Photo report: HortEx Vietnam 2019

Imagine a country with a horticultural background, plenty of labour available, over 95 million inhabitants for the local market and many more countries nearby willing to buy produce. On top of that, the financial position of the residents is growing, as is the awareness of the importance of food safety.…

Azerbaijan: New greenhouse to grow tomatoes for Russia

Premium tomatoes are now being grown for export in Azerbaijan by a new-to-agriculture player in a high-tech structure thanks to Netafim’s local greenhouse projects team. A leading water conveyance equipment manufacturer in Azerbaijan looked to diversify into agriculture for the first time and needed a partner with relevant…

UK: "More sustainable operation by increasing the water usage"

The fact that good quality of water is important for the quality of the plants and the yield is worldwide known. The irrigation system can easily be called the vessels of hydroponic growing -  providing the plants with everything they need to grow and produce the best fruits or flowers. Yet all smart systems…

UK: University of Sheffeld launches greenhouse in Oman

World leading science research from the University of Sheffield is helping to solve the problem of limited food availability and soaring food prices which hit the Middle Eastern country of Oman every summer through the creation of innovative sustainable greenhouses. The pioneering design incorporates various cutting-edge technologies…

CAN (YT): Aquaponics facility to be powered by geothermal energy

Some entrepreneurs in Yukon say they've found a creative way to move their project forward — by using geothermal power.  Founders of Yukon's North Star Agriculture have been pushing to build an aquaponics facility in Yukon, which would raise fish and vegetables indoors.  CEO Sonny Gray says the company has now secured funding to build a…

"Sustainable Belgian tomatoes cheaper than Spanish imports"

Which is cheaper: Spanish tomatoes imported to Belgium during the winter or those grown in Belgium, itself? Ellen Peeters (Applied Economic Sciences, Business Administration,…

"Plastic with a positive impact on the environment"

The use of textile protective screens in agriculture entails advantages at least in terms of: increase in the yield of cultivated land by multiplying cycles per season and protecting from atmospheric agents reduction of pesticide use, with equal protection against the most aggressive insects for each individual crop improvement of the microclimate, through the…

Denmark: In spite of setbacks, 2018 still a good year for growers

Although the warm and dry summer caused big problems for horticulture companies, 2018 still was a good year, as becomes clear from an analysis of the figures, performed by accounting agency PK Revision. The analysis is based on the accounting results of a large group of growers on Funen, where a quarter…

The helpful insects behind blackberry cultivation

In mid-January, the spring cultivation of blackberries under glass started at Van de Bosch in Berkel and Rodenrijs (Netherlands). At the end of February they started releasing various types of biological protection products from Koppert Biological Systems such as Thripex-Plus bags (N. cucumeris) against…

University of Florida announces Greenhouse Training Online courses for 2019

With limited availability of qualified labor, your best investment is in training your existing staff to make better crop management decisions. University of Florida IFAS Extension can help with four-week, award-winning, online training courses in English and Spanish. The first course of the year,…

Twitter's former CFO joins Plenty

Twitter’s former chief financial officer has joined Plenty in that role as the indoor farming startup prepares for international expansion and improvements to its vertical…

UK: University of Sheffeld launches greenhouse in Oman

World leading science research from the University of Sheffield is helping to solve the problem of limited food availability and soaring food prices which hit the Middle Eastern country of Oman every summer through the creation of innovative sustainable greenhouses. The pioneering design incorporates various cutting-edge technologies…

Azerbaijan: New greenhouse to grow tomatoes for Russia

Premium tomatoes are now being grown for export in Azerbaijan by a new-to-agriculture player in a high-tech structure thanks to Netafim’s local greenhouse projects team. A leading water conveyance equipment manufacturer in Azerbaijan looked to diversify into agriculture for the first time and needed a partner with relevant…

US: Researchers develop model to help keep crop seeds healthy

Working with international r researchers, University of Florida scientists have developed a model that will help protect good seeds, which are necessary to plant healthy crops…

Advances in hi-tech vegetable nursery production

Vegetable nursery production has become a highly commercialized business, wherein most farmers buy their plugs from professional growers. A vegetable nursery is a place or an establishment for raising or handling of young vegetable seedlings until they are ready for more permanent planting. The seeds of…

UK: "More sustainable operation by increasing the water usage"

The fact that good quality of water is important for the quality of the plants and the yield is worldwide known. The irrigation system can easily be called the vessels of hydroponic growing -  providing the plants with everything they need to grow and produce the best fruits or flowers. Yet all smart systems…

"Time is of the essence for initiatives surrounding collective purification"

Doubtful, this is how supervisor Leo Buijing of the Environment Service Haaglanden in the Netherlands describes the silence surrounding the initiatives for collective water purification. In the near future, he hopes to engage in conversation with industry association Glastuinbouw Nederland, regional…

China: "Self-service retail from AI refrigerators makes shopping more convenient"

Convenience when shopping has become more and more important to consumers recently. China is one of the leading countries to open up and innovate this field of shopping convenience. With the use of advanced technology consumers can order food products at any time of the day and have them in their hands…

"Plastic with a positive impact on the environment"

The use of textile protective screens in agriculture entails advantages at least in terms of: increase in the yield of cultivated land by multiplying cycles per season and protecting from atmospheric agents reduction of pesticide use, with equal protection against the most aggressive insects for each individual crop improvement of the microclimate, through the…

Driscoll's expands Fair Trade Certified™ farms in Baja, Mexico

In 2019, Driscoll’s said its Fair Trade program increased acreage by nearly 14 percent with the goal of being 100 percent Fair Trade Certified™ by the end of 2019. This means an additional 1,000 workers can positively benefit from the program. This expansion builds on the company's multi-year Fair Trade USA partnership…

Fair Trade organic artichokes from California

Wholesum™ announced today that they will be growing their Fair Trade certified program by introducing organically grown artichokes from Salinas, California with harvests…

Canada: Migrant farm workers win legal battle against recruiter

Last year, eight Filipino farm workers claimed recruiter Liwayway “Lily” Miranda and her company, A&L Hammer Workforce Management and Marketing recruited them and gave…

"We provide an uninterrupted supply of berries to the Chinese market all year long"

"Berries have become a new favorite for Chinese consumers in recent years. Berries have a considerable potential for growth in the Chinese market. Let us take the outstanding blueberry as an example. The Joy Wing Mau Group maintains keen consumer insight for their high-end fruit brand 'Joyvio Blueberry'…

Migros is testing personalized online shop

An individual online shop based on the personal shopping behavior of customers - that is what Migros in Bern is testing in pilot project 'My Migros'. With Le Shop, Migros is…

Twitter's former CFO joins Plenty

Twitter’s former chief financial officer has joined Plenty in that role as the indoor farming startup prepares for international expansion and improvements to its vertical…

"It’s time to demand more from our plants and less from our planet"

Verdesian was formed in 2012 through the acquisition of six companies by Paine Schwartz Partners, a private equity firm specializing in sustainable food chain investing and agribusiness based in San Mateo, California and New York City.  “We need to do more with less -- less water, less land, better soil quality, and fewer…

Rabobank strengthens focus on North American Food & Agri sector

Rabobank announces consolidation of its agribusiness activities across the United States and the sale of its subsidiary Rabobank, National Association (RNA) to Mechanics Bank.…

Myanmar: How a 'sayar' took farming to a higher level

To be called “sayar” (teacher) is high praise in Myanmar, but that is exactly what the smallholder farmers call Aung Ko Latt. The 42-year-old Aung Ko Latt is one of the technical trainers in the East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer team, based at Pwint Phyu Township in Myanmar. Through hands-on guidance and instruction, mentors…

European justice forces access to reports on glyphosate

The General Court of the European Union (TGUE) ruled that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) should allow access to toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of the active…

The helpful insects behind blackberry cultivation

In mid-January, the spring cultivation of blackberries under glass started at Van de Bosch in Berkel and Rodenrijs (Netherlands). At the end of February they started releasing various types of biological protection products from Koppert Biological Systems such as Thripex-Plus bags (N. cucumeris) against…

Denmark: In spite of setbacks, 2018 still a good year for growers

Although the warm and dry summer caused big problems for horticulture companies, 2018 still was a good year, as becomes clear from an analysis of the figures, performed by accounting agency PK Revision. The analysis is based on the accounting results of a large group of growers on Funen, where a quarter…

"Sustainable Belgian tomatoes cheaper than Spanish imports"

Which is cheaper: Spanish tomatoes imported to Belgium during the winter or those grown in Belgium, itself? Ellen Peeters (Applied Economic Sciences, Business Administration,…

Italy: Good demand for celery and basil, difficult time for lettuce

The limited supply of greenhouse basil has led to a satisfactory situation. Demand is good also for celery, which is registering high prices. The lettuce campaign has been disastrous due to the sudden temperature change and to the drop in sales. "As regards celery, demand is good and prices started going up a…

14% reduction of theft in Spanish fields in 2018

Last year, the number of thefts in Spanish fields was reduced by 14%. In the course of 2018, the government registered 11,749 cases of theft on agricultural and livestock farms. This figure is far from that of 2012, when there were 24,078 such incidents. Thefts (with or without violence) increased in the past year…

Trump’s immigration crackdown hurts North Carolina farmers

According to many, president Trump ‘emergency at the southern border’ isn’t an emergency at all. But the president’s alarm is in fact creating an emergency in North Carolina.…

"Commercial invoice and packing list by themselves not enough for trade with Mexico"

Those who do business with foreign countries will have to deal with the logistics and human side of things. Paul Breukel of Allport Horti Logistics already gave tips and…

"SECR is supposed to be less onerous than the CRC scheme"

Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) will replace the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme from April 2019. The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme has been…

Renewable energy grants available for Irish farms

The Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., announced a series of new grants available for Irish farms under the TAMS on-farm investment scheme. The new measure will make €10m worth of grants available for energy efficiencies and renewable energy technologies, following a…

"Organic fertilizer becomes license to produce"

Producers should switch to organic fertilizers of their own accord rather than waiting for it to be imposed by the market, according to Peter Klein, director and owner of Biota Nutrients BV. This way growers can invest in a sustainable future in a timely manner, so that their products remain interesting…

US (NC): Scientists discover one-step genome-editing technique that accelerates seed breeding

Syngenta researchers recently published a paper in Nature Biotechnology, an international science journal, detailing their discovery of a genome-editing technique called haploid induction editing (HI-Edit) technology, which, according to them, ultimately reduces the time it takes to develop commercial…

Israeli agro-drone for picking, thinning and pruning

Founded in 2016, Israeli startup Tevel Aerobotics Technologies is a developer of autonomous drones equipped with a one-meter long mechanical claw that can pick fruits, or be used for thinning and pruning tasks in orchards. The company currently employs 15 people. According to founder and CEO Yaniv Maor, Tevel’s functioning…

Spain: Research on superfood development with discarded fruit and veg

A consortium led by Grupo Agroponiente, working in partnership with the universities of Granada and Seville, is researching how to develop improved fortified foods (from a nutritional point of view) that are also healthier, using fruit and vegetables that are usually discarded because of size standards. As…

Edible packaging from seaweed

Edible packaging is coming to you soon, whether it will be made from seaweed, sugar cane or seafood. Some 10 years ago, Professor Nory Mulyono started making packaging from seaweed in a room in her…

Spanish city of Almeria is world tomato capital for the 5th time

On March 16, the Spanish city of Almeria will become the world's tomato capital for the fifth consecutive year. Thousands of people will meet there to pay tribute to the Spanish province's flagship product. To be precise, one billion kilograms of different varieties of tomatoes are shipped each year from…

"Producing for Turkish market and exporting to surrounding countries"

Turkey is an important horticultural country and a gateway to surrounding countries. Therefore when the Turkish production site of Van der Knaap was in the way of a new to be constructed ring road, they decided to use the opportunity to move and upgrade the facilities. Since last October they are in full…

Belgium: first organic mini plum tomatoes of 2019 sold

BelOrta recently sold the first organic mini plum tomato of the new season. From now until the end of November, these tomatoes will be available at BelOrta's organic department. They were provided by Vitaetom and bought by Biofresh. Koen Van Hauteghem (Vitaetom) & Ivan Moerman (Biofresh) Popularity is on the rise -…

“Origin of organic agricultural products often still untraceable”

A lot of organic products sold in the European Union can’t be traced back to their producer. Sometimes it takes more than three months to trace them, according to a study conducted by the European Court of Auditors. The study is a supplement to a study from 2012. The Court of Auditors assessed whether…

New cold store and cooking facility for Swedish vegetables

The new branch of cooperation Sydgrönt in an old Findus factory in Bjuv, Sweden, will enable growers to sell more vegetables. The factory has a surface area of 3,200 m2 and…

Nathaniel van Collem

Romaine Task Force labeling advisory update

The LGMA has shared an update from the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California : A work group within the Romaine Task Force has updated the voluntary packaging labeling guidance for romaine. This labeling was developed to provide consumers easy access to information about harvest regions and harvest dates associated with romaine…

US (NY): MSK food program brings fresh food to underserved people

Inside a renovated 100-year-old library within the South Bronx’s National Health, Wellness, and Learning Center at Community School 55, a healthy food program led by a local…

Russian delegation discovers the secrets of Italian asparagus

Some Russian entrepreneurs are currently visiting Italy, led by the intermediary Evgenia Kravchenko. The delegation visited asparagus producers in Veneto, in the province of Padua. Wednesday, March 6 they stopped at the "Bagioni Aurenzo" in Forlì, to understand how to mechanize production. Visit to the company Bagioni…

10th year of Passion for Produce program participants announced

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) is delighted to announce the participants for the 2019 Passion for Produce (PFP) Program in Montreal. The PFP program was…

University of Florida announces Greenhouse Training Online courses for 2019

With limited availability of qualified labor, your best investment is in training your existing staff to make better crop management decisions. University of Florida IFAS Extension can help with four-week, award-winning, online training courses in English and Spanish. The first course of the year,…

Official opening of International Food Exposition in Tokyo

The 2019 International Food Exposition in Tokyo stands next to the ANUGA in Cologne, Germany, and the SIAL in Paris, France, as one of the three largest specialized food…

Photo report: HortEx Vietnam 2019

Imagine a country with a horticultural background, plenty of labour available, over 95 million inhabitants for the local market and many more countries nearby willing to buy produce. On top of that, the financial position of the residents is growing, as is the awareness of the importance of food safety.…

Glasshouse strawberries - a unique selling point for Aldi UK

Last year Aldi made a big deal of their first strawberries to go on sale  - but now they have broken their own record. Or, to put it another way, Springfield Nursery have broken…

CAN (YT): Aquaponics facility to be powered by geothermal energy

Some entrepreneurs in Yukon say they've found a creative way to move their project forward — by using geothermal power.  Founders of Yukon's North Star Agriculture have been pushing to build an aquaponics facility in Yukon, which would raise fish and vegetables indoors.  CEO Sonny Gray says the company has now secured funding to build a…

CEA Advisors forms new division focused on cannabis industry

After 9 years of designing and marketing custom made Growtainers and providing Consultant Services for commercial clients worldwide, CEA Advisors have formed a new division to focus on the cannabis industry. Recently they have completed the design process for the first competitively priced shipping…

All Vans shoes land on their feet