UK: Vertical farm construction accelerated to help feed Bristol during COVID-19 crisis

LettUs Grow, an indoor farming technology provider, is fast-tracking the building of two vertical farm modules in the city of Bristol to help feed vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 outbreak. The company is teaming up with the food redistribution charity FareShare South West to ensure the produce…

22 to 24 September

Vertical Farming Congress to be held in London

The first Vertical Farming World Congress will be held from 22nd to 24th September at London’s Heathrow Airport. Eminent industry leading speakers have confirmed their…

"Encourage growth of urban farming to secure Singapore's food supplies"

Encouraging the growth of urban farming in Singapore can help to ensure the country's food supplies, said Mr Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC) on Monday (April 6). Speaking in Parliament during the debate on the supplementary budget, Mr Ang said that the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted Singapore's…

Vertical farming partners focus on COVID-19 tests

PlantForm Corporation is working with Canadian and international partners on two initiatives that will use the company’s plant-based biopharmaceutical platform to address the global COVID-19 crisis, including the development of Canada’s first antibody test for COVID-19 immunity, and the production of…

"We are reaching our capacity, so I guess that’s our new baseline"

Second Chances Farms (SCF) was initially supposed to focus their sales on the restaurant and catering sector, but due to the COVID-19 crisis they were unable to do so. Recently the farm-to-table concept was introduced, where freshly harvested, locally grown, chemical-free produce and herbs are delivered…

"Risk of E. coli in hydroponic and aquaponic systems may be greater than once thought"

A spate of foodborne illnesses in leafy greens and other produce in recent years has sickened consumers and disrupted growers and supply chains. It’s been thought that hydroponic and aquaponic systems could reduce these issues since there is little opportunity for pathogens like E. coli to contaminate…

Philippine government intensifies urban agri through veggie seed distribution amid COVID-19

To ensure food availability and sustain production amidst the threat of COVID-19, the Department of Agriculture (DA) of the Philippines is intensifying the promotion of urban agriculture through the distribution of free vegetable seeds and planting materials nationwide. “We need to explore all strategies…

UK: Vertical Future raises additional £1.1 million

Vertical Future raised an additional £1.1 million of equity investment from Earthworm Group. "Many thanks to their team for the continued commitment", said Jamie Burrows, Founder & CEO of Vertical Future. "At such a turbulent and uncertain time for the U.K. population and economy, it's important that we…

SalaJoe to go Farm: Growing lettuce on the shelves of your vending machine

Innovation sometimes comes unexpectedly and small ideas can develop into more than originally thought. Jochen Haubner from the vegetable growing company of the same name in Nuremberg recently discovered this. A "salad vending machine" was his 'crackpot idea ', only to be developed together with a friend…

Hydroponic farm at Wisconsin high school pays big dividends in wake of COVID-19

Schools across the area are doing their part to make sure that families in their communities don't go hungry, but one in particular is going above and beyond on that front. As part of a remodeling project at D.C. Everest, a grow room was added for their agriscience program. They started a hydroponic farm,…

University conducts wheat research using multi-tier room

Choosing a plant growth chamber or room with the right set of specifications is critical to ensure that you have equipment that meets the requirements of your research. However, your facility may not currently have the physical space or the budget to source the ideal controlled environment to meet your…

How to start a commercial greenhouse, CEA facility, or indoor farm

Mark Twain once said, “The secret to getting ahead is getting started”. These words can not be more true when starting a new business especially when starting a new commercial greenhouse operation. An operator wanting to expand an existing venture or starting brand new from scratch has quite a few things…

"With our concept, everyone can be a city farmer"

As Sweden is not on a lock-down yet, the virus is nevertheless having a great impact on jobs and the country’s economy. Crisis packages for jobs and transition are now being presented by the government. So far SweGreen has not noticed a great impact on business despite the COVID-19, rather the opposite.…

How plant factories stack up against field agriculture

With the world's population expected to reach nine billion by 2050, estimations project that food production must increase by 70 percent to keep up with worldwide demand. This means farmers will be required to grow more foodstuff in the next 35 to 40 years than the last 10,000 years combined. There is…

"Plenty in talks to raise cash"

Indoor farming startup Plenty is in talks to raise $100 million or more in a fresh round of funding, according to people familiar with the matter. SoftBank’s Vision Fund is in discussions to lead a new fundraising round for Plenty at or below the $1 billion valuation that was ascribed to it in its most recent round, said the…

"COVID-19 wake-up call for local food production"

Pure Harvest Smart Farms in the United Arab Emirates grows tomatoes hydroponically. Sky Kurtz is co-founder and CEO, and spoke about their expanding plans on Dubai Eye. The…

Travelling around the world to find the right growing strategy

Just outside of Lisbon, about 10 meters from the main door of a big supermarket a container is placed. When you look through the window in the container door you see racks filled with all kinds of aromatic herbs and microgreens. This container is the first Jungle Greens production unit where herbs and…

Five reasons to go vertical

The rapidly increasing global population means you can be sure of two things: there’s a never-ending demand for food, and a rapid reduction in the availability of land on which you can grow it. The UN has predicted that the global population will surpass the 9 billion mark by 2050 which leaves government officials and…

Horti-Facts Case Study: Fifth Season

Fifth Season is a consumer-experience company that is using high-tech robotics and GE Current LEDs to produce leafy greens and herbs in a 60,000-square-foot vertical farm. Fifth Season, formerly RoBotany Ltd., was the brainchild of company co-founders Austin Webb, Brac Webb and Austin Lawrence. Founded…

"A few weeks ago, we couldn't have imagined this situation"

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Dutch restaurants and cafes had to shut down two weeks ago. Although food can still be picked up or delivered, it has proven to be a burden for many food suppliers and requires innovative thinking. The Duurzame Kost City Farm is located in a unique location, on an…

Urban Crop Solutions appoints commercial representative for Asian market

Urban Crop Solutions and BAF signed a representation agreement for the East and South-East Asian markets. The collaboration fits with Urban Crop Solutions' vision for global expansion and allows for local customer service in one of the fastest-growing countries in the Asia-Pacific region. BAF is an…

"Coronavirus pandemic highlights vital need for vertical farms in world cities"

"The speed with which the coronavirus outbreaks in Asia, Europe and North America metastasized into a full-blown global pandemic — catching many world governments by surprise and with little preparation — underscores just how our world today is highly interconnected and how, in order to contain and stem…

How do we make agriculture more sustainable?

How do we make agriculture more sustainable and more efficient? With connectivity, innovation, smart and vertical farming. Interested to find out more? Register for Vertical…

Container farming refreshes co-op's fresh food aisle

The Yellowknife Co-op’s Growcer system was installed in March 2019, at which point they became one of the few retail grocery stores in the world to grow their own produce commercially, sustainably, and profitably year-round based on their members’ preferences. The Co-op’s Growcer system is located behind…

Second Chances Farm creates two programs to fill community’s need for fresh, locally grown produce

Restaurant and school closings inspire new ways to bring harvests to market

In response to the state-mandated closing of restaurants and the “social distancing” recommended by the CDC to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Second Chances Farm (SCF), Delaware’s first indoor vertical farm located in The Opportunity Center at 3030 Bowers Street in the Riverside neighborhood of…

New CEO for Freight Farms

Freight Farms has hired veteran consumer brand executive Rick Vanzura as CEO who will also join the company's Board of Directors, while cofounder Brad McNamara will remain as Freight Farms' President. The company also welcomes automation and robotics specialist Jake Felser as Head of Engineering. "What excites me about Freight Farms…

Vertical farms are battling the new market situation due to COVID-19

"We are all in this together and we will make it"

The COVID-19 has a huge impact on many industries due to the measures taken in regards to labor and food safety. Also vertical farming has been hit by the virus as many farms deliver their fresh produce to the hospitality service. Now most restaurants are closed, they have to come up with solutions for…

"A platform and show-glass for all the seven Fulani communities around the farm"

Nigeria: NFGCS initiates hydroponic livestock fodder programme

The Nigerian Farmers Group and Cooperative Society, NFGCS, initiated the Hydroponic Livestock Fodder Programme, HLFP, to eliminate open grazing and persistent herders/farmers clashes in the country. This programme was made known by the National Coordinator, NFGCS, Mr. Retson Tedheke, while speaking on…

Singapore is growing vegetables in their supermarkets

Singapore’s aim to increase its food security has resulted in the emerge of several high-tech indoor farms: farms that grow leafy greens in a controlled environment. The efforts are already paying off, as many supermarkets in Singapore now offer locally produced vegetables. However, as these farms are…

Danish students develop drone that monitors crops in vertical farming

A new drone, developed in Denmark, with the help of two cameras and QR codes can monitor any individual plant’s condition in vertical cultivation. The drone was developed during a school project by a group of students at the Aarhus University School of Engineering. The presentation video for the project:…

How to expand your grow vertically

A lack of space to expand crop size has been a limiting factor for growers and farmers for as long as agriculture has existed. Still, thankfully, technology has answered the call for help with an increasingly popular solution – grow up. While extra floor space is often hard to come by, vertical space is…

The advantages of plant factories

Plant factories combine modern industry, biotechnology, nutrient cultivation and information technology and control a facility's inside environment with high precision. It has the advantages of complete closure, low requirements on the surrounding environment, shortened harvest time of plants, water and…

India: the changing face of urban food systems

UrbanKisaan, the vertical farming startup from India, has debuted its 3000 sq.ft. new-age urban farm and retail store in Manikonda, Hyderabad. Here, customers can walk into the retail store, harvest fresh and clean products of their choice which are grown in the indoor farm which is on the other side of…

Business growth and resource savings

Indoor vertical farming in the urban nexus context

In recent years, a new urban environment in the large metropolitan areas, the so-called “megacities”, has emerged. It is estimated that more than five billion people will be located in urban areas by 2030. Many projects have been initiated in the megacities to support the new ecosystem services in…

Climate change research with plant chambers

Scientists at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Canada are leading the way when it comes to solving problems such as how to feed a growing population and alleviating the effects of climate change. BCIT is focusing on experimentation with the C4 plant Setaria which tolerates hot and dry conditions…

Taiwan: YesHealth to announce plans for large vertical farm

When YesHealth opened their first commercial vertical farm back in 2012, it had a daily production capacity of 200 kg, which was considerable at the time. More recently in 2017, they opened a vertical farm with daily production of 1500 kg, which was the largest vertical farm in Taiwan. Fast forward to…

Interview with Wouter Verkerke

The circular future of the urban horticulture

Wouter Verkerke’s primary expertise is value creation of production systems in horticulture. Greenhouse horticulture contributes greatly to food security. Such systems are highly efficient in use of water, but are not yet fully circular and the energy costs are high. Wouter is now working closely with…

Have a look at a container farm in India

365Dfarms is a part of MBees products and services, a start-up based in Pune, India. "Our mission is to grow and serve high quality fresh food 365 days a year, spread knowledge of hydroponics and to help implement sustainable hydroponic technology in urban environments with the message "Go Grow Green."…

"Indoor agriculture one of the four major drivers that will increase electricity consumption in the next decade"

Plant factories may be the technology we need to feed a growing and warming planet. The tradeoff: Indoor agriculture demands a staggering amount of energy. Lights run 16 hours a day and facilities require impressive HVAC equipment, reaching an energy intensity per square foot that surpasses datacenters. The…

Which growing medium brings the best growing results for vertical farming?

There are many questions to consider when choosing the right growing medium for a vertical farm. First of all, you need to reflect, will you choose a growing medium or non-medium for vertical farming? What are the options available in the market with reasonable freight costs, and what are the growing…

British property group diversifies into hydroponic vertical farming

Trafalgar intends to add an additional business unit to operate alongside the company's existing property development operations. The company intends to invest in the hydroponic…

“We’re trying to grow 365 days a year”

In a nondescript former root beer plant, tucked behind the Curtain & Bath Outlet off Main Street in Millis, Massachusetts, FreshBox Farms is growing the future of food. The FreshBox facility bears no resemblance to our cultural renderings of a farm; not only is there no soil, but every attempt is made to…

Integrating STEM education and food literacy training in an elementary school

Aquaponics in the classroom

The main goal of a new study was to investigate how the GBG approach could be developed to be part of the curricula, and be integrated in a biology class setting. The potentials of using aquaponics for educational purposes has previously been studied. The study investigates the potentials of including digital based sensor…

AeroFarms grows projected investment in Dan River Region by $13M

AeroFarms, the company that announced in December it would bring 92 jobs and $42 million in investment to the Dan River Region over three years, plans to increase its investment in the area by $13 million. The planned investment has increased to $55 million, Pittsylvania County Economic Development…

The future of farming: straight up

Texas A&M University’s Urban Farm United (TUFU) is using vertical farming to produce high-value/specialty crops to help feed students. The project, started by December graduate Broch Saxton, is in a greenhouse on the Texas A&M campus. It currently includes 24 towers in which a variety of produce is…

Canada: Infarm comes to select Sobeys, Safeway and Thrifty Foods stores

Empire's family of brands is partnering with Infarm to grow and harvest a range of fresh produce in select Sobeys, Safeway and Thrifty Foods stores across Canada. Each vertical farming unit is a stand-alone ecosystem, enabled by machine learning and AI technology, that creates the optimum environment…

Engineers believe vertical farming offers the answer to food sustainability

When Chew Jo Han decided to set up a small hydroponic system in his office because his fashion start-up was not doing well, his friends Jayden Koay, Looi Choon Beng and Low Cheng Yang joked that, if nothing else, he could survive on the vegetables grown! But, jokes aside, Koay, Looi and Low were struck…

CAN (BC:) Hydroponic greenhouse to be rooted in Prince Rupert

A sustainable hydroponic growing system that produces food for 110 people per day, is on its way to the Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society (GNS) in Prince Rupert. With the award of $175, 000 from Northern Development Investment Trust (NDIT) the 40 foot modified shipping container will be planted at Rupert Lawn…

Space lettuce found to be safe and nutritious

Astronauts in space generally live on processed, pre-packaged space rations such as fruits, nuts, chocolate, shrimp cocktails, peanut butter, chicken, and beef to name a few. These have often been sterilized by heating, freeze drying, or irradiation to make them last and a key challenge for the US Space…

UAE: Armela Farms gears up to open 3 ha automated lettuce farm

After launching in August 2016, the Armela team has spent more than two years in Research and Development regarding techniques, varieties of produce and optimum climate conditions, before celebrating their first harvest in August 2018. Since then, the team has advanced its process to achieve over 250% of…

This neural network knows all about plant development

iFarm, in cooperation with Poteha Labs and developers from Catalyst-Team, have started a Telegram bot for identifying deviations in crops growth in vertical farms: a neural network with the help of the latest discoveries in the sphere of computer vision analyses the state of plants and the bot will…

Interview with Hilke Bos-Brouwers

Making circularity work

Hilke Bos-Brouwers has worked on the recently finalised, EU funded Horizon 2020 REFRESH project, where 26 partners from 12 EU countries and China were working together to support UN SDG 12.3: halving the amount of food waste per person by 2030, across the full supply chain from farm to fork. The complexity lies much deeper than…

Vertical farming: The advantages of growing up, not out

We share this planet with more than 7 billion people, and the UN forecasts that by 2050 we will need to feed over 9.7 billion. If you’re like me, you’re wondering what we can do to scale farming to meet the needs of the future. That’s where vertical farming comes in, along with innovative technologies…

"We want to see a world where commercial urban agriculture is economically feasible"

Alberto Lopez of Agritecture Consulting was interviewed by Diana Macovei of the Vertical Farming Conference, discussing trends and opportunities in the industry. Read on to…

Year-round fish and vegetables in the northern climate of Wisconsin

Recently, FarmHer visited Rebecca Nelson who, along with her husband, has quietly become a driving force in the aquaponics industry. Armed with just a desire to grow their own food, the couple started a small hydroponic farm back in the ’80s. From there, they wanted to use fewer chemicals so that led them…

US (NY): Teens for Food Justice latest farm to grow 10,000 pounds of produce this year

Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ), in partnership with Whole Kids Foundation, and the inventive and industrious students of Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Campus opened the doors to their school sustaining hydroponic farm for local elected officials, the media and notable industry members. The students,…

Japanese vertical farm Spread brings large-scale expertise to the AVF

Established in 2006, Spread has grown to become a leading Japanese vertical farm operator, with two farms capable of producing over two tons of lettuce per day. By focusing solely on large scale vertical farming systems, they are leading a huge domestic industry in terms of production and profitability.…

US (MI): Aquaponics center receives $1.1 million grant

In Menominee County an aquaponics center in Hannahville is expanding, thanks to a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. The center, referred to as the “Controlled Environment Agricultural Training Center,” grows plants using an aquaponics system. This system uses fish, microbes and…

What does the future hold for British Farming?

LettUs Grow is attending Westminster Insight’s timely Future of Farming Conference next month. On the agenda for the conference is an examination of policy landscape, the…

Kalera opens new vertical farming facility in Orlando

Kalera announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art growing facility in Orlando, Florida. This new facility complements Kalera’s initial HyCube growing facility located at the Orlando World Center Marriott and is centrally located in the heart of Florida. The new facility has the capacity to supply…

CAN (BC): 100-machine commercial-scale vertical-farming system comes to Surrey

CubicFarms has finalized an agreement for the sale of 100 CubicFarms growing machines, and received a deposit in the amount of C$1.2 million from a commercial grower and agricultural product wholesaler based in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The customer had previously provided a deposit for a…

Signify expands collaboration with Planet Farms

Signify is expanding its collaboration with Planet Farms, a European operator of vertical farms based in Italy. Thanks to the latest agreement, Europe’s largest vertical farm will boost the quality and yield of the crops using the Philips GreenPower LED production module managed by the Philips GrowWise…

US (IN): Urban Agriculture certificate now offered online

The College of Agriculture’s Urban Agriculture team is launching the online Urban Agriculture Certificate in partnership with Purdue Online, to be offered 100% online. Registration is open, and the “Growing Guide for Healthy Crops” course begins March 16. The certificate program will serve Hoosier cities…

US (PA): Hope Street Learning Lab opening aquaponics classroom

Hope Street Learning Lab will be opening a community aquaponics classroom this summer, following plans announced in November to install a hydroponics lab. "We are super excited about it, and the ability to partner with somebody like Dr. Bracey-Green — it really is phenomenal," said Blanda Nace, executive…

Square Roots' Kimbal Musk profiled by CNN

Elon Musk's younger brother, Kimbal Musk, who was named "Global Social Entrepreneur" of the year by the World Economic Forum in 2017, started Square Roots, an indoor urban farming company based in Brooklyn, in 2016. Square Roots' mission is to bring fresh, local food to cities around the world by…

How an executive turned her side hustle into a career

From Amazon to AgTech

Jennifer Bassuk is a hands-on advisor and investor for startups focused on urban farming, sustainability, and tech, and an evangelist for agricultural innovation. She turned her side hustle into her profession and recently joined Fluence by OSRAM (Fluence) spearheading business development initiatives. Bassuk was newly out of university…

In-store produce comes to Japanese retail

The East Japan Railway Company (JR East) announced a partnership with Infarm to deliver a range of fresh produce grown and harvested at Kinokuniya retail stores starting summer 2020. The first such agreement in Asia, the JR East partnership includes a declaration of capital investment in Infarm that will…

Taiwan sets up hydroponics demo area in Marshall Islands

A hydroponics demonstration area has been established by Taiwan's International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) in the Marshall Islands to help the people there to…

US (FL): Aquaponics reaches new heights in rooftop greenhouse

A sustainable garden, not in our backyard but on a rooftop in Winter Garden has everything from a fish farm to produce to a water filtration system. This type of sustainable gardens are becoming more popular, they are sustainable, require less space, may serve many ecological causes and a rooftop garden…

"The future of food looks small, dense, and very bushy"

The way we live is out of balance with the way we eat. About eleven percent of the Earth’s land area is used for agriculture; meanwhile, two-thirds of the human population is now jammed in cities, which cover a mere three percent. Continued urbanization and population growth will require more farmland,…

US (NY): There’s a new farm in town and it’s indoors

Cory Mahony read an article about hydroponic farming that piqued his interest and then got him hooked. He started the controlled scientific growing practice at home. He’s now the owner of Urban Fields Agriculture, a hydroponic vertical indoor farm in Patchogue. Mahony’s home setup allowed 15 plants to be…

CropKing and Urban Crop Solutions to cooperate in vertical container farm showcase

Cropking and Urban Crop Solutions will start a collaboration, combining the extensive hydroponic experience of Cropking with the controlled environment technology in vertical farming of Urban Crop Solutions. By combining these different experiences and expertise, both companies get the chance to develop…

From strawberries and cucumbers to mango and almond trees

CRISPR technology opens door to vertical farming of many crops

Do you want it locally grown, water-saving and pesticide-free? Urban agriculture might suit you, with a little help from gene editing. Zachary Lippman’s team has already succeeded with Solanaceae fruit crops, optimizing tomatoes and ground-cherries for indoor production (see their paper in Nature…

Philippines urged to take up vertical farming

Filipino agriculture and logistics firm Delgado Brothers (Delbros) Group said there is a need for the Philippines to set up more vertical farming facilities in urban cities to address hunger among poor Filipinos. In a statement, the company said the government needs to be “more open to modern…

UK: Midlands vertical farm gets green light from planners

Developers Shockingly Fresh have just received planning permission for a 1.2 ha site near Offenham in Worcestershire for their naturally-lit vertical farm – which uses special hydroponic towers to grow multiple crop cycles of green veg such as salads and herbs. The specialist firm has approval from…

Scottish response to global food security profiled at UAE summit

Representing IGS, the Scottish-based agritech business, CEO David Farquhar travelled to Abu Dhabi this week to attend the prestigious invitation-only 2020 Milken Institute Middle East and Africa (MEA) Summit. David was one of more than 100 speakers at the event and joined a panel of experts for a session…

How to start a container farm business

Have you ever wondered how to start a container farm business? You’re not alone. Global population growth concerns about food production, increasing interest in green infrastructure, and technological advancements in aeroponics, hydroponics, and aquaponics have amplified the interest and practice of…

Namibian AIDS foundation to open large aquaponics farm

The Immanuel Sheefeni AIDS Foundation, a Namibia-registered and based non-profit organization, founded by Namibian HIV activist Immanuel Sheefeni, through its special Trust, The Immanuel Sheefeni Fish Farm Trust, is developing one of Africa's largest aquaponics systems, to produce over 39,000 tons per…

US (MD): A look at Bowery's new facility

On land in White Marsh that was once associated with a working farm, new growth is taking root. But it didn’t require clearing away the building on the site: All of the growing is done inside. “We are turning what was once an industrial warehouse back into a modern farm,” said Katie Seawell, chief…

"This ain’t your grandfather’s lettuce"

The vegetable farming of the future look very different from the fields of lettuce and other crops you’ll find in places like California’s Salinas Valley today, according to Daniel Malechuk, the 38-year-old CEO of Kalera, a vertical farming company based in Orlando, Florida. Kalera’s lettuce, including…

"Our goal is to demonstrate that aquaponics can be very useful in Africa"

A growing number of people in Cameroon are using an innovative method to integrate fish farming and plant cultivation. The novel initiative called aquaponics has been introduced in the Central Africa nation by Flavien Kouatcha, a 31-year-old entrepreneur. He claims this method of cultivation is "twice as…

Texas A&M AgriLife expands urban agriculture research

A living, vertical salad bar in the employee break room is more than just a novelty at the Texas A&M AgriLife Center at Dallas. It is a small, and delicious, sign of the comprehensive urban agriculture research ramping up at the center in 2020. Genhua Niu, Ph.D. Texas A&M AgriLife Research professor of…

So essen wir in Zukunft

Xenius, a scientific show from ARTE wanted to know more about vertical farming, hydroponics and how Infarm grows veggies. Doerthe Eickelberg & Pierre Girard visited their production hub in Berlin a few weeks ago and together with Ido Golan, the Head of Biology Research explored how Infarm plans to grow food for our growing…

Danish supermarket expands vertical farming concept

Over the next two months, customers in 35 Irma stores will have the opportunity to experience vertical farming. The Danish supermarket has entered into an agreement with the German specialist in vertical farming, Infarm. Since the end of November, Irma has been the first in Denmark to test the concept in…

Elevate Farms completes capital funding to scale operations and secure IP

Elevate Farms announced the closing of a $1.8M funding led by Brightspark Ventures. Elevate Farms’ system aims to deliver a product that is larger, tastes better, and has higher nutritional content than traditionally-grown leafy greens. “Elevate Farms represents the next generation of indoor farming:…

Fresh microgreens, off the wall and onto your plate

Picture the scene. You're in a restaurant, a delicious plate of food is sitting before you on the table. Then the chef shows up. "Just one minute, please", he says, walking over to the wall and harvesting some fresh microgreens from it. He sprinkles the finishing touch onto the dish. "Voilà!" If it…

“Think Global, Eat Local”: Food Systems in European Cities kick-starts

The ever-growing world population, the increased urbanisation, and the depletion of natural resources put pressure on global food security. Combined with the effect of climate change, our food supply is at risk and food chains face challenges. Consequently, local, affordable and healthy food produced in…

How much does vertical farming cost?

Indoor food production has long-been cited as the ideal way to help feed an ever-growing population. Currently, vertical farming is increasingly being seen as the way forward to produce higher volumes of better-quality crops all year round, bring food production closer to customers, and into urban areas.…

US (OH): New Coventry greenhouse flourishing

Tucked away on the second floor of Coventry Middle School is a room not like any other in the school. This past summer construction got underway to convert a non-utilized former chemistry lab into a controlled environment agricultural greenhouse, said Coventry Middle School teacher Jim Trogdon. Starting…

USDA grants call for aquaponics

Federal Grants have recently been published that can apply to aquaponics growers. USDA AFRI Grants will disburse $192 Million across several different programs and specifically call for aquaponics and hydroponics projects. The USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) will award $192 Million for FY2020. Due dates for…

Can vertical farming ever become mainstream?

Amid the growing concerns about climate change and feeding the world's increasing population, especially in urban conurbations in developing countries, Simon Harvey investigates whether vertical farming – growing fresh produce in a controlled environment – can become well-established in the market. The…

US (SC): Lowcountry-based hydroponic lettuce farm going mobile

Charleston-based Vertical Roots is one of the largest hydroponic container farming operations in the US. With an eco-friendly focus on sustainable farming, Vertical Roots uses recycled shipping containers to grow lettuce. “There’s no soil. The lettuce grows in coconut and there’s basically a stream of…

Time Magazine takes a look at vertical farming

Farmers have grown food in roughly the same way for thousands of years: planting seeds and watching them grow; raising animals from birth to slaughter; hoping that nature provides them the right amounts of rain and sun. Now, entrepreneurs say they have a better idea. Agriculture in its current form is…

Nepalese growers find benefits in soilless farming

The challenges facing soil-based agriculture led to the invention of soilless agriculture. Soilless cultivation has become possible through the use of hi-tech. As of now, soil is the most common growing media used for growing crops throughout the world as it provides adequate support, nutrition, air and…

US (ID): Aquaponic greenhouse provides for the local community

Just 75 miles South of the Canadian border, in the little community of Careywood, Idaho, sits a 23×40 flourishing aquaponic greenhouse that grows fresh fruits and vegetables all year long. The owners of the greenhouse are two retired medical professionals who have taken on sustainable food production as a side hobby, and…

Farming on Mars: One Trailblazer's passion for aquaponics

Michele Madison is at the forefront of an aquaponic science revolution that is breaking barriers for women and girls in STEM. The founder of a socially-minded business aiming to spread adoption of sustainable farming practices has found her place in the field of aquaponics. The business, Farming the Future, creates an…

US (AZ): Researchers to study viability of vertically farming leafy greens

As a rapidly growing global population, ecosystem degradation, changing climate conditions, and water and land scarcity all demand the evolution of integrated and innovative food production technologies, researchers at the University of Arizona are poised to take on the challenge. Fueled in part by a $2.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture' Specialty Crop Research Initiative, the university's Controlled Environment…

UK: County NFU gets glimpse of the farming future

Robots, vertical farming and virtual fencing could soon be the farming of the future according to the Future of Food 2040 report produced by the NFU. Dr Andrea Graham, NFU head of policy services and author of the report, used her presentation at the recent Pembrokeshire county conference, to delve into…

"Robot farmers are changing the future of agriculture"

80 Acres Farms doesn't just want to make fresh, local produce for Cincinnati and neighboring areas; it wants to completely overhaul the food system in the US. "We decided that the [food] industry was really broken and that it had to be fixed from within. Farmers are struggling and they don't want their kids…

How a microfarm is bringing fresher produce to Dallas chefs

It’s possible your favorite restaurant has a little “provided by” section on its menu and “Profound Microfarms” is listed there. If so, that's because Jeff Bednar decided a few years ago to leave his job in real estate and start growing things. Many of the top restaurants in Dallas get their produce from…

US (DE): Second Chances Farm gets ready to grow

384,696 seeds were planted in 40,608 germination cubes at Second Chances Farm, the first vertical farm in the first state, between Friday, February 7th and Saturday, February 8th by a team of returning citizens under the supervision of Evan M Bartle. "This is a watershed moment as we move from a prototype…

Peter Lane resigns as vice chairman of Association for Vertical Farming

Peter Lane announced that he resigned his position as vice chairman of the AVF, stating that "the position is as an unpaid volunteer, and I volunteered for one year only". He…

Container farms bring fresh vegetables to remote Canadian community

Over 1,000 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife sit two steel shipping containers that are changing how we understand and respond to food production challenges in Canada’s North, and in other harsh and isolated locations. These containers have been retrofitted into a research station in Gjoa Haven,…

Aquaponics project launched at schools on Grand Bahama

The STEM in Aquaponic Sustainable Agriculture Project was launched on Grand Bahama at two schools where the pilot programme will teach students valuable skills of a more sustainable and eco-friendly system of food production. The project – which is an initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine…

The startup revolutionizing farming in the Middle East

As eco-conscious farming continues to gain traction, Middle Eastern startups are revolutionizing agriculture on not-so-fertile land. One of them is the Jordanian company Tulua, devoted to reducing socioeconomic disparities through sustainable farming. Tulua, loosely translating to rising in English,…

UKUAT formalised as membership organisation for urban agriculture

The UK’s evolving agritech sector welcomes the formation of a new membership group – the UK Urban AgriTech Collective (UKUAT). UKUAT brings together the UK’s key players in…

US (KY): Indoor fish farm gives chefs a tasty, unique edge

When chef Leandra Forman wanted to source some fresh seafood for a special Meh Rong Korean dinner, she didn’t have to go far: The fish were in the room next door to her FoodChain kitchen. Tucked into the heart of an old bread factory in Lexington is a synergistic miracle of farming: Kentucky’s largest…

February 9, Honolulu

US (HI): Aquaponics at Aquaculture America

Aquaculture America is coming up Feb 9-12 in Honolulu, HI. The Aquaponics sessions at the Conference will be Feb 10 from 11am-5pm; and Feb 11 from 10:30am to 12:30pm. There will be over 30 presentations on all aspects of aquaponics. Aquaponics Engineer Huy Tran noted that aquaponics is growing rapidly; a…

Turkey's first plant factory enters production in Antalya

An Antalya-based firm has established Europe's largest and Turkey's first plant factory with an estimated investment of 2.5 million euros ($2.77 million), as part of its 5-million-euro research and development (R&D) activities. In the first stage, it will produce green leafy plants like lettuce, arugula,…

UK: Swansea to get apartment building with built-in greenhouses

A futuristic "living" building which will be home to plants, vegetables, fish and people has been given the go-ahead by Swansea councillors. Greenhouses, terraces and rooftop gardens will sit above two floors of shops and offices. Fish kept in tanks within the building will provide waste nutrients to…

US (AL): Students test plants for NASA partnership

Select students in agriculture classes at LeCroy Career Technical Center and Chilton County High School participated in collecting data on lettuce that will be given to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and eventually NASA to help determine what plants will grow well in the controlled mini-greenhouse…

US: Controlled-environment agriculture could reduce food waste

Moving production to controlled environments, such as greenhouses or vertical farming concepts, has the potential to reduce food waste by minimizing environmental exposure that can create cosmetic imperfections. That is stated in a recent report by the USDA. “These production systems also allow…

US (NY): Bartender opens hydroponic farming company in Patchogue

Many locals in Patchogue know Cory Mahony for his skills behind the bar at James Joyce Pub. What most don’t know is after his late-night shifts, he heads a few blocks west in the village to a 1,000-square-foot building. There, he takes his bartending gear off and begins his passion work as a hydroponic…

Grocers look to indoor farming to source a steady stream of local greens

Food retailers from coast to coast are increasingly turning to indoor, vertical and greenhouse farming to meet the demand for locally grown produce, reduce food miles and offer the freshest product possible. Some, such as Tops Friendly Markets in Williamsville, N.Y., are partnering with greenhouse…

A look inside the "world's largest indoor farm"

Shigeharu Shimamura, a plant physiologist and CEO of Mirai, has constructed 25,000 square feet of futuristic garden beds nurtured by 17,500 LED lights in a bacteria-free, pesticide-free environment; the farm produces 10,000 heads of lettuce a day. This makes it the largest indoor farm in the world, at…

How to make 'resilient citizen-driven food systems' happen

Increasing urbanization rates, loss of natural resources and the effects of climate change are challenging the sustainability of European Cities. Therefore, ensuring the sustainability of the Urban Food System is crucial to achieve food and nutrition security. The Greenhouse Horticulture Business Unit of…

Zimbabwe: Hydroponic farm beats drought to grow vegetables

In a backyard in Zimbabwe’s capital, a 50-year-old mother of two is using hydroponics to grow vegetables for some of Harare’s top restaurants, defying drought and an economic crisis that have left millions needing food aid. Venensia Mukarati, whose day job is an accountant, always had a passion for…

International partnership for new certificate for CEA-grown produce

The FarmTech Society and GlobalGAP recognize each other in their membership programs, initiating a new open partnership to develop and implement a certification specifically for new “indoor” high tech systems with natural and artificial lights. The partnership is open to all industry stakeholders small…

Creative agency proposes modular vertical farms for Brooklyn neighbourhoods

Creative agency Framlab has proposed building modular vertical farms in Brooklyn to provide low-income neighbourhoods with access to fresh produce. The conceptual Glasir project comprises a stack of greenhouse-like modules that could be built in various locations across the New York borough, where…

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