In 2019, the AVF will be taking part in events and activities across the world, reflecting the global challenges of this industry and highlighting regional innovations. The AVF will start off with a strategy workshop to decide on event attendance, reflect on activities, underline members’ needs, and sharpen their role as the global voice of vertical farming.
Event schedule (all dates to be confirmed at February Strategy Workshop):
- February: Strategy Workshop in Eindhoven, the Netherlands
- February: Horti Expo, Pune, India
- June: Food Production Wales, a new event to be held in Cardiff, Wales.
- May: Urban Future Conference in Oslo, Norway.
- October: Continuing efforts to expand cooperation in Asia with a Vertical Farming Conference in Beijing, China
Announcing AVF Regional Teams starting 2019
The AVF will expand its membership base by opening up membership to Regional Teams. This allows interested individuals to form a collective and become part of the AVF network as a designated regional member. Each Regional Team will receive full membership benefits, allowing it to generate interest, facilitate events and support local businesses through the AVF network.
Introducing AVF new interim Vice-Chairs for 2019
Mr. Peter Lane, founder of the newly-founded CEA Research and Development, Ltd. (CEARD).
Based in Coventry, UK, Mr. Lane has worked as an engineer, site or project manager in industries as diverse as nuclear and wind power generation, water treatment, material handling, conveyors and sortation devices and, finally, the CEA industry, for which he says:
“From all my experience over the years, I can safely say there is none more complex or fascinating as the controlled environment agriculture industry.”
CEARD is currently working on several projects including the building and evaluation of a DC bus system with a direct DC supply for the LED lighting and all other equipment in a working plant factory.
A secondary role of the company is to set up a training facility in Wales suitable for the hands-on training of future technicians and operators of high-density vertical growing facilities. This will be an intensive one-year program with instruction from educators from the University of Warwickshire and Aberystwyth University. Certain modules will also be integrated into AVF’s online training platform, AVF Academy.
Joel L. Cuello is a Professor of Biosystems Engineering and Director of the Global Initiative for Strategic Agriculture in Dry Lands (GISAD) at The University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A.
A globally recognized expert in the engineering of sustainable biological and agricultural systems, his technical expertise in both engineering and biology provides the platform for engineering designs in various agricultural and biological systems with emphasis on optimizing biological and agricultural productivities while fostering resource sustainability and environmental protection.
The AVF welcomes its new members and plans to introduce them to the world with a special newsletter to be released in February.
Association for Vertical Farming