Artechno Growsystems move to new headquarters

Artechno Growsystems experienced tremendous growth over the past period and is ready for the next phase. Therefore, the company is relocating to Maasdijk as of March 20. Artechno Group also retains its current location in De Lier, where the AVF+ Cultivation & Research Center and AquaLeap will remain.…

Rebranded Stolze Mexico expands into North American market as GROWA

It has been 11 years since Fernando Alfaro and Theo Stolze started Stolze Mexico. Ever since, the company has grown to one of the market leaders in Mexico, with over 60…

Angela Storm joins Dramm as Western Technical Representative

Angela Storm has joined The Dramm Corporation as the Western Technical Representative. Storm comes from a long- and well-established career in the commercial horticulture business, most recently as a key account representative for Dümmen Orange, North America, and prior as a breeder representative for…

UK: Harvest London secures funding for its 13,000m2 vertical farm in South London

Foresight Group, the listed sustainability-led alternative investment manager, is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement with Harvest London, a UK-based controlled environment agriculture company, to aid the expansion of the vertical farming industry. The investment will allow Harvest London to…

"We produce 70 tons of mushrooms per day"

Clusters of snow-white velvet shank mushrooms, or Flammulina velutipes, are moving on the packing line. After being sorted and packed, they are put into boxes and sent to all parts of the country by tight cold-chain logistics. These velvet shank mushrooms from Dezhou city were successfully promoted to be…

Indonesia: iFarm to build vertical farm on Bali

iFarm announces a collaboration with the Nuanu community aimed at constructing a high-tech vertical farm in eco-architecture style in the Innovative City of Nuanu on Bali, Indonesia. The vertical farm will cover a growing area of several hundred square meters and is expected to yield around 2.5 tonnes of…

Ian Rasmussen new CEO of Paardekooper Group

Royal Dutch Paardekooper Group, packaging suppliers, appointed Ian Rasmussen (48) as the new CEO. Rasmussen has a background in Aviation and Space Technology, and Business…

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China: Concrete jungle goes green

Hydroponic cultivation calls to mind galleries with thousands of plants growing on shelves under but Hong Kong start-up Farmacy HK is rolling out Farming as a Service (Faas), supplying vending-machine sized Smart Mobile Farms to bring herb and vegetable cultivation right to consumers. The Hong Kong Trade…

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David Lopez Restrepo joins HYVE as Business Operations Manager

HYVE Indoor Farming Systems, a solutions-based, technology manufacturer of mid-sized and larger-scale Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) systems today announced David Lopez Restrepo has joined the company as Business Operations Manager. Lopez Restrepo comes to HYVE from Babylon Micro-Farms where he…

Israeli company is investing US$15+ million in hydroponic project in Guyana

Israeli company Karligo is investing US$15.7M in a new hydroponic project in Guyana.  Agriculture Minister Honourable Zulfikar Mustapha met with Non-Resident Israeli Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Itai Bardov.During the meeting, the two officials discussed additional areas for collaboration in agriculture as well…

"The system accurately and consistently places interlocking trays on a pallet"

P&C Automation's palletizing solutions are custom designed to suit clients' requirements. The company recently delivered a palletizing solution to Australian producer Bendotti Avocado. While the system delivered to Bendotti Avocado was designed for palletizing up to two different product types…

BASF invests in WayBeyond

BASF Venture Capital GmbH (BVC), the corporate venture capital company of BASF SE, is investing in WayBeyond. Founded in New Zealand and now headquartered in the United States, WayBeyond is an Internet of things (IoT) and software as a service (SaaS) company that aims to improve crop yields, crop quality, and grower…

Voshol joins GreenV group to serve consolidating market

Voshol, a supplier of advanced climate control systems (heating, isolation, and electrical engineering) for the global greenhouse horticulture industry, will join GreenV, an internationally operating group of horticulture suppliers, with both its companies: Voshol Warmte- en Elektrotechniek in the…

Italy: New system for managing hydroponic crops

Our automated management system can be installed in only a few minutes by simply drilling two holes in the nutrient solution tank to upgrade the greenhouse to become automated and interconnected. Our system stands out for its simplicity, efficiency, and low costs compared to any other technology on the…

New DLG platform for food production of the future

How can we use innovative production systems to supply the world's growing population with healthy, nutritious, and sustainably produced food? The "Inhouse Farming - Feed &…

Producer and developer of bumblebees and beneficial insects collaborate

BioBee Sde Eliyahu Ltd. is celebrating 40 years of innovation and is one of the leading international producers of bumblebees for pollination and beneficial insects and mites for agricultural purposes. BioBee is proud to announce that it is now a strategic partner of BloomX.  BloomX (formerly Bumblebee AI)…

Dr. Lara Ramaekers to lead Biobest’s biopesticides team

Lara joins Biobest from UPL - the Mumbai-based global provider of sustainable agricultural technologies and services - where she was the Global Biocontrol Portfolio Lead. Prior to that, she worked for Arysta LifeSciences – a global provider of crop protection and life science products - acquired by UPL…

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US (FL): New farm adopts hydroponics to grow 8,000 pounds of food

An indoor farm will soon be growing fresh produce in Charlotte County, with the capacity to produce up to 8,000 pounds of food. Eastern Charlotte Waterways, an environmental nonprofit based in Blacks Harbour, recently announced it received up to $126,996 in federal funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food…

US: Crop One appoints Kevin Jordan as VP of Strategic Business Development

Crop One has appointed Kevin Jordan as Vice President of Strategic Business Development.  Kevin Jordan’s career has focused on helping consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies build…

'Dutch agribusiness can sharply increase clout and sustainability through digitalization spurt'

Accelerated digitization can make the Dutch agribusiness sector more sustainable, promote chain cooperation and strengthen its competitive position. It also offers opportunities to deploy people and knowledge more efficiently. This was evident at the first meeting of this year's Agro Business Club…

Ramin Ebrahimnejad joins Advanced Plant Growth Centre as Business Development Manager

Ramin Ebrahimnejad has joined the Advanced Plant Growth Centre as Business Development Manager. He previously worked at the Association for Vertical Farming as Senior project manager, Vice Chair of the board, and Head of Science and Education.  "As someone who is passionate about sustainability and innovation…

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Elevate Farms opens its first farm in the US

Elevate Farms opened their first US-based indoor farms in Orange, New Jersey. The farm has the capacity to produce up to 11,000,000 plants, or equal to 500,000 pounds (227,000 ‎kilograms) of plants, ‎annually.  ‎ The entire Elevate New Jersey facility measures ‎‎14,000 square feet (1,300 m2), which includes…

US: Advanced Container Technologies relocates to Oklahoma campus

Advanced Container Technologies (ACTX) has relocated to a new 4.5-acre campus in Skiatook, Oklahoma. The new location features a large indoor farming facility, dedicated…

vGreens Holding GmbH

"We have built a completely separate ecosystem here"

Thanks to a sophisticated vertical farming system, Witten-based start-up vGreens can produce strawberries all year round. The plants are grown on just a few square meters, arranged vertically in the racking system, without any sunlight or other external environmental influences. "We have built a…

Vertically urban and Microsoft plan growth of AI partnership

UK-based Agri-tech manufacturer Vertically Urban and global tech company Microsoft both believe that CEA not only has the power to play a pivotal role in ensuring food security for future generations but believe they can bring about significant improvements in the efficiency and quality of the process.…

Marcel van Verk appointed VP Crop Data Science at KeyGene

KeyGene has appointed Marcel van Verk as Vice President of Crop Data Science. Marcel will lead KeyGene’s Crop Data Science department from April 1, 2023. With this appointment, KeyGene aims to further increase its impact in AI and machine learning for plant breeding and to successfully integrate systems…

Pipp Horticulture

Pipp Horticulture acquires Grow Glide assets

Over the past six years, Pipp Horticulture has emerged as a leading provider of indoor mobile vertical racking & in-rack airflow solutions throughout North America. The complexities of scaling an operation inthis space has kept the competitive landscape lean, but in addition to Pipp Horticulture, Grow…

Urban Crop Solutions named the fourth Most Innovative company in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa

Urban Crop Solutions has been named the fourth Most Innovative company in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa by Fast Company. The only indoor farming company to be named in this category, it stood out for the launch of PharmSpeeTM – a platform enabling the use of plants, instead of animal cells or…

CEA Advisory Board to drive alignment between horticulture lighting technology, performance, and price

Libra Design announced the formation of its Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Advisory Board and the appointment of inaugural members Bob Hoffman, Chief Science Officer Emeritus of Soli Organic, and Dr. Allison Justice, Founder and CEO of The Hemp Mine. The CEA Advisory Board will further align…

Pipp Horticulture acquires Grow Glide assets

This acquisition solidifies Pipp’s position as a leading provider of Indoor Commercial Mobile Vertical Grow Racks, Greenhouse Structures, and Air Circulation Systems in North America. Over the past six years, Pipp Horticulture has emerged as a leading provider of indoor mobile vertical racking & in-rack…

Rijk Zwaan reaches settlement with Italian seed company

Vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan and an Italian seed company have settled in respect of a long-running litigation before the Court of Modena, Italy. This Italian company had been accused of reproducing and marketing seeds of Rijk Zwaan lettuce varieties, which are protected by plant breeders’…

CAN: FBN opens Saskatoon fulfillment center

FBN's Saskatoon fulfillment centre has opened and started processing orders for growers across Saskatchewan and Canada. The 198,000 square foot facility opens just in time for…

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US (VA): Gov. Youngkin declares March as Virginia CEA month

Governor Glenn Youngkin has declared March as Virginia Controlled Environment Agriculture Month, recognizing the importance of next-generation agriculture in the Commonwealth. The proclamation aims to highlight the impact and significance of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), which uses innovative…

China: Intelligent plant factory improves agricultural development

Dr. Zhou Zengcheng, director of Beijing Kingpeng Research Center and chief engineer of Beijing Agricultural Machinery Institute, said: "China's plant factory technology development is divided into three stages: the initial stage, the rapid development stage, and the industrialization stage. Kingpeng…

Saffron Tech receives $2M investment

Saffron Tech has entered into an investment agreement with Korean-based company Dreamtech Co, Ltd, which will fund an initial investment of $1 million followed by an additional $1 million upon successful cultivation of saffron in Korea. Saffron Tech aims to be the first company to create a large-scale…

US (NJ): Elevate Farms commences operations at first U.S. farm, in the city of Orange

Elevate Farms has commenced operations at its first wholly-owned US farm, ‎located in Orange, New Jersey. The entire Elevate New Jersey facility measures ‎‎14,000 square feet (1,300 square meters), which includes 4,750 square feet (441 square meters) of ‎unmanned, fully ‎autonomous grow room space along…

Ribbon cut on new vertical farming facility in British Columbia

After nearly a decade of researching and developing the latest technology to grow crops at 350 times the yield of conventional field-grown greens, UP Vertical Farms™ has launched its inaugural facility in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, alongside its sales and marketing partner Oppy. UP Vertical Farms…

NewLeaf Symbiotics appoints Brent Smith as President

NewLeaf Symbiotics, a company that specializes in harnessing the power of naturally occurring microbes to increase agricultural sustainability, announced today that Brent Smith has been appointed as its new President, following a national search process. With over 25 years of experience in the…

"We're dedicated to the advancement of climate-smart indoor growing practices and policies"

Resource Innovation Institute (RII) is joining forces with FarmTech Society. “As a global industry, CEA is increasingly facing the pressures of rising energy prices and water shortages,” said Derek Smith, Executive Director of Resource Innovation Institute. “Working together, RII and FarmTech Society…

CEA Industries Inc. announces cost-saving initiatives

CEA Industries has announced cost-saving initiatives that include various operating expense reductions and a reduction in force in response to continued macroeconomic and…

"Getting a product just right isn’t a matter of 'one size fits all'"

Bayer is on a mission: to get people to consume more fruit and vegetables – five servings per day. There are some challenges along the way though, as we heard from their team at Fruit Logistica: Inci Dannenberg (President of Global Vegetable Seeds), VK Kishore (Global Head of Veg Seeds Smallholders &…

ACT to release smaller size GrowPod CEA farm

Advanced Container Technologies is now shipping a new smaller-sized GrowPod - a specially designed, transportable, controlled environment farm. Some of the world's largest and best-known resorts are now using controlled environment farms to provide their restaurants and patrons with premium food that not…

US (CA): Bowery Farming expands use of measuring water quality in real-time

Bowery Farming is expanding its use of KETOS to autonomously monitor water quality in real-time across farm locations. Bowery builds smart indoor farms near cities, growing fresher, pesticide-free Protected Produce in precisely controlled environments, 365 days a year. The KETOS SHIELD solution supports…

GoodLeaf Farms and Unfold partner to develop premium leafy greens

Unfold and GoodLeaf Farms have partnered to commercialize premium lines of vertically-farmed spinach and other leafy greens through Unfold's Innovation Partner Program. Chief Executive Officers of both companies will discuss the partnership tomorrow in a fireside chat at the 10th Annual Indoor Ag-Con in…

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CEA Alliance announces expanded Board of Directors, new members

The Controlled Environment Agriculture Alliance (CEA Alliance) has announced new Directors elected to serve on its expanded Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors include: Newly elected Directors: Steve Campione, Chief Financial Officer, Bright Farms Brian Cook, President, Local Bounti Monica…

US (SC): Seawater being used to grow primary crop at Heron Farms

South Carolina Research Authority’s investment affiliate, SC Launch Inc., has invested in Heron Farms Inc. The $250,000 investment will help the Charleston-based startup grow its vertical farming operations that require no naturally occurring freshwater. In 2022, Heron Farms became an SCRA Member Company…

Hyve and Ageye announce first joint indoor vertical farming project

Hyve Indoor Farming Systems and Ageye announced their first joint indoor vertical farming project since their announced strategic partnership on February 15.The project will be an indoor farm in Nebraska slated to begin immediately. The scope of the project will be a 13,000-square-foot grow facility that…

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Futura Gaïa raises €11 million to reach industrial scale

Futura Gaïa has just raised €11 million in a second funding round to reinforce agronomical and technological R&D capacities along with the installation of a first vertical farm at an industrial scale. Futura Gaïa designs and markets ready-to-use vertical farms. It's the only firm in the Controlled…

French seed breeder dedicating a department to vertical farming

“We are announcing a new division of Voltz Maraîchage, dedicated to vertical farming customers: Voltz Vertical Farming. We have established selection criteria with our customers and developed a specific range of seeds based on those criteria,” says Solène Voltz, the team manager. Voltz Maraîchage has…

US (NY): More than $3.8M awarded to improve seniors' access to locally grown foods

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the Department of Agriculture and Markets has been awarded over $3.8 million from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to help New York seniors better access locally grown food. The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act and is part of the $50 million the FNS is…

Yoeri van der Laan joins IUNU as Program Manager as company expands in The Netherlands

Yoeri van der Laan has joined IUNU as a Program Manager based in the Netherlands. Van der Laan brings a rich technological background, having worked for multiple digital platforms in positions where he was responsible for strategic growth and new feature development. He joined the horticulture industry,…

Brussels urban farms Peas & Love are bankrupt

Peas & Love‘s rooftop farms in Uccle and Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe have been declared bankrupt. However, the Brussels pioneer of urban agriculture still remains active in Paris.…

Nick Occhionero joins Sollum as senior sales director

Nick Occhionero has joined Sollum as senior sales director. Bridging his passion for the lighting industry and green technology, this new challenge will offer Nick plenty of opportunities to put his impressive industry experience to work. Nick is no newcomer to LED technology, innovative business…

System developers join indoor farming platform

OnePointOne, developers of hydroponic and aeroponic plant production systems, has joined Cultivatd’s indoor farming technology and services platform. The companies will work together to deploy automated indoor farming solutions consisting of the most advanced vertical farming technology, resources, and…

Oishii introduces “The Koyo Berry,” a new vertically farmed strawberry

Vertical farming company Oishii has launched The Koyo Berry, the newest varietal grown by the strawberry brand. The Koyo Berry will join the Omakase Berry as Oishii's second strawberry, bringing an entirely new flavor profile to the table. Each tray of Koyo Berries is non-GMO, pesticide-free, perfectly…

NL: Relaunch of Future Crops under investigation, cause of bankruptcy remains guesswork

Almost a month after the bankruptcy, the exact cause of the bankruptcy of vertical farm Future Crops in Poeldijk remains a mystery. There are suspicions about high energy costs as the cause, also because numerous other vertical farms are struggling with this, but the bankruptcy report does not point this…

Anneke van de Geijn joins GreenV as CCO

On 1 February 2023, Anneke van de Geijn joined GreenV, the internationally operating group of companies active in the horticultural sector, as Chief Commercial Officer. The group currently consists of Prins Group (greenhouse construction), Stolze (installation technology), GreenV Indoor (indoor…

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Agtech startup Green Labs is the latest Korean startup to lay off employees

Green Labs, a South Korean agtech startup that raised $140 million (170 billion won) Series C in January last year, is cutting a significant number of jobs. People familiar with the matter confirmed to TechCrunch earlier rumors by local media outlets that a workforce deduction would happen. Green Labs,…

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UK: OneFarm close to completing vertical farm in Newmarket

A vertical farm in Suffolk is close to completion, say its operators. The OneFarm development is being created inside a disused warehouse in Newmarket and is set to be one of the largest in the UK. The 6,400m sq facility will be capable of producing 415 tonnes of food a year. A second phase is set to…

Bowery

Bowery partners with Kayco to distribute no-need-to-wash kosher greens

Bowery announced the launch of a partnership with Kayco, a distributor to Kosher retail and food service companies in North America. Five varieties of greens will now be available at hundredsof kosher supermarkets within a 200-mile radius of Bayonne, NJ.Baby Butter, Romaine, Crispy Leaf, Mixed Greens,…

Realty Income and Plenty announce strategic alliance for up to $1 billion of vertical farm development

Realty Income Corporation, The Monthly Dividend Company, and Plenty Unlimited have entered into a strategic real estate alliance to support the development of Plenty's indoor vertical farms. Under the terms of the agreement, Realty Income will acquire and provide development funding for properties that…

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US (PA): Board approves plan to purchase property to advance agricultural research

To advance Penn State agricultural research, the Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business, and Capital Planning moved forward with a proposal on February 16 to purchase 20.36 acres of land in Benner Township, Centre County, near the University Park campus.  The proposal advances to the full…

US (VA): Jeff Jackson joins Soli Organic as Chief Infrastructure Officer

Soli Organic Inc. has announced a new membership of the leadership team, building on its track record of attracting top talent across admired companies, and bringing the best thinking from across innovative fields to controlled environment agriculture. The company has named Jeff Jackson as Chief…

Is your water tank well secured?

When your water tank is empty, it absolutely needs to be secured. To protect the liner against wind damage or deformation of the circular shape, we recommend to install tank base brackets. These little tools create a whole lot of extra support. What do they do? It is really important to have a proper foundation. Preparing your…

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UAE: Sharjah Sustainable City kicks off sustainable community engagement programme with public urban farms initiative

Sharjah Sustainable City, the first sustainable master-planned community in Sharjah, has launched its sustainable community engagement programme with the 'Discover Your Urban Farm' initiative. The initiative aims to introduce residents to urban farming through Agri Pods, where they can grow their own…

Germany: Potager Farm plans completion of Berlin farm Q2 2023

Potager Farm, a joint venture between Greenman Group and its fund Greenman OPEN (OPEN), has started construction of its first vertical greenhouse facility in East Berlin. Potager Farm has received a total of three million euros in financing from the group and the fund.  The Vertical Farm will consist of three…

Berlin Farms GmbH

"We have a chance to be the first certified organic indoor farm in Germany"

At the weekly market, urban-grown microgreens from the Berlin startup Berlin Farms are particularly well received. The microgreens are grown in racks on top of each other and without sunlight in a container. Since the seedlings are harvested after 10 to 14 days, they require less water to grow and do not…

UAE: AeroFarms inaugurates R&D indoor vertical farm

AeroFarms officially unveiled AeroFarms AgX, its latest indoor vertical farm, focused on bringing innovative Research and Development (R&D) to the UAE and the Middle East. The Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening began with a keynote address by Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, UAE…

Canada: GoodLeaf Farms uses Microsoft software to manage farm processes

“Among the leafy microgreens and baby greens we harvest daily, we are also cultivating massive amounts of data,” says Barry Murchie, Chief Executive Officer of GoodLeaf Farms, Canada’s leading commercial vertical farm. “Data is our most valuable asset and is revolutionizing the way we farm.” GoodLeaf’s…

HYVE and AgEye Tech partner up to bring technology to CEA growers

HYVE Indoor Farming Systems, a solutions-based, manufacturer of CEA systems, and AGEYE, a provider of automated platform monitoring systems for vertical farms and greenhouses, have partnered to bring complete unmatched technology to the CEA industry and commercial growers. Ron Acorn, President of HYVE,…

UK: OneFarm close to completing vertical farm in Newmarket

A vertical farm in Suffolk is close to completion, say its operators. The OneFarm development is being created inside a disused warehouse in Newmarket and is set to be one of the largest in the UK.  The 6,400m sq facility will be capable of producing 415 tonnes of food a year. A second phase is set to involve…

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UK: Fresh row ignites over controversial mushroom farm as council asked to decide new plans

A row over a controversial mushroom farm which was approved against neighbors' wishes will be reignited when the matter returns before West Lancashire's planning committee. Last year, the government overturned a decision to refuse permission to build an indoor mushroom farm on farmland in Scarisbrick,…

TrueVeg Group and Seasony announce partnership

The GreenTech Start-up brands in the Hydroponic Industry 'True Veg Group of Companies & Seasony' are proud to announce herewith a new partnership to radically lower barriers…

Vertical Future appoints Marco Ferroni as Chairman

Vertical Future appointed Marco Ferroni as the new Chair of the Board. Ferroni is also a member of the board of the Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan and recently stepped down as Chair of the System Board of CGIAR, the global agriculture and food, land, and water…

UK: Fischer Farms reports successful wheat trial

Fischer Farms move one step closer to achieving their vision of feeding the world with vertically farmed produceVertically farmed wheat could safeguard food security for most vulnerable regions.  Agri-tech innovators, Fischer Farms revealed their first trial of growing wheat has been highly successful, making…

Goodleaf Farms maximize productivity with Actemium's scheduling solution and budgeting software

Actemium Canada has partnered with GoodLeaf Community Farms to project manage the installation and startup of two new greenfield sites. Actemium will manage the overall integrated construction and startup schedules as well as provide engineering design and overall project management. Actemium will manage…

Bill Anderson to become CEO of Bayer

The Supervisory Board of Bayer AG has appointed Bill Anderson to become CEO of Bayer, effective June 1, 2023. He will join Bayer as a member of the Board of Management on April 1, 2023. Bill Anderson was elected unanimously after a thorough selection process that began mid last year. Werner Baumann (60),…

Infarm receives B Corp certification

Infarm received its certification as a B Corporation™ (B Corp™). Certified B Corps are a new generation of for-profit companies, verified by B Lab and meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. B Corps are legally required to consider the impact…

iFarm moves HQ to UAE

After participating in Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 incentive program and expanding significantly into the red-hot MENA agtech market, iFarm has announced the relocation of its global HQ from the EU to the UAE. The move comes at a moment of intense investment growth in the Gulf region’s agtech industry, which is bolstered by significant…

CAN (AB): New geothermal project to supply energy to vertical farm

Freshbay Inc. has a solution to Canada's need for genuine green energy and local production of fruits and vegetables. Freshbay is launching a large-scale, deep earth geothermal powered, 19-acre controlled environment agriculture (CEA) facility expected to begin operations in Hinton, Alberta, in January…

UK: James Hutton Institute invests £1.75 million in latest hi-spec lab equipment

The James Hutton institute has invested more than £1.75 million in new laboratory equipment to enhance its independent scientific research capabilities across food, plant, and…

Rovensa Group launches Rovensa Next, a new global biosolutions business unit

Faced with global challenges due to a growing population and climate change, among others, farmers need a solution to feed the planet through healthy and safe solutions. Rovensa Group, a global leader in agricultural inputs for sustainable agriculture, answers that need with Rovensa Next, a new global…

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Sharjah’s Arada opens first permanent Manbat Shop at Aljada, aims to boost UAE’s agri sector

Arada has opened the first permanent Manbat Shop at the Aljada master community in New Sharjah. The shop, set in the first residential phase of Aljada, enables Manbat’s goal to set up a bridge between local farmers and consumers in the UAE. The Manbat initiative was launched in January 2021 in…

Double win for Mastronardi Produce at Global Packaging Competition

Two Mastronardi Produce brands were celebrated for excellence in package design and innovation at the prestigious PAC Global Awards last Tuesday night, February 7. The company’s marketing team took home the Best in Class award for both its Queen of Greens™ lettuce brand in the New Brand category and for…

"With the right technologies, the electricity bill can be 30% cheaper"

Thanks to investments in R&D, Monti&C collected significant results over the past year. "The results concerned the control of electric consumption, which is essential for our clients considering the current energy costs. In some cases, we managed to decrease consumption by over 30%," explain Christian…

Finland: Vertical farm begins commercial-scale herb production

Netled's client, Tuoretarha Ltd., begins commercial-scale herb production using Netled's proprietary Vera® vertical farming technology in Pirkkala, Finland. The farm produces high-quality herbs sold under a new Finnish consumer brand "Vyrtti". The herbs will be available for consumers in March 2023. The…

US: Clifton Tomasini joins GrowGeneration as VP of operations

GrowGeneration Corp has hired Clifton Tomasini as Vice President of Operations. Mr. Tomasini will be responsible for overseeing all operations and driving profitability across…

Benjamin McKitterick joins Vertical Future

Benjamin, an experienced Embedded Systems Engineer with a Master's degree in Computer Science, joined the Vertical Future Software team this week. "Benjamin boasts a wealth of…

Enza Zaden appoints Andreas Sewing as CSO

The Supervisory Board of the international vegetables breeding company Enza Zaden announced that Andreas Sewing has been appointed Chief Scientific Officer and member of the Board of Directors at Enza Zaden, with effect from 1 May 2023. Jaap Mazereeuw, Chief Executive Officer at Enza Zaden: “I am…

Berry specialist signs partnership for vertical farm

Smartkas, a Dutch agtech enterprise that designs, builds, owns, and operates smart farms, is pleased to announce its partnership with BerryWorld, a soft fruit specialist. Smartkas is growing the award-winning Eve's Delight variety from the Edward Vinson breeding programme on 12 vertical layers to deliver…

Fungi Perfecti is committed to ongoing mycological research

Fungi Perfecti® - makers of Host Defense® Mushrooms™ - employs a full-time in-house Research and Development staff whose expertise ranges from mycology, chemistry, and environmental sciences, to cellular and molecular biology. In the last year, the R&D team has grown, welcoming three new members,…

US (MO): UMSL partnering to grow Center of Excellence in indoor farming

Planning is underway for a Center of Excellence in indoor farming that would be housed on the campus of the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The Yield Lab Institute is leading the efforts to develop the center, expected to reside on the northern part of the UMSL campus, not far from Express Scripts and…

"This partnership will simplify water management for the CEA industry"

Priva has recently entered into a strategic partnership with Integrated Bioengineering to deliver end-to-end water process management solutions for CEA. "Our newly formed partnership with Integrated Bioengineering is an exciting growth opportunity and enables us to extend our presence in the Midwest,"…

Restart for bankrupt 30MHZ within Sobolt group

30MHz is making a relaunch within the Sobolt Group. An agreement to this effect was reached on February 1. A month ago, the Amsterdam-based sensor and data company went…

Plenty receives $20 million funding for R&D center from State of Wyoming

Plenty received a $20 million grant from the State of Wyoming through the Wyoming Business Council to the City of Laramie to help with construction and infrastructure costs for their new R&D Center in Laramie, Wyoming. Additional funding, land, and support for the project are being provided by the City…

A step-by-step guide to circular greenhouse horticulture

The Greenhouse Horticulture & Flower Bulbs Business Unit at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has completed its research into circular greenhouse horticulture, carried out in partnership with the Club of 100. The research looked into possibilities and opportunities for improving circular processes…

Tom van der Meer turns 50

On February 2, Tom van der Meer turned 50 years old. Tom was Artechno's first employee, both at the old and new Artechno. His colleagues put him in the limelight as Tom ''is always there for everyone. As Realization Manager, he flies around the world to get our projects on order down to the last bolt and bit." For more information:Artechno…

Fruit Logistica magazine FreshPlaza/Primeur now available online

FreshPlaza and Primeur have joined together to publish a 160-page tradeshow magazine for the Fruit Logistica trade show. It is a truly international edition with in-depth articles from the international fresh produce sector. The German-language magazine in print was sent this week in a circulation of more…

"Companies look for each other, but we actually already have everything in-house"

Visser started in 1967 as an automator of processes in horticulture. "From there, we have grown into various companies in agro & food working in automation." So says Charlotte Langerak-Visser, Chief Strategy Officer at Viscon Group, from the IPM exhibition floor in Essen. "That worked for a very long…

Ohio State, Rutgers, Cornell, the University of Arizona, Koidra, and Hort Americas team up to lead USDA-awarded grant

Commercial horticultural supplier Hort Americas has joined The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES); Rutgers University; Cornell University; the University of Arizona Controlled Environment Ag Center (CEAC); and Koidra on a research and development…

Climate-resilient strawberry variety launched

Singrow, a Singapore-based agri-genomics firm, announced the launch of a climate-resilient strawberry variety. The novel strawberry variety is the first application of this technology. The company is currently developing other crop segments that will address food security challenges around the world,…

CAN: GoodLeaf Farms expands its executive leadership

With new farms set to open in Alberta and Quebec, GoodLeaf Farms continues to flesh out its executive leadership to manage and facilitate the growth.   GoodLeaf promoted Juanita Moore to Vice President, Corporate Development, and hired Cheryl Verbiski as Vice President of Commercial and Martin De Rome as Vice President…

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Green Life Company launches aeroponic projects in Kuwait

Green Life Company officially launched its innovative smart agriculture project on the 1st of February, utilizing Aeroponic technology for air farming in Kuwait. This groundbreaking initiative aims to bolster food security by producing healthy, high-quality agricultural products with minimal water, using…

AeroFarms and PIF create joint venture to build farms in Saudi Arabia and MENA region

The Public Investment Fund signed a joint venture agreement with AeroFarms to establish a company in Riyadh to build and operate indoor vertical farms in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The partnership is expected to enable sustainable, local sourcing of…

Paper packaging solution now also available as banderole

New legislation for the packaging of fresh products has given the use of paper in the packaging of fruit, vegetables, and other horticultural products, an extra boost. At the upcoming Fruit Logistica in Berlin, Mediane will introduce, among other items, sealable and recyclable Paper banderoles.  Mediane introduced…

Sormac launches office to serve the UK and Ireland

Sormac BV, developer and manufacturer of machinery and processing lines for the fresh-cut industry, will open a dedicated office located in Suffolk, UK, in partnership with…

Fine Americas adds Northeast sales manager

Fine Americas is pleased to announced Nathaniel Morse as sales manager serving customers across the northeastern United States and Canada. “With his extensive crop and agronomic experience, Nathaniel speaks growers’ and farmers’ languages,” says Greg Johnson, President of Fine Americas, Inc. “We’re excited…

US (SC): Heron Farms receives $250,000 investment to expand operations

South Carolina Research Authority's investment affiliate, SC Launch Inc., has invested in Heron Farms Inc. The $250,000 investment will help the Charleston-based startup grow its vertical farming operations that require no naturally occurring freshwater. In 2022, Heron Farms became an SCRA Member Company…

Protecting produce from viruses through active packing technologies

In the produce sector, assuring freshness and safety has long been a leading concern of processors, distributors, and brands. Conventional mitigation strategies focus on wash…

Pure Harvest to build more indoor farms in Saudi Arabia

The National Agricultural Development Company (Nadec) has partnered with Pure Harvest Smart Farms (Pure Harvest) to deliver a large-scale national food security project in the Kingdom, which aims to deliver over 27 hectares of production near term – with prospects for significant future expansions on…

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New vertical farm to grow 45 million pounds of mushroom root for plant-based meat

Last July, New York-based startup MyForest foods announced the opening of a vertical farm that would grow three million pounds of mycelium a year, all for plant-based bacon. Now competitor Meati Foods is blowing them out of the water with a facility that will be able to produce more than 45 million…

Artechno is not sitting still: "Working on wider deployment of vertical farms"

Art van Rijn, owner of Artechno reflects on 2022. Despite all the challenges, Art speaks of "a fantastic" year. In 2023, among other things, Artechno will be moving into new premises to continue its growth, as there are plenty of ambitions ahead.  Art van Rijn "Now we're mainly building vertical farms that…

Michael Hart

Kalera PLC to focus on US solemnly, eyeing growth potential in existing farms

"Completing the separation of the international assets allows us to focus all efforts to become a pure-play vertical farming company in the United States and concentrate our investments into existing farms and growing customer segments, where we see strong growth potential," said Jim Leighton, President,…

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USDA announces grants for urban agriculture and innovative production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available up to $7.5 million for grants through its Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP). The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories,…

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Philippines: BoomGrow supplies on-site farm to Newport World Resorts

The next time you find yourselves dining at one of the restaurants at Newport World Resorts (formerly Resorts World Manila), the produce on your plate might literally be 'homegrown.'  That's because the integrated casino resort property invested in an onsite hydroponic system to grow fresh herbs and vegetables…

Stolze moves to new shiny headquarter

Stolze has moved to its new headquarters, located at Honderdland 781 in Maasdijk. The construction took 18 months to complete and enables the company to grow further, connect and increase sustainability. The company is proud and excited to provide customers with high-quality products and an excellent…

Growy acquires assets and team of Kalera International (&ever)

Growy Holdings BV has acquired all of the assets, IP, and the core team of Kalera International, formerly known as &ever. This adds the fully operational automated farm in Kuwait as well as the new farm in Singapore to Growy’s portfolio.  Ard van de Kreeke, Founder and CEO of Growy, says: “The acquisition…

Baby vs. teen leaf : what’s the best approach for loose leaf lettuce?

There's a growing interest worldwide to move the production of loose leaf lettuce and other greens (spinach, arugula, kale, etc.) from open fields into greenhouses. There is a wide range of vocabulary in use to describe the produce and the way it is grown: baby leaf, teen leaf, toddler leaf… "With the…

Resistant varieties and extra crispy lettuces at Fruit Logistica

Behind every vegetable seed is a story of perseverance, innovation, and dedication to helping growers succeed against the many threats found each season. Syngenta is proud to work hand-in-hand with growers, processors, retailers, and consumers to understand what the future of the vegetable industry…

Fresh produce chain hit by Lakeside Produce’s bankruptcy

The bankruptcy of Lakeside Produce will affect the complete North American fresh produce industry, as many of the 300 creditors are from the fresh produce chain. The company…

Koppert acquires Scandinavian company Lindesro

Koppert has acquired the Scandinavian company Lindesro. Lindesro has been Koppert's Scandinavian distributor since 2007. The deal was signed at Koppert headquarters in the Netherlands recently. "The acquisition of Lindesro will bring us closer to the Scandinavian market. Soon we will be able to further…

NL: Future Crops goes bankrupt

On January 24, bankruptcy was declared on Future Crops Cooperative U.A. The Israeli-Dutch vertical farming company is located at the ABC Westland industrial park in Poeldijk. It can be noted that the vertical farming sector is struggling. Several vertical farming companies have announced in the past year that they were either…

Neon Greens

US (MO): Container farms to supply greens on site in new St. Louis dining site

Neon Greens, a new, quick-service salad concept from St. Louis native Josh Smith, is set to open in the historic Grove neighborhood of St. Louis this summer at 4176 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110.  Neon Greens is a container farm that will be able to supply from seed to leaf to plate. In addition to…

US (CA): Plenty confirms closure of South San Francisco vertical farming facility

News of Plenty closing down its South San Francisco facility first surfaced last month but flew largely under the radar. Without giving concrete numbers, Plenty’s spokesperson also suggested some job cuts related to the SF facility are inevitable. A spokesperson for the vertical farming company said…

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US (MO): New salad concept to open in The Grove will grow its own lettuce on site

A first-of-its-kind, quick-service salad concept that grows its own lettuce on-site using vertical farms will open at 4176 Manchester Ave in The Grove this summer. The idea for the restaurant, named Neon Greens, came to owner Josh Smith amid the supply chain snarls of the pandemic, according to a press…

UK: Newcastle's first hydroponic VF will contribute to sustainable food culture

Food for the Planet is a Sustainable Food Places campaign which looks at how we can transform our food and farming systems to embrace agroecological production, sustainable diets, and an end to food waste. As part of this campaign in Newcastle, Food Newcastle has been along to Byker-based Fyto,…

Yvan Hamel joins Sollum as Chief Product Officer

Yvan Hamel has been appointed Chief Product Officer at Sollum Technologies. Yvan Hamel will focus on elevating Sollum's catalog of dynamic LED grow lights to the next level as Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Product Officer (CPO). With 34 years of industry experience, Mr. Hamel has developed…

AgriFORCE to acquire international berry business

AgriFORCE Growing Systems entered into a binding letter of intent to acquire US berry shipper Berry People LLC, 'a berry business with an increasingly international footprint and a scalable platform model'. In collaboration with AgriFORCE, Berry People aims to further develop backward integration into…