Photo 48998858 © Prasit Rodphan | Dreamstime.com

Carbon footprint of importing food could be 7.5x higher than thought

A new study in Nature Food has found that food’s transport emissions, once thought to be a negligibly small proportion of food systems emissions, are much higher than previously estimated and that the carbon footprint estimates of imported fruits and vegetables will be particularly impacted.  If you work in…

What is the added value of Software-as-a-Service for growers?

Even though many benefits have been defined about Software-as-a-Service for the horticultural industry, Annelot Schmeitz sees there is still a disappointing low utilization…

© Wirestock | Dreamstime.com

Europe’s agrifood sector is building a pipeline of climate tech startups

The climate tech VC investment in Europe is still very much in its infancy, and that we need a lot more of it. The continent’s generally early-stage agrifoodtech ecosystem is blooming with startups addressing food-related climate challenges head-on. What’s needed: more growth and late-stage funding to…

Interviewing two experts on tower gardening

True Garden is a next-gen vertical farm in Mesa, AZ. In this video, Aleta Speier interviews two experts on the field of urban farming, Tim Blank and Ralph Albright

Is indoor farming sustainable?

Is indoor farming sustainable? This important question was fielded at GreenTech 2022 in Amsterdam four weeks ago. Dr. Mary Ellis, chairwoman of FarmtechSociety, hosted Annie Wissemeier (InfiteAcres), Tim Bongartz (FLUENCE), Jack Farmer (LetUSgrow), and Carrol Plummer (Vivent) to cut through the maze of thinking around…

© Wirestock | Dreamstime.com

Smart farm-to-table: how agritech innovations help keep up the supply chain

To say that the last few years have been challenging for the restaurant industry would be a gross understatement. Restaurateurs have endured a global pandemic, protracted lockdowns, and now a seemingly intractable supply chain crisis. The good news, though, is that there is hope on the horizon, both in…

The Italian chef seeking to change British farming

Could hydroponics be the future of farming? Ex-chef Antonio Paladino welcomes Annabel Ross onto Bioaqua Farm, his smallholding in the Somerset Levels, where he farms trout and vegetables within a mutually supportive system that has very few costs, produces no pollution and creates delicious, nutritious…

Photo courtesy of Bowery Farming

AI helps control greenhouse automation systems

Indoor farming has seen a substantial increase in the past few years, and the category continues to grow. Vertical farms can be controlled to maximize production year-round while using precise amounts of finite resources, like water, preventing waste in the process. To realize an effective ROI for the…

Scotland: Strong synergies between vertical farming, renewables and energy storage

“Building vertical farms around the Central Belt of Scotland is ideal because there is a lot of available renewable energy, it is close to a large part of the population and has good support from the government. It is also the corridor through which much of the food distribution occurs, with a lot of…

© Wirestock | Dreamstime.com

Harnessing potential of vertical farming in Nigerian urban communities

Considering the economic and environmental potentials of vertical farming, agriculture analysts opine that Nigeria can, through its application, improve its agricultural production, create employment opportunities in urban societies via the value chain, and consequently foster economic growth. Angel…

The future of farming: From crops in a container to sustainable kelp farms

Digging in the dirt and pulling up weeds is so last century. Whatever you thought about farming is being reimagined, with a new generation plowing the industry into the future. The tools and rural open spaces — which have so long defined traditional farming — are being left behind. More and more, today's…

The state of horticulture in the Caribbean

With ever scarcer resources, prices of fertilizers and energy spiking recently, doing more with less has become paramount when it comes to growing food. It should go without saying that Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is the perfect platform for putting that principle into practice. Yet, it’s…

Euro drops to lowest rate against US dollar since 2002

The euro has dropped to a 20-year low against the US dollar as investors pared bets on European Central Bank interest-rate hikes, given the growing risk of a recession in the…

Why we need to invest in people to bring innovation back to British farming

“This month, the UK Government announced its new strategy to boost UK food production and back British farmers through technology and innovation in the sector. The plan outlines how the Government, through incentives and investment in research, will support farmers to build our ‘ homegrown’ capabilities.…

Driving vertical farming in the UK and beyond

In recent years, vertical farms have been popping up all over the world as a way to produce food more efficiently and sustainably. And the UK has been getting in on the action, housing Jones Food Company, for instance, one of the largest vertical farms in Europe. Yet, the UK vertical farming industry is…

The science and business of indoor vertical farming

Dafni Despoina Avgoustaki with Vagabond Science a Youtube account that discussed various practises in science, now has taken it on to discuss the science and business of indoor vertical farming. "Why should we grow plants indoors with artificial lights instead of using sunlight for free? I discuss with…

Workers can earn $400 a day, but Aussies are still not prepared to do agri labor

While Australia’s cost of living crisis is biting for many families, most still turn their backs to a lucrative, $2000-a-week job. Earlier this week, Nationals MP Anne Webster…

"Private equity can give Dutch (greenhouse) horticulture an extra boost"

Private equity and Dutch greenhouse horticulture are inextricably linked, Ruud van der Vliet stated earlier this year in an analysis for the trade journal, Primeur. Private investors are wholly or partially acquiring an increasing number of  (greenhouse) horticulture companies. In this article, published in…

Photo 19330463 © Wiktor Wojtas | Dreamstime.com

Research shows Spain and Portugal suffering driest climate for 1,200 years

Spain and Portugal are suffering their driest climate for at least 1,200 years, according to research, with severe implications for both food production and tourism. Most rain on the Iberian peninsula falls in winter as wet, low-pressure systems blow in from the Atlantic. But a high-pressure system off…

Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur farm set for completion in Q4 2022

“We chose to set up our next location in the city center of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as it was the perfect spot to reach out to the dense urban population there,” says Eleanor Choong, COO with Sunway XFarms in Malaysia. The company is planning to construct a 38,000 sq. ft. (3530m2) vertical farm later…

© Wirestock | Dreamstime.com

How digital electricity is changing the vertical farming industry

CEO and Founder of VoltServer, Stephen Eaves, joins the show to share over twenty years of experience in the energy industry and his passion for doing things that have never been done before. Stephen is an expert in battery management, power electronics, and energy infrastructure and has fifteen patents…

Bulgaria: Discussion on innovative food started

Bulgaria can be a regional leader in producing proteins from insects, but the State needs to be more active in regulating this business.That conclusion was reached at a round table on the future of foods, initiated by the Association of Producers and Processors of Insects in Bulgaria with support from…

Indoor farming as a game changer?

Just over a week ago, from the 14th to the 16th of June, GreenTech 2022 in Amsterdam showcased a spectacular exhibition at the Rai Convention Center in the city. Joining the panel hosted by FarmtechSociety were Tisha Livingston (host and President of 80 Acres Farms) facilitated profound insights from…

© Photomall | Dreamstime.com

A window on the progress and reality of indoor agriculture

Last week New York City was host to the Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit, an event that drew 600 attendees, featured 90 speakers, and included representatives from 42 countries. For a sector with some history of hyperbole about its role in feeding the world, the presentations and discussions during this…

© David Herraez | Dreamstime.com

Defra unveils new route for 10,000 farm workers to come to UK

Defra has unveiled a new route for a further 10,000 farm workers to come to the UK following pressure from the industry and the UK Trade and Business Commission. The government confirmed that 8,000 fruit and vegetable pickers and 2,000 poultry workers will be given a new visa route for seasonal work. It…

© Photomall | Dreamstime.com

Russians were offered to open onion farms and earn from greenery

Several onion farms in Novosibirsk were put up for sale at once. All of them are designed for growing greenery in the city where land is not needed. These vertical farms can be placed in almost any room, and their price depends on the technology they employ. There are suggestions to open farms with…

US: Franklin Templeton Institute releases latest insights on food innovation

The Franklin Templeton Institute released its latest insights paper, “Food innovation: Investing to feed our future,” focusing on the innovation and investments needed to feed…

© Photomall | Dreamstime.com

Grow-NY wants to award $3m to agrifoodtech startups focused on the future of food and farming

In a new report, A Call for Innovation: New York’s Agrifood System, made clear the increasingly urgent needs farmers have related to climate change and the barriers facing them in meeting those needs. Published by Cornell University last year, the findings are just as relevant, if not more so, a year…

© Iamtkb | Dreamstime.com

Jerusalem and Tel Aviv nab fourth place in list of best global agtech ecosystems

Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are ranked together as the fourth best startup ecosystem for agricultural technology in a global survey by the research firm Startup Genome. The study, called the Global Agtech and New Food Ranking, scores cities according to their performance in the field, the availability of…

New Greenhouse Guide launched on first day of GreenTech

It's fresh off the press, contains thousands of listings and can be picked up starting from today from the HortiDaily booth near entrance K at the GreenTech Amsterdam. It's the fifth edition of the Greenhouse Guide we're talking about. This full-color publication unites all suppliers from the global…

© Wirestock | Dreamstime.com

Strengthening Singapore's food security through agritech

Singapore’s agricultural industry is rapidly growing due to the adoption of urban farming solutions. The city-state’s total food and agricultural market size in 2021 was estimated to be USD 2.51 billion, with the value of local food and agricultural production estimated at USD 261 million. A company in…

Vertical farming: where are the opportunities?

Optimal use of space, guaranteed production, less use of water and plant protection products, reduced transport costs: the list of advantages of vertical farming is impressive. Will we soon see skyscrapers full of tomato and lettuce plants in every city, everywhere in the world? Will this be the answer…

lancasterfarming.com

US (PA): Tax break proposed for indoor farms

A Pennsylvania state senator wants to encourage the development of indoor farms through a tax exemption. Sen. Lisa M. Boscola, D-Bethlehem Township, said she developed the idea after an indoor farm’s recent opening in her district. The proposed sales and use tax exemption would apply to companies that…

© Tomo Jesenicnik | Dreamstime.com

US: USDA programs increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables

June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month. Fruits and vegetables are a vital – and delicious – part of a healthy diet. According to the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults should consume 1.5 to 2 cups of fresh fruits and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables each day. USDA’s National Institute…

cityam.com

"To seed a food secure future for the UK, we need technology on our side"

Even though the UK uses a staggering 70 percent of its land for agriculture, it still depends on the stability of countries elsewhere to provide its food. The country imports around half of its food, 45 percent of its fresh vegetables, and 84 percent of its fresh fruit. And it is not alone. Japan imports…

Russians increasingly troubled by surging food prices

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to a significant increase in food prices across the world, as well as a spike in global wheat and oil prices. The rise in food prices in…

"UK at risk of food crisis unless farmers get support"

The UK is at high risk of a food crisis if the government does not act fast and support farmers, according to the NFU's new vice president David Exwood. In a speech at the Royal Bath & West Show, he stressed that the closeness of war and the threat of a global food crisis were being compounded as…

Taiwan records rise in aquaponics sales

The pandemic has led to a lot of trends across the globe like Dalgona coffee one, but what about growing your own food? Taiwan's newest pandemic hobby seems to be growing not just vegetables but fish too. Know what aquaponics is all about.

© Wirestock | Dreamstime.com

How will we feed ourselves in the future?

By 2050, we will need to produce as much as 56% more food than we did in 2010 to feed the world’s growing population. While experts agree we can do it using current farming and production practices, it could be catastrophic for the planet. So how will we meet the demand? Picture this: Instead of a farm…

New advancements in vertical farming

In this video, Down On The Farm checks out the new advancements in vertical farming. Cities are heavily reliant on imported food to survive. Be it from the countryside that surrounds it or from other countries hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Enter a system called vertical farming. This…

Dubai's high-tech farming is not what you think

When most people think of places where food is grown, the first region that doesn't spring to mind is a scorching, arid desert. However, megacities such as Dubai have shown that it is possible to cultivate food even in difficult environments. Whether it be flavorful tomatoes produced on forward-thinking…

Experts warn Britain is one shock away from a food crisis

Experts have warned that the UK is one global shock away from a food crisis, as the country is overly reliant on the rest of the world for staple goods. Britain’s dependence…

US fertilizer prices down 30% after drop in demand

Fertilizer prices, which had hit record highs, are now going down again as buyers recover from the shock, but that doesn't mean the market contraction is over. Despite this…

© MartinBergsma | Dreamstime.com

Large increase in urban indoor cultivation in Sweden

Tomatoes grown in a basement or salad from a high-rise building. In Sweden, urban cultivation has increased sharply, and in the last five years, the number of companies cultivating indoors in Swedish cities has more than doubled. "If we grow in the cities, we get the food a little closer to the…

© Photomall | Dreamstime.com

Qatar’s farming innovations: from vertical solutions to honey production

Farming in a desert climate can be hugely challenging, but Qatar has been aiming to revolutionize solutions to growing crops in its dry environment. Innovative farming solutionsFor seven decades, AGRICO has been supplying produce to more than one thousand outlets. As chairperson Ahmed Al Khalaf says, the…

JohnnyGreig/E+ via Getty Images

The indoor AG boom; the entry of large corporations

"The last few years have seen a number of large corporations, such as Google and Walmart, enter the indoor agriculture industry. The primary avenues of entry into indoor agriculture are as a farmer, produce buyer, tech entrepreneur, or investor. Their participation is important because these commercial…

© Sasinparaksa | Dreamstime.com

India: Hydroponics-focused startup Nutrifresh raises $5 mn in pre-seed round

Nutrifresh Farm Tech India has raised $5 million in a pre-series seed funding round led by Theodore Cleary, Sandiip Bhammer, Sky Kurtz, and Mathew Cyriac, among other investors. The startup plans to deploy the fresh capital to scale up operations, implement better traceability and transparency of…