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.

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/

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the front runners in the industry, engage in open discussions, and connect with like-minded professionals passionate about shaping the future of horticulture. At various stages, visitors can delve into the latest developments and insights: Meet the Xpert, Vision Stage, Technology Stage, Vertical Farming Stage, Medicinal Plants Stage and Amtrium Stage. Each stage has been carefully curated and provides invaluable perspectives and discussions on topics such as:

• ‘Tools and vision in Data and AI to create a better crop result’
• ‘Greenhouse: The road to a zero footprint?’
• ‘Future vision: A valuable tasty & healthy horticulture’
• ‘Dynamic lighting strategies; nonsense or the ultimate solution?’
• ‘What are the essentials for the ultimate strawberry crop?’
• ‘Dutch knowhow as catalyst for the green revolution in Asia and the Middle East’
• ‘Robotics: Futuristic dream or your next investment?’
• ‘Cultivation for compounds research update’
• ‘Cultivation systems for cannabis’

Side Events

• Tuesday 11 June: ‘GreenTech Innovation & Concept Awards 2024’. The winners in the categories Innovation and Concept will be announced during the official opening of GreenTech Amsterdam.
• Tuesday 11 June: 18.00 – 20.00: ‘GreenTech Party’. Relaxing evening with industry colleagues. Free entrance for exhibitors.
• Wednesday 12 June: 8.00 – 9.00: ‘GreenTech Run’. Sporty start of the day, 5 km run.
• Wednesday 12 June: 8.30 – 11.00: ‘Power Day’. GreenTech invites progressive growers & breeders, engineers, consultants, investors and solution providers to connect and discuss the topic ‘Human skills make the difference’.
• Wednesday 12 June: 14.30 – 18.00: ‘Research meets innovator’. Bringing together research pioneers to exchange knowledge, collaborate, and showcase innovations.
• Thursday 13 June: ‘HortiTalent Day’. In cooperation with AVAG, GreenTech gives students the opportunity to meet the horticulture industry and discuss possible career options.

Pavilions

On the show floor, visitors will find several country pavilions but also pavilions with exhibitors specialized in industry fields such as Vertical Farming, Medicinal Plants (Cannabis) and AI & Robotics. But also a Start-Up Pavilion for newcomers to the horticulture industry. Live demonstrations and the latest innovations will be showcased at the Robot Dome, Renewable Energy Demo and Drone Cage.

Routes

On the exhibition floor, visitors can follow the routes of exhibitors with the following themes: Organic, Vertical Farming, Robotics, Renewable Energy, Medicinal Plants, AI and Mid-tech.More information at: https://www.greentech.nl/amsterdam/.

Registration policy Visitors

GreenTech is offering a 3-day entrance ticket €95 excl. VAT per person, up to and including 7 June. Exhibitors can invite their clients free of charge up to and including 7 June. 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 2024
GreenTech Amsterdam 2024 will take place on Tuesday 11, Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 June at RAI Amsterdam. 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.

Indoor Ag-Con marked its 11th edition with increases in attendee and exhibitor participation for its March 11-12, 2024 run at Caesars Forum Las Vegas. The exhibiting company roster grew by 54% with a sold-out show floor featuring 207 companies in 287 booths vs. 134 companies in 174 booths for 2023. Attendance saw a 16% increase over 2023 with 1584 attendees from 49 states, the District of Columbia and US territories, as well as 31 other countries. Attendees included C-level execs and other decision-makers involved with every sector of controlled environment agriculture — grower/operators, investors, tech providers, start-ups, academia, government, real estate developers, food service retail, suppliers and more.

For the third year, Indoor Ag-Con once again co-located with the National Grocers Association (NGA) Show, attracting 146 attendees from that event to the Indoor Ag-Con expo floor — taking the total attendance number over the 1700 mark.

“Every year our speakers, exhibitors and attendees from across the country and globe look forward to Indoor Ag-Con as it brings together our industry as a community to hold important discussions on timely topics and show off what’s new in indoor agriculture,” said Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con. “This year we experienced record exhibitor growth and attracted companies and attendees from 35 countries to our global event. Next year, we are moving to a new location providing more expo and meeting space as we continue to grow with this ever-evolving industry.”

Among the 11th Annual Edition highlights:

Keynote Sessions

Each year, Indoor Ag-Con features three inspiring Keynotes and this year’s all-star speakers included Paul Sellew, Founder and CEO of Little Leaf Farms. A mid-morning keynote on day one, “Leader Insights: Charting the Future Landscape of Controlled Environment Agriculture”, was led by industry veterans Moderator, Daniel Malech, Board Chair, SVP CEA Alliance for Plenty, Jim DiMenna, President of Red Sun Farms, Viraj Puri, Co-Founder and CEO of Gotham Greens, and Matt Ryan, CEO of Soli Organic. Adam Bergman, Managing Director, Clean Energy Transition Group, Global Head of AgTech for Citi, delivered the day two morning keynote address.

Educational Tracks & Expo Floor Theater Panel Discussions

The Conference features two jam-packed days of educational and insightful sessions from 90+ speakers in four tracks including Planning & Operations, Grower, Cultivating Possibilities and NEW this year, the Cannabis track.

Sold Out Expo Floor

In 2024, the Expo Hall grew and expanded boasting 207 world-class companies in 287 booths that showcased the most cutting-edge technologies, products and services in the indoor agriculture industry from lighting and control systems to substrates, equipment, irrigation systems.

Networking Opportunities

Daily lunches and an afternoon cocktail reception on the expo floor expanded the show’s networking opportunities.

Indoor Ag-Con |Philips VIP Welcome Party

Back by popular demand, Philips Horticulture LED Solutions teamed up once again with Indoor Ag-Con to tee-up the 2024 edition with a VIP Welcome Par-tee on Sunday evening, March 10 at Topgolf Las Vegas. Indoor Ag-Con conference speakers and other industry VIPs came together for an incredible evening of golf, networking, cocktails, food, music and fun – all compliments of Philips LED Horticultural Lighting.

Looking ahead, Indoor Ag-Con Las Vegas will move to the Westgate Las Vegas for its March 11-12, 2025 edition. The new location provides additional expo floor and meeting room space to accommodate the event’s steady growth.

For more information, please visit www.indoor.ag.

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.

Acuity Brands lighting, sensors, components, and controls products are used throughout North America in almost every major lighting segment including commercial indoor, outdoor, industrial, infrastructure and healthcare applications. The company consists of more than 25 individual lighting and controls brands of which several, such as Lithonia Lighting, date back more than 75 years.

Driving innovative LED technology

According to Jacob Palombo, director of product for horticulture, Acuity Brands has been at the forefront of the transition of LEDs from traditional technology including metal halide and fluorescent light fixtures. 

“Acuity Brands has been designing and developing LED fixtures for over 15 years,” Palombo said. “The company is driving innovation in everything from LED fixture design and performance to advancements in quality and reliability as well as lighting controls.

“Sticking LED diodes onto a board and creating a light is not as simple as it seems. There are a lot of ways it can go wrong. That is why we have spent a great deal of time on how to build a robust system that is reliable and is designed to take advantage of the way LEDs produce light, how to dissipate heat, and how to use optics to control the light.”

Acuity Brands designs all of its own products in various innovation centers in the United States and produces almost all of its products in North America.

“This gives the company the ability to support customers with lower lead times, not having to wait for products to be shipped from overseas,” Palombo said. “We source a handful of plain vanilla products, but our spec and flagship products, the products that we design and produce in-house, are manufactured in North America.”

Illuminating the horticulture sector

Acuity Brands entered the horticulture lighting industry in 2022 with the launch of its Verjure Pro series of LED grow lights.

“Leading up to the launch of the Verjure Pro series, Acuity Brands participated in academic plant research in growing plants with LED lights to develop a science-forward approach in product and spectral development,” Palombo said. “The Verjure Pro series is a versatile platform that supports a wide variety of applications in commercial cultivation for indoor farms and greenhouses.”

Unlike other commercial LED grow lights that require wired controls, Acuity Brands introduced its Verjure Pro series with nLight AIR wireless controls. This scalable wireless controls platform eliminates the need to daisy chain the light fixtures with low voltage wiring.

“With the Verjure Pro series growers can order the lights with a wireless radio that allows all the lights to automatically talk to one another,” Palombo said. “This allows growers to group them and zone them to meet their needs and to give them more control in ways they could not before.”

In its efforts to expand its product offerings in the horticulture sector, especially in commercial greenhouse and vertical farming spaces, Acuity Brands recently acquired the Current Arize series of LED grow lights. These will become part of the Verjure brand. These fixtures are available from Hort Americas, a commercial horticultural supply company in Bedford, Texas.

“Acuity will integrate its wireless controls technology into the Arize products,” Palombo said. “Not having to wire each light manually with low voltage wiring will save growers a lot of labor and installation time. It may also make it easier for the lights to integrate with existing control systems. We are also excited to continue to build upon these platforms to deliver incremental functionality and performance.”

Focused on being sustainable, environmentally conscious

Even with its size and scope, Acuity Brands has not lost sight of its role to be a good steward of the environment and to make a positive impact in the communities where it operates its facilities. The company has initiated its EarthLIGHT strategy which reflects its comprehensive approach around environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.

“Acuity Brands declared carbon neutrality in 2021 through a combination of its carbon reduction measures at its operations and offsetting measures,” Palombo said. “The company is focused on minimizing its carbon footprint and helping its customers improve theirs. Part of the company’s strategy is the intersection of technology and sustainability. It’s something we take very seriously and a part of EarthLIGHT is to be good stewards of the environment.

Palombo said EarthLIGHT strongly aligns with controlled environment horticulture.

“Indoor horticulture can be a more effective way of growing plants compared to traditional farming methods by using less water, fertilizer and land while increasing overall yields,” he said. “Indoor horticulture can also provide fresher, cleaner, and healthier food to communities that may not otherwise have access while reducing the carbon footprint for transportation. These are all things that are compatible with EarthLIGHT and are important to us.”

Building partnerships

Even though Acuity Brands is the largest lighting company in North America, Palombo said there are a lot of people in the horticulture sector who aren’t familiar with the company.

“My goal over the next year is to introduce Acuity to the industry and make people aware that it is a well-established company, and one of the true global leaders in lighting,” he said. “Some of the biggest companies in the U.S. from many different industries trust and use Acuity lighting and controls.”

Palombo said Acuity has a track record for performance and delivering a quality product.

“We use quality components and the lights perform in the environments they were designed for,” he said. “We stand behind our products with a warranty backed by a $4 billion publicly-traded company.

“Within the horticulture industry, there are lighting companies that may not be around in five years to stand behind their warranties. Growers in the controlled environment space are looking for products from companies they can trust and partner with. My goal is to make sure growers know Acuity Brands is that company.”

For more: Acuity Brands, https://www.acuitybrands.com/.
Hort Americas, (469) 532-2383; https://hortamericas.com/.

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

The recent partnership between Acuity Brands and Hort Americas marks a new chapter in horticulture lighting, one focused on advancing technology and improving energy efficiency. With Acuity Brands’ acquisition of the Arize® family of horticulture lighting products in January, the company expanded its presence in controlled environment agriculture. 

Jacob Palombo, director of horticulture lighting at Acuity Brands, and Chris Higgins, president and general manager of Hort Americas, are key players in this initiative. The collaboration between both companies aims to bring advanced lighting solutions and new technology to the market, leveraging Acuity Brands’ position as North America’s largest lighting manufacturer.

Q: What motivated Acuity Brands to acquire the Arize® horticulture lighting product line, and how does Hort Americas view its role in this strategic move?

Palombo: Indoor horticulture is firmly aligned with where we want to focus as a company — the intersection of technology and sustainability. Our overarching goal is to use technology to solve problems in light and space (and more things to come), for our customers, communities and our planet. We believe and understand the growing importance of indoor horticulture in today’s world, and the role it plays in our communities. We have a strong focus on sustainability, and using technology to reduce our carbon footprint for both our business and our customers. Indoor horticulture lines up with this in a major way.

We launched our horticulture lighting-focused brand, Verjure, a few years ago, and were always looking to increase our presence and focus in this area at the right time. Acuity Brands believes this was the right opportunity to expand our presence and commitment to the indoor horticulture space

With the addition of these new Arize products into our portfolio, we feel we are well positioned to support every indoor horticulture application. Our next plan will be to leverage our strong focus on innovation, quality, and manufacturing to continue to build upon these platforms, and take performance and reliability to the next level to meet customer needs. 

Higgins: At Hort Americas, we understand the need to scale to compete in the global horticulture LED grow light industry. Therefore, it made sense for us to partner with North Americas’ largest LED light manufacturer. This partnership, combined with the products offered by Acuity Brands, will play a key role in enhancing greenhouse connectivity, especially as AI advances and value increases for additional sensors. 

Also, by leveraging Acuity Brands’ advanced technology, Hort Americas is strengthening its product offerings. At the same time, we’re able to enhance our customer service and support capabilities as the exclusive distributor for Arize® lighting.

Q: How does Acuity Brands anticipate this partnership will impact the horticulture lighting market, and what unique benefits does Hort Americas believe it can offer to customers through this collaboration?

Palombo: We understand how important lighting is in indoor horticulture, and that it is largely the lifeblood of a business. Growers need a lighting partner they can trust, from both a performance and reliability standpoint. They need to be able to trust their lighting company will be around to service their needs and stand behind the products.

Being the largest lighting manufacturer in North America with some of the most-trusted and most recognized brands, we feel we can be that partner of choice. We feel the grower will have peace of mind with a product warranty backed by Acuity Brands. 

We’ve pioneered and been at the forefront of much of the LED lighting technology from the beginning. So we have vast experience when it comes to designing and producing LED products. 

Quality and reliability are at the forefront of everything we do. We have extremely robust design methodologies using decades of experience in LED. We are very selective in the components and suppliers we use. We make use of sophisticated end-of-line testing technology with full traceability in our factories.  Producing much of our portfolio in North America, we can service our customers quickly and reliably, with scale to support any opportunity. 

Higgins: This partnership allows Hort Americas to continue providing top-quality products, backed by a strong warranty that gives growers peace of mind. Together, we’re also capable of scaling quickly and changing to meet market demands. 

From a sustainability perspective, we’re committed to environmental stewardship, which is reflected in Acuity’s EarthLIGHT mission that promotes eco-friendly practices within the horticulture lighting industry. This demonstrates a dedication to sustainability that benefits both growers and the planet.

The initiative is complemented by Hort Americas tailored customer service and extensive industry knowledge. This is especially important as demand grows for more efficient and effective horticulture lighting solutions.

Q: Can you discuss the technological advancements in LED fixtures that Acuity Brands has pioneered and how Hort Americas sees these innovations benefiting the horticulture industry?

Palombo: Part of what we bring to this industry is decades of experience in designing and producing reliable and high-performing LED lighting design, including drivers, optics, electro-mechanical design, light engine design, and controls. Acuity Brands has consistently set the bar for performance, efficacy, and feature sets for lighting in every industry we design products for. These include things like higher efficacy and output, more robust drivers, better thermal management, easier installation, seamless controls, etc. Our intent is to bring that same level of innovation to the horticulture industry and offer the customer a better and differentiated solution.

We are especially excited to extend our vast capabilities in wireless lighting controls to our new portfolio. We offer wireless controls and building management systems that are robust and scalable, and capable of not only controlling the lights, but also creating smarter spaces and integrating with other systems. We think this is a big opportunity to offer additional value to commercial growers.

Higgins: Acuity Brands has been at the forefront of integrating wireless technology and smart space concepts into LED fixtures. The company’s emphasis on reliable, innovative technology aligns with the needs of growers who depend on advanced solutions to optimize growing conditions. 

The advancements in LED fixtures by Acuity Brands — including enhanced efficiency, light quality and control capabilities — benefit growers in ways that can improve plant growth and yield. These are important innovations for driving the industry forward because they enable more precise and sustainable growing practices.

Q: How do your sustainability goals align with the development and distribution of horticulture lighting solutions?

Palombo: EarthLIGHT is a central tenet to our company strategy, and reflects our comprehensive approach around environmental, social, and governance (ESG topics).

 EarthLIGHT is comprised of a number of different areas, including:

• Focusing on minimizing our carbon footprint, and helping customers improve theirs.
•  Making a positive impact in the communities where we live and work.
• Operating with integrity and transparency.

Acuity Brands is 100% carbon neutral through a combination of our carbon reduction measures at our operations and offsetting measures. In FY22, we contributed to 100,000,000 metric tons of carbon avoidance through LED and controls sales.

EarthLIGHT is about being good stewards of the environment, and we feel this is very strongly aligned with indoor horticulture. Indoor horticulture can be a much more effective way of growing plants compared to traditional farming methods, using less water, fertilizer, and land while increasing overall yield. It can provide fresher, cleaner, and healthier food to communities that may not otherwise have access, while reducing the carbon footprint in transportation. These are just some of the aspects of indoor horticulture that are firmly aligned with our EarthLIGHT strategy.

Higgins: Hort Americas will continue to only partner with companies committed to sustainability and transparency, even though the industry continues to debate the concept and value of sustainability. 

The fact remains, there’s strong demand for sustainable solutions in the horticulture industry. Lighting, in particular, is essential to sustainable agricultural practices, underlining the importance of developing solutions that support eco-friendly and efficient growth.

Q: Looking forward, what trends do you predict will emerge in horticulture lighting, and how are you preparing to meet these future demands?

Palombo: We believe the indoor horticulture lighting market will continue to grow and evolve, and technology will lead the way. Lights will continue to become more efficacious, and more optimized for the plants and environment they are designed to serve, and easier to control.

There will be continued advancements and improvement in how the lights and environment are connected and interact. AI will play a role, using multiple sensor and data points for total optimization and predictability. 

We are excited to help lead this transformation, as we feel we are uniquely positioned to drive and lead this change with our Intelligent Spaces Group of Acuity Brands. 

Higgins: There’s growing interest in wireless dimming and integrated sensors. This reflects the industry’s progression toward more sophisticated and adaptable technologies. Advancements such as these signal a move toward more customizable lighting solutions. 

Preparations to meet these evolving demands involve continuous innovation and adaptation to customer expectations. Industry standards are likely to change too. We’re making sure that our offerings stay at the forefront of technology and sustainability in horticulture lighting.

The collaboration marks a significant step in providing comprehensive financial solutions and incentive opportunities for greenhouse growers and vertical farmers across North America.

Levitt brings over two decades of experience in utilities, incentives and financial solutions to the partnership. As co-founder of Encentiv Energy, Levitt was instrumental 

in introducing new rebate tools and incentive solutions to lighting manufacturers and their sales channel partners (agents and distributors), contractors, ESCOs, and facility stakeholders. This ultimately led to the rebate tool used by leading lighting companies such as Acuity Brands, lighting partner for Hort Americas. 

“This partnership with Lee ensures our clients have access to the most beneficial financial solutions,” said Chris Higgins, president and co-founder of Hort Americas. “Lee’s experience in processing or supporting millions of dollars in awards across all markets [and eligible rebate measures, including lighting and HVAC, etc.] has been invaluable in helping growers maximize their investments.”

The partnership unlocks new opportunities for Hort Americas’ clients, helping them navigate the complex landscape of utility rebates and incentives. By leveraging Levitt’s expertise, Hort Americas aims to help growers enjoy greater sustainability and operational efficiency, while maximizing their financial benefits.

“Joining forces with Hort Americas is an opportunity to bridge the gap between horticultural innovation and financial incentives,” Levitt commented. “I’m thrilled to share my experience in a way that benefits the sustainable efforts of growers in the CEA industry.”

About Hort Americas

Hort Americas is dedicated to playing an integral role in the diverse sectors of commercial horticulture. Working closely with key manufacturers, Hort Americas develops and delivers high-quality, technically advanced, and cost-effective products to greenhouse growers and vertical farmers in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Discover more about our commitment, services, and products at http://www.hortamericas.com.

Conference programme – highlights:

Tuesday 12 March

10:20 – 10:50: ‘Agriculture 4.0: Adoption of advanced technologies’ by José Carlos Arredondo (UTEQ) and Alfredo Diaz (AMHPAC)

12:45 – 13:30: Keynote: ‘Strategies for the control and management of ToBRFV, Challenges related to virus management. DOs and DONTs’ by Stijn Weijns (Agro Care Rilland)

15:00 – 16:00: ‘Semi-closed greenhouse: An improvement on the traditional greenhouse’ by Barthelemy Richel (Richel Group / Richel Mexico), Bas Duijvestijn (Van der Hoeven) and Alejandro Avila (Bonanza Greenhouses)

16:45 – 17:30: ‘The road to sustainable protected horticulture’ by Nelson Santiago Perez (Ludvig Svensson), Genaro Montes (SEDUSE Queretaro), Joel Hernandez (SMEAP), Octavió Perez (Nature Fresh Farms) and Timo Spruijt (Ridder)

Wednesday 13 March

8:30 – 11.00: Powerday: ‘Inspiring and connecting morning programme with the theme: ‘Human skills make the difference!‘ Hosted by Peter Klapwijk (2Harvest), speaker: Stijn Weijns (Agro Care Rilland) and table moderators: Felix Tarrats (Ceickor), Hugo Escoto (Alternativa Agrícola Sustentable) , Oscar Woltman (Phoenix) and Bernardo Carranza (UTEQ)

16:00 – 17:00: ‘Planning and implementation of technology for the growing labour shortage’ by Oscar Woltman (Phoenix), Ben Sosef (Royal Brinkman Mexico) and Marcel van Steekelenburg (Berg Hortimotive).

Thursday 14 March

09:30 – 10:15: ‘Alternative crops in protected horticulture’ by Carla Garcia (Hort Americas), Freek Knol (Enza Zaden) and Elmar A. Pérez (Agrosistemas Controlados)

10:15 – 11:15: ‘Integration of diverse technologies for specific crops’ by Iván G. Mendez (Megafrescos – Priva) and Dionysis Tarnavas (Ridder)

13:30 – 14:30: Closing panel:‘Grower to grower: comparing experiences’ by Ernesto Oliveros (Agricola Oliveros) and Oscar Woltman (Phoenix)Check out the full conference programme at https://www.greentech.nl/americas/programme.

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. Please find more information at www.greentech.nl/americas/. The 2025 edition will be organised on Tuesday 25 – Thursday 27 March 2025.

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.

As a follow-up to Indoor Ag-Con Trend Report One issued earlier this year, below are some of the latest trends shaping the indoor agriculture industry today and a selection of product highlights from Indoor Ag-Con 2024 exhibitors.

Climate Control
In recent years, climate control has emerged as a pivotal trend in indoor agriculture, revolutionizing the way crops are grown in controlled environments. With a heightened focus on sustainability and food security, growers are increasingly turning to sophisticated climate control systems to optimize growing conditions regardless of external weather patterns. These systems integrate advanced technologies such as sensors, automated ventilation, and LED lighting, to create tailored environments that mimic ideal growing conditions. By fine-tuning factors like temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, and light intensity, indoor farmers can achieve higher yields, faster growth cycles, and superior crop quality while conserving resources and minimizing environmental impact.

Groupe Eode, (Booth 1306) in partnership with ECU Plus, ATC, and GPS, offers a comprehensive precision climate solution, assisting growers in increasing yields while minimizing risks and energy costs. The ECU plus is a new product line offering a HVAC system capable of delivering the most precise temperature and humidity control in the industry, with exceptional energy efficiency. GPS is a new product line reducing and controlling mildew and pathogen by generating ions in the space. Cost effective and without any maintenance or replacement parts.

Hoogendoorn Growth Management’s (Booth 600) flagship product, IIVO, is a revolutionary climate computer equipped with Intelligent Algorithms, streamlining greenhouse management. IIVO not only simplifies climate optimization but also stands out with proactive Intelligent Algorithms that continuously fine-tune climate control based on forecasted weather conditions, ensuring peak efficiency in greenhouse operations.

Microclimates (Booth 701) is an innovative technology firm specializing in environmental automation tailored for the controlled agricultural sector. In an era where automation systems often operate independently, lacking seamless communication, Microclimates introduces a groundbreaking solution. Unlike traditional siloed approaches, the platform transcends hardware dependencies, providing a unified ecosystem. Through the platform, disparate systems—ranging from climate control and lighting to irrigation and fertigation—are seamlessly integrated onto a single user-friendly interface, facilitating harmonized data management and optimal operational efficiency. Microclimates partnered with Veea Inc. to launch LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) as the wireless solution for sensing and controlling and its low price point allows for easy deployment in any facility.

DryGair (Booth 207) develops and manufactures a patented dehumidification solution for commercial-scale horticulture, including greenhouses, nurseries, indoor grow rooms, drying rooms, and more. DG dehumidifiers combine powerful and efficient dehumidification with a unique air circulation mechanism to ensure uniform, optimal conditions in the grow space.

DesertAire (Booth 1305) offers highly efficient, purpose built integrated HVACD equipment specifically designed for indoor agriculture. Desert Aire’s GrowAireTM GreenAireTM and DriCureTM HVACD solutions provide integrated HVAC control of temperature and humidity in order to provide stable VFD to enhance and protect crops. The new Chilled Water Integrated HVACD System for CEA will be shown at Indoor Ag-Con.

FabricAir (Booth 702) provides complete air solutions for indoor farming and vertical grow operations. Their fabric-based air delivery systems are custom engineered to prevent microclimates, facilitate uniform temperature and humidity within the grow space, and allows plants to flourish through every stage of the grow cycle. FabricAir ducts are lightweight, hygienic, washable, and they don’t condensate which eliminates corrosion issues. The Rack Flow system offers custom designed airflow solutions for
multi-tiered grow spaces.

A new partnership between Wageningen University & Research and Skytree (Booth 903), focuses on the use of direct air capture (DAC) technology in the Dutch horticulture industry. The project aims to explore how DAC-generated CO2 can affect plant growth, the energy efficiency of producing CO2, and the optimal integration of DAC into existing greenhouses.

• Quality: The project investigates the impact of DAC-generated CO2 on plant growth, which is crucial for greenhouse quality improvements.
• Energy: It measures the energy required to produce 1kg of CO2, a key factor in the sustainability of greenhouse operations.
• Integration: The research focuses on optimizing DAC integration, which is essential for modernizing greenhouse infrastructure.

Learn more at Indoor Ag-Con!

MJ-Tech (Booth 320) is a leader in providing high-pressure fog systems, from breeding to propagation and/or cultivation. To manage humidity, to have adiabatic cooling (lower temperatures) all in the most flexible way with your overall climate computer steering..

Smart Irrigation
Irrigation in indoor agriculture has undergone a notable transformation, driven by advancements in technology and a growing emphasis on sustainability and efficiency. Traditional irrigation methods, such as flood and drain systems or hand-watering, are being replaced by more precise and automated techniques. Hydroponic and aeroponic systems, utilizing nutrient-rich solutions or misting mechanisms, have gained popularity due to their ability to deliver water directly to plant roots while minimizing waste. Moreover, the integration of sensors, data analytics, and smart controls enables growers to monitor and adjust irrigation schedules in real-time, optimizing water usage and crop health. This shift towards precision irrigation not only conserves water, but also enhances crop yields and quality in indoor farming environments.

Dramm (Booth 613) is pleased to announce their partnership with CE-Line to provide in-line nutrient testing to irrigation water in North America. CE-Line is a unique, laboratory quality, nutrient analysis system that automatically samples water throughout the day. This in-line testing solution provides accurate data within an hour, eliminating the wait for test results from a remote laboratory. Sample results are securely stored in the cloud with APIs available to connect to your climate control and fertigation systems. This connectivity allows for automated optimization of nutrient levels in real-time.”

In the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) sector, Siemens’ (Booth 1400 and 1501) advanced controls systems, innovative infrastructure, and building automation systems empower growers to optimize crop growth, conserve resources, and increase yields—all while harnessing the power of automation and data-driven insights—leaving customers more sustainable, from the field to the table.
FGM USA (Booth 321) offers automated NFT growing systems including all irrigation and water treatment systems, as well as a propagation/vertical grow systemmanufactured by FGM. FGM a Danish and USA Company is a leading designer and mfg. of horticulture equipment since 1979.

HANS® (Booth 1522) has reinvented every component used to treat water – from the
redundant pump to reverse osmosis elements into intelligent, efficient, space-saving
devices. They are designed to work together in modular, scalable systems to meet
every need. So even if your customers have brackish water, or need de-ionized water,
or use a million gallons per day, HANS components can be assembled to get the job
done – quickly, easily and effectively.

Super Food
Indoor agriculture presents a promising avenue for exploring alternate food sources, particularly in the realm of sustainable and innovative farming practices. Vertical farms, hydroponics, and aquaponics systems are just a few examples revolutionizing how we grow food. These methods not only maximize space but also offer opportunities to cultivate unconventional crops like microgreens, edible flowers, and specialty herbs. As indoor agriculture continues to evolve, it provides a fertile ground for experimenting with diverse food sources, offering resilience against climate change and bolstering food security for future generations.

Pure Life Carbon (Booth 1222) is a private Canadian clean AgTech firm that has developed the first re-usable, carbon sequestering, soilless growing medium for the controlled environment agriculture market. The products utilize Advanced Carbon technology to solve problems for growers that were unsolvable in the past. Pure Life Carbon is among a high-performing group of global innovators and visionaries working to feed the populations of tomorrow while healing the environment. Pure Life Carbon has developed the first re-usable, carbon sequestering, soilless growing medium for the controlled environment agriculture market.

Klassman-Dielman’s (Booth 812) focus will be on the presentation of a genuine innovation for modern horticulture: Nygaia. Nygaia is a new and groundbreaking substrate fiber based on biopolymer technology that is biodegradable and is particularly suitable for use in hydroponic systems. Under the theme “The magic of innovation,” the completely newly developed, innovative substrate solution will be brought to life with plant examples grown in Nygaia, test kits distributed to interested guests at the
Klassman-Dielman booth or with the appearance of magician Rob Anderson during the Indoor Ag-Con Expo Floor Day One Cocktail reception!

Royal Gold (Booth 505) is the Original Coco soils company, pioneering Coconut based soils and growing mediums for nearly 2 decades. They are leaders in quality and consistency in the marketplace and focus on industry leading customer support for both hobby and commercial cultivation of all crops. Featuring a variety of soils and soilless mediums and offering OMRI/CDFA organic fertilizers and amendments, Royal Gold is the gold standard in gardening. They will be displaying the new All-purpose fertilizer and new 70/30 Coco-Perlite Blend as well as sharing information on its forthcoming Planting Mix and Potting and Propagation Mix.

BIO520 (Booth 1212) is an all-natural essential liquid mineral nutrient for optimal plant cultivation. Derived from a combination of ancient volcanic magma and sea sediments, and free of any harmful chemicals, BIO520 contains an abundance of vital minerals to help plants thrive. BIO520 is beneficial for all plants and crops, indoor or outdoor. Developed from Mother Nature for Mother Nature.

NGS (Booth 1023) manufactures hydroponics for Strawberries, Lettuces and Leafy Greens. NGS is an engineering firm which has been developing automated systems to optimize growing production both by reducing labor and by incrementing production. NGS builds greenhouses that grow lettuce in the desert as well as indoor systems for strawberries. NGS is presenting its patented rotational system for strawberries which doubles normal tabletop production. This new system is revolutionizing the way
strawberries are being grown while reducing labor and production costs.

Supreme Perlite (Booth 1216) horticultural perlite products are the ideal indoor, CEA, or hydroponic growing media made here in the U.S.A from domestic raw material sources. The products are sterile, 100% natural, non-toxic, lightweight, pH neutral, durable and insulating. Used as a standalone product, expanded perlite offers clear advantages such as excellent capillarity, water-holding capacity, and air-filled porosity. Combined with other media, perlite boosts drainage rates and aeration, holds moisture and nutrients close to roots, and resists compaction as other substrates begin to break down.

EPM (Booth 521) stands at the forefront of eco-friendly plant protection, manufacturing natural solutions in the USA. They excited to debut a 3in1 plant wash, ECO Green, an innovative solution that cleans plant leaves, roots, and acts as an effective pest management alternative. Its unique blend of catalytic enzymes and citric acid not only removes dirt and biofilm but also guards against pests.

For more information on the 2024 exhibitors, please visit www.indoor.ag.

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

LAS VEGAS, NV, February 23, 2024 – Cornell University’s Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering (GLASE) consortium announced today the launch of its Vivid Canopy network to celebrate and foster diversity in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry. The new professional network will kick off at Indoor Ag-Con with a session on Monday, March 11 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm PT. An interactive panel led by Women in CEA (WiCEA) will feature leaders from Vertical Harvest Farms, Dr. Greenhouse, and Skout Strategy. Participants will engage with panelists and other attendees at roundtable discussions led by Eden Green Technology and Re-Nuble.

The biggest challenge for today’s controlled environment agriculture industry is labor. According to the 2022 Greenhouse and Nursery Labor and Employment Survey by AmericanHort, employers are experiencing a shortage of about 20% in their workforce. Producers must change hiring practices to find and retain experienced staff to operate an efficient greenhouse or indoor farm. While today’s workforce is more diverse than ever before, professionals in the green industry have few ways to connect with individuals with similar lived experiences.

“Vivid Canopy is an opportunity to have an open and honest conversation regarding underrepresented communities in the industry. We want to create a space where connections can be made between people all working toward the same goal: a healthier and more sustainable future for everyone. This is necessary, especially now, as the indoor agriculture industry is growing and expanding. It will take everyone’s voices to reach our collective goal,” states Stacia Lewis, Grower, Eden Green. 

Diversity and inclusion are strategies to adapt to the changing workforce. “Leaders of CEA companies have an opportunity to be transparent about the demographics of their workforce to attract more candidates and foster diversity in the industry,” shares Gretchen Schimelpfenig, Executive Director of GLASE. 

“Like many industries being revolutionized by emergent technologies, women, minorities, and people with disabilities are often underrepresented.  Opportunities to network and hear from a wider range of industry voices helps diversify perspectives and expand the vision of what CEA can really accomplish – for everyone,” says Nona Yehia, CEO and co-founder of Vertical Harvest Farms. 

“Women are natural collaborators and with WiCEA we are hoping to provide all women in CEA and their allies more opportunities to foster collaboration, support their professional development, and offer mentorship to those looking to advance within or enter the industry,” shares Erika Parente, initiator of the Women in CEA community. 

“We’re excited to partner with GLASE to co-host ‘Vivid Canopy,'” says Suzanne Pruitt, Event Director, Indoor Ag-Con. “At Indoor Ag-Con, our core mission is to create a hub that fosters connections for all members of the controlled environment agriculture sector. Vivid Canopy embodies this mission by promoting diversity, inclusivity, and providing a platform for meaningful networking and job-sharing opportunities. Join us for a gathering where ideas will flow, new contacts will be forged, and the CEA community grows together.”

GLASE plans to host more Vivid Canopy networking events at green industry conferences in the future, like Cultivate and the GLASE Summit. Join the Vivid Canopy group on LinkedIn to stay in the know.

For more information: Gretchen Schimelpfenig ges252@cornell.edu 

About GLASE
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. Since 2017, the GLASE consortium has delivered specialized short courses on high-tech greenhouse technology to provide credible continuing education for the CEA industry. Resources can be found at https://glase.org and @GLASEconsortium on YouTube. 

About Women in CEA
Women in CEA (WiCEA) is a community open to all women (and allies) working in controlled environment agriculture. WiCEA’s purpose is to foster a collaborative and supportive environment through the power of networking, information and resource sharing. The WiCEA community endeavors to strengthen the overall industry of CEA, creating food stability in the face of climate change and geopolitical instability in a dynamic world. With a vision for 80% of CEA companies to have their female employees join WiCEA by 2025, the group is creating a space for women to innovate, connect and inspire.

Follow on LinkedIn.

Las Vegas, NV (February 15, 2024) –Indoor Ag-Con, the largest and leading trade show and  conference dedicated to vertical farming | greenhouse | controlled environment agriculture, will return  to Caesars Forum March 11-12, 2024 for its 11^th annual event. This must-attend Conference and  Trade Show brings together farmers, growers, ag tech leaders, suppliers, advocates and enthusiasts  under one roof to experience all that Indoor Ag-Con has to offer: 200+ Exhibitors, Three Keynotes,  Networking Events, Conference Sessions and more. 

1. See, Touch and Experience 200+ Exhibitors & Sponsors  

In 2024, the Expo Hall has expanded featuring 200+ world-class exhibitors and sponsors 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. Key  Exhibitors including, Enza Zaden, Babylon Micro-Farms, Berger, Bio 520, ,Klasmann-Dielmann, Nourse, Philips, PowerSecure, Promix, SananBio, Van Der Hoeven and Voltserver Digital Electricity and many more.  

2. Keynotes Take the Stage 

Each year, Indoor Ag-Con features three awe-inspiring Keynotes and this year’s all-star speakers  include Paul Sellew, Founder and CEO of Little Leaf Farms, who will give the 2024 edition’s  opening morning headline keynote address on Monday, March 11^th at 8am. Little Leaf Farms is the  largest U.S. greenhouse producer of hydroponic baby greens and sold in over 5,000 grocery stores  and fine dining establishments. 

A mid-morning keynote on day one, “Leader Insights: Charting the Future Landscape of Controlled Environment Agriculture”, will be led by industry veterans on Monday, March 11 at 11am. The  keynote will feature Moderator, Daniel Malech, Board Chair, SVP CEA Alliance for Plenty, Jim  DiMenna, President of Red Sun Farms, Viraj Puri, Co-Founder and CEO of Gotham Greens,  and Matt Ryan, CEO of Soli Organic.

Adam Bergman, Managing Director, Clean Energy Transition Group, Global Head of AgTech  for Citi, will deliver the day two morning keynote address on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 8am.  Bergman’s presentation, “Indoor Farming: The Next Revolution in Agriculture,” will explore the  dynamic landscape of indoor farming, addressing the setbacks faced in 2023 and unveiling the  promising future that lies ahead. 

3. Robust Conference Featuring Four In-Depth Tracks 

The Conference features two jam-packed days of educational and insightful sessions from 80+  speakers in four tracks including Planning & Operations, Grower, Cultivating Possibilities and NEW this year, the Cannabis track.  

For a full list of Conference sessions, visit https://indoor.ag/conference-program/ 

4. Safety-First: Food Safety Pre-Event Workshop 

New for 2024, the Indoor Ag-Con CEA Food Safety Pre-Event Workshop: Internal Review  Certification, will be held on Sunday, March 10, 1-5pm and is designed for anyone in the controlled  environment agriculture industry dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of food safety and  quality. Internal auditing certification is a mandatory GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) requirement  that demonstrates an individual’s ability to conduct internal assessments of any food safety  program. Indoor Ag-Con has partnered with Ceres University, a leading provider of IACET accredited food safety training and certification, to offer a cost-effective, convenient way to build your  career AND help fulfill GFSI scheme requirements. 

5. Two Shows in One 

Indoor Ag-Con will once again co-locate with the National Grocers Association Show March 11-12, 2024 at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas The NGA Show, the leading trade show and  conference for independent grocers, and Indoor Ag-Con, the premier agriculture conference and  trade show for the indoor and vertical farming industry, will once again co-locate in 2024. 

6. Let’s Get Social 

Mix and mingle with new and old friends at daily events including Conference Lunches, Expo Hall  Happy Hour, and many more fun and engaging events. 

7. Vivid Canopy Interactive Panel, Roundtable & Networking Event  

This networking event for the controlled environment agriculture community will foster and celebrate  diversity in the industry. Growers, engineers, and business leaders across the indoor farming industry  at all levels of organizations need more opportunities to connect in this increasingly remote world.  The Vivid Canopy interactive workshop hosted by GLASE features a panel of diverse professionals  from sectors of the CEA community led by Women in CEA followed by a networking round robin  activity led by Eden Green Technology and Re-Nuble.  

8 What’s New: Be The First to Experience Product Debuts 

Indoor Ag-Con is the place to check out the latest products, services and technologies in the industry.  Must see debuts include: NGS’ patented rotational system for strawberries which doubles normal  tabletop production, Pure Life Carbon’s first re-usable, carbon sequestering, soilless growing  medium for the controlled environment agriculture market, Royal Gold’s new All-purpose fertilizer  and new 70/30 Coco-Perlite Blend, FG41S’s Modular Flat-Pack Buildings shipped factory-direct  to Customer and Klasmann-Deilmann’s genuine innovation for modern horticulture: Nygaia which  will be handed out in test kits.  

9. Take a Seat in the Expo Hall Theater for Mini Sessions

While browsing 200+ exhibitors, stop by the ever-popular Expo Theater where industry leaders take  the stage for 45-minute presentations addressing hot topics in the industry. From “Sowing  Innovation: Virginia’s Vision for Controlled Environment Agriculture” featuring a Fireside chat with  Matthew Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of the Governor of Virginia to  “USDA’s Growing Vision for Controlled Environment Agriculture” featuring a distinguished panel  featuring United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) representatives, the Expo Hall will be  buzzing. 

10. Viva Las Vegas 

Indoor Ag-Con will once again call Las Vegas home for the 2024 event and there is no shortage of  things to do, see and hear in Sin City. From the Sphere Experience to Carrie Underwood’s residency  to America’s Got Talent Superstar Live, take some time to explore Las Vegas while at Indoor Ag-Con.  

For more information, please visit www.indoor.ag. 

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. 

MEDFORD, MA – The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) today announced the formation of a Horticultural Lighting Controls Technical Working Group that will advise and assist the DLC in efforts aimed at accelerating the horticultural lighting industry’s transition to optimized energy and production practices through networked lighting solutions.

The nine working group members appointed by the DLC include lighting manufacturers, lighting controls and sensor manufacturers, engineering/design/construction consultants, non-profits, researchers and cultivators. Representing the interests of their respective industries, not individual companies, working group members will provide input on DLC horticultural lighting program updates, creation of resources, and related activities. More members, up to a total of 13, may be added to the group.

“The controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry has grown steadily since the DLC created its first horticultural lighting technical requirements and qualified products list (QPL) in 2018,” DLC Executive Director and CEO Christina Halfpenny said. “We look forward to working with this new panel of expert industry advisors as we take the DLC’s horticultural program to the next step, expanding the role of connected and integrated lighting solutions that will enhance both energy use and crop production for CEA facilities.”

The US CEA market is predicted to hit $3 billion this year, with annual growth of about 24 percent. As horticultural lighting has become one of the fastest growing segments of the electric load for numerous US utilities, the US Department of Energy has recommended that the nation’s growers transition their lighting to all LED technology, cutting electricity usage by 34 percent and costs by approximately $350 million annually. The DLC’s Horticultural Technical Requirements promote energy efficient technology in CEA facilities, guiding the industry toward sustainable growth in concert with decarbonization efforts. LED fixtures on the Horticultural QPL are over 35 percent more efficacious than the next-best non-LED option.

As the DLC continues to improve the efficacy and quality of horticultural lighting eligible for utility incentives and rebates, the working group will provide technical and strategic feedback and input into DLC activities such as:

• Mapping opportunities for horticultural lighting controls and integrated controls solutions that save energy and/or optimize crop production;
• Addressing challenges and risks to the advancement of energy-saving and/or production-improving connected solutions; and
• Reviewing and developing resources that support the DLC’s mission, DLC efficiency program member objectives and grower needs, including case studies, grower education and guidance, and program implementation.

After kicking off late last year, the panel’s first meeting of 2024 is expected to take place in February and the group will meet quarterly thereafter.

About the DesignLights Consortium: As an independent non-profit organization, the DesignLights Consortium provides decision makers with data and resources on quality lighting, controls and integrated building systems to reduce energy use, carbon emissions and light pollution. We envision a net zero future where lighting, controls and integrated building systems enable energy savings, decarbonization and sustainability for all people and the environment.