Meteor Systems’ HDPE floating rafts are easy to clean and exceptionally durable, outlasting traditional EPS rafts by four to five times. This longevity reduces the need for replacements, minimizing landfill waste and promoting more sustainable agricultural practices.

“Our goal continues to be focused on offering products that last, and we feel this is our best option for cost-effective, sustainable solutions at this point in time,” said Chris Higgins, president and co-founder of Hort Americas. “Offering a durable HDPE floating raft aligns with our commitment to bring more environmentally friendly solutions to the market. These rafts provide a longer lifespan and better insulation capacity than traditional EPS rafts.”

The HDPE floating rafts offer benefits designed to increase operational efficiency and profitability. They can be handled both manually and automatically, making them suitable for various farming systems, including deep water culture and vertical farming. 

The unique design also allows for customization in plant hole shapes and sizes. This makes for easier plant removal and transplanting.

“Our HDPE floating rafts are engineered to provide higher yields per square meter compared to traditional EPS rafts,” said Bas Dirven, head of research and development at Meteor Systems. “Also, their ability to be fully automated makes them an ideal choice for modern, smart farming environments.”

A standout feature of the HDPE floating rafts is their ease of cleaning using chemicals, high-pressure washing and hot water. This ensures a clean start for each growing cycle and reduces the risk of disease. The rafts can even be recycled into new ones.

“The total cost of ownership for HDPE floating rafts is less than 50% per lettuce head compared to EPS rafts, making them a much more profitable long-term investment,” Dirven added. “This partnership allows North American growers to transition to a more sustainable, cost-effective solution that supports higher yields and reduces environmental impact.”

In addition to floating rafts, Meteor Systems’ water culture tabletops for growing leafy greens and herbs combine deep-water culture, nutrient film technique, and ebb and flow systems. These tabletops provide plants with direct access to oxygen and nutrients, resulting in faster and healthier growth. The roller container system maximizes space in controlled environments to enhance efficiency.

About Hort Americas

Hort Americas is dedicated to playing an integral role in the different niches of commercial horticulture. We work closely with key manufacturers to develop and bring the highest quality, technically advanced and most cost effective products to the greenhouse growers and vertical farmers in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico. Learn more today about our commitment, services and products at www.hortamericas.com.

About Meteor Systems

Meteor Systems is a global supplier of complete growing systems for greenhouse farming. The company designs, produces, and delivers innovative solutions that ensure optimal plant growth while minimizing water and fertilizer use. Meteor Systems’ products are known for their sustainability, user-friendliness and ability to reduce labor costs. Learn more about their horticultural solutions at www.meteorsystems.nl.

If you are considering growing specialty crops in a greenhouse or vertical farm, it pays to do your homework.

Before starting to grow any controlled environment food crop, it pays (literally) to do your homework related to production and market potential. This is especially important with any type of specialty crop. Serge Boon, founder of Boon Greenhouse Consultancy, said regardless of the crop, a greenhouse or vertical farm grower has to determine if there is a sustainable market for the crop.

“I have seen growers who have started very small and have developed a market and want to expand their production facilities to produce more crops,” Boon said. “They want to increase the volume of the crops they are growing. By increasing the size of the operation, production efficiencies should also increase.

“Unfortunately, there are still some growers who think they can produce a specialty crop and easily sell it. They may not realize that the crop may be difficult to produce and/or market.”

Boon said the terms specialty crop and niche market are often used interchangeably and can have a wide definition or application because they can mean different things to different people.

“In most cases, specialty crops would not include more common controlled environment crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and peppers, but it could include a special variety of tomatoes like heirloom tomatoes not commonly grown in controlled environment production,” Boon said.

Production systems for specialty crops

The large commercial greenhouse vegetable growers that Boon is working with are primarily producing tomatoes, cucumbers, and leafy greens. He is also working with commercial mid-size greenhouse operations that are focused on producing multiple crops, including specialty crops.

Boon said the production systems used to grow specialty crops are not usually that different than the systems used for more common controlled-environment-grown crops.

“It is different from the perspective of the growers’ needs,” he said. “Because of their production needs, these crops might require more attention from the growers in order to produce quality, salable crops.”

Boon said a well-bred greenhouse tomato will almost grow by itself.

“The lines of tomatoes bred for controlled environment production have been developed so that they produce uniform size fruit,” he said. “The emphasis is on the size and yield.”

Because specialty crops like heirloom tomatoes have not been bred for commercial production, they require more attention to detail in regards to production. These varieties may be more susceptible to pests, diseases, and physiological disorders such as fruit deformities.

“This also relates to automation including robotic harvesting being developed for the more common controlled environment crops of tomatoes, cucumbers, leafy greens, and peppers,” Boon said. “The automation for some specialty crops may be more difficult to develop or not worth developing. The fruit of these specialty crops may also be more tender and more prone to bruising. The fruit may not be robust enough for mechanical harvesting. This will definitely have an effect on what automation can be used for planting, harvesting, and packaging. The production of specialty crops goes hand-in-hand with being more labor intensive.”

Boon said even specialty leafy greens could be more difficult to grow than some of the more commonly grown species and varieties.

“These specialty leafy greens could be more susceptible to nutrient deficiencies or they could tend to have a leggier habit,” he said. “These specialty greens could be more difficult to grow in mobile gutter systems because the plants fall over and they don’t lend themselves to automated harvesting.”

Boon said floating rafts are flexible systems that can accommodate even some of the more difficult to grow specialty crops.

“Mobile gutter systems are tailored more to certain varieties because the plants have to be able to stand up,” he said. “The crops have to be able to be seeded in a specific way.

“With floating rafts there is more flexibility. Production system and plant habit definitely should be taken into consideration. Some specialty crops require more hands-on attention which may not allow certain types of automation.”

Do you have the “right stuff”?

Boon said for each specialty or niche crop, growers need to consider whether they have the production expertise, the right production system and whether there is a market for the crops.

“Many of these specialty crops lend themselves to being grown near the markets where they would be consumed,” he said. “This also has application to lowering the risk from production loss.

“That’s not to say growers couldn’t produce large quantities of specialty crops as long as they have systems in place to deal with the plants’ shortcomings. This could relate to the production, harvesting and transport of crops. They may require a certain temperature and/or humidity for their production and/or transport. The risk of loss goes up for these crops.”

Growers need to be aware of the downsides of a specialty crop or variety.

“When picking a specialty crop, growers should know the benefits of it, but also know its downsides,” Boon said. “This will help to ensure growers are prepared to encounter difficulties.

“Sometimes this can be finding technical production information for some of these crops. There are reliable seed companies that know the varieties. The information may be available, but it may be more difficult to find the hands-on technical expertise and experience to assist in growing some of these crops. The information may be available, but finding someone with the production expertise may be limited.”

Do your market research

Boon said market research is critical to the production of any specialty crop.

“The design of the greenhouse or vertical farm and their production systems, what crops are going to be grown, growers can make those all work, but ultimately the crops have to be sold,” he said. “Being able to grow a crop doesn’t always mean you should. It can take multiple markets to be successful with these specialty crops.”

Boon said the changes in people’s eating habits bodes well for the specialty crop market.

“People are more willing to pay for produce that is nutritious and healthy for them,” he said. “In many cases, consumers don’t know how the produce available in grocery stores was grown. Knowing the source, knowing it is pesticide-free, knowing it is high in nutrition, these are all factors that will help increase the demand for specialty crops.

“U.S. consumers are starting to look for and are more willing to pay for these crops, which is already happening a lot more in Europe. There is a more direct-to-consumer market that is increasing. Growers need to determine how they can tap into that market and how to deliver the produce.”

For more: Boon Greenhouse Consultancy, serge@boongreenhouse.com; https://boongreenhouse.com/.

This article is property of Urban Ag News and was written by David Kuack, a freelance technical writer in Fort Worth, Texas.

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.

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. “

My forefathers were crofters living off the land in whatever way they could in the Hebridean islands off the north-west coast of Scotland. In the Western Isles the land mass is harsh, with rocky terrain, few trees for cover and battered by Atlantic swells. Crofters like my grandfather reared sheep, and the land was cultivated for hard crops like potatoes and turnips.

My summer holidays on my grandfather’s family croft on the Isle of Harris. Imagine trying to cultivate this land? The terrain, as you can see, was like the rocky side of the moon.

I often wonder what my grandfather would make of my way to grow food in my cloning rooms and hydroponic greenhouse. I’m not sure if he would understand, but if he tasted the food I guess he would believe it. Ironically, the inhospitable terrain of the Hebrides would be the ideal place to site a vertical farm, securing food production on the islands. 

Like my grandfather, I have tried to inspire my children with my passion for growing my own food using CEA. My sons have all grown up knowing about hydroponics. Perhaps it will be years before they acknowledge the ideas, but at least they have a grounding in the basics. We must move with the times if we want the future farmers to have the skills to feed themselves and others. They need inspirational leaders to follow, or perhaps just a mom.

Is farming in your DNA? Why don’t you share your story of family farming with us and how you are inspiring the next generation?

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.

According to Walmart’s website Project Gigatons focus seeks to “reduce, avoid, or sequester 1 billion metric tons of CO2 emissions in their global value chain and, together with the Walmart Foundation, to protect, restore or more sustainably manage 50 million acres of land and 1 million square miles of ocean by 2030”.

Village Farms Fresh has been participating in Walmart’s Project Gigaton since the initiative began in 2017. Project Gigaton was enacted by Walmart to engage suppliers in climate action since the retailer believes most emissions exist in the product supply chains rather than their stores and distribution centers.  The Giga Guru supplier recognition status is given to companies who set SMART goals in at least 3 pillars of action or science-based targets, report progress in each, complete a carbon footprint scope and then share this information with Walmart. 

According to Brandon Jamison, Director of Quality Assurance for the company who is the project lead for the company’s teams who are tracking and reporting for the Walmart initiative, “Village Farms Fresh has always been an environmentally conscious company and Project Gigaton helps us to ensure we are staying on track, and at the same time, remaining open to new ideas on how to better improve our processes for reducing emissions.”   Jamison also foresees future opportunities for implementing a companywide tracking system to continually monitor data and archive results collected pertaining to the areas of focus, especially as Project Gigaton expands.

Village Farms Fresh looks forward to hitting new milestones and targets for Project Gigaton.  The company is motivated to get other companies involved with the Walmart initiative as well.  Jamison goes on to say, “the more companies that join in, the greater the results will be for everyone”.  

Project Gigaton aligns well with Village Farms Fresh’s, Good for the Earth initiative.  Back 2022, Helen L. Aquino, Director of Brand Marketing & Communication for Village Farms Fresh was given the opportunity to speak with Walmart’s Project Gigaton, sustainability performance survey measuring tool, THESIS Index created by The Sustainability Consortium, on the company’s process.  Aquino mentioned, “We started small as a basis for the project by recognizing our strengths and then building on these over the years, it has been a great learning tool for the company in the evolution of our sustainability goals”. 

To learn more about Village Farms Fresh and their efforts pertaining to Walmart’s Project Gigaton click here .  To see the full listing of all of Walmart’s Project Gigaton Supplier Recognitions click here. And to learn more about Village Farms Fresh and their Good for the Earth initiative we welcome you to visit www.villagefarmsfresh.com

About Village Farms Fresh

Village Farms Fresh, a wholly owned subsidiary of Village Farms International, Inc. (Nasdaq: VFF), is one of the largest growers, marketers, and distributors of premium-quality, greenhouse-grown fruits, and vegetables in North America. The food the company’s farmers grow is all harvested by hand from environmentally friendly, soil-less, glass greenhouses daily while utilizing the highest level of food safety standards available. The Village Farms Greenhouse Grown® brand of fruits and vegetables are marketed and distributed primarily to local retail grocers and dedicated fresh food distributors throughout the United States and Canada. Since its inception, Village Farms Fresh has been guided by sustainability principles that enable the company to grow food 365 days a year that not only feeds the growing population but is healthier for people and the planet. Village Farms Fresh is Good for the Earth® and good for you. Good for the Earth® and Garden Fresh Flavor® are not only taglines for the company but the value proposition Village Farms Fresh lives by.  And this is why it Takes a Village® to deliver on this promise.

Whatever way you eat them, the anthocyanins in the dark skins play a vital role in reducing many lifestyle diseases, and consuming just one cup of blueberries a day will cut your chance of a heart attack or stroke. 

Supersized blueberries could be good for CEA growers 

Breeding is a big deal for not only blueberries but the entire soft fruit industry. New varieties can help urban and controlled environment agriculturists find competitive advantages. Legislation and logistics will change the way we grow, helping to sustain an increased demand for strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. We already know they like an early start in CEA, facilitating easier acclimation to winter conditions. We also know that light quality and intensity in blueberry production is crucial to fruiting and continuous production of high yields. 

When is a blueberry not a blueberry?

Figuring out the right varieties for the right geography is important. They can be relatively hardy bushes and generally take well to a Scottish summer. More varieties than ever are available as breeders search for darker skins, higher yields, and plump berries, with just the right amount of bite. 

Honeyberry, Lonicera caerulea, or Haskaps, as they are commonly known, are native to Japan, and the berries are like little blueberry parcels. What many don’t know is that they are not actually blueberries at all, but come from the honeysuckle family. Despite this difference, they are pretty similar bushes, except for the elongated fruits.  

We’ve been trialing honeyberries through cold Scottish winters, and our young tissue cultured propagules grew a decent couple of feet with good node spacing indoors in 2–3 months under LED lights. 

The berries we produced are small, but incremental improvements will continue until good yields are obtained. With four times the level of antioxidants compared to blueberries and great cold-hardiness, honeyberries we think are worthy of time and investment in CEA.

We can’t wait for berry season, can you?

Janet Colston is a Scottish micropropagation consultant passionate about hydroponics, controlled environment agriculture and functional food.

A selection of the 80 knowledge sessions:

Vision Stage:

• Tuesday 11 June, 14.30 – 15.15hrs: ‘The road to zero footprint greenhouse’ moderated by Sandra Uitenbroek – van Schie (Greenhouse Sustainability) and speakers: Sibbe Krol (Bloom & Wild), Athanasios Sapounas (TNO) and Alexander Boedijn (Wageningen, University & Research)
• Wednesday 12 June, 12.00 – 12.45hrs: ‘T&U Future Vision: A Climate Neutral Horticulture’ moderated by Harrij Schmeitz (Impact T&U)

Technology Stage:

• Tuesday 11 June, 12.00 – 12.45hrs: ‘What are the essentials for the ultimate strawberry crop’ moderated by Joost Scholten (Delphy) and speakers Martin Skarp (Mastronardi Produce), Vincent Deenen (Limgroup) and Rose Séguin (Sollum Technologies)
• Wednesday 12 June, 10.15 – 11.00hrs: ‘Robotics: Futuristic dream or your next investment?’ by Jack Verhoosel (TNO), Erik Pekkeriet (Wageningen, University & Research)
• Wednesday 12 June, 12.00 – 12.45hr: ‘The Battle Between Solar Panels and Plants: Yield or Watts?’ by Egon Janssen (TNO), Bas Oudshoorn (Delphy), Gert Jan Swinkels (Wageningen, University & Research) and Nicolas Weber (Voltiris)

Medicinal Plants/ Vertical Farming Stage: 

Medicinal Plants:

• Tuesday 11 June, 12.15 – 13.00hrs: ‘From Farm to Pharmacy: Global Developments in Medicinal Cannabis’ moderated by Sonny Moerenhout (Cultivators) and speakers: Atiyyah Ferouz (ICQSA) and Tjalling Erkelens (Bedrocan)
• Wednesday 12 June, 14.00 – 14.45hrs: ‘Research Innovations: Breakthroughs in Cannabis Cultivation’ moderated by Sonny Moerenhout (Cultivators) and Dominique van Gruisen (Innexo) and Kjell Sneeuw (Cultivation for Compounds)     

Vertical Farming:

• Tuesday 11 June, 14.45 – 15.30hrs: ‘Accelerating LCA Inventories and Rewarding Collaboration’ moderated by Kasey Hooper (Systemiq Ltd.) and speakers Tisha Livingston (Infinite Acres) and Bettina Rotermund (Siemens)More information at: https://www.greentech.nl/amsterdam/.

Registration policy visitors
GreenTech offers a 3-day entrance ticket for €95 excl. VAT per person, up to and including 7 June. Exhibitors can invite their clients for free until 7 June. After 7 June until 13 June a ticket costs €120. For an additional fee, upgrades such as a Premium, Overnight stay and Fun package are offered.

More information and registration at https://www.greentech.nl/amsterdam/tickets.

GreenTech Amsterdam
GreenTech Amsterdam will be held from Tuesday 11 – Thursday 13 June 2024. The exhibition is a global meeting place for all horticultural technology professionals with a focus on the early stages of the horticultural chain and the current issues growers face. GreenTech is supported by AVAG, the industry association for the greenhouse technology sector in the Netherlands.More information can be found via the GreenTech website or follow GreenTech on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube and Instagram.

In the wake of market shifts impacting industry growth, discussions will focus on unit economics, with expert speakers sharing their perspectives on optimizing productivity, diversifying crop varieties, expanding global footprints and increasing the market share of indoor-grown produce.

Alongside high-level keynotes, insightful debates, and small-group breakouts, delegates can unlock extensive networking opportunities and explore innovative ideas in the exhibition and start-up hub. The summit’s powerful 1-1 meeting platform empowers delegates to connect and plan meetings in advance, making it easy to match with key supply chain stakeholders and find new business partners.

Key Themes:

• Meeting Consumer Preferences through Tailored Product Offerings
• Securing Investment to Scale CEA Start-Ups and Finance Farm Expansion
• Tapping into New Markets through New Fruit & Fungi Varieties
• Identifying Successful Strategies for International Expansion
• Assessing the Viability of Robotics to Drive Efficiency and Reduce Costs
• Improving Growing Cycles and Product Quality through Advanced Genetics
• Exploring the Potential of AI and Machine Learning for Operational Control
• Improving CEA’s Environmental Footprint by Reducing Inputs and Emissions
• Building Business Resilience through Energy Efficient Hardware and Facility Design
• Engaging Local, Regional and National Governments to Support CEA
• Navigating Site Selection with Energy Costs, Labor Availability, and Distribution Networks
• Sharing Knowledge and Best Practice to Build Industry-Wide Benchmarks and Standards

Registration

In-Person (Plus Virtual Access):
Super Early Bird Price: $1,495 (ends April 11)
Full Price: $1,995

Virtual:
Super Early Bird Price: $295 (ends April 11)
Full Price: $595

Register here: https://indooragtech.com/register/

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.

What:  Indoor Ag–Con, the largest and leading trade show and conference dedicated to vertical farming | greenhouse | controlled environment agriculture, is moving to the Westgate Las Vegas for 2025. The new location provides additional expo floor and meeting room space to accommodate the event’s steady growth. Indoor Ag-Con unites farmers, growers, chefs, ag tech leaders, suppliers, advocates and enthusiasts under one roof for two days of education, inspiration and networking.  

         Attendees will be able to explore an expanded Expo Hall with 200+ world-class exhibitors featuring the most cutting-edge technologies, products and services in the indoor agriculture industry from lighting and control systems to substrates, equipment, irrigation systems and much more. The robust Conference will feature three inspiring Keynotes and insightful sessions from 80+ industry leaders on the latest trends and business-building ideas. 

Where: Westgate Las Vegas 
            3000 Paradise Rd
             Las Vegas, NV  89101

When: March 11-12, 2025
            Tuesday, March 11: 8am-6:30pm
            Wednesday, March 12: 8am-4:30pm

About
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. More information, visit www.indoor.ag.

Reflecting the industry’s enthusiasm and confidence, 80% of the exhibitors have already secured their stands for the 2025 edition. GreenTech Americas, organized by RAI Amsterdam in partnership with Informa Markets, serves as a pivotal meeting point for stakeholders from Mexico, the region Americas, and beyond.

Visitors remarks

Visitors said: Niels Peter Klapwijk (Nature Fresh, Canada): “It was a very good experience, I visit Mexico a lot myself, but I was impressed by the quality of the visitors. There are still so many possibilities here and this was yet another confirmation of that! Looking forward to many GreenTech Americas to come.” Jose Bezerra (Expandes Consulting, Brazil): “Very organized and with the best companies in the segment offering information and products.”

Dutch presence

Striking this year was the presence of 32 Dutch breeders and the introduction of the ornamental industry as part of GreenTech Americas. Two flower sculptures, donated by 9 ornamental companies and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, marked the entrances of the Expo floor. In the production of plants and flowers, proper technification provides better quality, thus making GreenTech Americas an interesting place for the ornamental sector to have a Pavilion for the 2025 edition.

Exhibitors

The exhibition floor showcased 220 companies, spread over 2 floors, from diverse corners of the globe such as Canada, the United States, Chile, Colombia, Spain, France, India, Turkey, Germany, Belgium, Italy, New Zealand, Greece, the Netherlands and Mexico, presenting cutting-edge solutions aimed at enhancing crop productivity. Innovations ranged from greenhouse structures and climate control systems to precise irrigation technologies and advanced substrates, demonstrating a collective commitment to sustainable agriculture practices.

Conference

The accompanying conference programme attracted 11% more professionals compared to last year, gathered to explore issues on water scarcity, sustainability, pest control, agriculture 4.0, and human talent development. Part of the programme was a notable keynote session with Stijn Weijns from Agro Care Rilland, who shared insights on strategies for managing ToBRFV, addressing challenges related to virus management.

Power Day

A highlight of the event was also the Power Day with the theme ‘Human skills make the difference’, organized on Wednesday, led by industry experts such as Peter Klapwijk (2Harvest), Stijn Weijns (Agro Care Rilland) and table moderators Felix Tarrats (Ceickor), Hugo Escoto (Alternativa Agrícola Sustentable), Oscar Woltman (Phoenix) and Bernardo Carranza (UTEQ). Carranze stated: “We need a high development of research and innovation in the agricultural sector to benefit from the displacement phenomenon. We have to worry about how we can be more competitive and add value.”
The Power Day focused on the pivotal role of human skills in driving agricultural innovation and sustainability. The discussions emphasized the need for collaboration between academia and industry to reshape education programs and nurture talent within the sector.

About GreenTech Americas

GreenTech Americas is part of the GreenTech portfolio and focuses on Mexico as well as the rest of the Americas. The goal is to meet the specific needs of growers, breeders and suppliers. GreenTech Americas enables a greater exchange of knowledge, experiences, and success stories of the horticultural industry in this region. The show is organized by RAI Amsterdam and Informa Markets and the fifth edition will be held from Tuesday 25 – Thursday 27 March 2025. Please find more information at www.greentech.nl/americas/.

About GreenTech Amsterdam

GreenTech Amsterdam will be held from Tuesday 11 – Thursday 13 June 2024. The exhibition is a global meeting place for all horticultural technology professionals with the focus on the early stages of the horticultural chain and the current issues growers face. GreenTech is supported by AVAG, the industry association for the greenhouse technology sector in the Netherlands. More information via www.greentech.nl or follow Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram or YouTube.

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

Hundreds of millions of dollars were raised to meet what investors felt were market demands. Now the economy, access to money and the cost of money has changed. Also, many farms that were recently built are now out of business.  

This leads me to a few questions:  

Was there ever a real need for locally grown fresh produce? If the answer is yes, is that need still there? And can controlled environment ag facilities fill those needs?

Inevitable reasons we started talking about innovating farming.
1.)  Feed the Future and its Population Growth.
The world’s population is expected to reach around 9.7 billion by 2050, according to United Nations projections. Accommodating this growth requires a significant increase in food production.

2.)  Climate Change
Climate change is affecting agricultural systems globally, leading to shifts in growing seasons, changes in precipitation patterns, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Adapting agriculture to these changes is crucial for future food security.

3.) Resource Scarcity
Challenges such as water scarcity, soil degradation, and a decrease in arable land pose constraints on traditional agricultural practices. Finding sustainable ways to produce more food with fewer resources is essential.

This review won’t discuss why these new businesses struggled or failed. Instead, we want to focus on the question, is “locally grown” still a thing? Or was it one of many consumer trends that have come and quickly past?  

First, let’s answer a few questions.

1. Why locally grown?
2. What is the definition of locally grown?
3. Where can you find locally grown products?  

Initial research (learn more about the research here) shows that consumers wanted access to locally grown products because they believed goods produced close to them were more environmentally sustainable, provided support for their local economy, and gave their families fresher and healthier options. While many consumers believe locally grown vegetables are worth paying more for, inflation has hit grocery budgets hard.  The cold reality is that a certain segment of the consumer shopping public buys imported produce because it’s more affordable, still a healthy option and generally good quality.

More immediate reasons to innovate the way we farm:

Globalization and Urbanization:
Increasing urbanization and globalization impact food distribution systems. The demand for food in urban areas is rising, requiring efficient and resilient supply chains to ensure that urban populations have access to a diverse and nutritious food supply.

Technological Advancements:
Leveraging technology and innovation in agriculture is crucial for increasing productivity, improving resource efficiency, and developing more resilient crop varieties. Precision agriculture, genetic engineering, and other advancements play a role in shaping the future of food production.

Sustainability:
There is a growing emphasis on sustainable agriculture practices that minimize environmental impact, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote biodiversity. Balancing the need for increased food production with environmental sustainability is a key aspect of feeding the future.

In addition, as time passes, it is becoming clearer that a certain segment of the consumer public and retailers are more conscious of the environmental impact their purchases make and what their brands represent. They believe that buying locally can help reduce the carbon footprint and lower transportation miles on the food they consume. 

While this remains true, more established businesses and knowledgeable investors are looking at the resources needed to produce in the off-season or in a controlled environment. This requires using electricity or natural gas to light, heat and cool their facilities to provide consumers and retailers with consistency and quality year-round, while still local. The most conscious farms now work to capture and report these numbers to convince consumers that locally grown is, in fact, a more environmentally friendly choice.

Example:  Farms such as Gotham Greens, Area 2 Farms and NatureSweet are choosing to become B-Corps.  

(Certified B Corporations are social enterprises verified by B Lab, a nonprofit organization. B Lab certifies companies based on how they create value for non-shareholding stakeholders, such as their employees, the local community, and the environment. Once a firm crosses a certain performance threshold on these dimensions, it makes amendments to its corporate charter to incorporate the interests of all stakeholders into the fiduciary duties of directors and officers. These steps demonstrate that a firm is following a fundamentally different governance philosophy than a traditional shareholder-centered corporation.)

Where locally grown produce really shines is in delivering fresh products, especially when consumers want seasonally and geographically appropriate options. This may also be where farmers ultimately produce the most sustainable options, as seasonally appropriate crops require the least amount of manipulation to the growing climate as well as the lowest capital investment. The only question(s) remaining with this locally grown option is whether the farmer has access to the land needed to produce enough of these crops to support their farming business and the mortgage on the land, while still providing their family with a reasonable lifestyle. 

The desire to produce more locally, while investing in technology, is also where we have seen the biggest changes in how and where farms get financing. Historically, farmers used traditional lending sources such as banks, state-sponsored programs or owner financing to purchase land and needed equipment. These investments were considered safe and conservative based on using the farmland and a farmer’s home as collateral.  

But new and innovative farming concepts seldom qualify for traditional financing. They are considered more risky due few unproven profit models and much greater need for capital per acre of farmable land. Due to this risk, farms that use greenhouses or indoor farm designs have had to look to new financing options. This includes angel, private equity and venture capital financing options where risk and opportunity are measured differently than traditional outlets.

So what qualifies as locally grown? 

The 2008 Farm Bill* defined local food as food grown and transported fewer than 400 miles or within the same state. This obviously means something different depending on the state of the country you live in.  

If, for example, you live in Texas, locally grown could mean the food travels 600-700 miles. Yet someone who lives in Vermont could have food that travels no further than 200 miles in state or 400 miles including surrounding states. Regardless, farms focused on providing locally grown food must look at size and scale much differently than traditional farms targeting conventional produce markets and retailers.

*The farm bill is an omnibus, multiyear law that governs an array of agricultural and food programs. It provides an opportunity for policymakers to comprehensively and periodically address agricultural and food issues.

Where can you find locally grown produce?

Consumers who look for locally grown products are also likely to shop differently than your average grocery store shopper. Farmers markets played a major role in the initial local food movements. The popularity of farmers markets gave farmers direct access to their consumers, allowing them to control messaging and branding, while developing relationships with buyers. 

This led to developing other direct-to-consumer sales channels that have increased access for farmers and consumers. You can’t underestimate consumers’ appreciation for the opportunity to interact with local producers and learn more about their food’s origin.  

Photos courtesy of Area 2 Farms

Next up is specialty retailers and restaurants. Both recognized the demand for locally sourced products and incorporated them into menus and other packaged goods. Grocery stores also added special sections dedicated to local products.

And here is where the story might be changing: Consumers who prioritize locally grown and seasonal produce are often willing and able to pay a premium for products. These  consumers value health, the environment and experience. They normally have more disposable income and can afford to purchase food for reasons other than convenience, calories and protein. 

I will never claim to be an expert on the economy, but the media in general wants you to believe that our economy is struggling due to inflation. According to Statista, the economy was down about 10% in 2022 and will probably be down again slightly in 2023. 

According to “Yale Insights,” inflation (or even the perception of inflation) changes how consumers value the items they shop for. Many consumers become more critical of their purchases. They look for sales, “trade down” for generic brands and seek best prices. They also change where they shop, looking for discounts from retailers they perceive as cheaper, or forgo certain purchases entirely. 

Does this mean that all consumers who once valued locally grown produce are gone? 

No. It simply suggests that, as the economy changes, the accessible market for a premium-priced product will likely change. It may be limited to those who can afford the purchase or still value the product(s) over other items they regularly consume.

Getting back to the original question(s) in this article’s title, is “locally grown” a fad or a trend that is alive or dead? 

Based on everything we see from the USDA and other organizations that talk about farming trends, I say locally grown is alive and well.  

However, it also represents values that are difficult to scale or market easily to the general shopping public and retailers that offer options to price-conscious shoppers. This will create problems for many farms that used “locally grown” as a key reason to attract investment dollars from private equity firms looking to invest in a company, operate them or manage them for a short period of time, and then sell the entity or its shares after showing profitable and scalable growth.  

Farms that took this type of capital will likely outgrow the local market and move into that of the average “Walmart” shopper. Walmart and retailers similar to them focus on providing low prices and value to middle America. These are the same shoppers who have been losing disposable income over the past two years due to inflation.   

So the question then is not, is locally grown dead or alive? The question is, how do you build a profitable farm that is sized and financed appropriately to service discerning consumers who want products that might cost more to grow but meet the values that are important to them in their food choices?