Designers Paul Fisher and Maria Kinslow (UF/IFAS) and Bruce MacKay (FreshLearn) encourage growers to link to this web app for easy access to English/Spanish grower calculator tools, training videos, and fact sheets on a wide range of production topics.

The Tools section includes calculators for fertilizer and agrichemical dilutions, container substrates, light levels, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), crop budgets, and water quality. For example, you can calculate parts per million concentrations of fertilizers or how much daily light integral is contributed by electric lamps. The Training section links to videos and fact sheets on production topics such as handling tissue culture transplants.

UF IFAS Extension provides training on use of the website tools in Greenhouse Training Online grower courses (https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training), including the Greenhouse 101 course which begins on June 3.

The website is sponsored by industry partners in the Floriculture Research Alliance, the Ken and Deena Altman Online Extension Gift, and UF IFAS Extension. For more info about Back Pocket Grower or online courses, contact greenhousetraining@ufl.ifas.edu.

Can you believe this white ‘pom pom’ like fungus has properties that regrow nerves? This has been proven in several peer reviewed studies. Remarkably, this mushroom can grow larger than a baseball in under two months given the right controlled environment. 

Substrates for Lion’s mane are commonly straw or sawdust based, but could just as easily be ground spent coffee beans. Setting up a container sized space, the main controls to be aware of for optimal growth are temperature and humidity. 

Lion’s Mane mushrooms are rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are particularly prized for their potential health benefits, including boosting cognitive function, supporting the nervous system, and enhancing immune function.

As the mane grows, it will start to form an underlying ball shape. Then out of nowhere comes the shaggy mane. 

Lion’s Mane mushrooms contain bioactive compounds such as hericenones and erinacines, which have been studied for their neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects. Research suggests that Lion’s Mane may help improve memory, concentration, and overall brain health.

Shedding of spores – these can be collected for subsequent inoculation of spawn. 

How do you eat these mushrooms? 

Lion’s Mane mushrooms have a delicate, seafood-like flavor and a meaty texture, making them a popular choice for vegetarian or vegan dishes. They can be sautéed, grilled, or roasted and used in various recipes, including stir-fries, soups, and pasta dishes.

Why not try out Nashville Farmacy’s recipe for lion’s mane ragù, it sounds really tasty. 

They are best harvested when young and tender, before the spines become too dense or discolored.

Janet Colston PhD is pharmacologist with an interest in growing ‘functional’ foods that have additional phytonutrients and display medicinal qualities that are beneficial to human health. She grows these using a range of techniques including plant tissue micropropagation and controlled environmental agriculture to ensure the highest quality control.

CEA Summit East is focused on bringing together the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry and academia. Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con, the leading global gathering of the vertical farming | CEA sector, and the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center, a joint project between IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, the summit aims to foster collaboration and innovation in the field of CEA.

“Returning for its second year as part of the CEA Summit East, the poster competition is designed to provide graduate students with an opportunity to showcase their high-quality CEA-related research. It also aims to facilitate networking between students and industry professionals,” says Kaylee South, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of CEA at Virginia Tech. “The CEA Summit East Partners are excited to invite graduate students to submit their abstracts for consideration.”

Competition Eligibility and Guidelines:

• The competition is open to currently enrolled or recently graduated (Spring 2024 or later) graduate students, including M.S., Ph.D., and professional students.
• Entrants must present posters on original CEA-related research they have conducted.
• Abstract submissions must be received by August 16, 2024, for consideration.
• All posters will be judged and scored at the conference, with winners announced during the breakfast gathering/keynote session on day 2, October 2, 2024.

 For more information on abstract submission and competition guidelines, please visit https://indoor.ag/cea-summit-poster/ or contact Dr. Kaylee South at kasouth@vt.edu or +1.434.766.6628

ABOUT CEA SUMMIT EAST

Building on the success of its 2023 edition, which attracted attendees from 33 US states, Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden, the 3rd Annual CEA Summit East is set to unite professionals once again from academia, business, and technology within the CEA industry. Attendees include greenhouse growers, urban agriculture operations, vertical farms, outdoor growers seeking hybrid growing opportunities, educators, scientists, extension personnel and agents, suppliers, engineers, tech specialists, architects/developers, government officials, and other industry members. With a focus on facilitating meaningful connections and knowledge exchange, the summit will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, networking/ breakout sessions, and tabletop exhibits highlighting the latest advancements in CEA technology and practices. Attendees can also look forward to research facility tours, providing firsthand insights into cutting-edge research and development initiatives. For more information, visit www.ceasummit.com

ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON

Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con has emerged as the largest trade show and conference for vertical farming | greenhouse |controlled environment agriculture. Its events are crop-agnostic and touch all sectors of the business, covering produce, legal cannabis | hemp, alternate protein and non-food crops. For more information, visit www.indoor.ag.

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA TECH – IALR CEA INNOVATION CENTER

The Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is a joint project between IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center. By developing strategic partnerships with both industry and academia, the goal of the Innovation Center is to conduct research and educational programming to develop, promote and advance the CEA sector in the U.S. and internationally. For more information, visit www.ialr.org/cea

Greenhouse 101 is designed for people with no formal training in horticulture that work in the greenhouse or nursery industry. Course topics include plant parts and functions, photosynthesis and growth, greenhouse technology, flowering, compactness and branching, irrigation, nutrition, and plant health. 

The course is offered in English and Spanish and runs for four weeks from June 3 to June 28, 2024. The cost is $US275 per participant. All course material is completely online and available at any time of the day, and includes pre-recorded videos, quizzes, and an interactive discussion board with PhD professors Paul Fisher from UF and Brian Pearson from Oregon State University. Two new modules are activated each week during the course, for a total of eight learning modules. Instruction is at your own pace and time within the 4 weeks of the course, with a typical time commitment of about 4 hours per week. Click here to register: http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/.

We offer a 20% discount when you register 5 or more staff. For more information, including discounts for multiple registrations email us at: greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu.

Read the full article on farmers.gov by Shantelle Turner, FSA

“This Friday meet Trinity Waguespack, an 11-year-old urban farmer in Lafayette, Louisiana. When she’s not tackling her schoolwork, Trinity is busy growing lettuce in her three hydroponic garden towers. Through precision agriculture and artificial intelligence technology, the towers notify her when the lettuce needs water, even when she’s at swim practice. “

“What started as a sixth-grade project with one seed turned into several household grown plants and a newfound interest in agriculture, giving Trinity the opportunity to grow lettuce for her family and friends. Despite not having farm experience, Trinity decided to try something new last summer and discovered her passion for hydroponics, a technique that uses a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil to grow plants. “

PORTLAND, Ore. (April 8, 2024) —  Resource Innovation Institute (RII),  a not-for-profit, public-private partnership advancing climate resilience, announced today the availability of its “Guide to Environmental Accounting and Reporting for Controlled Environment Agriculture Operations.”  Resulting from the work of the CEA Footprint Project over the past year, the how to guide proposes standardized environmental accounting and reporting systems and methodologies, and encourages their market adoption across CEA operations.

“Comparing resource outputs and inputs at a facility level and across agricultural segments is increasingly critical for CEA investors and operators, as well as governments and utilities,” said Derek Smith, Executive Director of Resource Innovation Institute. “Agreement on how resources are measured is particularly important, as is the establishment of boundaries determined within the measurement systems. The sooner data can be standardized, collected and analyzed, the quicker and better decision makers can guide efficiency and decarbonization strategies and incentives.”

“The indoor farming industry has the opportunity to drive consensus on data standardization at this early stage of the industry’s growth through collaborative, well-governed efforts like the CEA Footprint Project,” said Julie Kurnik, Senior Director of Innovation Start Ups at  World Wildlife Fund. “RII’s Guide establishes comprehensive CEA-specific guidance on measurement methodologies, importantly including how to establish boundaries on scope 3 carbon emissions. This type of reporting will result in consistent communication on the environmental value and direction that will drive long-term viability for technology integration into agriculture.”

A collaborative initiative by RII, producers and stakeholders, the CEA Footprint Project was formed to advance market understanding of CEA environmental impacts and resilience potential through the establishment of consistent and verifiable accounting and reporting standards. In order to develop the Guide to Environmental & Accounting Reporting, CEA Footprint Project members from the United States and Europe came together in early 2023 to discuss the most important Key Performance Indicators they use and value in their facilities, as well as to agree on which KPIs are relevant to internal and external audiences, in addition to where in the production process CEA operators should measure data. The group also aggregated detailed guidance on how producers should consider representing CEA-related Scope 3 carbon emissions boundaries and methodologies.  

Participating producers that contributed to the guide included:

• Hannah Bouline, Director of Impact and Sustainability, Vertical Harvest Farms
• Gillon Dobie, Impact Director, Grow Up Farms
• Michele Grossman, Sustainability Director, Equilibrium Capital on behalf of Revol Greens
• Laura Hann, Director of Sustainability, Local Bounti
• Erik Lundgren, Chief Research & Development Officer, Ljusgarda. 
• Doug Meikle, Financial Planning & Sustainability Manager, Grow Up Farms
• Matthew Meisel, Chief Development Officer, Little Leaf Farms
• Colin O’Neil, Director of Public Policy & Social Impact, Bowery Farming
• Annie Wissemeier, Sustainability Senior Manager, 80 Acres Farm

“We are pleased to be part of a team of thoughtful peers to help set consistent standards for our industry,” said Matthew Meisel, Chief Development Officer of Little Leaf Farms. “RII led a great process that resulted in a tangible benefit for the industry. The Guide is a key resource for producers seeking to improve how they track their sustainability and resource efficiency performance.”

The Steering Committee for the guide’s development included:

• Jonathon Cohen, Founder and Director, Better Buildings Residential Network at The  U.S. Dept. of Energy
• Vonnie Estes, Vice President of Innovation at the International Fresh Produce Association
• Tom Stenzel, Executive Director of The CEA Alliance
• Tom Zoellner, Co-Founder and Secretary-General of the FarmTech Society
• Julia Kurnik, Senior Director of Innovation Start-Ups at the  World Wildlife Fund 
• Michael Martin, Senior Researcher at the Swedish Environmental Research Institute

“The CEA Alliance and RII are aligned on the need for standardization as indoor growing becomes a mature sector,” said Tom Stenzel, Executive Director, The CEA Alliance. “Collaborative efforts like the CEA Footprint Project are essential in moving the industry forward, and the resulting Guide is a valuable how-to resource for CEA operators.” 

Advisors for the guide included:

• Eric Brody, Principal, Shift Advantage
• Julia Cohen, Co-founder and CEO, Mammoth

The new Guide to Environmental & Accounting Reporting for Controlled Environment Agriculture Operations is available for free download here. To learn more about this topic, join the “Cultivating Change: The Role of Environmental Accounting in CEA’s Future” webinar on May 16th. To learn more and register, visit this link. 

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Elyse Greenberg at elyse@resourceinnovation.org.   

About Resource Innovation Institute: We advance climate resilience through accelerating resource efficiency in controlled environment agriculture

Resource Innovation Institute (RII) is a not-for-profit, public-private partnership advancing climate resilience. RII provides resource efficiency education, training and data-driven verification, in collaboration with CEA producers, researchers, governments, utilities, and the design & construction sector. Visit our website at ResourceInnovation.org. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

In light of these insights, IUNU, a pioneer in greenhouse technology, is challenging conventional crop registration methods prevalent in greenhouse agriculture. Recognizing the pivotal role plants play and the limitations of current practices, IUNU advocates for a paradigm shift towards a more data-driven approach.

Traditional manual methods of crop registration are increasingly inadequate in providing the comprehensive insights essential for optimizing greenhouse crop production. In a recent article published by IUNU titled “Crop Registration: A Compass for Crop Management,” concerns were raised regarding the efficacy of these practices.

Key points raised in the article and supported by IUNU include:

• Traditional methods of crop registration are not sufficient for understanding how plants respond to their environment due to high variability from plant to plant.
• Growers rely on crop registration to measure plant development, production and crop response to climate.
• Manual crop registration is time-consuming, expensive and prone to errors.
• Small sample sizes and infrequent measurements make crop registration data unreliable.
  This is the reason for many poor decisions made in greenhouses, not lack of talent.

“We believe in a future where every grower is empowered to unlock the full potential of their greenhouse production,” says IUNU. “Our industry is rich with opportunities, yet limitations of resources and information can hinder progress. This is why we’re committed to making a difference.”

Addressing these challenges, IUNU introduces a groundbreaking automated crop registration module within its LUNA platform, specifically designed for tomatoes. This innovative solution transforms crop registration practices, offering growers the power of real-time, comprehensive insights into plant growth and performance. These insights empower growers to optimize growing conditions, identify problems early, gain insights to drive decisions, and ultimately increase sell-thru.

“You no longer need to settle for outdated methods,” says IUNU. “A brighter path to achieving the insights you seek has arrived.”

IUNU invites greenhouse growers to join the discussion on crop registration and explore how LUNA can help them with their operations. Meet IUNU at Indoor Ag-con Las Vegas or one of their many upcoming events.

Read the full article here: https://iunu.com/resources/crop-registration

About IUNU
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Seattle, IUNU aims to close the loop in greenhouse autonomy and is focused on being the world’s leading controlled environment specialist. IUNU’s flagship platform, LUNA, combines software with a variety of high-definition cameras — both fixed and mobile — and environmental sensors to keep track of the minutiae of plant growth and health in indoor ag settings. LUNA’s goal is to turn commercial greenhouses into precise, predictable, demand-based manufacturers that optimize yield, labor, and product quality.
www.IUNU.com

Designed for: Greenhouse growers of hydroponic vegetable, ornamental, and hemp crops, researchers, and industry professionals.

Benefits:

• Learn from university and industry experts in the field
• Network with peers
• See technologies in action
• Gain insights into the latest technologies and techniques for high-tech crop production

Technologies on display will include:

• Substrate for containers and hydroponics
• Hydroponic supplies
• Nutrient testing
• pH and electrical conductivity control
• Water treatment products and technologies
• Climate control
• Biological controls
• UF/IFAS Extension Training

LOCATION: UF | Straughn Center, 2142 Shealy Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611
DATE: May 6, 2024
COST: $75 per person

Visit our website for more information and registration

This symposium is co-hosted by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
(UF/IFAS), Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA), and the Root
Alliance.

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 12, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a new effort to train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders. As part of President Biden’s historic American Climate Corps initiative, the Working Lands Climate Corps will provide technical training and career pathway opportunities for young people, helping them deliver economic benefits through climate-smart agriculture solutions for farmers and ranchers across the country, now and in the future. The Working Lands Climate Corps, in its first cohort, will aim to create service opportunities for more than 100 young people. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is working in partnership with AmeriCorps, The Corps Network and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) in this effort. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small made the announcement at the National Association of Conservation Districts annual meeting in San Diego. To date, more than 50,000 people have expressed interest in joining the American Climate Corps – and over the past several weeks, 2,200 people have participated in American Climate Corps listening sessions.

“As part of President Biden’s historic American Climate Corps initiative, USDA’s new Working Lands Climate Corps will train a new generation of Americans to help tackle climate change in rural communities across the country,” said Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small. “This program will provide a pathway to continue to build a workforce of people who understand these programs and their promise to support the delivery of billions of dollars in climate-smart agriculture funding made available through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, putting them on a pathway into good paying careers at the US Department of Agriculture.”

“From the Heartland to the coasts, President Biden’s American Climate Corps is mobilizing the next generation of Americans to tackle the climate crisis while putting young people on pathways to good-paying careers,” said Ali Zaidi, President Biden’s National Climate Advisor. “USDA’s Working Lands Climate Corps demonstrates how the President’s historic initiative is on the frontlines of addressing some of the most urgent challenges facing our agricultural communities, ensuring that farmers and ranchers continue to play a central and growing role in developing innovative climate solutions. Through the President’s pathbreaking initiative, the Biden-Harris Administration will empower the next generation of climate-smart agriculture leaders while strengthening our commitment to working hand-in-hand with America’s rural and agricultural communities.”

“Born amid the Dust Bowl crisis of the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps revitalized farmlands across the nation. Today, farmers are facing new a threat — climate change and droughts,” said Michael D. Smith, CEO, AmeriCorps. “With equity at its core, President Biden’s American Climate Corps is addressing this new crisis by training a new generation for good-paying jobs in climate resilience and clean energy. AmeriCorps is proud to partner with USDA, The Corps Network, and the National Association of Conservation Districts to launch the Working Lands Climate Corps — a new American Climate Corps program — which will mobilize Americans across the country to restore soil health, promote sustainable farming practices, and tackle the disproportionate impacts that climate change has on the farming industry and our food.”

“Managing and protecting our natural resources is a shared responsibility. The work NRCS does in collaboration with partners to improve the resilience of private lands is increasingly important as we see the mounting effects of climate change,” said Mary Ellen Sprenkel, President and CEO of The Corps Network. “Engaging young adults in this work through a Corps model offers a way to expand the reach of NRCS, train future workers in climate-smart agriculture practices, and develop a new generation of climate and community leaders. The Corps Network is proud to work with the Biden Administration to stand up the Working Lands Climate Corps, a new initiative through the American Climate Corps that will help deliver on critical workforce and climate priorities. From four decades of experience working at the intersection of conservation, service, and workforce development, we know this initiative has the potential to have an important impact on our lands and in developing the climate-ready workforce we need.”

“Conservation Districts have a long history of partnership with the USDA and original Civilian Conservation Corps that dates back to the Dust Bowl era,” said National Association of Conservation Districts President Kim LaFleur. “The new Working Lands Conservation Corps allows us to renew and strengthen this partnership, while offering important conservation career developmental opportunities to young adults across the country. We are thrilled to provide training that will support the voluntary, locally led conservation delivery system and supplement ‘boots on ground’ training programs.”

The Working Lands Climate Corps is part of the American Climate Corps, a workforce training and service initiative that is working to ensure more young people have access to the skills-based training needed for good paying careers in the clean energy and climate resilience economy.

The Corps Network, National Association of Conservation Districts, AmeriCorps, and USDA will hold webinars on Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. ET and Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. ET to provide additional information for organizations interested in applying. To learn more, visit www.corpsnetwork.org/WLCC.

The request for proposals is available at www.corpsnetwork.org/WLCC. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 8, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET.

The National Association of Conservation Districts will be a core partner in supporting the program, organizing and structuring trainings for the members of the Working Lands Climate Corps. This will include mentorship opportunities, on-the-job training, and job experience needed to prepare Working Lands Climate Corps members for careers in climate-smart agriculture and conservation.

The Corps Network is also announcing an initial investment for the Working Lands Climate Corps from the Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation and will continue to leverage additional and critical philanthropic funds.

More Information about the Working Lands Climate Corps

Members will receive technical skills training, education awards and career pathway opportunities. They will conduct outreach and education around the availability of climate-smart agriculture assistance and support conservation technical assistance and resilient planning activities for working farms and ranches.

Through the first cohort of members, more than 100 young people will serve with state and local host organizations across the country, receiving on-the ground experience and training with partners and organizations who conduct programming to support the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices and systems.

Eligible host organizations, who can apply through the request for proposal, may include organizations that operate at the state and local level in cooperation with NRCS to provide conservation assistance and other climate-smart agriculture programs, including outreach and education to reach new farmers and ranchers across the country.

Projects proposed by organizations based in the communities they serve, as well as those in partnership with existing Service and Conservation Corps or Soil Conservation Districts, are encouraged to apply.

The Corps Network will review applications and will award subgrants to selected organizations to host the first class of Working Lands Climate Corps members across the country, who will also be part of the first class of the American Climate Corps.

The National Association of Conservation Districts will organize, and structure trainings provided to all Working Lands Climate Corps members, including information on climate-smart agriculture practices, conservation and resilience planning, environmental justice, outreach with farmers and rural communities, leadership development, and more. Trainings will be provided through a variety of forums including meetings, online resources and support through host organizations.

More Information About the American Climate Corps and the USDA

President Biden launched the American Climate Corps to train young people in high-demand skills for jobs in the clean energy economy. The American Climate Corps will put a new generation of Americans to work conserving our lands and waters, bolstering community resilience, advancing environmental justice, deploying clean energy, implementing energy efficient technologies, and tackling climate change. American Climate Corps members will gain the skills necessary to access good-paying jobs that are aligned with high-quality employment opportunities after they complete their paid training or service program.

USDA is one of the seven agencies that signed a memorandum of understanding to shape the American Climate Corps, which will serve as a blueprint for the multiagency program. The memorandum of understanding lays out the mission, goals, priorities, and next steps for implementing the American Climate Corps.

The American Climate Corps will also focus on equity and environmental justice – prioritizing communities traditionally left behind, including through outreach and climate-smart agriculture assistance, leveraging the talents of all members of our society and prioritizing projects that help meet the Administration’s Justice40 goal. The American Climate Corps also delivers on the President’s America the Beautiful Initiative by training the next generation of land and waters stewards.

Recent listening sessions highlighted the demand for American Climate Corps opportunities from young people across the country, including in climate-smart agriculture.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, promoting competition and fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across USDA by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of the Nation. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

ITHACA, NY – The Cornell University Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering (GLASE) consortium will deliver their latest virtual short course with a focus on three interactive greenhouse systems. Experts from academia and industry will share how growers can select and operate greenhouse coverings, climate screens, and supplemental horticultural lighting.

The 2024 GLASE Short Course will run from April 4 to May 9 and will feature six 90-minute modules presented over six weeks on Thursdays from 2 – 3:30 pm ET. Attend live sessions to participate in question and answer sessions with speakers and receive a discounted individual GLASE membership. Recordings will be made available on-demand in June. To register, click here.

The Greenhouse Systems Short Course is an educational series that will explore three major systems maintaining greenhouse environments and their interactive effects. To showcase the ways these systems improve plant quality and yields and save energy in greenhouses, industry experts will define the types of commercially available coverings, curtains, and lighting systems, show how these systems work together to support plant growth and development, and share real-world case studies. By the end of this virtual course, participants will be able to make informed decisions about selecting and using greenhouse systems in their growing operations.

This course is sponsored by Hoogendoorn Growth Management, Philips Horticulture LED Lighting, Svensson Climate Screens, and AGCULTURE by AGC.

“Svensson is thrilled to support the GLASE Greenhouse Systems Short Course. This educational event merges academia with industry expertise and provides growers with invaluable insights to enhance their growing environments. We are proud to be a part of this industry-leading event and look forward to sharing the latest screening technologies with growers,” shared Paul Arena, Greenhouse Climate Consultant with Svensson Climate Screens.

“Just as we have for the past 17 years, the Philips horticulture team continues to research how to use supplemental LED lighting to maximize and economize greenhouse production,” said Esther de Beer, Director, Plant Specialists with Philips Horticulture LED Lighting. “We’re happy to have this opportunity to share with the GLASE community a little of the research that our team has conducted the past few years, individually and collaboratively with our horticulture research partners – in North America and Europe.” 

“Hoogendoorn believes education and knowledge transfer are key within the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry,” said Luis Trujillo, President of Hoogendoorn.

“AGCULTURE is on a mission to bring more sustainable glass products to improve the productivity of growers while reducing their carbon footprint,” shared Mohammad Shayesteh, Director of AGCULTURE by AGC. “We are pleased to be one of the sponsors of the GLASE program to further propagate the knowledge about how we enable growers to achieve the above-mentioned goals using our glass products.”

About GLASE

Since 2021, the GLASE consortium has produced virtual short courses for growers, researchers, designers, engineers, and scientists. Topics previously covered include the selection, implementation, and benefits of plant lighting systems and climate control systems.

Guided by its Industry Advisory Board, GLASE and its partner academic institutions research the leading edge of LED systems engineering, plant photobiology and physiology, and greenhouse environmental controls and commercialize emerging technology to save growers money and reduce the carbon footprint of greenhouse operations.

By Adam Russell, Texas A&M AgriLife Communication Specialist

Jeff Bednar, owner/operator of Profound Foods in Fairview, is relatively new to controlled environment horticulture.

It might surprise any visitor to his 10-acre farm — featuring 10,000 square feet, soon to be 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor growing systems — that he doesn’t have a green thumb.

The truth is Bednar took a three-year “crash course” in controlled environment growing systems and the vegetables that grow best in them. His immersion into all things-controlled environment horticulture included attending permaculture school and dozens of conferences dedicated to controlled environment horticulture, including aquaculture and hydroponics.

But his journey began in the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Texas Master Gardener Program in 2016 and continues via collaboration with experts at the epicenter of controlled environment horticulture in Texas – the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas.

He said the learning never stops. Controlled environment horticulture is a rapidly changing field and is emerging as a secure and sustainable food production method.

“We believe in sharing information and people working together,” Bednar said. “We aren’t employing scientists, and we are not performing research beyond trial and error, so reaching out to experts at the AgriLife center helped us solve problems a smaller farm like us can’t solve on our own. Their institutional knowledge and ability to find solutions is important for growers like me.”

Controlled environment horticulture collaboration grows

The work being done at the Texas A&M AgriLife center in Dallas is a core component to the controlled environment horticulture evolution within Texas, said Daniel Leskovar, Ph.D., director of the AgriLife centers in both Dallas and Uvalde, and professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences.

Faculty across Texas A&M AgriLife are collaborating around the state, but Texas A&M AgriLife’s state-of-the-art facilities at Dallas and its proximity to industry and entrepreneurs make it an important space for innovation and advancement.

“We are looking at controlled environment horticulture in ways that can be scaled up and scaled down to serve producers at all levels,” Leskovar said. “So much of it revolves around technology, but we are also developing the applied science around it and how technology translates into efficiencies that cut production costs.”

Collaborating across the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Dallas-based team of scientists includes Joe Masabni, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension small-acreage horticulturist; Genhua Niu, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research professor of urban agriculture, both in the Department of Horticultural Sciences; and Azlan Zahid, Ph.D., controlled environment agriculture engineer from the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Joining them recently are new AgriLife Research faculty Arash Kheirodin, Ph.D., a controlled environment entomologist from the Department of Entomology, and Krishna Bhattarai, Ph.D., a plant breeder from the Department of Horticulture.

This team is expanding research and controlled environment programs around the state as well as curriculum on campus in Bryan-College Station. The controlled environment horticulture program also extends to Texas A&M University at Qatar and collaborates with entities like the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation among other U.S. scientific and academic institutions.

These researchers are experimenting with a range of technologies that include long-standing methods like high tunnels and greenhouses and aquaponic and hydroponic systems. They are also engaged in concepts like precision agriculture that rely on innovative technologies such as remote sensors to collect a range of data related to environmental and plant conditions. Sensing technology allows growers to incorporate other cutting-edge advancements like automation, robotics and artificial intelligence to manage plants.

Controlled environment horticulture boasts many advantages over traditional agriculture, Leskovar said. Crops can be grown year-round and in environments that can be modified precisely to each crop’s preference and in ways that reduce natural stressors like drought, heat, insect pests and disease.

They also use less water and require fewer inputs of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. The technology will most likely supplement crops produced in fields, but hurdles remain. Energy costs to run controlled environment systems continue to pose the top challenge.

“We believe controlled environment horticulture will be able to complement open-field systems, but also provide capacity for addressing urban-suburban needs for nutritious foods in efficient and sustainable ways,” he said. “Efficiencies are very high, but right now costs are also very high. However, there is a lot of interest and investment focused on balancing cost benefits for producers.”

Controlled environment growers eager for information

Leskovar said the controlled environment horticulture program at Dallas has caused a ripple effect across the growing industry. Many of the technologies and methodologies are still in their infancy, but AgriLife Research experiments and collaborations between scientists and stakeholders is feeding rapid growth.

Among other focuses, projects include organic tomato production, variety selection, grafting, insect and pest control, and environment optimization with relation to light spectrum and duration and inputs like water and fertilizer. Scientists are also implementing technologies like precision agriculture, robotics, biostimulants and genetics-based plant breeding.

Controlled environment research at Dallas involves tomatoes and greens, tubers like potatoes and ginger, and turfgrass, among others, Leskovar said.

Leskovar is also working at Uvalde on a project with Kevin Crosby, Ph.D., professor and plant geneticist in the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Bryan-College Station, focused on growing resilient and high-quality peppers. The idea is to improve plant variety selection based on genetics and the ways growers tailor management practices for those varieties.

Through international collaborations, his research team at Uvalde is also investigating novel rootstock germplasm for tomato grafting applications in controlled environment systems. 

“We’re looking for production gains through management practices specific to varieties we are breeding,” Leskovar said. “In this case, we are looking at specialty peppers, which can bring higher value. Producers are eager to have that type of information.”

Building capacity, expanding outreach and education

Beyond ongoing research projects, Texas A&M AgriLife is expanding its capacity to perform research for outreach efforts and to educate future professionals in the field.

Amit Dhingra, Ph.D., head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Bryan-College Station, views controlled environment horticulture production as an important cog in the future of food security in the U.S. and globally. 

“These systems will be an important part of the overall food supply chain because they can provide fresh, nutritious produce in close proximity to urban centers,” he said. “Farmers can produce more in less space, and precision agriculture can bridge a variety of challenges by providing nutritionally dense produce in environmentally sustainable ways.”

The department is strategically expanding its controlled environment horticulture programs to keep pace with industry advancements and to prepare students for the burgeoning field. The College is investing to support those efforts and to create a pipeline that provides cutting-edge career opportunities for graduates and professionals seeking specialized skills for the industry.

Shuyang Zhen, Ph.D., assistant professor of controlled environment horticulture, Bryan-College Station, was hired last year and teaches two undergraduate courses about various aspects of controlled environment production and engages them in hands-on research and training.

Meanwhile, the department and the centers at Dallas and Uvalde are also seeking partnerships and grants to add cutting-edge technologies that translate into the program’s ability to advance technological application in the field.

“We are investing in different systems and methods from small tunnels to various soil bases to test the various practices that are very typical for smaller operations but that can also be scaled up and relate to other systems and methods,” Dhingra said. “We are looking at every opportunity to find a return on investment with foundational applied science and new discoveries. As a program, we are at a very exciting juncture where past successes are propelling us toward a bright future where engagement and collaboration will be key.”

Texas A&M AgriLife poised to support and lead

Bednar said he is happy to hear that a land-grant institution like Texas A&M is expanding efforts in the field. Publicly accessible unbiased scientific data and expertise for controlled environment growers is needed as more entrepreneurs like Bednar enter the field and/or expand at various scales.

Having the controlled environment horticulture program working toward industry-wide solutions and poised to assist growers like him creates a fertile environment for collaboration and seeding innovation.   

“Reality is important,” Bednar said. “It’s easy to get caught up in chasing the dream of a cucumber that is easier to grow year-round, but the reality is there are challenges on the plant and system side. But I also think the benefits that controlled environment systems could deliver to challenges like feeding urban populations in more efficient and secure ways far outweighs the challenges we’re working through today as growers. The researchers within Texas A&M AgriLife are here today, and I know they will be there tomorrow to support where we all hope to take this thing.”

“Introducing Spinach in Hydroponic Crop Production”
by Dr. John Ertle (PP Systems)

Please sign up to receive your Zoom link

#1 Growing Culinary Herbs under Controlled Environments

#2 Hydroponic Spinach

#3 Growing leafy greens with a low-pH hydroponic solution for root-rot disease management

#4 Vertical (Indoor) Farming Strawberry and Fruit Crops

#5 Hydroponic Spinach Production Systems and Methods in Japan

Café ArchiveCheck out our previous cafés in our Indoor Ag Science Cafe pageon the OptimIA website!

Indoor Ag Science Cafe is organized by the OptimIA project team funded by USDA SCRI grants program.
Previous café recordings are available in the OptimIA project website.
Please contact for more info: kubota.10@osu.edu

NEW YORK – Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture (MOUA) Executive Director Qiana Mickie announced today at the High School of Environmental Studies in Manhattan that New York City Public Schools’ Office of Food & Nutrition Services (OFNS) is the recipient of $200,000 through federal and state Farm to School grant programs. The funds, allocated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), will be used for agricultural education programming, increasing local food procurement of socially disadvantaged farmers and producers, and establishing learning gardens at public school sites across the city.

“These essential funds are a win for our schools, our families, and our growers – giving students hands-on agriculture learning opportunities in the classroom as well as in community gardens by directly connecting them with socially disadvantaged farmers,” said Qiana Mickie, executive director, Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture. “Mayor Adams and Chancellor Banks have long understood the link between healthy food and student wellness. These programs will allow fresh food, innovation, and economic viability of regional farmers to grow hand in hand.”

“Good food is one of the great joys in life. We all deserve to know where ours comes from, and have access to well-sourced, delicious produce. That’s not always so easy in an urban environment like New York,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi.“Thanks to these transformative USDA and New York State grants, the Farm to School program will support New York’s kids in their healthy food education and prop up socially disadvantaged farmers around New York City. It’s a win-win that wouldn’t have been possible without collaboration from every level of government. Congratulations to the Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture, NYCPS, and everyone who made this possible.”

“Schools are the centers of life for families and young people across New York City, providing two free nutritious and delicious meals a day to students, both during the school year and throughout the summer,” said Schools Chancellor David C. Banks. “It is critical that our kids have a strong understanding of where their food comes from, and why it is vital to build healthy eating habits now. I’m thrilled that these grants will allow us to expand food nutrition education programs for our young people, while supporting farmers and producers locally and across New York State.”

“New York State’s Farm-to-School grant program helps to ensure that New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds, in every corner of the state, have access to fresh, local foods and an understanding of where that food comes from,” said New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. “We congratulate our partners at the New York City Office of Food and Nutrition Services on securing funding that will help them to further this shared goal in the city and look forward to seeing these exciting projects come to fruition.”

“Our young people deserve access to meals that reflect their local communities, which is why we work to include locally and New York State-grown in our meals wherever we can,” said NYCPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services Senior Executive Director Chris Tricarico. “By helping diverse farmers and producers to move through the procurement process, these grants will help to expand access to locally grown and manufactured foods, serving our students and our communities.”

The USDA Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program supports local farmers and producers by increasing the supply of healthy food in school communities and creating hands-on agricultural learning experiences for students such as planting, harvesting fruits, vegetables, and herbs in the classroom and farm.

The funding will support nine targeted high-need schools in all five boroughs, including the High School of Environmental Studies in Hell’s Kitchen, and cultivate food and economic equity through stronger relationships with local farmers that improve student wellness and education. This investment also reflects USDA’s commitment to equity by reaching historically underserved and marginalized communities. 

The New York State Farm-to-School Program was created to connect schools with local farms and food producers to strengthen local agriculture, improve student health, and promote regional food systems awareness. It provides technical and promotional assistance to schools, farms, distributors, and other supporting organizations to bring more local, nutritious, seasonal, and culturally appropriate meals to New York students.

That grant focuses on farm to school education for 360 students in six schools across the five boroughs. In collaboration with MOUA and the Cornell Cooperative Extension, OFNS will offer producer trainings that target socially disadvantaged and Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) urban and rural growers.

The funding will also help facilitate Farm to School agricultural education programming at public-school sites across the city and include farmer visits to schools, farm visits for students and a new farmer/producer training with an embedded fast track for M/WBE certification. The farmer/producer training is aligned with Mayor Adams’ goal to increase M/WBE certified businesses in city procurement and diversify the vendor pool to compete for OFNS school food contracts as well as other agencies’ food procurement contracts. It aims to increase socially disadvantaged farmer engagement in agricultural education and other programming while increasing local procurement from these farmers.

“Farm to School programming not only promotes healthy food lessons – it also increases students’ understanding of the importance of agriculture in climate justice,” said Elijah Hutchinson, Executive Director, Mayor’s office of Climate & Environmental Justice. “The USDA and NYSDAM Farm to School grants will give crucial support to high-need schools in all five boroughs to increase food equity and community connection during the school day and ensure the development of future climate stewards and food system changemakers.”

“This historic investment in Farm to School education programming will open impressive new opportunities for both high-need New York City schools and local M/WBEs,” said New York State Senator Leroy Comrie. “By educating students on where their food is coming from and committing to local M/WBE procurement, this program will foster meaningful ties to healthful and environmentally conscious food consumption early on in our city’s youth. I commend the high level of collaboration from the Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture across city, state, and federal entities to make this program possible and further encourage their office to continue looking for partnerships to showcase our incredible M/WBE community.”

“The IRC in NY’s New Roots Community Farm is thrilled to participate in the Farm to School program and believes in the benefits of teaching children about where fresh foods come from and where they can learn more about rural and urban agriculture,” said Sheryll Durant, food and agriculture coordinator, International Rescue Committee (IRC), New York New Roots Programs. “Urban agriculture is critical for food justice in schools and communities and much needed in New York City. A huge thank you to MOUA for bringing farmers and students together to expand this great work.”

“Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY is thrilled to partner with the Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture and the Office of Food and Nutrition Services on expanding Farm to School programming in New York City and helping New York State producers better understand how to access the market,” said Cheryl Bilinski, program lead, New York Farm to Institution, Cornell Cooperative Extension-Harvest NY. “MOUA and OFNS recognize the need to provide curated technical assistance to producers, specifically socially disadvantaged, and to obtain the resources needed to see it to fruition. We’re grateful to the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets and the USDA for their unyielding support of Farm to School.”

“The earlier young people learn about the importance of sustainable agriculture and its connection to nutrition and well-being, the greater our strides towards eliminating food disparities, and building more resilient communities,” said Sia Pickett, board member, Just Food. “These grant programs are another step towards a healthier future for New York City.”

GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

Dynamic Growing

January 25-26, 2024

Shisler Center, OSU Wooster Campus

– in-person and virtual options –

Fundamentals plus advanced sessions on controlling greenhouse climate conditions to optimize crop quality. Sessions include:

–          Plant nutrition and monitoring for dynamic growing

–          Plant response to aerial environmental conditions

–          Dynamic environmental set points

–          Dynamic CO2 and supplemental lighting control

–          Plus, greenhouse tours

–          And, more!

Speakers: Paul Arena (Svensson); Dr. Luis Canas (OSU); Dr. Kale Harbick (USDA); Dr. Chieri Kubota (OSU); Dr. Peter Ling (OSU); Dr. Garrett Owen (OSU); Dr. Ketut Putra (Koidra): Rose Seguin (Sollum Technologies); Dr. David Story (Ridder Corp.); Dr. Francesca Rotondo (OSU); Dr. Jan Westra (Priva)

Watch for program and registration details at: go.osu.edu/greenhouse-2024