“Indoor farming is about producing an economic product by using technology”

"The mistake in our industry is that many people tribute the soul success of indoor farming to LED. LED makes indoor farming viable. But if you want to make indoor farming scalable, you have to think in trends that are happening in robotics, automation, computer vision and machine learning." Speaking is…

Georgia: Cucumber grower installs new grow lights for high quality winter crop

The need for year-round cultivation of tomatoes and cucumbers is growing rapidly in Georgia. Grow light is an essential factor for optimal crop growth in the dark period of the year. In order to realize the most optimal light-emission, JSC Georgian Greenhouse Corporation chose to go with a Hortilux grow…

"Better to have a larger pipe with a small pump than vice versa"

The most recent expansion of 4Evergreen Terneuzen in Westdorpe, Netherlands, was finished at the end of November. The completion of phase 3 brings the total acreage on this location to 54 hectare. The expansion project is doubling the size of the company. In 2012 the Grootscholte brothers went looking for a good…

Market scan: Japan's modern greenhouse industry

A new greenhouse market scan focuses on the current situation in the modern greenhouse sector, including support measures of the Japanese government and an overview of newly built greenhouses. The government makes efforts to increase vegetable production. In 2014 the Next Generation Greenhouse program…

"Patent law is an inappropriate instrument for the EU agricultural sector"

On December 5th, in an oral hearing on a patent covering pepper plants, the European Patent Office (EPO) declared Rule 28(2) to be invalid. This rule clarified that all…

First bananas harvested from Dutch greenhouse

Researchers from Wageningen University & Research are harvesting the first Dutch bananas this week. Boerenhart, a supplier of fresh and local products will offer the bananas as 'regional product' to restaurants and hospitals in the region of Wageningen. The cultivation took place on two types of…

Spain's minimum wage to jump 22% in new year

Spain's minimum wage will jump by 22% in 2019 - the largest annual increase in more than 40 years. It means millions of low-paid workers could see a pay rise from €736 ($835; £665) to €900, effective from January. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the increase on Wednesday, declaring "a rich country cannot have poor workers". The…

Bee vectoring comes to Mexico

Bee Vectoring Technologies is accelerating efforts to bring its patented plant protection delivery system to commercial growers in Mexico. BVT has begun the registration process of its proprietary active ingredient, Clonostachys rosea CR-7, as a biofungicide for control of common fungal diseases including botrytis. For assistance with the…

Macfrut 2019: First Greenhouse Technology Village shows greenhouse cultivation

The exhibition halls of Rimini Fiera will be renewed on the occasion of the 36th edition of Macfrut, which will take place from 8 to 10 May 2019. The design of the exhibition center will feature the colors of the two main fruits, the red of the "Mela Rossa Cuneo PGI" and the yellow of the pineapple. The…

US: "Significant demand for both greenhouse-grown and outdoor-grown hemp"

Village Farms International, following the passage by U.S. Congress of the 2018 Farm Bill, will aggressively pursue opportunities to become a vertically integrated leader in…

Turkish producer of sticky traps becomes part of Biobest Group

Biobest Group NV of Belgium, IVOG Gmbh of Germany, BKS A.S. and Antilsan A.S. of Turkey, jointly announced a transaction, which further strengthens the position of Biobest Group with regard to sticky traps, sticky rolls and pheromones. BKS A.S., based in Antalya, manufactures sticky traps and rolls and…

New tomato greenhouses planned in Solnechnodolsk

The symbolic first brick in the third and fourth series of the greenhouse complex Solnechniy Dar has been laid in Izobilnensky regional center last month. Over 200.5 million Euro will be invested in the construction. The greenhouse is part of the Eko-Kultura group  The festive event took place November 16, the head of the region…

Macfrut 2019: First Greenhouse Technology Village shows greenhouse cultivation

The exhibition halls of Rimini Fiera will be renewed on the occasion of the 36th edition of Macfrut, which will take place from 8 to 10 May 2019. The design of the exhibition center will feature the colors of the two main fruits, the red of the "Mela Rossa Cuneo PGI" and the yellow of the pineapple. The…

First bananas harvested from Dutch greenhouse

Researchers from Wageningen University & Research are harvesting the first Dutch bananas this week. Boerenhart, a supplier of fresh and local products will offer the bananas as 'regional product' to restaurants and hospitals in the region of Wageningen. The cultivation took place on two types of…

Georgia: Cucumber grower installs new grow lights for high quality winter crop

The need for year-round cultivation of tomatoes and cucumbers is growing rapidly in Georgia. Grow light is an essential factor for optimal crop growth in the dark period of the year. In order to realize the most optimal light-emission, JSC Georgian Greenhouse Corporation chose to go with a Hortilux grow…

Digestate as alternative substrate for soil-less lettuce farming

The consumption of ready-to-eat salad has been growing over the last 20 years in the European market. The annual growth rate is at 4%. That's why this food category is renowned as one of the most profitable horticultural segments. As a result of a growing trend, the lettuce and chicory are farmed over a 1.2 million…

"Application of reused (waste) water may in no circumstance become an obligation"

The European Commission wants to have minimum requirements for treated (waste) water. MEP Jan Huitema (VVD) therefore visited the waste water treatment plant (AWZI) Harnaschpolder and pepper grower Van der Lelij on 4 December at the invitation of GroentenFruit Huis, the Dutch Water Authorities and LTO…

"Better to have a larger pipe with a small pump than vice versa"

The most recent expansion of 4Evergreen Terneuzen in Westdorpe, Netherlands, was finished at the end of November. The completion of phase 3 brings the total acreage on this location to 54 hectare. The expansion project is doubling the size of the company. In 2012 the Grootscholte brothers went looking for a good…

Turkish producer of sticky traps becomes part of Biobest Group

Biobest Group NV of Belgium, IVOG Gmbh of Germany, BKS A.S. and Antilsan A.S. of Turkey, jointly announced a transaction, which further strengthens the position of Biobest Group with regard to sticky traps, sticky rolls and pheromones. BKS A.S., based in Antalya, manufactures sticky traps and rolls and…

United Fresh encourages quick passage of Farm Bill this week

The United Fresh Produce Association applauds the House and the Senate Farm Bill Conference Committee for approving a Farm Bill conference report, the final report to H.R. 2,…

Chinese e-commerce App just raised $100M

Among the many up-and-comers, jostling for a spot in China’s massive e-commerce industry, there are a few that pick a niche market and present a novel business model different…

Vitacress announces new senior appointments

Vitacress, one of the UK’s largest growers and suppliers of fresh herbs and salads to supermarkets has appointed two new members to its senior team. Mike Sheldon joins as Managing Director of…

The greenhouse that never should have been

We do not want to gossip nor speak bad about people, but to be honest the greenhouse at Maatschap B. Otten in IJsselmuiden, Netherlands doesn't look very up-to-date. That's…

Nothing is wasted in this greenhouse restaurant

It has been there for a while, restaurant the Green House in the center of Utrecht (Netherlands). On April 9, the restaurant opened its doors, and since then the visitors have been able to enjoy food which is harvested above their heads in the greenhouse. The video below gives a good overview of the…

CAN (SK): Herb grower talks about switch to marijuana

If everything goes according to plan, Brian Bain will convert his Saskatoon market garden to a marijuana nursery by next year.  He said it's a matter of economics. "All of a sudden, you have a crop that comes along, that you can pay your employees better, you can pay yourself better and the business itself will do better," he told…

US: English teacher returned from Korea to grow microgreens

After living in Korea for 12 years, Brian Carlstrom is happy to spend time in his backyard. While standing in his greenhouse, Carlstrom talked about leaving South Korea, getting his daughters settled in Springfield and developing a knack for growing baby plants, or microgreens. Carlstrom is a Springfield native and had graduated from…

“Indoor farming is about producing an economic product by using technology”

"The mistake in our industry is that many people tribute the soul success of indoor farming to LED. LED makes indoor farming viable. But if you want to make indoor farming scalable, you have to think in trends that are happening in robotics, automation, computer vision and machine learning." Speaking is…

Bee vectoring comes to Mexico

Bee Vectoring Technologies is accelerating efforts to bring its patented plant protection delivery system to commercial growers in Mexico. BVT has begun the registration process of its proprietary active ingredient, Clonostachys rosea CR-7, as a biofungicide for control of common fungal diseases including botrytis. For assistance with the…

US: Consumer horticulture proposal reviewers needed to impact how federal research dollars are spent

If you want to influence how federal research dollars are spent on Consumer Horticulture, you can volunteer to be a reviewer of Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)…

New Zealand: Rising strawberry prices around Christmas 'unavoidable'

It is always certain that strawberry prices will skyrocket around Christmas-time. Most shoppers think they are being ripped-off when the $2 punnet of strawberries at the…

Western Australian vegetable growers fear water licence fees

Australian fruit and vegetable growers are lobbying against potential introduction of application fees for water licences. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation…

Microgreens provide budding Aussie businesses with fast-turnaround crops and ready market

Microgreens are proving to be increasingly popular in upmarket Australian eateries, which is how growing micro was what got Adam Tutt thinking big. The young vegetable farmer near Bowraville on the New South Wales north coast left the family farm and set up his own business. "I travelled overseas and had a look…

US farmers hit by trade tariffs

Tariffs are at the heart of a trade war between the U.S. and China. Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural commodities have taken a nosedive since China imposed tariffs on them in retaliation for steep U.S. import taxes on items like steel and aluminum.   In mid-summer China slapped a 25-percent tariff on imports of U.S. soybeans. By…

Market scan: Japan's modern greenhouse industry

A new greenhouse market scan focuses on the current situation in the modern greenhouse sector, including support measures of the Japanese government and an overview of newly built greenhouses. The government makes efforts to increase vegetable production. In 2014 the Next Generation Greenhouse program…

Westminster urged to promote fruit and vegetable sector

Britain’s agriculture policy needs to change, in order to ensure a more productive future for British fruit and vegetable producers. That was the message from the Fruit and…

Vegetables damaged by violent hail in Apulia

On the 10th of December, the Italian areas of Polignano , Monopoli and Fasano were hit by a heavy hailstorm. Giandomenico De Mola witnessed this and commented on it as follows: "Around 11:00 AM an exceptional and unusual hailstorm hit Polignano, and an hour later it migrated south". "There is clearly visible damage to crops such…

Early winter storm challenges trucking in Southeastern U.S.

Following an unusual and surprising winter storm over the weekend, growers and produce handlers and others in the Southeastern U.S. say it could have been worse. After dumping anywhere from…

Food bloggers weigh in on food trend realities

For the second year in a row FullTilt Marketing surveyed food bloggers from across the country to get their perspective on what they view as the relevant food trends and how…

Spain's minimum wage to jump 22% in new year

Spain's minimum wage will jump by 22% in 2019 - the largest annual increase in more than 40 years. It means millions of low-paid workers could see a pay rise from €736 ($835; £665) to €900, effective from January. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the increase on Wednesday, declaring "a rich country cannot have poor workers". The…

"In Mexico, you do business with persons, not with companies"

If the greenhouse horticulture is on the rise in a country, logistics freight forwarder Allport Netherlands usually immediately notices this in the number of requests and the…

European call for an increased use of geothermal energy

In an open letter, European geothermy organizations have called upon the EU to make more use of geothermal energy. The letter reads: "Geothermal energy is the energy stored in the form of heat below the surface of solid earth. The deeper one penetrates the interior of the Earth, the warmer it becomes. It is inexhaustible…

Biostimulants improve the nutritional value of iceberg lettuce

Studies carried out by Tradecorp in various Iceberg lettuce orchards in the region of Murcia confirm that the use of biostimulants and soil activators, such as Actyvium,…

"Patent law is an inappropriate instrument for the EU agricultural sector"

On December 5th, in an oral hearing on a patent covering pepper plants, the European Patent Office (EPO) declared Rule 28(2) to be invalid. This rule clarified that all…

This futuristic vehicle could solve logistic problems of Amazon, Walmart and Target

The company that came up with Walmart's pickup towers has now developed a self-driving car that could really result in a dramatic shift in the last-mile delivery industry. A new car, called Lotte, has been presented. It is a robotic courier. It autonomously transports packages to homes and businesses and uses a…

Floral holidays with edible roses

A luxury Christmas dinner with a floral touch or festive toasting on the new year with a colorful glass of champagne. Rose growers Rodewijk focus fully on the holidays with their edible roses 'Rosalicious'. Restaurants, bakeries and catering industry "The biggest difference is not in the cultivation, but in the sales", says…

British greengrocers: "Backlash against plastic has sparked trade boom"

UK greengrocers have claimed that a backlash against plastic has sparked a boom in their trade, as - mainly young - people flock through the doors to buy locally-sourced…

The dream of a perfect climate

What's better than a dream come true? And what if this dream were to help save the earth? More and more often we see, smell, feel and hear about the effects of climate change; and according to the experts we know that CO2 emissions must be drastically reduced to keep global warming below the crucial limit of two degrees…

"Mars and Mull share similar soil"

NASA’s InSight lander has been headline news in recent weeks, as it continues to send back clear images of the rocky and unforgiving surface of Mars. However, the previous exploration robot sent to roam the red planet, the Curiosity rover, has been beaming back invaluable data for years, giving…

Organic farming increases despite the greater effort required

"We have been growing organically since 2004 and back then we were a rarity in the area around Vittoria, in Sicily. We have been certified by the BioAgriCert already for a while and, despite being a small-medium company, we are able to defend our revenue". Thus says Salvatore Modica , whose homonymous…

"Number of recalls surprises me"

Salmonella, Listeria monocytogens, wrong labeling: the number of recalls in the past months is significantly higher than in other years. Michel Witmer, Groen Agro Control, already wondered about this in September: "How is it possible certain things still occur?" As product manager food he sees a lot, and now he has turned to…

How healthy are fresh fruits and vegetables actually?

That fruits and vegetables are healthy is a generally accepted fact. However, relatively little is known about the specific nutrients in fresh fruit and vegetables and their…

That is one hot girl... Woman wins Chinese chilli-eating contest

While last Sunday temperatures in Yichun city, Jiangxi province almost dropped to freezing point, locals and tourists took part in a chilli-eating contest. The participants have to devour as many of the fiery peppers as possible within a time limit. Courageous Yichun native Yi Huan took home a bar of gold and was crowned 'Chilli…

US (PA): School opens 6,100 sq.ft. public educational aquaponics facility

Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA), a Pennsylvania public cyber charter school, officially unveiled AgWorks at CCA, which according to them is the largest public educational aquaponics facility in the country. AgWorks at CCA will provide students with hands-on learning experiences in a 6,100-square-foot,…

CAN (ON): JWC continues large scale expansion at second facility

James E. Wagner Cultivation Corporation has received a main building permit from the City of Kitchener – Building Division for the second phase of the construction of its second facility, which is located at 530 Manitou Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, N2C 1L3. The corporation estimates that Phase 2 will include the construction…

UK: BBC's Countryfile visits cannabis grower

Adam Henson of BBC Countryfile was granted rare access to the biggest single glass house in the UK where a controversial crop is now being grown. Here, on this East Anglia site, they used to grow food. But now the glasshouse has been converted to become one of the world’s largest producers of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis. The…

US: "Significant demand for both greenhouse-grown and outdoor-grown hemp"

Village Farms International, following the passage by U.S. Congress of the 2018 Farm Bill, will aggressively pursue opportunities to become a vertically integrated leader in…

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