Vertically-grown cherry tomato introduced

Oishii unveiled The Rubī tomato, available now in select Whole Foods Markets. Grown from a Japanese varietal dubbed a “fruit tomato,” The Rubī offers the perfect balance of sweetness, acidity, and umami, offering pure deliciousness. “Red is our favorite color at Oishii. The Rubī is the sweetest tomato…

Geographic advantage for homegrown-frisée

Following a successful year, Babé Farms has increased its plantings this year of Blonde Frisée™ and is now seeing plentiful supply. This year, Babé Farms has also introduced its new Platinum Blonde Frisée Salad, which is a value-added item that’s trimmed, pre-washed, and ready to eat. The bulk of the frisée…

"Late planting of winter strawberry plants meant that earlier volumes were lower"

A dry spring allowed the winter strawberry season in south-east Queensland to be extended until November. This differs from a normal season that would usually see excessively hot and humid days put an end to the winter season in October. The above-average temperatures seen in late winter and early spring…

Hydrogen-oxygen technology proves to be highly scalable for greenhouse horticulture

Over the past 6 months, research has been conducted into a hydrogen-oxygen technology for the cultivation of tulips, tomatoes, and pepper plants in a closed-water system. The use of hydrogen and oxygen-infused irri…

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Malaysian vanilla farm expects first harvest this year

Sustainable farming is the future, and Malaysian company Kairos Agriculture is shifting towards large-scale, sustainable cultivation of vanilla for global as well as domestic trade. Listed as ‘Malaysia’s First and Largest Vanilla Smart Farm’ in the Malaysia Book of Records, Kairos is fast becoming a name…

50 fewer Dutch greenhouse vegetable growers by 2023

The number of greenhouse vegetable companies in the Netherlands has decreased by 50 to 1,110 this year, according to preliminary CBS figures. The decrease of 50 would be less than the 79 companies that disappeared in 2022. The CBS also counts another 102 fruit greenhouse companies falling out (excluding…

AI helps predict strawberry harvest

When you grow strawberries under glass on 18 acres, as Wittenberg Gemüse does, predicting harvest is quite a challenge. Yield Computer's technology helps growers, who usually sell strawberries one week before harvest, make good production forecasts. Yield Computer's Pieterjan Oomen gave a comprehensive update…

Multi-parameter soil sensor selected for integration into Aranet

The WET150 multi-parameter soil sensor has been selected for integration into SAF Tehnika’s wireless network solution – Aranet. Aranet is a fully integrated sensor-to-cloud wireless solution for commercial horticulture. The Aranet system allows growers to remotely monitor growing conditions in real-time…

Flanders makes a case for local Belgian ginger

People in Flanders, Belgium, see chances to expand local ginger cultivation. Researchers wanted a project to address the biggest challenges in support of ginger farming in…

“There is still a high demand for additional square meters for cultivation"

With the addition of a new greenhouse last year, the nursery Globe Plant has already doubled its cultivation area from 4.5 to nearly 8 greenhouse hectares, but even that proved not enough to meet the growing demand. "There is still a high demand for additional square meters," said Vera Grootscholten.…

New partnership to explore weed species cultivation indoors

Urban Crop Solutions collaborated and delivered a solution to BASF to accelerate the development of different projects related to new agricultural solutions in a more sustainable way. The cooperation also foresees the support of the plant science division of Urban Crop Solutions to the research team of…

Smooth transition for greens to Yuma in 2023

Leafy greens are seeing a good supply out of Yuma, Arizona. Ratto Bros Inc., has a variety of greens underway out of the region, including Romaine, Red and Green leaf, Bok Choy, Baby Bok Choy, and cabbages along with greens (collard, kale, Curly & Flat mustards, turnip), Beets, Leeks, Parsley, Italian…

"Delayed bell pepper plantings this season could lead to less watermelon being planted in spring"

We are currently in the middle of the vegetable season in Almeria, but the watermelon planting is going to start in some areas of Almeria in just a matter of weeks, and those plantings will determine the size of the supply which will start reaching the European markets in mid-April. "Besides bell…

Tomato yields decrease in Morocco as the weather gets colder

Tomato yields have been decreasing in Morocco in recent days as the weather has cooled in the Souss Massa region, according to Mustapha Aouragh, a local tomato grower. Aouragh told FreshPlaza, "Last week marked the end of a long summer, but temperatures are a bit too low at the moment. The day starts with…

Fresh Select overcomes challenges to lead innovation in salad and leafy greens industry

The journey of Fresh Select, a prominent player in the Australian salad and leafy green industry, is marked by resilience and innovation. John Said, Founder and CEO of Fresh Select, sheds light on the challenges and advancements shaping the industry this season. "This year's growing season has been…

First expansion of allotment greenhouse Houten

A former organic tomato nursery in Houten is now the domain of allotment gardeners. Onze Volkstuinen had the greenhouse converted. A total of 2 hectares is available. Converting the greenhouse is "going with the growth," Ron van Zwet revealed this summer. "We started in April and are satisfied with how…

“By utilizing mid- to deep-level geothermal energy, our greenhouse energy costs have been effectively reduced”

There is no doubt that horticulture has become a new track to promote the development of modern agriculture and a new way to increase food supply. Facing the increasingly changing and unstable environment, the construction of horticulture systems is accelerating to varying degrees around the world.…

Dozens of kilometers of cultivation gutters rolled during crop rotation

Crop rotation is the perfect time to take a good look at the gutters in the greenhouse. Can they last another year? Bell pepper growers Oostland Company and 4Evergreen are busy rolling their gutters. Oostland Company is getting new gutters. The guys from Meteor Systems are rolling cultivation gutters of…

"Challenging weather conditions for lamb's lettuce sowing"

This winter's flagship product, large-leaf lamb's lettuce, is just getting underway at SAS Racines Carrées. The 100% organic producers' organization also cultivates shell lamb's lettuce all year round, for packaging in trays. This Nantes-based range is "recognized and renowned," thanks in particular to…

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Webinar: 4 common grower problems solved with digital agronomy

Growers are deeply passionate about what they do. Their days (and often nights) are consumed by a focus on the well-being of their crops, ensuring they stay healthy, achieve growth milestones, and result in successful harvests. Growers want to improve crop quality to mitigate risks that threaten…

“Berries are booming in Canada”

"Strawberries grown indoors are hot and trending in Canada. There's a lot of buzz around it, however, we still have to wait and see what is truly going to be realized in the end. Globally, there're a lot of new berry projects to stimulate local production of berries," says Alexandre van Deun, Co-founder of Vertiberry, a Belgian…

"Intensive greenhouse horticulture and extensive organic horticulture are a perfect match"

Which is preferable: fresh vegetables from intensive greenhouse horticulture or fresh vegetables from extensive organic horticulture? "Why always choose two extremes?" rightly…

"Showcasing how to grow food in harshest conditions"

DANA Global is partnering up with Temasek-backed global irrigation and climate company - Rivulis - to establish a demo-farm to showcase sustainable farming solutions in extreme weather and arid environments at a demo farm in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. Here, Rivulis will showcase how farmers can benefit from…

Benin: Climate-resilient vegetable varieties thrive in local conditions

On 16 November 2023, the Dutch Ambassador in Benin, Mr Joris Jurriëns, visited the vegetable trials conducted in the SafeVeg project at Sèmè-Kpodji. The project “Safe locally-produced vegetables for West Africa’s consumers” (SafeVeg), funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of…

A plea for government support in Russian vegetable seed production

At the YUGAGRO-2023 exhibition, Alexey Sitnikov, President of Greenhouses of Russia, urged heightened government backing for domestic vegetable seed production. The objective is to amplify the presence of Russian cucumbers and tomatoes in stores. Sitnikov proposed compensating costs for protected seed…

$2.1M boost to expand exotic mushroom production in Australia

QUT researchers have been awarded $2.1M for a project to develop advanced technologies to expand Australia’s production of exotic and native mushrooms to meet growing domestic demand. The project is funded through the Future Food System CRC and industry partner Kenon Corporation, Queensland’s largest…

Strategies for maximizing your greenhouse efficiency in winter

As winter approaches, many regions face the inevitable shift in weather conditions that come with this season. For commercial greenhouse operators, this means adapting operations to maintain warmth and productivity during the shorter, colder days. Fortunately, there are several innovative and…

Raspberry demand benefits from shorter category supplies

Raspberry supply has been steady for the last few weeks and is about to pick up. “At North Bay, we’re expecting our supply to increase over the next two to three weeks. We’re looking at promotional type volume from now through the month of December,” says Sarah Quackenbush of North Bay Produce. Right now,…

Crop consultants visit Senegal: 'Much development expected in agriculture'

The country was occupied by Portugal and the Netherlands but taken over by France in 1677. In 1854, it officially became a colony of France until 1960, when the country gained independence. On their annual trip, Horti-Consult International visited the "land of cordial hospitality": Senegal. Below, as is…

US (NY): Governor Hochul inaugurates new indoor food production system in East Buffalo

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a new indoor food production container to advance urban farming and increase awareness about hydroponic gardening, sustainability, and nutrition for underserved New Yorkers in East Buffalo. Supported by the New York Power Authority, the facility will grow vegetables and…

Uniform measurement protocol with focus on data-driven cultivation

The people behind the thick book full of theory on Het Nieuwe Telen (Next Generation Growing) and Plant Empowerment have written a new book: Plant Empowerment, Digital Cultivation. In it, they present a unified monitoring tool. "We noticed that there was a need for more detailed information on how to…

Own crop rotation kit for growers

Growers who want to keep crop rotation in their own hands can invest in their own machines. Weterings Machinery has a crop rotation kit for this purpose. This allows growers to determine their own planning and minimize the risk of virus transmission by working with their own machines. The set consists of…

Weathering El Niño with new berry varieties

Due to El Niño, the yearly warm ocean current appearing along the Peruvian coast around December, Peruvian blueberry production is down by more than 50%, leaving a gap in the world markets, leading to higher prices in general. Since the phenomenon occurs on a yearly basis, finding the right way to deal with…

Growing strawberries year-round with minimal energy input

Plant Lighting is investigating ways to grow strawberries year-round with minimal energy input and the most efficient use of energy for production. For this, continuous cultivation with one planting per year would be an important step, as a vegetative crop needs to be exposed and heated for just one…

"Nearly 70% of the tomato production in the Region of Murcia was lost because of ToBRFV and heat"

According to Remigio Ávila, head of Asaja's Tomato Area in the Region of Murcia, many tomato producers are about to abandon this crop. According to Ávila, many of them have…

Smooth progression of strawberry production in Larache

Moroccan strawberry growers are gearing up for the harvest soon, in December. Zniker Omar, owner of Souir Berry and soft fruit producer based in Larache, comments on the progress of production. Zniker says, "We're getting ready to harvest and start exporting in December. Everything's going well so far,…

Henan has a thriving shiitake mushroom production

Songxian County in Luoyang City, located in central China's Henan Province, has successfully transformed small shiitake mushrooms into a thriving industry that contributes to rural revitalization. Formerly one of the four most impoverished counties in the province, Songxian is now among the top 10…

"A trial of a few yellow Spanish zucchini rows has grown into a commercial crop"

The Spanish greenhouse vegetable season's start has, in the past, sometimes been less promising. "Considering, say, bell peppers, given that the Netherlands was on the market until two weeks ago, those prices have been good," begins Marco Romein of Agrogestion Alboran. After leaving a Dutch company, he now immerses himself in marketing Spanish growers' products. "That's undou…

Iran: Sistan-Baluchestan province’s annual greenhouse output stands at 73,000 tons

Mohammad-Reza Seyed-Hosseini, the head of the Iranian Sistan-Baluchestan province's Agriculture Department, said that every year, 73,000 tons of different types of products such as tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, eggplants, strawberries, and leafy vegetables are produced in greenhouses of the province…

"We have a shift system in place between customers"

For the OP Zuccarella cooperative, the new strawberry season has been underway for about two weeks now. Supply and demand are currently unbalanced. There is a strong demand for the product from both Italian and foreign operators, according to sales manager Luca Zuccarella. "The quantities are gradually increasing.…

A greenhouse complex in the Moscow region grows cucumbers and tomatoes

The greenhouse complex in the Moscow region is a key supplier of cucumbers and tomatoes to the region. In 2022, the total vegetable yield in the greenhouse complex "Lukhovitskiye Ovoshi" amounted to around 21 thousand tons. As of today, over 27 thousand tons of vegetables have been produced and sold,…

"Egypt's strawberry production model is resilient to rising costs"

The general increase in strawberry production costs worldwide will strengthen the position of Egyptian growers, although production costs have doubled in Egypt too. This is according to Emad Mahdy, owner of Al Fayruz Nurseries, who recently embarked on the adventure of duplicating the Egyptian model in…

"Unpredictability and weather dependence keep determining Spanish fruit-vegetable season's course"

The new Spanish fruit-vegetable import season has begun. According to Ton Bouw of the Dutch company The Greenery, there are no substantial acreage shifts. "Growers seem to prefer the somewhat less risky crops like zucchini and cucumbers. It has been decided, across the board, to plant slightly later," he…

Gartenbauzentrale eG

Mini cucumber harvest seven days a week

The Kartzinski farm is located in the Gärtnersiedlung Halte and originally specialized in growing ornamental plants. At that time, bedding and balcony plants, as well as cyclamen and chrysanthemums, were grown here. In 2001, Friedhelm Kartzinski (master craftsman in ornamental plant cultivation) took…

US (CT): UConn alum fighting food insecurity in Hartford, one micro-farm at a time

It took only three weeks to build the 455 Garden Street farm. Recycled wooden pallets purchased cheaply from a West Hartford paint company and rolls of chicken wire quickly transformed into a fence. White PVC pipes settled into racks, trash cans housing circulation systems were buried partway into the…

CAN: Aurora Sun greenhouse might be growing veggies and flowers by 2024

Aurora Cannabis says it plans to have the Aurora Sun greenhouse repurposed and produce starter vegetables and flowers by this time next year. The Edmonton-based cannabis producer recommitted to the timeline on November 9 when it released its quarterly financial reports. They state the company that…

"The strawberry campaign will be delayed in Huelva and the raspberry volumes won't recover until January"

The start of the strawberry campaign is still a few weeks away in Huelva, where unusually high temperatures during the fall caused a significant delay in the planting. Meanwhile, raspberry sales are underway, with prices that remain high due to the reduction in the supply caused by the wind storms of…

Sri Lanka to grow strawberries for export

The Agriculture Ministry has given approval for a strawberry cultivation project presented by a group of local investors with the intention of exporting the produce. Despite the high global demand for strawberries, there is currently minimal demand for locally grown strawberries due to the absence of…

"No blueberry production peak expected in last quarter of 2023"

This year's blueberry global market situation is entirely different from other years. "And not only in Peru," stresses abbGrowers' Fred Douven. "Productions are down in many countries, and other years' budgets weren't met. Many seasons started later and had lower yields, sometimes accompanied by quality…

Florida may see more strawberry acreage this season

The Florida strawberry season will look to get underway around Thanksgiving. “We planted not too long ago, so we’ll get started around then with harvesting fruit,” says Justin Ennis of Ennis Farms Inc. “As far as the growing season, so far, everything’s going well. It’s not been too hot. We have also…

"We already have orders for our entire peppers production this season"

The Moroccan pepper industry is coming out of the bottleneck with crops finally available for export, reports Obeida Mansour, CEO of Universal Peppers. "Some producers have already harvested and started exporting. At Universal Peppers, we'll be kicking off next week. The season is starting timidly, but…

Dreamstime

Canadian agri teams move to next phase of Homegrown Innovation Challenge

Globally, Canada is a leading producer of many staple crops like wheat, lentils, peas, and canola. However, due to the nature of its climate, this is not the case for many horticultural crops, except for greenhouse vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Consequently, Canada relies heavily on…

Erie News Now

US (PA): New aquaponics facility and greenhouse come to Erie

The Minority Community Investment Coalition (MCIC) Grow Erie project received a $50,000 reimbursement grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. MCIC said the funds will work to advance the first-of-its-kind project at Savocchio Business Park located on Erie's east side. The Grow Erie project…

Tomatoes and cucumbers quickly adjusted to inverted cultivation, but can growers?

This season, the Israeli company BiomicAgritech had an unusual trial run at the World Horti Center in the Netherlands. Vertify was commissioned to test their inverted tomato and cucumber cultivation system. As always, with unique innovations, there were teething problems. Yet, the parties involved were…

"We make chipotle chili with a unique process in Europe"

From Segovia, La Chipotlera has opened a differential gap in the fresh hot pepper and chili sauce segment. "La Chipotlera is the last step of our adventure in agriculture. We started as an organic-product orchard growing traditional vegetables, such as tomatoes, green beans, and sweet peppers, among…

Zenith Global

Improving the productivity of vertical farms

Despite the struggles and high inputs of running a vertical farm, I see great potential for the industry in the coming years. Especially when using vertical farms for cosmetics and nurseries. Cosmetic companies favor pesticide-free ingredients for their products. And using vertical farms as nurseries,…

Imminent tomato harvest in the UAE

Tomato harvesting in the United Arab Emirates is imminent after a successful development period, according to Faisal Shehzad, farm supervisor at E20 Investment. Shehzad told, "The development period has been smooth, and we even exceeded our yield targets and reached 400 tons per hectare instead of the expected…

"Today we are still replanting all the plants that were not doing well enough"

In the first week of November, some companies in Huelva had not yet finished planting strawberries on their farms. "Some nurseries have really delayed the start of the planting this year, in some cases, to mid-October, which is late for us," says Manuel Alfaro, manager of El Pilonar. "Moreover, we have again…

Second-class Andalusian eggplant is back on the market

After looking into the situation of long/black eggplant, the Crisis Committee of the Interprofessional Organization of Fruits and Vegetables of Andalusia, HORTYFRUTA, has decided to deactivate the Standard Extension for this vegetable, as the minimum thresholds set on the product's perception by the…

Minister Adema impressed by multi-layer cultivation Van der Avoird

On Monday, November 6, outgoing Minister Piet Adema of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality visited Van der Avoird Trayplant, the winner of the Horticultural Entrepreneur Award 2023. The minister received an explanation of the four-layer cultivation system in which one hectare of raspberry plants has…

New test kit options: symptomatic ToBRFV testing as well as cucumber green mottle mosaic

Being able to test the greenhouse and crop for ToBRFV yourself is already a big win for growers. Especially at a time of high virus threat. What is new is that growers now even have a reliable result within an hour. Even testing just a few plants is now possible with a 'light test' being developed by…

California vegetable grower widens scope to Mexico

As Live Oak Farms nears its nearly century-old, four-generation history as a grower-packer-shipper in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley, the company is seeing some change. Starting in late November, the grower-shipper will begin importing products from its farming operations in Mexico to help…

"Choosing the right filter cloth is important to start the next season with clean water"

Choosing the right filter cloth is important to start the next season with clean water, the team with Van der Ende shares. "During the growing season, the water composition and contamination level of your water changes, which calls for a different type of filter cloth for your belt filter." Van der Ende…

Nine new soilless strawberry crops in southern Italy

New soilless strawberry crops that can be adjusted up to three levels have been completed in Basilicata, Calabria, and Puglia by Combimetal Carrera, the company that designs and manufactures such innovative systems that help workers during operations. Installation of a double-row system in Metaponto…

Fresno lettuce production kicks off

Wet vegetable crops started last week in Fresno, California. “The crop is looking really nice. After starting last week, we just stepped into a new planting this week,” says Jay Angulo of Baloian Farms. “It’s on par with some of the best crops we’ve had in Fresno for a couple of years.” Those Fresno…

Brad Sweeney joins Total Energy Group

The team with Total Energy Group announces the newest addition to their team, Brad Sweeney, who will be joining as a Technical Sales Manager for Drive Systems & Curtain Systems. "Brad's experience and expertise in these fields make him an invaluable part of our organization as we continue to grow and…

Investigating the unknows of the hydroponic leafy crop production

The greenhouse hydroponic leafy cultivation industry is experiencing rapid expansion, leading to unexplored areas of research. At the Delphy Improvement Centre, the team is exploring these uncharted territories, focusing on subjects like LED lighting strategies, day length, alternative substrate…

Russia: In recent years, growing microgreens has become a trend in Yekaterinburg

In recent years, microgreens cultivation has surged in Yekaterinburg, with several growers achieving efficient processes and production scalability. Entrepreneurs Alexey…

New global reporting tool keeps farmers on track

"“We’ve seen a direct advantage in unit economics with farmers that are using AmpEDGE software. When managing a farm, it all comes down to yield and how fast you can turn plants over. With backend business management built into the platform, all data can be correlated to what the growing elements were at…

'Empowering a mushroom renaissance with specialized cultivation tools'

"Mycologic is a new option in the CEA marketplace that empowers farmers to profitably grow 23 varieties of specialty mushrooms at commercial scale. We will make premium varieties such as Shiitake, Oyster, Lions Mane, and Reishi cheap to grow on a widespread basis. Our test farms have increased yields by…

Morocco's cultivated rosemary campaign draws to a close

The Moroccan cultivated rosemary season is drawing to a close, with calendars available until December. Exporters continue to supply several markets on three continents. Mehdi Benchekroun, a rosemary grower in the Ouarzazate region, shares, "While wild rosemary is exported all year round, our calendars for…

Reusing drainage water in hydroponic crops

Azud is a company specializing in designing comprehensive solutions that address the challenges of water scarcity. One of their most notable innovations is the reuse of drainage water in hydroponic crops with the Azud Watertech RW reuse plant. The decline in water availability and costs associated with…

Strawberry prices may go up in India as acreage is dropping

Strawberries might be costlier this season starting from November, mainly because of a reduced acreage in the Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani hill stations of Satara. Babasaheb…

Cucumber grower tests lightning water: 'Similar to normal fertilizers'

Founder of VitalFluid Paul Leenders managed to bind nitrogen in water. Eventually, this should become the alternative to artificial fertilizers. Vegetable nursery 't Bleekerven from Heusden conducted a test with this so-called lightning water. The Stand van Nederland programme explained what exactly…

Improved Fusarium-resistant lettuce varieties are coming

Fusarium is a fungus that’s been prone to infect lettuce – predominantly iceberg - in several parts of the world. In Arizona, the disease has been around since 2001. While it was first contained in one field, it has since then spread through lettuce production areas of the Southwestern US. The problem is…

Approximately 2,000 hectares of berries hit by storm Bernard

Storm Bernard, which hit the Spanish province of Huelva last Sunday, has caused significant damage to the berry sector, with raspberries being the most affected product. The Association of Producers and Exporters of Strawberries and Berries from Huelva (Freshuelva) estimates that about 2,000 hectares of…

Videos show impact of storm Bernard on red fruits and berries in Morocco

Violent, sand-laden winds reaching speeds of up to 106 km hit Morocco's Atlantic coast, affecting crops, especially arboriculture and soft fruit. In Larache, the hardest-hit location, the winds swept away greenhouses and fruit. Zouhir Daissoria, from red fruit producer Rika, reviews the damage to red…

"Early pathogen detection on the spot and on time"

Today, most Western countries grow fruit and vegetables in industrial farms and large greenhouses. These crops are grown in dense media and fed by recycled water mixed with fertilizers and nutrients. However, when a plant gets a disease, it's only a matter of time before the whole farm is infected with…

Could pumpkins be the superfood of the future?

Pumpkins are a well-known autumn staple. However, some claim that this vegetable could be the superfood of the future. In the West, pumpkins may be the main ingredient in a…

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US (LA): St. Martinville restaurant serving vegetables from their hydroponic greenhouse

The St. John Restaurant’s harvesting season has just started, bringing produce they grow in their greenhouse, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce, to the restaurant. The St. John Restaurant farm-to-table director, Luke Dugas, said this is the only restaurant in the area using a greenhouse…

The impact of California’s new climate accountability laws on food and agriculture companies

Two new ground-breaking California laws will require companies doing business in California, including food and agriculture companies, to report their annual greenhouse gas emissions, climate-related financial risk exposures, and climate risk management plans. Notably, the reach of the California laws…

© Josefkubes | Dreamstime.com

Cuba: Entrepreneurs go aquaponics to tackle food shortage

Over the last two years, Cuban entrepreneurs Jose Martinez and Joel Lopez have used an innovative technique to raise 24 tons of tilapia -- a critical source of food for an island nation surrounded by water but not enough fish. The pair, lawyers both aged 35, rely on a symbiotic method called aquaponics…

Mexico: Low-cost hybrid farm setups eyeing great potential in LATAM

“Our system and vertical farming could work very well in Mexico as it uses so little water and other resources compared to traditional agriculture. That’s due to the lack of access to fresh food, which makes it rather appealing to local communities. The social impact of it as well, it could be a good…

Agriculture in space: the new wild west

With their lives packed into covered wagons, Marshall Porterfield's great-grandparents made their journey across the Great Plains in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889, becoming a part of agriculture's pioneering history. More than a century later, Porterfield, professor of agricultural and biological…

A report on the use of ozone over a period of three years

Marconi Vivai is a professional plant nursery that has been in business since 1970. The focus of the company has always been on obtaining the highest quality production for its customers. "The historic company in Roverbella di Mantova is helping us to take stock of the decision we made three years ago to…

Kulr8

US (MT): Hybrid farm opened in downtown Billings

In its effort to provide hope, dignity, and love within nurturing environments, St. John's United is extending its mission into downtown Billings. This expansion is marked by the grand opening of the St. John's United Urban Horticulture Education Center Greenhouse, a significant milestone for the…

Solar greenhouse also gets agricultural purpose

A greenhouse in Venlo has been transformed into a 5.5-megawatt solar panel greenhouse. The space under the panels will be used for 'an agricultural purpose.' Protium realized the project together with partners. As the greenhouse has two different roof widths, both 440 Wp panels and 505 Wp panels were…

Finland: 'New possibilities for vertical farming with high-wire crops'

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) has patented a vertical farming solution that enables the production of high-wire crops in vertical farming. Lettuce and herbs have already been grown in vertical farming for years. The technology developed by Luke takes vertical farming a step forward by…

Wasabi grower Sander supplies 'Restaurant of the Future'

What will be on our plates in the future? That question is addressed by the TV program 'Restaurant of the Future.' In it, the focus is on making the food chain more sustainable. Sander van Kampen of Dutch Wasabi contributes to this as a grower of a special ingredient. This is because his wasabi does not…

NASA

Cultivating in space: Eight key elements to be aware of

As NASA plans missions to the moon and Mars, a key factor is figuring out how to feed crew members during their weeks, months, and even years in space. Astronauts on the International Space Station primarily eat prepackaged food, which requires regular resupply and can degrade in quality and nutrition.…

© Noam Armonn | Dreamstime.com

Idiosyncratic and dose-dependent epistasis drives variation in tomato fruit size

Epistasis between genes is traditionally studied with mutations that eliminate protein activity, but most natural genetic variation is in cis-regulatory DNA and influences gene expression and function quantitatively. In this study, we used natural and engineered cis-regulatory alleles in a plant…

U.S. Specialty Crop Coalition endorses legislation addressing nutrition, organics

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree…

Chilean scientists making progress in the development of kiwis and tomatoes resistant to extreme weather conditions

In 2020, a group of scientists from the University of Chile launched a project called PlantaConCiencia. The goal was to use biotechnological gene editing tools to develop…

Tube rail lift lifts heating pipes for growers

A ten-hectare greenhouse easily contains fifty kilometers of heating pipes. Lifting all those tubes off the ground during the crop rotation requires muscles and a lot of hands. It is hard work, but not for FB Engineering's Tube Rail Lift. For the past two years, the clever invention has been on show at…

Status of Almeria's greenhouse crops in mid-October

In mid-October, the number of pepper greenhouse plantations being harvested in Almeria increased. Later plantations are in their blooming, setting, and fattening phases.…

NL: "We are now reaping the benefits of HREZ"

For tomato growers, HREZ by Enza Zaden is a step that makes a big difference in the fight against ToBRFV. The collection includes High-resistance varieties in all the major tomato types, including large plum (roma), beef, baby plum, cherry, cocktail, and vine tomatoes. The first crucial hurdle has been…

New zucchini variety with resistance to the New Delhi virus

Kai is Sakata's latest zucchini launch and the first to include resistance to the New Delhi virus. Cecilio Fernández, a zucchini and cucumber product promoter, is sure that this variety will have an excellent reception. "The New Delhi virus is a great concern for farmers, and there is a clear demand for…

Test sessions with heat battery show positive effect on greenhouse climate

Startup Thermeleon developed a smart buffer system to temporarily store heat and release it at night: the Heat Battery. This ensures lower gas use and a more even greenhouse climate. Innovation Quarter writes that together with innovation company Division Q, the first batteries were tested at the growing…

"Long late summer boosts Salanova and young spinach sales"

The Belgian lettuce market situation is stable, and in Flanders, Rik Vanackere is in the last weeks of the outdoor season. His company grew young spinach, mesclun, and Salanova and had a prosperous summer. "The long late summer did sales well," says the grower. Though the September heat caused issues in other…

NZME

US (HI): Nursery has big plans to grow hydroponic crops

A large-scale project to grow and distribute fresh fruit and vegetables for free to those who need them is underway in Waikato. He Tipu Ltd is transforming a 22-ha site that was home to the Taupō Native Plant Nursery until it closed in 2018. The company has a dream of supplying fresh fruit and vegetables…

“Our goal is to exceed 2,000 tons of purple eggplants next year”

Alexandre Picault, managing director of Kultive, reviews the 2023 eggplant campaign and discusses future development and diversification projects. Alexandre Picault and Arthur Foulon at Fruit Attraction. Purple eggplants: volumes on the riseThe French eggplant campaign is coming to an end. This is a product…

“This year we don't expect a loss of strawberry plants like the one we had last season”

According to initial forecasts, about 330 million strawberry plants will be planted throughout October, an average of about 9 million seedlings per day. These will be the plants yielding the fruit that will be supplied in the coming months in the European market. "The planting has begun, with the added…

Propagation of strawberries with aeroponics

A large portion of LettUs Grow's work is dedicated to exploring the potential of controlled environment agriculture beyond growing herbs, salads, and leafy greens. By using aeroponic technology at key stages of plant development, particularly during propagation phases, they can potentially increase the…

Accelerating the decarbonization of hydroponic indoor farming

Trailblazing the future of indoor farming with the development of a novel hydrogel-based substrate, Gelponics, with high-water retention capabilities and crafted entirely from non-synthetic and low-carbon materials. The three-year project, funded by Innovate UK’s Transforming Food Production challenge: ‘Science…

Aquaponic project worth $950k launches in Iran

"The first aquaponics unit for breeding ornamental fish with the capacity to produce 35 thousand pieces of fish was launched in Ravand region," shares the head of the…

Warm nights playing havoc with strawberry cultivation

In the Netherlands, the weather has remained unusually warm for a long time. Good for strawberry consumption, you might say, because who doesn't crave them in the summer? But for growers, the high temperatures prove challenging. Westlandse Aardbei's Sandra Huysman explains the situation on LinkedIn. "Strawberries don't like warm, too warm weather, especially not Elsantas…

No algae to be seen on the bench

When growing on benches, you often run into a problem when watering: the water comes in so fast that the plants at the beginning of the bench, at the inlay, are overwhelmed, as it were, and algae growth occurs because the water lingers there. At Meteor Systems, they have now found a solution to this problem: an E&V inlay with a…

Construction of new CO2 source for horticulture can start

Stercore may finally start construction of their Bio-Based Carbon plant. The company has been fighting for the construction of their plant since 2020, but Milieudefensie stopped it because of suspected nitrogen emissions. That discussion, as is often the case these days, revolves around nitrogen…

Spinach and basil, sustainably produced

Anyone who buys spinach or basil in the supermarket only sees products that meet the high demands of consumers. However, there are always challenges to be overcome before they…

German ambassador visits Almeria to learn about its agricultural model

Last year, representatives of the German Parliament's Agricultural Committee visited Almeria's agricultural sector. Since the experience was a success, COEXPHAL has helped…

Sofia Terenzio/Marketplace

US: Specialty mushrooms sales increased 32% in the 2021-2022 compared to the year before

In the lobby of a warehouse in Vernon, California, south of downtown Los Angeles, a sign reads: “We change minds with mushrooms.” “Once you start getting into mushrooms, then you start to become obsessed with the whole thing,” said Andrew Carter, co-founder and CEO of Smallhold, a company hoping to…

"We leave the root and the root ball, so the lettuce stays fresh longer"

The Thijssen family grows lettuce on water in Willich. The so-called deep-floating technique is unique in Germany so far, farmer Harry Thijssen tells WDR. On about 2.5…

© Gabriel Cristian Codarcea Valcan | Dreamstime.com

US (TX): Big Tex Urban Farm working with high school interns to spark interest in horticulture

When you go to the State Fair of Texas, you probably think of food on a stick. There is also food on a string and in buckets that grow at Big Tex Urban Farm at Fair Park. "Everyone needs to eat," State Fair of Texas Director of Horticulture Drew Demler said. "It's helpful to know where your food is…

Futamura supplies compostable packaging to fresh produce industry

Futamura’s NatureFlex films are made from renewable wood pulp sourced from responsibly managed plantations. They are certified for home composting by TÜV Austria and meet all…

Chambers critical in extending blueberry shelf-life during storage

Demand for blueberries stayed high, but the supply of quality blueberries was at an all-time low after the Pacific Northwest harvest season ended in late summer. The anticipated volumes from South America did not arrive as expected to fill the gap. Reports revealed that this shortage was due to the…

New raspberry varieties from Viveros California

Viveros California is launching two new raspberry varieties, which will be marketed under an open model and are the result of the work of its R&D department and the significant investments made by the company in recent years in its genetic improvement programs. "We are talking about the primocane…

NASA employee: "The Netherlands is a world leader in greenhouse horticulture"

The aerospace and greenhouse industries are learning from each other and lending techniques to each other, according to a piece from EenVandaag. Professor of Horticulture and Product Physiology Leo Marcelis of Wageningen University is pleased with all the knowledge that NASA has gained in recent years.…

Young Dutch growers and students take study trip to Germany

On Thursday, September 28, at 6 a.m., the Tuinbouw Jongeren Oostland group set off on their annual study trip. Sixteen young people - entrepreneurs, employees, or Dutch horticultural sector students - headed to Germany with a few stops along the way in Southeast Netherlands. Previous trips were further…

Brazil: "Vertical farm technology has potential to grow 112 tons of wheat yearly"

In partnership with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa Hortaliças), 100% Livre, a Brazilian vertical farm, managed to grow high numbers of wheat on its vertical farm. This year, the experiment with wheat in a controlled environment has been a scientific, technical, and financial…

Operators from all over the world to see the latest developments in the Italian fresh-cut industry

The technical days organized by Maraldi Sementi at their headquarters in the Italian municipality of Cesena were attended by delegations from the Netherlands, the United States, Israel, France, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, Denmark, and Canada, among others. Click here to view the photo gallery. Maraldi…

Mechanical pruning improving with the right blades

Mechanical pruning is becoming more and more popular. One of the world's largest companies in the design and manufacture of pruning bars is Losi, based in Italy in the…

© Ruud Morijn | Dreamstime.com

UK: "It's projects like this that will keep driving our food security as a country"

"Looks like the weather's turning more autumnal..." says Oli Pascall, walking back to his truck in a farmyard at Yalding. Casting an eye to the greying sky above the barn, he could be any other farmer from centuries past; only he's not any other farmer, this is not any other farm, and that's not even a…

Saving up to 50% energy with updated Ridder energy cloth RES10+FR

Ridder is introducing an improved version of its RES10+ FR energy screen cloth. This screen cloth with 5mm tape has been specifically developed to support growers during the autumn and winter months by bringing more light into their greenhouses while at the same time reducing energy consumption. Thanks to…

Jasper Zijlstra & Jeroen Verschoor © 2023

"Temperature and soil quality decisive in growing semi-tropical crops"

"Until now, these semi-tropical vegetables, unknown to most Dutch people, have been a rare sight here in the Netherlands," says Martina Huber. She has been growing semi-tropical crops in WUR's greenhouses under the guidance of Eric Schranz of the Biosystematics research group. For the researchers, the…

© Gabriel Cristian Codarcea Valcan | Dreamstime.com

US (IL): Urban growers collective gets $1 million to plant trees and fight climate change

A Black- and women-led nonprofit has received federal funding to continue its efforts to eradicate food and environmental injustices in communities of color across Chicago. Urban Growers Collective was one of 385 awardees across the states, U.S. territories, and tribal nations that received funding from…

Airflow system enables energy savings and better crop growth

ErfGoed's Airflow system offers opportunities for energy savings as well as achieving a significantly lower temperature between the crops. The latter benefits growth and quality. This is evident from measurements and tests carried out with the Airflow system recently. Although the results are positive…

"Strong tomato harvest until the end of the season"

The heads of the tomato plants are being taken out at Tomatoworld. With this, the demonstration center, like many growers, is heading toward the end of the traditional tomato growing season. The cherry tomatoes are budded two weeks later than beef and vine tomatoes for equal results, as explained by…

Creating an active climate with less energy

At VOF van Winden, Harry van Winden's company, they started using the anti-condensation foil (AC foil) from Oerlemans Plastics Horticulture for their cucumber cultivation this year. The anti-condensation foil is used in the winter months as an extra screen to create a good climate for the new cultivation…