Success factors for scaling vertical farming operations

“There is a great opportunity in this market to work with indoor facilities, but we’re also aware that this is a capital intensive market,” Marinus Luiten noted. One of the main points in becoming successful is ‘making sure to be aware of the CapEx and operational costs’. Eri Hayashi, Vice President of…

“Through this partnership we hope to unlock new flavors and expand our global reach”

In October, Driscoll’s and Plenty Unlimited Inc. announced a partnership to grow Driscoll’s proprietary strawberries year-round in Plenty’s vertical indoor farms. Last week, Scott Komar, Driscoll’s Senior Vice President of Global R&D & Plenty’s Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer, Nate Storey joined on…

"More companies are looking for products dedicated to hydroponics"

With hydroponics and vertical farming gaining popularity around the world, growers are increasingly interested in finding crop varieties with a proven track record in controlled environment system. To meet this, Vilmorin-Mikado has positioned itself as a leader in plant breeding and the provision of…

Youtube channel Razor dives into vertical farming

Razor is the cutting-edge science and technology show which doesn’t shy away from the complexities of real science. In the latest edition, they don't shy away of vertical farming.  "For the past century, industrial farming practices and the globalization of our food supply have caused great damage to environmental…

Israeli supermarket employs vertical farm start-ups for selling produce

Rami Levy, one of Israel's largest supermarket chains, has been cooperating with two Israeli agri-tech start-ups to erect large containers to grow fruit and vegetables, which will be sold in the chain's stores.  Vertical Fields, a Ra'anana based agri-tech start-up which creates vertical, sustainable farms…

Plant research seals importance of microbes for survival and growth

Scientists have revealed that plants have a ‘sealing’ mechanism supported by microbes in the root that are vital for the intake of nutrients for survival and growth. Plant Scientists from the Future Food Beacon at the University of Nottingham have demonstrated that the mechanism controlling the root…

Rare mushrooms grown indoors for NY restaurants

“There are so many reasons why I love mushrooms,” says Andrew Carter, co-founder and CEO of Smallhold farms in Brooklyn. “At its base level, they grow off of waste streams. It’s not very common to find a product that’s as ecologically sustainable that can also feed so many people,” says Carter.…

“Experimentation, learning by doing and listening to others is key for any entrepreneur"

"We believe Infarm has the potential for mass expansion across the world. We have big ambitions, aiming to reach more than 5,000,000 square feet of growing facilities by 2025, and in doing so becoming the largest distributed farming network in the world." That is said by Osnat Michaeli in a recent…

US (WIS): Appleton International Airport harvests first batch of lettuce from hydroponics gardening system

The Appleton International Airport just got a little greener. A new hydroponics gardening system is keeping things fresh in the terminal. The airport just harvested its first batch of lettuce from their new hydroponics gardening system. Last month, the on-site Flex Farm hydroponic farming system was…

Kalera adds two new board members

Kalera announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors. "Kim Lopdrup, the CEO of Red Lobster, brings decades of expertise from the restaurant industry and a history of successful global expansion. We also welcome Chris Logan, Investment Director of Canica International AG", they…

"Investments in vertical farms and high-tech greenhouses are in vogue"

It has been a hectic year for Eleanor Herrin. Since the UK’s first lockdown in March, business has been booming for the chief executive of Farmdrop, an online start-up focused on distributing sustainable, locally produced food. The success of Farmdrop and other food start-ups suggests that, on the ground…

Lwindesign

'Art and design with culture and the environment: perfect success recipe for vertical farming'

The growing container concept, made by Julian Lwin, CEO of Lwindesign, is based on scalable modular design principles of expansion and contraction. “The project is at its inception stage and is seeking partners for development, technology, funding and manufacture.  The origin “We will design and fabricate…

Singapore investor company Temasek starts food tech innovation venture

Investment company Temasek has signed an agreement with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) to establish the Food Tech Innovation Centre. "The centre aims to accelerate the development of promising food tech companies and provide pilot-scale facilities to help feed a growing world…

How sustainable food chains thrive amid global pandemic

While many facets of the cold chain experience hiccups during the COVID-19 crisis, vertical farms and sustainable solutions help to maintain waste and energy in the supply chain. How brands act in response to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is something that will shape perceptions amongst…

WUR

Wageningen University publishes energy usage research

We invite you to read the following study conducted by Wageningen University, one of the most complete we have seen over the years for energy usage.  “Greenhouses in high latitudes consume vast amounts of energy for heating and supplemental lighting. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been suggested as having…

Social Good Summit: Is vertical and indoor farming the future?

The degradation of land is one of the many things contributing to climate change. Mashable's Social Good Series is dedicated to exploring pathways to a greater good,…

Are broad spectrum disinfectants safe for both plants and humans?

Economic uncertainty in the restaurant and hospitality sector and the increased sanitation protocols for staff caused by the pandemic has acutely affected the horticulture industry. As we have seen, a single case of COVID-19 can result in a quarantine and testing requirements that can lead to a costly…

Dreamstime: Martin Bergsma

Comparison of red and blue light effects on lettuce

In this study, A. Virsile, J. Miliauskiene, P. J. Haimi, K. Lauzike, and G. Samuoliene sought to evaluate and compare the effects of constant and dynamic lighting on red and green leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. Red Cos and Lobjoits Green cos) cultivated in a controlled environment. Plants were…

HAVVA

HAVVA farm to serve as hub and public education

FOR all that pottering about in one’s garden might sound fulfilling, there are many of us who are daunted by the prospect of growing our own plants. Difficulties such as finding the right type of soil and the optimal amount of sunlight and water, all while fighting off common garden pests, can lead to…

LinkedIn: Elevate Farms

Mike Dixon visits Elevate Farms' Welland facility

'Coco peat, a great alternative for peat moss'

Ecomix Coco Australia, is an Australian-based coco peat supplier. During the last several months, demand for Cocopeat has been steadily increasing. Contrary to the Covid restrictions, Ecomix is busier than usual. “The demand for coco is increasing because of the demand for Australian grown produce,” says…

Restaurant builds hydroponic garden in front of restaurant

"All of our dressings we make in house. Then we also have herbs in our dishes. So rather than constantly having to procure those we decided to build the hydroponic gardens out in front of our restaurant." That is said by Jacob Fierley, owner of The Chef's Table in Knoxville, Tennessee. "Most people walk…

Chris Welter

US (OH): University Extension combines aquaponics system and harvests tilapia

Central State University Extension hosted a field day last weekend showcasing its demonstration aquaponics facility. Aquaponics combines the raising of aquatic animals with the cultivation of hydroponic plants—plants raised without soil. In a traditional hydroponic system, nutrients are injected into the…

Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit

Singapore’s ’30 by 30′ food security strategy

Lim Kok Thai, CEO of the Singapore Food Agency shared important updates on Singapore’s ’30 by 30′ food security strategy and the innovative partners working at speed to achieve this goal.  “The agri-food sector is rapidly transforming, driven by climate change, technological developments and evolving consumer…

Asia Fruit Logistica ON ready to go

Asia Fruit Logistica ON, the exciting new digital format of Asia’s premier fresh produce trade show, opens its virtual doors on 17-20 November 2020.  Asia Fruit Logistica ON is…

Dreamstime: Martin Bergsma

Investors perception: “Cute millennials with a container farm”

Contain is a Fintech platform for indoor agriculture. Founded on the observation that 75% of indoor growers are looking for funding, and that many won’t receive it from traditional agriculture banks and traditional business banks. “The question for us is: ‘how do we help indoor farmers find the best…

Grab a rosemary or basil plant from a vending machine as if it were a can of coke

Grab a rosemary or basil plant from a vending machine as if it were a can of coke or a candy bar. Wageningen masters’ students Nikolaos Alfieris and Orestis Spirou made it to the 4TU Impact Challenge with their FarmVent. The 4TU Impact Challenge is an innovation contest of the four technical universities…

Using LED grow lights and less irrigation makes stronger plants

Hort Americas is currently working on a germination and propagation project of leafy greens and culinary herbs. The project is in collaboration with their demonstration greenhouse partners, The State Fair of Texas and the Big Tex Urban Farms. Big Tex Urban farms provide the labor needed to grow and…

Mexico and the Netherlands strengthen technological cooperation

Mexico and the Netherlands have joined forces to promote innovation in the horticultural sector by holding a virtual trade mission aimed at enhancing technological cooperation…

Fertilizer Calculator helps growers... calculate fertilizer

To get the right amount of your fertilizers from your plant requirement and change them as your plant grows and prepare stock solution needs lots of calculations. As a solution, the Fertilizer Calculator is created, an easy and fast available solution to understand your soil and hydroponic culture.…

Test in VF-cell brings cultivation on Growfoam substrate closer

Hydroponic growing is known to be clean and sustainable, this also applies to the foam substrates of Growfoam. Currently Growfoam is investing heavily into the development of an optimal cultivation strategy, with the goal of making it easier for growers to transition to this new, clean cultivation media…

Danny Pata

Navotas City launches Philippines' tallest vertical farm

National Capital Region's Navotas City Council, together with the Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP) and Good Greens & Co., unveiled on Saturday the tallest aeroponic vertical farm in the country.  According to the city council, the four-tower farm in standing on a 300-square-meter area in Tanza resettlement…

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