Gardens
Growing food looks a lot different than it did even 50 years ago. No longer do you need a sprawling outdoor garden to grow fresh produce for your family. Advancements in the agriculture industry like hydroponics, vertical farming, and smart gardens make it possible to grow things just about anywhere.
These high-tech approaches are highlighted by companies like Rise Gardens. As part of CES 2021, the company announced a new compact Personal Garden. The smart growing system is designed to fit in tight spaces like on a countertop or shelf. It is also equipped with a variety of smart features—including integration with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant—to make growing produce at home easier than ever.
Indoor Farming
It’s hard to describe the feeling of pride that comes with eating something that you’ve grown yourself. Whether that tomato or bowl of power greens was grown in the ground or in a hydroponic indoor garden, enjoying the fruits (or vegetables) of your labor is extremely satisfying. Not to mention the health benefits that come with eating home-grown produce.
For those who don’t have the space (or desire) to plant an outdoor garden, an indoor solution is a great alternative. Rise Gardens’ proprietary systems make it possible to cultivate high-quality produce in a smart, simple way.
The company’s new Personal Garden joins the larger, modular Family Garden as Rise continues to expand its product lineup.
Consumers are able to grow up to four large plants (like peppers, tomatoes, kale, or swiss chard), eight medium plants (such as fresh herbs and certain flowers), or 12 small plants (like radishes, beets, chives, or lavender). It’s also possible to grow microgreens in the compact setup.
The Personal Garden is just 16-inches wide and 11-inches deep, making it a perfect growing system for those with limited space.
How Does it Work?
The thought of growing plants outside of soil might seem baffling to those who aren’t familiar with hydroponics. In essence, the process aims to replicate the ideal conditions that plants would experience if they were growing outside.
The Personal Garden boasts a unique water flow system to hydrate the plants on a continuous basis so they receive just the right amount of water. Naturally-occurring nutrients like nitrate, phosphorous, and potassium are added to the water to help the plants grow. This recreates the effect of adding manure to the soil in an outdoor garden.
Meanwhile, Rise Gardens’ Personal Garden uses an array of custom LEDs to bathe the plants in broad-spectrum light. This replicates the effects of sunlight, helping the plants grow very quickly and year-round.
Finally, the Personal Garden features a number of smart integrations. Rise Gardens is working on an Alexa skill that makes it possible to control the garden’s lights and water pumps hands-free.
In a press release, CEO and founder Hank Adams said, “Ever since Rise Gardens joined the portfolio of Amazon Alexa Fund companies this fall, we’ve been excited to add voice control to our products and work with the Alexa team. Now it’s easier and more fun to grow your own food at home, year-round, even if you’ve never gardened before.”
Rise Gardens also has a smartphone app that sends users reminders about their plants and when to do things like add water or nutrients. Thanks to this smart connection, you don’t need a green thumb to grow fresh, delicious produce.
For anyone that’s looking to get into hydroponics or gardening at home, something like the Personal Garden is a perfect starting point. Then, when you’re ready to expand, Rise Gardens’ larger systems make it easy to grow food for an entire family, entirely indoors.
TAGS CES 2021
Edible Garden To Expand With Ohio Greenhouse Purchase
The new facility is intended to accompany its Flagship Greenhouse in Belvidere, NJ, and partner farms the company contracts nationwide through a cooperative franchise farming model
Edible Garden to expand with Ohio greenhouse purchase
January 13, 2021
Edible GardenComing off of 2020 characterized by national demand and record sales, Edible Garden, Belvidere, N.J., announced today that it has signed a Letter of Intent to purchase a facility in Piqua, OH.
"This agreement is a great opportunity to build on our mission of Zero-Waste Inspired® farming, food safety, traceability, and the reduction of food miles," said Jim Kras, CEO of Edible Garden. "This acquisition aligns our facility with recent distribution wins at retailers including Meijer and Walmart, allowing us to supply fresh produce throughout the Midwest."
The Piqua, OH facility will increase Edible Garden's growing capacity with the introduction of the company's sustainability mandate, GreenThumb™ software technology and packaging innovation. The facility will go through an extensive renovation to accommodate Edible Garden's advanced processes and stringent food safety protocols. The company expects this acquisition will bring dozens of indoor farming and horticultural jobs to the area.
Courtesy Edible Garden
The new facility is intended to accompany its Flagship Greenhouse in Belvidere, NJ, and partner farms the company contracts nationwide through a cooperative franchise farming model.
Edible Garden produce includes USDA-Certified Organic Premium Fresh Cut Herbs, Hydro Fresh Basil, Organic 4" Living Herbs, and Premium Organic Living & Cut Lettuces that are currently available at major retailers including Meijer, Walmart, Kroger, Wakefern/ShopRite, Hannaford, Target, Sweetgreen, Weis, Hmart, among many others.
Edible Garden recently launched an equity crowdfunding campaign via crowd investment platform Republic to help fund the commercialization of advanced environmentally controlled greenhouses. More about the campaign is here: https://republic.co/edible-garden
Logo: Courtesy Edible Garden
Derby Vertical Farming Startup Gets £500K Funding to Develop ‘All In One’ Sensor
Derby-based Light Science Technologies delivers lighting, science and research-proven plant monitoring technology and software in partnership with world-leading university research teams
INVESTMENT NEWS / 13 JAN 2021
Derby-based Light Science Technologies delivers lighting, science and research-proven plant monitoring technology and software in partnership with world-leading university research teams. It delivers the right solution across multiple indoor applications such as vertical farming, medicinal plants, and greenhouses. Its full turnkey solution for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) applications for next-generation scalable farming helps customers grow more with less.
Investment to boost agricultural productivity
Light Science Technologies just secured part of the £90M government investment to support the most innovative technology to boost agricultural productivity and set food production systems towards net zero emissions by 2040.
Furthermore, it is one of the 23 feasibility projects that has been awarded up to £500,000 from £4.3M funding that is meant for Science and Technology into Practice feasibility competition, as part of UKRI’s £90 million Transforming Food Production (TFP) program. Innovate UK drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realize the potential of new ideas. Notably, Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation.
Simon Deacon, CEO of Light Science Technologies added: “This is an especially important boost to our business. To be selected by Innovate UK is confirmation of the urgent need for more sustainable, productive, and cost-effective solutions in farming. Investment in UK technology and innovation in this sector is crucial in achieving a better approach to agricultural production and reducing emissions.”
Innovate UK Executive Chair Dr Ian Campbell said: “There are many innovative projects in our latest feasibility competition showcasing ideas for improving productivity and cutting emissions that range across the whole agricultural sector, from arable, to livestock, to sensor technology and to new biopesticides. Our funding and support for these projects is ongoing.”
Groundbreaking sensor technology
Along with partnership with Nottingham Trent University, the company will lead the project to develop a growing sensor and innovative transmission node for vertical farms over the next six months, which is in synergy with their light and science offering.
The IoT precision data solution for vertical farming will help in boosting 0roductivity and efficiency, thereby reflecting the government’s drive to help the agricultural sector grow economically with less environmental impact.
Light Science Technologies’ ‘all in one’ indoor farm sensor will let farms to monitor and control their environment by measuring key areas such as light, water, air, temperature, humidity, oxygen and soil, thereby ensuring optimal plant productivity and yield. Also, this sensor will form a vital part of its bespoke offering, reducing energy and saving costs using technology and real-time data.
Demand for CEA market!
Of late, there is a growing demand for the Controlled Environment Agricultural (CEA) market, which is growing fast at a CAGR of 21%. The demand is mainly from AgTech CEA farmers looking to install or replace existing indoor farms to achieve a maximum yield on crops for optimum profitability. However, the high startup costs attract investment from stakeholders eyeing the potentially significant ROI opportunity.
Light Science Technologies provides custom-made solution for the CEA market, and works with growers to provide an integrated, cost-effective and low maintenance solution that can be used across different crops to achieve maximum yield. Eventually, it creates the full growing recipe of lighting, nutrients, and the environment.
Notably, Light Science Technologies is focused on becoming a technology-driven trailblazer in vertical farming innovation and technology over the next four years as it eyes to shape up the future of the CEA market.
How Vertical Farms Could Be Ready To Take-Off
Carried out by the John Innes Centre, the University of Bristol, and the aeroponic technology provider LettUs Grow, the study identifies future research areas needed to accelerate the sustainable growth of vertical farming using aeroponic systems
12-01-2021 | LettUsGROW
Vertical farms with their soil-free, computer-controlled environments may sound like sci-fi, but there is a growing environmental and economic case for them, according to new research laying out radical ways of putting food on our plates.
The interdisciplinary study combining biology and engineering sets down steps towards accelerating the growth of this branch of precision agriculture, including the use of aeroponics which uses nutrient-enriched aerosols in place of soil.
Carried out by the John Innes Centre, the University of Bristol, and the aeroponic technology provider LettUs Grow, the study identifies future research areas needed to accelerate the sustainable growth of vertical farming using aeroponic systems.
Dr. Antony Dodd, a Group Leader at the John Innes Centre and senior author of the study, says: “By bringing fundamental biological insights into the context of the physics of growing plants in an aerosol, we can help the vertical farming business become more productive more quickly while producing healthier food with less environmental impact.”
Jack Farmer, Chief Scientific Officer at LettUs Grow and one of the authors of the study, adds: “Climate change is only going to increase the demand for this technology. Projected changes in regional weather patterns and water availability are likely to impact agricultural productivity soon. Vertical farming offers the ability to grow high-value nutritious crops in a climate-resilient manner all year round, proving a reliable income stream for growers.”
Vertical farming is a type of indoor agriculture where crops are cultivated in stacked systems with water, lighting and nutrient sources carefully controlled.
It is part of a rapidly growing sector supported by artificial intelligence in which machines are taught to manage day to day horticultural tasks. The industry is set to grow annually by 21% by 2025 according to one commercial forecast (Grand View Research, 2019).
Green benefits include better use of space because vertical farms can be sited in urban locations, fewer food miles, isolation from pathogens, reduction in soil degradation and nutrient and water recapturing and recycling.
Vertical farms also allow product consistency, price stabilization, and cultivation at latitudes incompatible with certain crops such as the desert or arctic.
“Vertical systems allow us to extend the latitude range on which crops can be grown on the planet, from the deserts of Dubai to the 4-hour winter days of Iceland. In fact, if you were growing crops on Mars you would need to use this kind of technology because there is no soil,” says Dr Dodd.
The study, which appears in the journal New Phytologist, lays out seven steps – strategic areas of future research needed to underpin increased productivity and sustainability of aeroponic vertical farms.
These seek to understand:
Why aeroponic cultivation can be more productive than hydroponic or soil cultivation
The relationship between aeroponic cultivation and 24-hour circadian rhythms of plants
Root development of a range of crops in aeroponic conditions
The relationship between aerosol droplet size and deposition and plant performance
How we can establish frameworks for comparing vertical farming technologies for a range of crops
How aeroponic methods affect microbial interactions with plant roots
The nature of recycling of root exudates (fluids secreted by the roots of plants) within the nutrient solutions of closed aeroponic systems
The report argues that a driver of technological innovation in vertical farms is minimising operation costs whilst maximising productivity – and that investment in fundamental biological research has a significant role.
Dr. Dodd’s research area covers circadian rhythms – biological clocks that align plant physiology and molecular processes to the day to day cycle of light and dark. He recently completed a year-long Royal Society Industry Fellowship with LettUs Grow.
This involved combining Dr Dodd’s expertise in circadian rhythms and plant physiology with the work of LettUs Grow’s team of biologists and engineers to design optimal aeroponic cultivation regimens. This is a key area of investigation as these molecular internal timers will perform differently in vertical farms.
Aeroponic platforms are often used to grow high-value crops such as salads, pak choi, herbs, small brassica crops, pea shoots, and bean shoots. LettUs Grow are also working on growth regimens for fruiting and rooting crops such as strawberries and carrots, as well as aeroponic propagation of trees for both fruit and forestry.
John Innes Centre researchers have bred a line of broccoli adapted to grow indoors for a major supermarket and one of the aims of research will be to test how we can genetically tune more crops to grow in the controlled space of vertical farms.
Bethany Eldridge, a researcher at the University of Bristol studying root-environment interactions and first author of the study adds: “Given that 80% of agricultural land worldwide is reported to have moderate or severe erosion, the ability to grow crops in a soilless system with minimal fertilizers and pesticides is advantageous because it provides an opportunity to grow crops in areas facing soil erosion or other environmental issues such as algal blooms in local water bodies that may have been driven by traditional, soil-based, agriculture.”
Lilly Manzoni, Head of Research and Development at LettUs Grow and one of the authors of the study says, “This paper is unique because it is broader than a typical plant research paper, it combines the expertise of engineers, aerosol scientists, plant biologists, and horticulturalists. The wonderful thing about controlled environment agriculture and aeroponics is that it is truly interdisciplinary”
The study ‘Getting to the Roots of Aeroponic Indoor Farming‘ appears in the New Phytologist journal.
Source and Photo Courtesy of LettUsGROW