Greenhouse Technology – Urban Ag News https://urbanagnews.com News and information on vertical farming, greenhouse and urban agriculture Thu, 30 May 2024 19:27:50 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.4 https://i0.wp.com/urbanagnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/cropped-Urban-ag-news-site-icon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Greenhouse Technology – Urban Ag News https://urbanagnews.com 32 32 113561754 Latest trends and developments at GreenTech Amsterdam 2024 https://urbanagnews.com/events/latest-trends-and-developments-at-greentech-amsterdam-2024/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/latest-trends-and-developments-at-greentech-amsterdam-2024/#respond Wed, 29 May 2024 20:54:58 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9760 GreenTech Amsterdam 2024 is the global horticulture tradeshow which inspires the market about the latest trends and developments on topics like dataenergy transitiona tasty & healthy horticulture and from farm to pharmacy. More than 500 exhibitors, around 12,000 attendees, over 80 knowledge sessions and topnotch innovations are the ideal ingredients which will lead to spontaneous and unforeseen encounters. The event will be held from 11 to 13 June at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre.

A selection of the 80 knowledge sessions:

Vision Stage:

  • Tuesday 11 June, 13:45 – 14:30hrs: ‘From hops to cheers: beyond data integration’ moderated by Tiffany Tsui (Springtide Strategy) and speakers Rick Schneiders (Siemens), Dick Veerman (Foodlog), Jacques Gros (AB Inbev) and Ines Sagrario (Ekonoke)
  • Wednesday 12 June, 13:45 – 14:30hrs: ‘Pioneering the energy transition with greenhouse technologies from startups’ moderated by Henry Gordon-Smith and speakers Mike Poodt (Rijk Zwaan) and Rob van Straten (Skytree)
  • Thursday 13 June, 12:00 – 12:45hrs: ‘T&U: Future vision: A valuable tasty & healthy horticulture’ moderated by Harrij Schmeitz (Impact T&U) and speakers Marco Retel (MiFood) and Anne Elings (Wageningen University & Research)

Technology Stage:

Medicinal Plants/ Vertical Farming Stage:  

  • Wednesday 12 June, 12:15 – 13:00hrs: ‘From Farm to Pharmacy: Global Developments in Medicinal Cannabis’ moderated by Sonny Moerenhout (Cultivators) and speakers Tjalling Erkelens (Bedrocan), Atiyyah Ferouz (ICQSA), Mariana Arias Larrea (MLA Legal and Consulting Boutique)
  • Wednesday 12 June, 15:30 – 16:15hrs: ‘The Dutch recreational revolution: Update on GKK experiment’ moderated by Sonny Moerenhout (Cultivators) and speaker Simone van Breda (Chairman of the union of Coffeeshop retailers, European Parliament candidate)

Vertical Farming:

  • Tuesday 11 June, 14:15 – 15:00hrs: ‘CEA Unlocks the future of seed breeding?’ moderated by Roel Janssen (Planet Farms) and speakers Stefanie Linzer (Greenlux), Wim Grootscholten (Rijk Zwaan), Wolfgang Fischer (Graines Voltz) and Newton Kalengamalira (80 Acres Farms)
  • Wednesday 12 June, 10:30 – 11:15hrs: ‘Retail Outlook CEA for Regional Production’ moderated by Jochem Wolthuis (Die Frische Society) and speakers Claus Ahrens (vGreens), Lee Greene (Foodhub-NRW), Michael Muller (Pflanzentheke) and Bauke vom Lentere (Rijk Zwaan)

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 FacebookLinkedInXYouTube and Instagram.

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Nominees unveiled of GreenTech Innovation & Concept Awards 2024 https://urbanagnews.com/events/nominees-unveiled-of-greentech-innovation-concept-awards-2024/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/nominees-unveiled-of-greentech-innovation-concept-awards-2024/#respond Mon, 13 May 2024 13:33:40 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9661 GreenTech Amsterdam is pleased to announce that 6 from the 47 submissions have been nominated, in 2 categories – ‘Innovation’ and ‘Concept’ – for the GreenTech Innovation & Concept Awards 2024. According to the jury, the rapid adoption of data science and AI in the market is striking, resulting in a significant increase in the number of submissions and focus on reducing energy, water, and nutrient usage. The winner per category will be announced during the opening of the show on the first day. GreenTech Amsterdam will take place from 11 – 13 June at RAI Amsterdam.

Egon Janssen (chairman jury) explains why the jury selected the nominations below: “Due to climate change it becomes more important to secure the fresh food production at the lowest environmental footprint possible. The jury is excited to see the quick uptake of Data Science and AI in the market, resulting in a huge amount of innovations reducing energy, water and nutrient use in greenhouses.”

Nominations per category

Category Innovation

  • Blue Radix – Integrated Autonomous Climate & Irrigation Control
  • ISO Horti Innovators – ISO High Speed Grafter
  • Van Iperen – GreenSwitch® Potassium Sulphate

Category Concept

  • Koppert – Koppert’s Digital Assistant
  • Maan Biobased Products and Klasmann-Deilmann – Nygaia
  • Voltiris – Voltiris solar modules

Check out the 6 nominees on the website.

GreenTech is proud that these will be showcased at the Innovation Zone and at the show floor including the longlist of the 51 novelties of which 47 were submitted for the awards. You can find them here.

Jury
The jury of the GreenTech Innovation & Concept Awards 2024 consists of:

  • Chairman: Egon Janssen, TNO (Netherlands)
  • Silke Hemming, Wageningen University Research (Germany)
  • Perry van Adrichem, HortiTech B.V. (Netherlands)
  • Peter Zwinkels, Technokas (Netherlands)
  • Roel Vanderbruggen, Proefcentrum Hoogstraten (Belgium)
  • Bart van Meurs, Division Q (Netherlands)
  • Jolanda Heistek, Royal FloraHolland (Netherlands)
  • Tijl Hoefnagels, Rubio (Netherlands)

The jury’s advisory committee consists of:

  • Brian Sparks, Greenhouse Grower (USA)
  • Leonardo Capitanio, Vivai Capitanio (Italy)
  • Enrico Verhoef, Total Greenhouse Service (Mexico)
  • Heinrich Dressler, Haymarket (Germany)

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 until 7 June. After 7 June until 13 June the tickets will be €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 FacebookLinkedInXYouTube and Instagram.

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Village Farms Fresh Receives Giga Guru Status by Walmart’s Project Gigaton https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/village-farms-fresh-receives-giga-guru-status-by-walmarts-project-gigaton/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/village-farms-fresh-receives-giga-guru-status-by-walmarts-project-gigaton/#respond Thu, 02 May 2024 14:37:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9566 Village Farms Fresh is pleased to announce the company has been recognized as a ‘Giga Guru’ by its valued customer Walmart through their sustainability initiative ‘Project Gigaton’.  There are currently over 6000 Walmart suppliers participating in Project Gigaton and Village Farms Fresh is in the top 18% of suppliers who have earned the status of Giga Guru.  This milestone collectively with other suppliers’ actions reported is expected to reduce, avoid, or sequester over one gigaton of CO2 emissions which helped Walmart to reach their intended goal 6 years early. To make a comparison, according to Walmart this is equivalent to taking 238 million cars off the road for one year.

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.

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Resource Innovation Institute Releases Best Practices Guide For Integrating Controls and Automation Technologies to Enhance CEA Resource Management    https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/resource-innovation-institute-releases-best-practices-guide-for-integrating-controls-and-automation-technologies-to-enhance-cea-resource-management/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/resource-innovation-institute-releases-best-practices-guide-for-integrating-controls-and-automation-technologies-to-enhance-cea-resource-management/#respond Mon, 29 Apr 2024 12:44:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9537 Free, downloadable report provides guidelines to improve the resource efficiency by reducing energy consumption and peak loads, as well as water consumption

PORTLAND, Ore. — Resource Innovation Institute (RII), a not-for-profit, public-private partnership advancing climate resilience, announced today the availability of its Controls and Automation Best Practices Guide for Controlled Environment Agriculture Operations. It can be downloaded from RII’s resource catalog at this link.

“The technologies serving Controlled Environment Agriculture have advanced at an exhilarating pace over the past decade,” said Rob Eddy, Resource Efficiency Horticulturist of RII and author of the completed guide. “One of the biggest challenges for growers and their facility design partners has been understanding how to integrate all of these innovations to achieve optimal efficiency. This comprehensive new guide provides the way forward for both small and large operators, based on the experience of agricultural experts from around the globe.”

The recommendations in the guide are derived from decades of collective experience of the Controls & Automation Working Group, in combination with the most recent plant science research and engineering breakthroughs. Assembled by RII in 2023, the 28-member working group included experts from CEA operators, academics, suppliers and equipment manufacturers across the industry who convened regularly over the past 18 months to share knowledge and experiences. As a whole, the group represented every aspect of indoor cultivation, from HVAC to lighting, greenhouse and facility construction and water treatment concerns.

“The guide particularly emphasizes how necessary it is to integrate as much as possible into an environmental control system. It’s important to get everyone in the room to have these discussions,” Eddy said. “In order to optimize the impact from the available technology, it is essential to manage everything under one system as opposed to having separate controls for lighting, HVAC and other CEA components. The benefits are truly incredible.”

According to Eddy, CEA facilities are “more machine than building” – always reacting to indoor conditions and outdoor influences. Over the years, CEA operations have evolved from manual control to thermostatic control to integrated thermostats and finally microprocessor control. Each technological step has evolved CEA operations toward achieving better crop yields and quality – and most recently toward increasing resource efficiency. The goal of the Controls and Automation Best Practices Guide is to distill the workgroup’s expertise and the latest engineering and plant science breakthroughs into a single handy resource. The guide provides actionable recommendations with a goal to help improve facility resilience while maintaining profitability.

“Most operators currently working in CEA facilities will see the value in these recommendations right away, while others may find some ideas for improvements they did not previously know existed,” Eddy said. “But our broader goal for the guide is that it helps those who are designing new facilities to include these important guidelines as a foundational component of their buildings, rather than an afterthought. The bigger objective is to encourage climate reduction from the beginning of the planning process.”

The free, downloadable guide is available now from RII’s resource catalog and can be downloaded at this link.

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

About Resource Innovation Institute: We Empower Farm Resilience

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

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Emerging technologies at GreenTech Amsterdam 2024 https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/emerging-technologies-at-greentech-amsterdam-2024/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/emerging-technologies-at-greentech-amsterdam-2024/#respond Thu, 25 Apr 2024 20:26:24 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9533 The upcoming edition of GreenTech Amsterdam shines the spotlight on emerging technologies for the future of horticulture. In the extensive knowledge programme, market leaders discuss, among other things, the journey towards achieving zero-footprint in greenhouses and explore futuristic technologies such as robotics and the delicate balance between solar panels and plant yields. The event will be held from 11 to 13 June at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre.

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 FacebookLinkedInXYouTube and Instagram.

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3rd Annual Controlled Environment Agriculture Summit East Returns to Virginia, October 1-2, 2024 https://urbanagnews.com/events/3rd-annual-controlled-environment-agriculture-summit-east-returns-to-virginia-october-1-2-2024/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/3rd-annual-controlled-environment-agriculture-summit-east-returns-to-virginia-october-1-2-2024/#respond Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9529 Event Brings Academia and Greenhouse, Vertical Farm, Urban Ag, Other CEA Business Sectors Together To SpurIndustry Collaboration, Innovation

DANVILLE, VIRGINIA (April 16, 2024) — The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East returns to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) Conference Center in Danville, Virginia from October 1-2, 2024. Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con, the leading trade show and conference for the vertical farming | greenhouse | CEA sector, and the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center, a joint project of the IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, the summit continues to serve as a premier platform for industry collaboration and innovation.

Building on the success of its 2023 edition, which attracted attendees from 33 US states, Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden, the 3rd Annual CEA Summit East is set to unite professionals once again from academia, business, and technology within the CEA industry. Attendees include greenhouse growers, urban agriculture operations, vertical farms, outdoor growers seeking hybrid growing opportunities, educators, scientists, Virginia Cooperative Extension personnel, suppliers, engineers, tech specialists, architects/ developers, government officials, and other industry members.

“Our partnership with the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where industry leaders and academia come together to drive innovation and explore new opportunities within the CEA sector,” says Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con.

With a focus on facilitating meaningful connections and knowledge exchange, the summit will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, networking/breakout sessions, and tabletop exhibits highlighting the latest advancements in CEA technology and practices. Attendees can also look forward to research facility tours, providing firsthand insights into cutting-edge research and development initiatives.

“The CEA Summit serves as a platform for showcasing the collaborative efforts between industry and academia in advancing CEA research and education,” adds Dr. Scott Lowman, Co-Director of the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center and Vice President of Applied Research at IALR. “We are eager to continue driving the momentum of the CEA industry and providing attendees with valuable opportunities for learning, networking, and growth.”

For more information on the 3rd Annual CEA Summit East, including registration, speaking and exhibit opportunities, visit the event website at www.ceasummit.com.

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

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

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Indoor AgTech: Building Supply Chain Resilience for Fresh Produce https://urbanagnews.com/events/indoor-agtech-building-supply-chain-resilience-for-fresh-produce/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/indoor-agtech-building-supply-chain-resilience-for-fresh-produce/#respond Sat, 13 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9467 In 2024, Indoor AgTech takes the spotlight for the first time in Chicago, the vibrant agri-food hub of the US. On June 24-25, over 600 growers, investors, suppliers, and retailers at the forefront of the global indoor farming community will come together to explore new business models and technologies driving profitability in CEA.

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/

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GreenTech Amsterdam 2024: Unveiling the future https://urbanagnews.com/events/greentech-amsterdam-2024-unveiling-the-future/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/greentech-amsterdam-2024-unveiling-the-future/#respond Fri, 05 Apr 2024 13:21:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9515 Experience the future of horticulture at GreenTech Amsterdam, set to host 12,000 visitors and 560 exhibitors, from 11 – 13 June at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. Delve into pioneering topics like ‘Tools and vision in Data and AI’, ‘Greenhouse: The road to a zero footprint?’, and ‘Future vision: A valuable tasty & healthy horticulture’, while exploring the side events, expert pavilions, and themed routes.What visitors can expect

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 FacebookLinkedInXInstagram or YouTube.

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GreenTech Americas 2024: Record-breaking attendance and forward-thinking insights https://urbanagnews.com/events/greentech-americas-2024-record-breaking-attendance-and-forward-thinking-insights/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/greentech-americas-2024-record-breaking-attendance-and-forward-thinking-insights/#respond Thu, 04 Apr 2024 16:19:47 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9511 GreenTech Americas, the premier international protected horticulture event, concluded its fourth edition with remarkable success. The show attracted a total of 5,867 professionals including exhibitors; nearly 12% increase comparing to the previous edition. Hosted at the Querétaro Congress Center from March 12th to 14th, the event featured 220 exhibiting companies from 20 countries, solidifying its position as the leading platform for the controlled agriculture sector across the Americas.

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 FacebookLinkedInXInstagram or YouTube.

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Indoor Ag Con 2024 Boosts Worldwide Attendance At Largest Event To Date https://urbanagnews.com/events/indoor-ag-con-2024-boosts-worldwide-attendance-at-largest-event-to-date/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/indoor-ag-con-2024-boosts-worldwide-attendance-at-largest-event-to-date/#respond Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9480 16% Attendance Increase For Las Vegas March 11-12, 2024 Event That Drew CEA Industry Members from 49 U.S. States, 31 Countries

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.

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Acuity Brands looks to light up the CEA industry https://urbanagnews.com/blog/exclusives/acuity-brands-looks-to-light-up-the-cea-industry/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/exclusives/acuity-brands-looks-to-light-up-the-cea-industry/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2024 12:59:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9470 As the largest commercial lighting and controls company in North America, Acuity Brands is looking to bring innovative products and services to the commercial horticulture sector.

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.

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IUNU Challenges Traditional Crop Registration Methods in Greenhouse Agriculture https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/iunu-challenges-traditional-crop-registration-methods-in-greenhouse-agriculture/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/iunu-challenges-traditional-crop-registration-methods-in-greenhouse-agriculture/#respond Tue, 12 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9456 SEATTLE, WA — Plants are the driving force of greenhouse operations, dictating labor, forecasting, and livelihoods while sustaining global food systems. Over the past 50 years, advancements in technology have propelled growers to yield over 30 times more than their predecessors, ushering in a promising era for agriculture. Yet, two critical theories have emerged: the necessity of putting plants at the center of the growing process and the acknowledgment that crop uniformity is not automatic despite efforts to control genetic variables.

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

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Hort Americas Partners with Utility Rebate Expert Lee Levitt to Enhance Savings and Promote Energy Efficiency for Growers https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/hort-americas-partners-with-utility-rebate-expert-lee-levitt-to-enhance-savings-and-promote-energy-efficiency-for-growers/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/hort-americas-partners-with-utility-rebate-expert-lee-levitt-to-enhance-savings-and-promote-energy-efficiency-for-growers/#respond Wed, 06 Mar 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9449 DALLAS—Commercial horticultural supplier Hort Americas announced today an exclusive partnership with utility rebate specialist Lee Levitt, Energy Advisors 360. 

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.

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TREND REPORT PART TWO-INDOOR AG-CON 2024: Climate Control, Smart Irrigation, Healthy Super Food https://urbanagnews.com/events/trend-report-part-two-indoor-ag-con-2024climate-control-smart-irrigation-healthy-super-food/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/trend-report-part-two-indoor-ag-con-2024climate-control-smart-irrigation-healthy-super-food/#respond Wed, 28 Feb 2024 20:54:44 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9409 Las Vegas, NV (February 28, 2024) – Indoor Ag-Con returns March 11-12 to Caesars Forum Las Vegas offering attendees an insider look into the driving forces behind the ever-evolving vertical farming | greenhouse | controlled environment agriculture industry. Boasting an expanded Expo Hall with 200+ exhibiting companies showcasing the most cutting-edge products, services and tools on the market, Indoor Ag-Con will offer an immersive experience to farmers, growers, ag tech leaders, suppliers, advocates and enthusiasts.

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

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