The E.coli outbreak in open field grown romaine lettuce might open doors and markets for indoor farmers and their local grown produce currently, but it also shows the vulnerability of an industry. On the Indoor Ag-Con industry leaders warned their colleagues for the possible threat to the complete industry when not all players guarantee food safety.
“In Arizona all Romaine lettuce is off the market for a long stretch. It doesn’t matter if you contributed to the contaminated products or not – your products are off the shelf. It’s a screaming reminder how a contamination can threaten people's health, threaten businesses and threaten an entire industry.” Speaking is Matt Barnard, CEO of Plenty Ag. On the Indoor Ag-Con he urged his colleagues in Indoor Farming to ensure food safety and when running flat, to reach out to the company. “We ourselves monitor day by day to make sure we do not threaten the health of consumers. People want more fruit & vegetables grown indoors, but not anymore if there’s just one of us making a mistake on one day.”
Matt wasn’t alone in his call. While the topics of talk differed, food safety came up in the lectures of almost every industry leading indoor farm company during the Indoor Ag-Con. Also Gotham Greens’ CEO Viraj Puri emphasized the importance of food safety and predicted the standardisation of badges and certifications to happen in the near future. Also TruLeaf’s CEO Gregg Curwinn urges companies to close their chain. “The importance of food safety for us is massive and a fairly sized recall is to be expected in Vertical Farming as well.”
He urged growers to take a look at the data collection and digital activities in the company. “Don’t make it your operation, but use it as a tool – and not just in sight of growing. Taking a look at the complete operation insight of data, including logistics and packaging. Blockchain is for real and in light of the E.coli and listeria outbreaks, vertical farming can be a big value adds. But for now it only takes one little recall… I think hardly anyone is capitalised enough to sustain that.”
Reputation
With their warnings, the industry leaders respond to the rise of indoor farms in the USA and Canada. Where before there were only a few of them more and more Indoor Farms seem to pop up regularly. While they currently benefit of their status of growing food safety, this can disappear easily when a contamination occurs. Viraj Puri explained how this is less likely to occur in indoor growing, but sure is a risk. “It is not true that there’s no risk in indoor farming. Food safety regulations are very important and certifications and standards for food safety have to be met. If any of us tricks out, it will work out on all of us.”
Food Safety wasn’t the only topic discussed at the sixth edition of the Indoor Ag-Con in Las Vegas. Over the coming period we'll share more insights with you and Monday a complete photo report will be posted.