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Urban Ag News Issue 14 | July 2016
Urban Ag News Issue 14 cover story looks at Kimbal Musk’s “community through food” philosophy. Kimbal, who is the younger brother of Elon Musk, talks to Urban Ag News about his restaurants and the Learning Gardens. Kimbal co-founded The Kitchen restaurants to serve food and drink from local farmers, ranchers and suppliers for the sustainable enjoyment of the whole community. Kimbal also helped co-found the Learning Gardens that serve as outdoor classrooms and experiential play-spaces that connect kids to real food and empower them to make healthier food choices.
If you’re thinking about growing organically, then you will definitely want to check out the article on organic pest management. Michigan State University entomologist Matt Grieshop says organic insect control is nothing like conventional chemical control. Since the number of organic insect controls is limited, growers have to supplement that tool set with intelligence and experience.
If you are currently growing organically or are interested in starting to grow organically using hydroponic or aquaponic production methods, don’t miss the article on the efforts to keep these types of systems USDA organically-certified. Members of the USDA-National Organic Program’s Organic Hydroponic and Aquaponic Task Force have prepared a report based on their investigation of hydroponic and aquaponic production practices and their alignment with USDA organic regulations. The task force report is scheduled for release this month. Find out how the Coalition for Sustainable Organics is working to keep hydroponics and aquaponics as USDA organic-certified production methods.
ISSUE 14 INCLUDES:
On the cover: Kimbal Musk
Spreading a “Community through Food” Philosophy
A Conversation about Organic Hydroponics with Industry Pioneer Michael Christian
Organic Pest Management is not a one size fits all Cure
Urban Agritourism Brings Extra Farm Revenue
NY SunWorks: Vertically Building a Sustainable Future
Why USDA Organic-Certified Production Methods Should include Hydroponics and Aquaponics
Japan Plant Factory Association (JPFA) Exciting to be Collaborating with Urban Ag News by Eri Hayashi
Tour de Fresh 2016 by Chris Higgins
e-Gro Webinar: Understanding Pesticide Labels
NPR: The Salt. What’s on Your Plate?
Positive Stories from Muslim Nations
University of Arizona, CEAC, Dr. Chieri Kubota: Optimizing Plant Performance
TEDx Amsterdam: Howard-Yana Shapiro
Jack Johnson’s Sustainable America: Teaching Elementary Students to create compost from food waste
News from the Industry features these and more:
Fluence Bioengineering Achieves Breakthrough in Horticulture Lighting Efficacy According to University Studies
Tomato growers convinced of robotics – Three growers take a head start with the Priva De-Leafing Robot
New organic product promises to increase yields for conventional growers
Hort Americas offers Terra Genesis Organic Hydroponic Fertilizer
Agra Tech is building high-tech greenhouses
Urban Food Systems Symposium
National Agricultural Leaders To Gather in Virginia Beach With Goal Of Strengthening Support of U.S. Small Farmers
Denver-based Hydropods, Inc. Now Shipping Line of Connected Grow Controllers and Sensor Modules
New High Tech Farm Sprouting Up in Humbolt County, Calif.
Valoya expands its selection of professional LED grow lights
Nuetech is proud to announce the launch of a new led light
Urban Produce Named 2016 Small Business of the Year
Reprints worth Reading:
Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects. Authors: Committee on Genetically Engineered Crops: Past Experience and Future Prospects; Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources; Division on Earth and Life Studies; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Importance of LEDs in Horticulture by Dr. Mark Lefsrud and Sadman Islam Associate Professor and Research Assistant, William Dawson Scholar Bioresource Engineering, McGill University