Welcome to iGrow News, Your Source for the World of Indoor Vertical Farming
Two New Hirers For Horticultural Lighting Specialist
Vertically Urban is excited to welcome Jon Potter and Phoebe Sutton to the team. The two recruits have been bought on board to meet the brand's growth objectives and further improve its scientifically based development process
Vertically Urban, the Leeds-based manufacturer of LED solutions, has welcomed two new specialists to its growing team.
Vertically Urban is excited to welcome Jon Potter and Phoebe Sutton to the team. The two recruits have been bought on board to meet the brand's growth objectives and further improve its scientifically based development process.
Jon joins as Business Development Director, with a wealth of LED lighting and controls knowledge gained from his time with Philip's Lighting and the Aurora group.
In his new role, Jon will be helping to grow the Vertically Urban brand working directly with growers, partners, and system integrators to bring horticultural lighting solutions into several application areas.
Phoebe enters the newly-created position of Plant Biologist, bringing a plethora of research experience in plant photobiology. She has a specific interest in integrating her research and expertise into the vertical farming industry.
Currently, Phoebe is completing a Ph.D. in the optimization of LED lighting regimes to increase the phytonutrient content in hydroponically grown herbaceous crops. In the new role, she will be managing the brand's onsite laboratories to ensure the optimum formula for LED grow lights.
Andrew Littler, CEO of Vertically Urban, says:
"We are thrilled to have both Jon and Phoebe on the team. Following our successful Seedrs campaign last year, we set some ambitious growth plans to help us meet the fluctuation in industry demand for sustainable, efficient LED horticultural lighting solutions. We pride ourselves on our standard and bespoke products, which we scientifically fine-tuned to specific crop requirements. With Phoebe in place, we are certain to improve our formulas further, and with Jon growing our customer bases, tapping into new markets, we are sure to hit our targets."
ENDS
About Vertically Urban
Vertically Urban is a specialist horticultural lighting manufacturer based in Leeds. It designs and manufactures its products in the United Kingdom using the highest photon yielding LEDs available. The Leeds-based factory has full manufacturing capabilities. Using its bio-science know-how, they aim to light the farms of the future by providing efficient LED lighting solutions that are easy to install and set up.
Scale Microgrid Solutions Brings Indoor Farm Microgrid Online
Scale Microgrid’s modular microgrid for Fifth Season, a startup indoor farming company, uses 160 kW of photovoltaic solar panels, 200 kW of lithium ion batteries and a 1,200-kW natural gas generator outfitted with advanced emissions control technology
July 16, 2021
Scale Microgrid Solutions brought a 1.75-MW microgrid online for a major indoor farm near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
By ESstock/Shutterstock.com
Scale Microgrid’s modular microgrid for Fifth Season, a startup indoor farming company, uses 160 kW of photovoltaic solar panels, 200 kW of lithium-ion batteries, and a 1,200-kW natural gas generator outfitted with advanced emissions control technology.
The microgrid provides ancillary services to the electric grid and is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 470,000 pounds a year, or the equivalent of taking 39 passenger cars off the road, according to Scale.
Fifth Season’s Braddock indoor farm uses 97% less land and up to 95% less water than traditional farming, according to Scale. Fifth Season uses robotics and artificial intelligence to grow leafy vegetables and herbs year-round.
Fifth Season needs cheap, clean and reliable power to create the ideal indoor farming environment, the Ridgewood, New Jersey-based company said.
“Fifth Season is paving the way for indoor farming, and Scale is improving their energy efficiency and grid resilience, reducing their costs and mitigating their greenhouse gas emissions,” Ryan Goodman, Scale CEO, and co-founder, said July 13.
Scale owns and operates the microgrid at the 60,000-square-foot Braddock farm under an energy-as-a-service contract. Fifth Season didn’t have to pay upfront costs for the microgrid.
The project uses Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor (EMA), a cloud-based, demand-side energy management software platform. EMA uses predictive and learning algorithms, which will help Scale efficiently manage the production and use of its renewable energy.
Scale and Schneider previously worked together developing a microgrid for a Bowery Farming indoor farm in New Jersey. The microgrid, commissioned in 2019, includes 815 kW of natural gas-fired generation, 150 kW of solar, and 200 kW of battery storage, according to Scale.
Scale is backed by a $300 million equity commitment from global private equity firm Warburg Pincus.
How To Maximize Resource Efficiency In Controlled Environment Ag Operations
Join Meena Sankara, KETOS CEO, and Tinia Pina, Re-Nuble CEO, for a discussion about the most significant challenges and opportunities facing Controlled Environment Agriculture operations
Tuesday, August 3 @ 12:30 pm ET / 9:30 am PT
Wednesday, August 4 @ 9:00 am ET / 1 pm GMT
Meena Sankara, KETOS CEO
Join Meena Sankara, KETOS CEO, and Tinia Pina, Re-Nuble CEO, for a discussion about the most significant challenges and opportunities facing Controlled Environment Agriculture operations. In this webinar you will learn:
Tinia Pina, Re-Nuble CEO
Why water management is important in the CEA industry
Challenges soilless/indoor farms face when improving water management efficiency
How soilless operations (including vertical farms and greenhouses) can be more resource-efficient
Strategies for the nutrient wastewater recovery
Which waste recovery solutions are best for your operation
August 3rd Webinar Registration
August 4th Webinar Registration
![[Webinar] Importance of Operations Metrics In Building Sustainable Farms](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57c8695d5016e11e71be1d83/1626525578691-0Q8YQPTVPAR0IENLQJYM/unnamed+%281%29.png)
[Webinar] Importance of Operations Metrics In Building Sustainable Farms
Indoor Ag-Con & the Center of Excellence for Indoor Agriculture invite you to join us as we announce the Manufacturer winners of the first "Best In Class" Awards!
HOW IMPORTANT ARE
OPERATIONS METRICS IN BUILDING
SUSTAINABLE FARMS?
Join Our Next Conversation & Find Out!
AUGUST 4, 2021 11 AM - 12 PM EDT
Indoor Ag-Con & The Center of Excellence For Indoor Agriculture invite you to join us as we announce the Manufacturer winners
of the first "Best In Class" Awards!
The Finalists in the Production System and Lighting Solution awards sectors and investment thought leaders join our idea-packed panel to discuss:
How to build sustainable Triple Bottom Line farm operations
The importance of operations management, benchmarking, and continuous improvement to support sustainable indoor farming
The importance of recognizing operations excellence, the purpose of Best in Class awards, and their role in promoting farm metrics
How metrics can contribute to future investment in indoor ag
Ways to build indoor farms that can achieve long-term sustainable economic results while supporting job creation, workforce development, and environmental goals.
And More!
Moderator:
Eric W. Stein, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Center of Excellence for I
ndoor Agriculture and Associate Professor of Business At Penn State
SAVE YOUR FREE SPOT!
"Precision Indoor Propagation For High Quality Transplants" - August 3rd Tuesday 11:00 AM Eastern Time
Indoor Ag Science Cafe is an open discussion forum, planned and organized by the OptimIA project team
August Indoor Ag Science Cafe
August 3rd Tuesday 11:00 AM Eastern Time
Please sign up, thank you!
by
Dr. Ricardo Hernandez
North Carolina State University
Please sign up to receive your Zoom link.
Indoor Ag Science Cafe is an open discussion forum, planned and organized by the OptimIA project team.
OptimIA (Optimizing Indoor Agriculture) is a project funded by the USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative and supported by many of you receiving this email (thank you!).
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VIDEO: Foundation Farms, Corp., Reports A Second Harvest Is Currently Underway
Following an overwhelmingly positive response from customers who purchased the first crop last month, the word is spreading throughout the surrounding communities and this second crop is already sold even before harvesting has been completed
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 15, 2021 / Foundation Farms, Corp., ('Foundation Farms') a subsidiary of GME Innotainment, Inc. (OTC PINK:GMEV) today reported that the second harvest is currently underway at the company's E-ROOTS CENTRE located in the Red Deer, Alberta area.
Following an overwhelmingly positive response from customers who purchased the first crop last month, the word is spreading throughout the surrounding communities and this second crop is already sold even before harvesting has been completed. Consumers have been delighted with the "no blemishes" produce and we have had numerous reports that the flavors and palatability of the vegetable greens are, "much better than anything that we have ever purchased at local supermarkets."
In response to the market demand, the company has expanded from an assortment of six basic leafy greens and herbs in the first crop to a total of 14 leafy greens and herbs, two fruits (strawberries and cayenne peppers), and four varieties of edible flowers in this second crop. Management and on-site staff also report the very successful functioning of the E-ROOTS system with minimal labor input.
When asked about these results, Ed Kroeker, CEO of Foundation Farms stated "I am pleased to report that, if anything, we may have under-estimated the expectations we have held until now. There is a lot of attention paid to tangible benefits of vertical farming including environmental sustainability, low water usage, ability to convert urban waste spaces to food production, and reduction of food transportation logistics. Our E-ROOTS CENTRES are demonstrating that we can produce plant-based food products whose culinary qualities supersede anything currently available in conventional food markets. We plan to have the same impact on the plant-based food market as Angus-beef branding has had on the red meat market. This will soon become even more evident as we are getting ready to announce several new joint ventures."
Yves R. Michel, CEO of GMEV further added, "In just a few short months of production at the Red Deer area vertical farm, Foundation Farms is demonstrating an ability to set a new standard of excellence in this industry and the demand for the products supports profitability projections. With product demand this high for smaller population centers, I am excited to see what happens once some of the larger population centers get hold of this technology.
CONTACT:
Yves R. Michel
Chief Executive Officer and Director
208 East 51st St., Suite 170
New York, NY 10022
www.srcorpgroup.com
OTCPink: GMEV
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties and on information available to the Company as of the date hereof. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied, due to risks and uncertainties associated with its business, which include the risk factors disclosed in its latest Annual Report on OTCMarkets.com, it’s Regulation A+ Offering Statement, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained therein. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "plans," "anticipate," "believe," "could," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will" and "would" or similar words. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
SOURCE: GME Innotainment, Inc.
HPNow And Kaneya Sign HPGen™ Distribution Agreement For Japanese High-Tech Horticulture Market
Agreement will provide Japan’s cutting-edge horticulture growers with access to HPGen™ benefits in autonomous, safe, and sustainable irrigation water treatment
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, and MINAMICHITA, JAPAN (July 15, 2021) – HPNow, a global provider of HPGen™ Peroxide UltraPure™ on-site generation solutions, and Kaneya, Japan’s leading distributor of advanced horticulture inputs and solutions, are pleased to announce the signing of an HPGen™ distribution agreement for the Japanese market.
The Kaneya team with the HPGen™ system
Kaneya is a leader in the horticulture industry in Japan. The company has a large international network, and its mission as a distributor of high-end greenhouses and related equipment and inputs is to contribute to the future of advanced horticulture. The HPGen™ systems will play key role in supporting the company’s vision. Kaneya is active in 10 countries, and also operates its own high-tech greenhouse.
The distribution agreement will give Japan access to HPNow’s patented technology solution for autonomous, safe, and sustainable on-site generation of ultrapure hydrogen peroxide. HPGen has already proven strong effectiveness in agriculture operations around the world, providing for improved crop protection and reduced irrigation system maintenance across a wide range of crops, cultivation methods, and climates. Many HPGen customers further report increased crop yields.
“We’re very pleased to be working together with such an esteemed company as Kaneya,” comments Ziv Gottesfeld, CEO of HPNow. “Japan is at the forefront of controlled-environment agriculture, and this agreement is illustrative of the confidence the industry has in our products to support its cutting-edge cultivation methods.”
“We are looking forward to a strong collaboration with HPNow in the Japanese market,” adds Kazuta Aoyama, International Sales and Business Development Manager with Kaneya. “The HPGen technology offers exciting benefits to Japanese growers, which they will be eager to integrate into their operations.”
About Kaneya
Celebrating its golden anniversary, Kaneya is a leading horticultural and agricultural solution provider, selling and distributing products that range from its core, technologically advanced offering of plastic pots and trays, to a variety of other related products produced by leading horticulture companies around the world, including substrate, seeds, and plants, greenhouse equipment, fertilizer, etc. With more than 12,000 customers on record, and some 5,000 active, satisfied, and fiercely loyal active customers, Kaneya operates throughout Japan and exports its products to 10 countries, and has established itself as a global force in the horticulture industry.
About HPNow
HPNow addresses growing global challenges in clean water and sanitation through its range of on-site, autonomous, safe and sustainable hydrogen peroxide generation solutions. Headquartered in Copenhagen, and with representation across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, they address their clients’ water treatment needs in market segments ranging from agriculture and aquaculture, to industrial and drinking water treatment. HPNow is a technology and market leader in on-site generation of hydrogen peroxide and is continuously striving to further advance its technology and products in order to meet growing market needs and rising global demand.
Stay in the loop by following HPNow on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Optimizing Resource Use Efficiency In CEA System
An important factor affecting the profitability of vertical farming is a grower’s ability to consistently deliver a predictable product
Date: July 29, 2021
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. EDT
Presented by: Murat Kacira (The University of Arizona)
Click Here To Register
Webinar Description
An important factor affecting the profitability of vertical farming is a grower’s ability to consistently deliver a predictable product. To achieve this, growers must create an environment that supplies all the crop’s needs over its entire growth cycle by identifying and co-optimizing environmental variables such as CO2, light, humidity, airflow, and other parameters. This presentation will focus on real-time sensing, monitoring, and climate control strategies with system designs for environmental uniformity leading to enhanced resource use efficiency in CEA system.
Dr. Murat Kacira (Professor)
Murat Kacira is director of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center and he is a professor in the Biosystems Engineering Department at the University of Arizona. He received his B.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering in Cukurova University in Turkey and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering from The Ohio State University in USA. His research involves automation, environmental control, alternative energy integrated CEA systems and resource use optimization in controlled environment agriculture systems including greenhouses and vertical farming-based plant factories with artificial lighting. He is a member of American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), American Society of Horticultural Sciences (ASHS), and International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS). He serves as Chair of the Division Precision Horticulture Engineering under ISHS.
Special thanks to our Industry partners
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If you have any questions or would like to know more about GLASE, please contact its executive director Erico Mattos at em796@cornell.edu
The Global Food Security & Sustainability Virtual Summit 2021 "Towards A Future Safe Global Food System"
The food crisis faced during the pandemic is a wake-up call for both developed and developing countries of the looming crisis facing the world when the next major crisis hits us, be it climate change, pandemics, etc
Overview
The Global food system is at a critical stage and made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. As many as 265 million people are threatened by famine, up 50% on last year; 700 million suffer from chronic hunger; and 2 billion more from malnutrition, with obesity and associated diet-related diseases increasing in all world regions. During the height of the pandemic with lockdowns, we have witnessed the collapse of the global food system with reports of food producers resorting to dumping their produce.
The food crisis faced during the pandemic is a wake-up call for both developed and developing countries of the looming crisis facing the world when the next major crisis hits us, be it climate change, pandemics, etc.
Website link: https://pinnaclegroup.global/gfsss/
Website Registration Link https://pinnaclegroup.global/gfsss/delegate-attendance-opportunities/
Linkedin event: https://www.linkedin.com/events/theglobalfoodsecurity-sustainab6786907097511669760/
Although the world has progressed significantly in terms of technology advancements in food production, food is not distributed in an equitable manner to regions, countries, households, and individuals. Government policies, availability of investments and technological know-how, and improved access to food supplies are key issues that meet the urgent food needs of the world’s growing population. New and innovative farming technologies such as high-tech agriculture and aquaculture methods that produce more yields inland and urban conditions offer hope for the future.
The Global Food Security & Sustainability Virtual Summit 2021 held on the 17th of September 2021, would be one of the most important events ever held to address the critical issues of food security from the local level to the global level, and from an interdisciplinary and systemic food systems perspective. The summit will invite multi-stakeholders from governmental organizations, private sector businesses, and NGOs to address the current disruptions and possible solutions on the world food supply chain. Discussions will also include issues surrounding sustainability issues and how societies and businesses can design more sustainable solutions in their entire food chain to minimize impact to the environment and reduce food waste
See You At This Landmark Event
LettUs Grow, GrowStack, Digital Farming & Farm Urban Collaborating To Deliver Four Social-Impact Vertical Farming Projects In Wales
Vertical farming, a way of growing crops indoors on stacked shelves, can be beneficial for people, plants and the planet. It allows growers to provide fresh, healthy produce to their local area 365 days of the year and can help to supplement outdoor growing
Source: LettUs Grow
07/12/21
Four major UK vertical farming companies, LettUs Grow, Digital Farming, Farm Urban and GrowStack, are collaborating to bring the benefits of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) to Welsh communities. This is one of the widest collaborations between leading CEA tech providers in the UK to date, with a focus on delivering vertical farms across different locations in Wales as part of a social impact and community-focused project called Crop Cycle.
Vertical farming, a way of growing crops indoors on stacked shelves, can be beneficial for people, plants and the planet. It allows growers to provide fresh, healthy produce to their local area 365 days of the year and can help to supplement outdoor growing. It diversifies our supply chains and boosts local food security. It also has a long stream of environmental benefits, such as using fewer resources including land or water, removing the use of chemical pesticides and reducing the need to transport food across seas. However, a common criticism of vertical farming is that it’s not always accessible or affordable to areas under-served by our food networks.
Crop Cycle is looking to bring the benefits of vertical farming directly to communities that could benefit most and is being funded by the Welsh Government through the Foundational Economy Challenge Fund. The project is being led by Social Farms and Gardens, supported by Welsh Government's NutriWales CEA Special Interest Group and BIC Innovation.
The project enables multiple different CEA systems to be tailored to fit different community settings, whilst also allowing them to be assessed in coordination across the pilot sites. This approach is unique, facilitating the testing of new socially focused business models, the engagement of the local communities and businesses with CEA and the development of new technical solutions. LettUs Grow, Digital Farming, GrowStack and Farm Urban are working together to share their specialisms and apply different technologies to where they are best suited within four sites in Wales, two of which are in the Valleys.
This project will introduce year-round food growing right into the heart of Welsh communities, where they’ll be connected to the particular dynamics of the local area. Activities will test new community-based engagement models, focusing on social well-being, local entrepreneurship and environmental impact. In this way, the project will be bringing together community, businesses and local public sector organisations.
Gary Mitchell, the Wales Manager for Social Farms and Gardens who is leading the project team stated, "we are excited to be running the pilot project across a diverse set of sites to gain insight and further knowledge into how new agricultural systems can successfully support communities in delivering local, fresh and nutritious foods as well as important social benefits in a sustainable manner."
Welcome To Our Woods
Welcome To Our Woods in Treherbert is nestled in the heart of the Rhondda Valleys, where LettUs Grow and GrowStack will be delivering an aeroponic and hydroponic vertical container farm. This proactive community group has been actively engaging with its communities through partnerships with the Green Valleys CIC and their joint ‘Skyline’ project. This partnership has led to several funding investments in the region, exploring community ownership of land and the benefits of allowing the community to utilise their surrounding natural green assets.
Chris Nelson, director of GrowStack said: “Growstack are delighted to be working alongside LettUs Grow and Digital Farming as part of this important social enterprise. It is always fantastic to be part of a project that champions vertical farming and really shares in the values of what this approach to food production can offer, including the benefits to the local community. Working in partnership with innovative farming companies is always a pleasure, as together we can combine our expertise to deliver outstanding results.”
Ian Thomas from Welcome To Our Woods said, “We are excited to be bringing such an innovative and progressive project to our local high street. We have already been engaging with the Upper Rhondda community to explore the projects that actively use our woodlands for the benefit of those they surround, and initiatives such as this help give local people an idea of what can be achieved."
Cultivate
Two linked sites will be in Newtown, one within the established community growing space attached to the Newtown Campus of the Neath Port Talbot College Group, and one within a new town centre ‘Circular Economy’ shop. The two CEA systems, provided by LettUs Grow and Digital Farming, are being integrated into an active college site and managed by a community group, with a cafe and kitchen, shop, deli and veg box scheme in place. The site is supported by Cultivate, which is a membership cooperative linking food and community. Cultivate aims to address many of the issues associated with the modern food system, and focus on creating sustainable local food solutions.
Charlie Guy, co-founder and CEO of LettUs Grow said this about the collaborations: “LettUs Grow is delighted to be working alongside these leaders of the UK vertical farming ecosystem and inspiring community projects. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were implemented the same year as our foundation and have never been far from our minds. SDG 17 ‘Partnerships for the Goals’ rings especially true for us. We believe a brighter future can only be realised with inclusive partnerships and strong cooperation, built on shared values and a vision which places people and the planet at its epicentre.”
Greenmeadow Community Farm
Greenmeadow Community Farm in Cwmbran is being delivered by Digital Farming. It is one of only two ‘city farms’ in Wales and one which connects people to food and farming in a very public way. It is owned and operated by Torfaen County Borough Council, bringing with it a high-level partnership. The farm already welcomes thousands of visitors through its gates and connects locally through a number of schools and college partnerships – making it an ideal ‘showcase’ location for this pilot. Digital Farming were commissioned to deliver the Digital Farm in a container for pilot production of high nutrition greens and herbs. The system uses V-Farm patented growing systems linked to Digital Farming’s smart digital management system powered by solar PV.
Dr Gareth Jones, CEO of Digital Farming, said, “we were delighted to be awarded this project and have been enjoying working with the team at Social Farms and Gardens and Greenmeadow to bring together a new concept to explore the business of growing locally using controlled environment agriculture to enhance nutrition for communities.”
Xplore! Science Discovery Centre
The final site is in Xplore! Science Discovery Centre, situated in the centre of Wrexham: a brand new science centre that will support the promotion of urban agriculture in north Wales’ largest urban area. The vertical farming system is provided by Farm Urban. It will reach out to all generations, showcasing new technology and modern horticulture methods, blended with traditional growing experience. Xplore! welcomes public visitors, school groups and provides a range of educational workshops.
Paul Myers, Managing Director of Farm Urban said: “We are thrilled to be able to offer our hydroponic Edible Wall systems, Produce Pod aquaponic systems and learning programmes across all four sites involved in the Crop Cycle project. The team at Farm Urban have loved working alongside the four community organisations, they are all so enthusiastic and engaged which is exactly what we need for the social and environmental benefits of CEA to be shared across the UK and beyond. It has been a privilege to work alongside industry leaders GrowStack, LettUs Grow and Digital Farming learning more about their systems and approach. One of the many highlights of this project has been the openness and willingness to share and collaborate between all partners which is so important to drive the industry forward.”
To follow the progress of the community grow sites, you can follow Crop Cycle on social media, and technology providers LettUs Grow, Digital Farming, GrowStack and Farm Urban.
Tags: Indoor & Vertical Farming, Processing & Supply Chain | AgTech
Earth911 Podcast: Freight Farms’ Jake Felser On Hydroponic Agriculture & Container Farming
Earth911 talks with Jake Felser, chief technology officer at Freight Farms, about the company’s “complete farming system inside a box.”
By Earth911
JULY 14, 2021
Earth911 talks with Jake Felser, chief technology officer at Freight Farms, about the company’s “complete farming system inside a box.” It’s a very big box that includes climate controls and monitoring systems to make farming easy for anyone to do. Freight Farms builds and delivers shipping containers converted into highly efficient hydroponic farms that use LED lighting to grow and deliver fresh produce year-round.
Jake discusses the cost of getting started, how many people are needed to run the farm, and how the built-in automation helps farmers plan a profitable business. Grocers, restaurants, communities, and small farms are using Freight Farms installations at 350 farms in 49 states and 32 countries. The company says most of its customers are new to agriculture and operate right in the urban and rural communities they serve.
Jake Felser, CTO at Freight Farms, visits Sustainability in Your Ear to talk about automated hydroponic gardening in shipping containers.
Growing and distributing vegetables locally is one of the most effective ways to lower our society’s carbon footprint. While agriculture contributes about 10% of the U.S. greenhouse gas emissions each year, the majority of that is from raising animals. By increasing our consumption of locally grown vegetables, we can improve local health and reduce overall emissions from transportation. It’s not easy to grow food in most cities using traditional methods. The introduction of container farms and vertical farming inside buildings can reshape food deserts and create economic opportunities.
To learn more, visit FreightFarms.com.
Subscribe to Sustainability in Your Ear on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.
Follow Sustainability in Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube
Tags: container farming, Freight Farms, hydroponics, reinventing agriculture
Polygreens Podcast Episode: 34 Vijay Rapaka - Oasis Company
Skilled in Research and New Product Development, Strategic Planning, and Research Management. Successfully developed and launched several groundbreaking technologies
In this episode, Joe and Nick interview Vijay Rapaka, an experienced technical professional, passionate and motivated to deliver commercial value through research and innovation. Skilled in Research and New Product Development, Strategic Planning, and Research Management. Successfully developed and launched several groundbreaking technologies.
Latest Episode
RMA Authorizes Emergency Procedures To Help Drought-Impacted Producers
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency is working with crop insurance companies to streamline and accelerate the adjustment of losses and issuance of indemnity payments to crop insurance policyholders in impacted areas, according to a news release
By TOM KARST
July 13, 2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is authorizing emergency procedures to help agricultural producers impacted by extreme drought conditions.
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency is working with crop insurance companies to streamline and accelerate the adjustment of losses and issuance of indemnity payments to crop insurance policyholders in impacted areas, according to a news release.
The agency said the new crop insurance flexibilities are part of USDA’s broader response to help producers impacted by drought, in the West, Northern Great Plains, Caribbean and other areas.
“Crop insurance helps producers weather natural disasters like drought,” RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy said in the release. “We recognize the distress experienced by farmers and ranchers because of drought, and these emergency procedures will authorize insurance companies to expedite the claims process, enabling them to plant a new crop or a cover crop.”
Emergency procedures allow insurance companies to accept delayed notices of loss in certain situations, streamline paperwork, and reduce the number of required representative samples when damage is consistent, according to the release.
Producers should contact their crop insurance agent as soon as they notice damage, the agency said.
The insurance company must have an opportunity to inspect the crop before the producer puts their crop acres to another use. If the company cannot make an accurate appraisal, or the producer disagrees with the appraisal at the time the acreage is to be destroyed or no longer cared for, the insurance company and producer can determine representative sample areas to be left intact and maintained for future appraisal purposes, according to the release. Once an insured crop has been appraised and released, or representative strips have been authorized for later appraisal, the producer may cut the crop for silage, destroy it or take any other action on the land including planting a cover crop, the release said.
Additional information on these emergency procedures is available on RMA’s Crop Insurance and Drought Damaged Crop webpage.
Farming During The Dry Age
The period of 2000 to 2018 was the second driest 19-year period in over a thousand years. Let that sink in for a few moments. Global warming drives increased evaporation, causing droughts to become more likely and more severe where they already exist
The period of 2000 to 2018 was the second driest 19-year period in over a thousand years. Let that sink in for a few moments. Global warming drives increased evaporation, causing droughts to become more likely and more severe where they already exist.
The past 10 to 20 years have been some of the driest on record, especially for the west coast of the United States. 70% of the land in the West is already in severe drought, and the National Weather Service estimates that the area is closer to 90%. Water demand is expected to rise by 55% by 2050, so planning how to provide more water with a diminishing supply is not a matter of whether one believes in climate change, it’s a crisis.
These climate events in the west have economic impacts worth noting water shortages during the 2015 droughts in California resulted in almost $2 billion in direct costs. On average, one drought event causes a 0.8% decrease in agricultural GDP, let alone the cost to the population.
With California responsible for a large portion of the country’s produce and experiencing extremely dry conditions, indoor farming is the only option. CEA (controlled environment agriculture) where environmental factors are manipulated can help keep the west coast's agricultural sector intact.
Greenhouses, whether traditional or vertical uses methods such as drip irrigation that save up to 30-50% of the water it would take to conventionally grow using surface irrigation. Up to half the amount of an outdoor farm. Overall, reports indicate that greenhouses create around a 60% water savings during crop cultivation.
Droughts affect not only the direct air and soil of an open farm, but also the types of pests and pathogens living in them. When a climate drastically changes, the organisms that thrive there adapt much quicker than the plant’s ability to resist them. With the U.S. already using over one billion pounds of pesticides per year, as drier environments invite new pests and pathogens that native crops are ill-equipped to handle on their own either crops will die, or pesticide use will increase.
The agricultural economy along the West Coast and indeed across the U.S. and the world will need to adapt their growing techniques to meet the demand of a growing population and conserve water. Indoor growing saves water during growing cycles and significantly reduces crop loss, pesticide use, and GHG’s.
Droughts along the West Coast are already transforming the farming landscape as we watch farmers plow crops under knowing that there won’t be enough water to sustain them throughout the summer. Crops grown indoors can be both protected and hydrated with indoor technologies that are more secure for feeding people and sustaining the planet.
Hallie Cordingley, Intern
Carl Silverberg, Sr. VP Outreach & Public Affairs
844 746 4868
AppHarvest: Firing On All Cylinders
AppHarvest has three quality characteristics that show it is stronger than most of its agtech competitors
Written by Jamie Louko
July 12, 2021
Summary
AppHarvest is trying to reimagine how consumers see produce.
With sustainability as one of their key focuses, AppHarvest separates itself from the pack of traditional farmers, and its size, scalability, and offering selection separate itself from other agtech players.
In this article, I am going to examine some of the most recent news AppHarvest has shared with investors, as well as looking back at AppHarvest compared with other agtech players.
AnnaStills/iStock via Getty Images
Investment Thesis
The agtech and sustainable farming industry has proved to be more efficient and sustainable compared to traditional farming. However, the difference and competitive edge lie between each sustainable farming business. These agtech businesses achieve similar sustainability and efficiency goals, so the competitive advantage comes in other forms. AppHarvest's (APPH) competitive advantage comes in the form of the size and scale potential of their farms, as well as their broad expansion of product offerings. Because of this, AppHarvest is one of the stronger players in the agtech space, and investors who want to play in this industry should be considering AppHarvest before other competitors.
Where We Last Left Off, and What's New
In my last article about AppHarvest, a large-scale indoor farming business operating in central Appalachia, I focused on the competitive advantages over traditional farming operations. Since then, other indoor farming businesses similar to AppHarvest have come out of the woodwork and announced plans to trade as public companies. Some of these businesses include AeroFarms (SV, will become ARFM), a sustainable farmer focused on vertical farming, Local Bounti (LIII, will become LOCL), an indoor farming business located in the pacific northwest, and Infarm, a German-based distributor who has become the world-leader in indoor farming. Infarm has rumored to becoming public via SPAC with Kernel Group Holdings Inc. (KRNL), but nothing definitive has been reached.
As these businesses show their superiority, they all claim similar sustainability and efficiency metrics. Most businesses claim that their use of water is extremely efficient, as is their optimization for crop growth, and their LEDs allow for optimal sunlight. Simply, all of these businesses have very similar technology that makes them superior to traditional farming, but this does not mean success for any individual business within the agtech industry. They all show that the agtech industry is superior, but rather they should focus on what makes their business superior to other agtech players.
Source: Investor Presentation
In my opinion, traditional farming is a dying industry, and it is sensible that sustainable farming and greenhouses will be the future of farming. Therefore, it is sensible that the agtech business should be demonstrating its competitive advantages over other agtech competitors, rather than traditional farming.
AppHarvest, even in this sense, does stand out from the competition. They are slowly becoming a bigger player in this space, and one that is starting to run ahead of the pack. While other agtech businesses are busy constructing their first farm, AppHarvest has jumped ahead with the production of its next 4 farms. While its competitors are starting small with only 1-2-acre farms, AppHarvest has positioned itself well with 15-60-acre farms. AppHarvest's competitors are currently focusing on one product category, yet AppHarvest is rapidly expanding its product offerings.
In an industry that is growing rapidly, AppHarvest is executing everywhere it needs to, and it is allowing for AppHarvest to set itself apart from the competition.
Competitive Advantages Over Agtech Businesses
AppHarvest has three quality characteristics that show it is stronger than most of its agtech competitors. Due to the size and scalability of its farms, expansion in offerings, and consistent execution, AppHarvest is proving to investors that they are one of the stronger players in this industry.
Size and Scale of Farms
One of AppHarvest's strongest competitive advantages within the agtech space is the size of its facilities. These facilities are absolutely massive, with their first facility 60 acres in size. This allows for mass production of sustainable-grown produce at a scale that no other agtech business has. These facilities can often take longer to construct, but once constructed, there is a long runway for growth and full-scale operations for it. It would take substantially less time to fully scale a farm this size compared to building and scaling 60 1-acre greenhouses.
The second option is what Local Bounti is doing, for their facilities are only 1-2-acre facilities. They plan on constructing 9 facilities by 2025, 8 of which will be roughly 5 acres, which would only lead to a maximum growing capacity of 42 acres. This goal of 42 acres would be less than AppHarvest's currently operating growing capacity.
Clearly, the size of AppHarvest's farms is a massive advantage for them. The scalability of these farms gives them an even greater lead. AppHarvest expects production of their first facility in Morehead, Kentucky to be fully scaled by the end of 2021, whereas Local Bounti's 42 acres would not be fully operational and scaled until at least 2025. AppHarvest would then have 4 years of fully-scaled operations to build a brand, strengthen the balance sheet, and fuel more growth for AppHarvest.
The scalability shows itself through guidance estimates for FY 2021 as well. By the year's end, at full-production, AppHarvest expects to make $21 million in revenue, whereas Local Bounti only expects to make $13 million by the end of 2022. The size and scalability of AppHarvest's farms are simply unmatched by its competitors, and as they build more farms (I will dive into that shortly), these size and scale advantages will only become more prevalent.
Offering Expansion
Compared to its competitors, AppHarvest is planning to expand its product offerings at a faster rate. One of the keys to success for these agtech businesses is having a successful brand, and one way to grow a brand is to put it in the eyes of more customers. One way to do this is by expanding the products offered. That way, both salad enthusiasts can eat the leafy greens and tomatoes produced, while berry lovers (like myself) can also recognize the brand. If a business were to only focus on leafy greens, then they would not achieve brand recognition from people like me as much.
AppHarvest's offering expansion is happening fast, and it will only be a matter of time before AppHarvest can offer products in various categories, rather than simply tomatoes. Their primary facility in Morehead, KY, solely produces tomatoes, but they have 4 facilities under operation that will be producing a wide variety of offerings. Here are the 4 facilities being constructed, along with what they will be producing:
Facility LocationProduction CategoryAcreageExpected Construction Completion DateBerea KYLeafy Greens15Q3 2022Richmond KYVine Crops60Q4 2022Somerset KYBerries30Q4 2022Morehead KYLeafy Greens15Q4 2022
Source: Press Release
Considering that AppHarvest currently focuses solely on tomatoes, expansion into 3 other product categories is a wonderful step in growing its brand recognition. This is something that few of its competitors are doing. Local Bounti does not have any structural plans on expansion out of leafy greens, and AeroFarms has plans to expand into berries for its primary leafy greens production.
As previously mentioned, I believe that offering expansion is important to the brand growth for these agtech businesses. As they expand their offerings, they will be able to get their products and their name in front of more consumers. AppHarvest has started showing signs of doing this well, where its competitors have failed to do the same.
Signs of Execution
One of the risks I mentioned in my last article was about the ability of management to meet or exceed guidance they put out for themselves. This included construction guidance. In their investor presentation, they expected to have 4 facilities up and running by the end of 2022, including their main facility in Morehead. Recently, they announced plans to construct two additional facilities, meaning that they are now expecting to have 5 facilities up and running by the end of 2022.
This seems small on the surface, but this is the exact type of execution proof that I look for in small businesses like AppHarvest. The fact that management was able to start construction on more farms than expected and thus increase their timeline shows that they are executing and exceeding the guidance they set out for themselves.
For investors, this should demonstrate that AppHarvest management can be trusted, for their guidance was beaten. Management was able to beat their own guidance, and that should show investors that AppHarvest is not just a pipe dream, but it actually has something tangible to run with and build.
A Look at My Risks: What Risks are Still Present, and What Risks Have Grown
In my last article, I noted many risks that are potential with the business:
AppHarvest is unable to grow its factories at or faster than projections.
Their Mastronardi partnership goes awry.
They are unable to educate the broader public on what makes them special.
AppHarvest is unable to lower prices.
Management leaves the company.
For the most part, all of these risks are still prevalent today, if not even more important. Although they have begun to prove they can beat their own guidance, they will still need to continue to prove this, both in quarterly and yearly financial estimates, but also through construction estimates.
Their Mastronardi partnership is still fragile, and if anything were to happen with that partnership AppHarvest would have no way of distributing its product to local grocers, which could potentially decimate this business.
Although the offering expansion will make it easier to gain brand recognition and thus educate the broader public about their business, this will likely always remain a risk as long as traditional farming produce dominates grocery store shelves. Gaining brand recognition will also go a long way in being able to lower prices. So, while their offering expansion has the potential to increase brand recognition for AppHarvest, risks still remain and likely will remain for a long time.
Even though management seems very happy at AppHarvest, and loss of a major figure, Jonathan Webb specifically, would greatly damage their business. Management is the face of the business until they are able to bring products to shelves at a very large scale, so management impressing investors is largely how they will gain capital to subsidize the financing of their farm construction. If the face of AppHarvest were to leave, it could hurt their ability to receive financing and thus their ability to develop their facilities.
After seeing many agtech businesses come to the market via SPAC, there has been more concern about competition in this space. Because of this, I would likely add competition as a risk to AppHarvest. While many of its competitors are pre-revenue and are not far along on facility construction, they do have a competitor that is much larger than AppHarvest. Infarm is a German-based sustainable food producer that sells its product internationally, with the U.S. being its most recent expansion area. They have expanded broadly in Europe, and they seem to have their eyes set on the United States. This could pose a tremendous risk for AppHarvest, for there is no agtech player that comes close to the size of Infarm. They have $19 million in sales across the world compared to AppHarvest's $2 million last quarter.
AppHarvest's competition is fierce, and there is no doubt that the competitive threats will slow as time goes on. Therefore, I am confident to say that AppHarvest will have to fight against fierce competition in order to gain market share in the U.S., but their competitive advantages listed above will be able to help them do so.
Recent Stock Decline: Buying Opportunity?
AppHarvest's stock price has plunged in recent months, falling roughly 58% since February 2021.
Data by YCharts
This has put AppHarvest's market cap roughly around $1.5 billion and dropped their valuation down from extremely high multiples to still high, but comparatively lower multiples. Currently, it is trading over 600x sales, but it is trading at 73x forward sales if investors are looking at FY 2021 revenue estimates.
A business that just got its first revenue in Q1 of 2020 is obviously going to have extremely high valuation multiples, but revenue is growing extremely fast, and it is expected to continue to do so. Considering that the stock price has had a tremendous fall from grace, and revenue is expected to grow rapidly, today could potentially be a wonderful time to invest in this business at a very low price.
Conclusion
As I have said before, an investment in AppHarvest is not for the faint of heart. It is valued at very high multiples, and the number of risks for this business is high. AppHarvest will need to continuously execute at a strong level, for there is little room for slip-ups. With plenty of competition in the agtech market, AppHarvest will need to hold onto its competitive advantages tight if it wants to be a market leader in this industry.
Despite all of this, AppHarvest is one of the better investments for investors who want to get in on the agtech industry. They are one of the few companies with strong competitive advantages, and there are very few companies that could construct what AppHarvest is constructing. Their valuation is high now, but as they grow revenue it is likely that it will rapidly decrease, and it will be much more reasonable in the future. The risks associated with this business are plenty, but management has begun to prove they can efficiently execute.
For risk-tolerant and volatility-tolerant investors who wish to capitalize on the sustainable produce transformation, AppHarvest is one of the best bets to make. Their competitive advantages are strong, and they are one of the only businesses that have proved they have the ability to accomplish what they say they can. Because of this, I am recommending that risk-tolerant and volatility-tolerant investors who wish to invest in agtech should consider AppHarvest before any other competitors.
Lead photo: Source: Investor Presentation
This article was written by
I am a college student who has found a deep thirst for learning and investing. Being very young, I have leaned toward very long-term investments and growth stocks, primarily in tech. I do, however, love consumer goods companies as well. Currently, I am studying International Business and Economics.
Long Only, Growth, Long-Term Horizon, Tech
Contributor Since 2021
Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Green Sense Radio: Godfather of Vertical Farming - Dickson Despommier
Dickson Despommier has a Ph.D., in microbiology, is an ecologist, and emeritus professor of Public and Environmental Health at Columbia University, and coined the term vertical farm back in 1999
This week on Green Sense Radio Show: Grounding a tall vision in market reality an interview with the godfather of vertical farming!
Dickson Despommier has a Ph.D., in microbiology, is an ecologist, and emeritus professor of Public and Environmental Health at Columbia University, and coined the term vertical farm back in 1999. He’s one of the many respected experts who’ve contributed to the new book ‘The Economics of Sustainable Food - Smart Policies for Health and the Planet.’ We talk about the new book and the past, present, and future of vertical farming.
Large-Scale Automated Vertical Farm Near Tokyo by Spread And ENEOS Partnership
Techno Farm Narita is Spread’s first partnership project and the first to be located in Eastern Japan
July 14, 2021, Spread Co., Ltd. (HQ: Kyoto, Japan; CEO: Shinji Inada, hereinafter “Spread”)’s partner, and a member of ENEOS Group, J Leaf Corporation (HQ: Chiba, Japan; President: Jun Uehara, hereinafter “J Leaf”) started operating the automated vertical farm “Techno Farm Narita” (Chiba, Japan) on 30th of June.
Spread’s Large-Scale Vertical Farming Partnership with ENEOS Group’s J Leaf Starts Operations near Tokyo
Spread owns and operates two vertical farms in Western Japan (Kyoto), the Kameoka Plant and Techno Farm Keihanna. Techno Farm Narita is Spread’s first partnership project, and the first to be located in Eastern Japan. The most significant feature of Techno Farm Narita is the increased efficiency in the use of land. This has been achieved by increasing the number of cultivation racks levels to 28, double that of Techno Farm Keihanna. Techno Farm Narita will produce 30,000 heads of lettuce daily, building on the know-how accumulated through the operation of Techno Farm Keihanna to deliver increasingly sustainable food production.
Unique Features of Techno Farm Narita
Even more efficient land saving through 28-level cultivation rack system (roughly 2 times more efficient than Techno Farm Keihanna)
Located in the Greater Tokyo Area, allowing for local production and consumption
Transforming idle land to efficient and sustainable agriculture ・
The utilization of renewable energy generated from solar panels
Techno Farm Narita also retains other features of Spread’s next-generation food production system, Techno Farm™, including pesticide-free, stable cultivation, integrated automation, specialized LED lighting, and Spread’s proprietary IoT-based cultivation management system, Techno Farm Cloud.
Techno Farm Narita’s Cultivation Room Opening Ceremony
About the Partners
ENEOS Group is one of Japan's leading corporate groups, with revenue in excess of 10 trillion yen. *1
The Group has the largest market share in oil refinery and petrochemicals distribution in Japan and is centered around ENEOS Holdings.
Spread’s vision is to create a sustainable society where future generations can live with peace of mind. On the way to this objective, Spread plans to reach a total production capacity of 100 tons per day domestically by 2030, through the expansion of its Techno Farm™. With the collaboration at Techno Farm Narita as a foundation, both parties are considering further partnership projects. The green business market is expected to continue growing, and Spread strives to become a leading vertical farming company globally.
Spread will continue to pursue further business opportunities through technological innovation both in Japan and overseas. Spread aims to provide solutions for the global problems of climate change and food security and the delivery of a truly sustainable society.
*1 FY2019 results (announced on May 20, 2020)
*2 ENEOS Techno Materials Corporation is a member of ENEOS Group
BASF Venture Capital Invests In Indian Startup UrbanKisaan
With the investment from BASF, UrbanKisaan plans to further expand its market presence in India, deploy its farming technology to work with thousands of farmers, and bring fresh, local, sustainable produce to urban dwellers
Startup optimizes sustainable agriculture without soil in tropical climates
■ BASF Venture Capital’s first investment in this early stage Indian business strengthens AgTech activities in Asia
Hyderabad, India, and Ludwigshafen, Germany, July 13, 2021 – BASF Venture Capital GmbH (BVC) is investing in the Indian startup UrbanKisaan, which specializes in hydroponic cultivation of various types of vegetables, greens and herbs in tropical urban environments. This is BVC’s first investment in an early stage business focusing on India. Conceptualized in 2017, UrbanKisaan operates several suburban greenhouses and vertical indoor farms in Hyderabad and Bangalore. The company sells the fresh produce, some of which is grown directly in the shops, in its franchise-owned brick-and-mortar stores and via an app and website. Both parties agreed not to disclose financial details of the investment.
UrbanKisaan has optimized hydroponics technology for use in tropical climates such as India. With only one tenth of the costs, the proprietary technology is significantly more efficient than conventional global standards in hydroponics cultivation. The company is also capitalizing on the trend of online food retailing, which is booming on the subcontinent. “Our approach in hydroponics enables us to produce our food cost-effectively and with relatively little effort,” said Vihari Kanukollu, co-founder and CEO at UrbanKisaan. “Our produce also contributes towards sustainability as it is grown in clean, hygienic farms in and around the city, thus minimizing the total carbon footprint. Use of IoT (Internet-of-Things)-enabled technology for monitoring the farms ensures pesticide-free produce. The growing demand from our customers shows that our idea is well-received,” he added.
UrbanKisaan’s farms are managed through their proprietary technology. Nutrient content, pH levels, atmospheric humidity, CO2 concentration, light concentration and other important parameters are controlled and adapted to the needs of the particular plants with an app.
“UrbanKisaan, as a pioneer in the hydroponics space, has developed a unique growing method and combines this with a compelling business model for sales,” commented Markus Solibieda, Managing Director of BASF Venture Capital GmbH. He added: “AgTech is one of our key investment focus areas worldwide. This includes, in particular, our goal of supporting innovative agricultural and food-related businesses in Asia. We look forward to learning more about hydroponic farming and exploring its potential through a close collaboration between UrbanKisaan and BASF’s agriculture experts.”
With the investment from BASF, UrbanKisaan plans to further expand its market presence in India, deploy its farming technology to work with thousands of farmers, and bring fresh, local, sustainable produce to urban dwellers.
Hydroponic farming – an efficient way to use limited resources
The world’s population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050 1 while the area available for farming and freshwater reserves are becoming increasingly scarce. Hydroponics offers a sustainable way to grow crops without soil and using vertically stacked layers while reducing water usage by about 90 percent 2. Especially in densely populated urban areas, this presents a more efficient way to use limited resources like water, space and manpower. Water that is not absorbed by the plants is captured, purified and fed back into the farm’s water circulation system, minimizing wastage significantly.
India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, with a production value of about $64 billion3. It is also a large consumer of fruits and vegetables, and while much of this is through unorganized channels (local vegetable markets, hand-pulled carts and neighborhood stores), organized channels (modern trade and online retail) account for a little over 20 percent of the market4. Thus, hydroponics is a fast growing and efficient alternative to traditional supply chains in the organized fresh produce market.
About UrbanKisaan
UrbanKisaan was conceptualized in 2017 in Hyderabad, India. The company began as a farming enterprise but wanted to grow more than just fresh and nutritious food. They wanted to create a sustainable future for farming and feed the world in a way that is good for both people and planet. Today, with its hyper-local urban farms the company is creating a transparent supply chain with a low carbon footprint, leveraging on proprietary growing technology that helps save 90% of water yet grow 30 times more crops compared to traditional farms of similar area. Further information at www.urbankisaan.com.
About BASF Venture Capital
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF Venture Capital GmbH (BVC) also contributes to this corporate purpose. Founded in 2001, BVC has offices in Europe, the U.S., China, India, Brazil, and Israel. BVC’s goal is to generate new growth potential for current and future business areas of BASF by investing in young companies and funds. The focus of investment is on new materials, AgTech, Digitization and new, disruptive business models. Further information at www.basf-vc.com.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 110,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2020. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.
3 Fruits & Vegetables Production value at Current Prices for 2015-16, Horticultural Statistics at a Glance 2018, Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
4 Avalon Consulting - http://www.fruitnet.com/asiafruit/article/178572/india-on-the-move
PODCAST: This Weeks Episode - Season 3 Episode 35
Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer at AeroFarms, Marc Oshima. AeroFarms is an award-winning indoor farming company that is on a bold mission to grow the best plants possible for the betterment of humanity
Join Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer at AeroFarms, Marc Oshima. AeroFarms is an award-winning indoor farming company that is on a bold mission to grow the best plants possible for the betterment of humanity.
Today, Harry and Marc talk about Marc’s background in marketing and how it has impacted his work at AeroFarms. Marc provides his thoughts on the concept of ‘speed breeding,’ speaks to his passion for food, and expounds on the concept of utilizing business as a force for good
Listen & Subscribe
2021 Global CEA Census Will Measure The Impact of Sustainability
This is the third year the Census has run with an increasing participation each year from greenhouse, indoor vertical, and tunnel house growers. Past Census reports have brought forward key information on the state of the industry, tactics being used, and the people behind its many operations
7 July 2021: The 2021 Global CEA Census has launched with a focus on growers’ perspectives on sustainability and how they are measuring specific ESG (environmental, social, and governance) outcomes.
This year Agritecture Consulting will partner with AgTech leader WayBeyond who has taken over the responsibility of the Census from automation business Autogrow.
“Our WayBeyond ethos for sustainable crop production technology fits perfectly with this year’s Census. Understanding the impact of CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) on the planet allows us to continue highlighting the growers doing remarkable work to reduce environmental impact while producing quality crops.
There’s clear evidence showing consumers, particularly Gen-Z, are making decisions based on the sustainability factor of not only the food they eat but also the packaging, distribution and producers themselves. This Census will give a clear view of the role CEA can play in creating a more sustainable planet.”
— WAYBEYOND CEO & FOUNDER DARRYN KEILLER
This is the third year the Census has run with increasing participation each year from greenhouse, indoor vertical, and tunnel house growers. Past Census reports have brought forward key information on the state of the industry, tactics being used, and the people behind its many operations. For example, the 2020 report showed that there was plenty of optimism despite the pandemic, with 95% of respondents having an “excellent” or “good” outlook for the 12 months ahead, and only 5% indicating that the business’ future was uncertain.
“We work hard to encourage as many growers to participate as possible and, with a focus on sustainability, we hope to gain an even better uptake this year, especially from large-scale operations.
This is the most comprehensive global survey of CEA operations running, and the published findings will provide valuable insights that may affect policy, financing options, operational practices, and new technology. That is a benefit for all of us in the industry.”
— AGRITECTURE CONSULTING FOUNDER AND CEO HENRY GORDON-SMITH
The 2021 Global Census will run from 7 July 2021 until 20 August 2021.
Take the survey: Global CEA Census
Survey Terms and Conditions can be found here.