Soli Organic, formerly known as Shenandoah Growers, Inc., is the nation’s only soil-based, controlled environment agriculture company delivering 100% USDA certified organic produce to more than 20,000 retail stores nationwide. The new name — Soli Organic — which is derived from the Latin word for soil, reflects the pivotal role of soil in enabling the company’s mission to make low-cost, high-quality, organic produce grown nearby available to everyone.

During his keynote presentation on March 1, 2022, 8 – 8:50 AM, Matt Ryan will share more about his company’s plans to change the world of organic produce by “Bringing Nature Indoors” with its soil-based, certified organic biofarms.

With 7 growing facilities, 12 operating facilities, 20,000 retail locations served and well over a hundred million units of fresh herbs and greens annually, the company is just getting started. The recently announced $120 million financing arrangement with leading real estate development firm Decennial Group is a key component of the Company’s strategy to further expand production capacity to meet growing demand.

As CEO, Matt’s focus is on strengthening the company’s competitive advantages and achieving scaled topline growth. Prior to his role at Soli Organic, Matt served as both the chief marketing officer and the chief strategy officer at Starbucks where he developed and executed strategy, managed the food and beverage portfolio, instituted a data analytics function, oversaw the development of the digital experience, and led all other marketing, product, brand, and consumer functions. As the head of brand management for The Walt Disney Company, he oversaw the company’s brand management, brand development, franchise management, customer data, and CRM.

Ryan currently sits on the Board of Directors for Kaiser Permanente. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude.

Learn more about Matt Ryan and his Indoor Ag-Con keynote session here.

“We are thrilled to have Matt join us in Las Vegas,” says Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con LLC. “From his proven leadership roles with Starbucks and Walt Disney to his exciting vision for Soli Organic, Matt brings a unique perspective to our keynote stage.”

ROBUST 2022 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE NOW IN DEVELOPMENT
Matt Ryan joins the Indoor Ag-Con 2022 CEO headliner keynote line-up, which also includes the opening morning kick-off session with Steve Platt, CEO, BrightFarms and Steven Bradley, VP, Cox Cleantech, Cox Enterprises; and a day one mid-morning session from Jonathan Webb, CEO | Founder, AppHarvest. The 2022 conference will also include a full roster of panel discussions offering a deep dive into three core tracks – Grower, Business & Technology – as well as panel sessions on the expo floor theater.

Attendees will find more new initiatives and show highlights to explore in February, including:

CO-LOCATION WITH NATIONAL GROCERS ASSOCIATION SHOW
New for 2022, Indoor Ag-Con will co-locate with the National Grocers Association (NGA) Show, the leading trade show and conference for independent grocers, offering even more networking and business opportunities for attendees and exhibitors alike. The NGA Show and Indoor Ag-Con visitors will have access to all exhibits, and discounts will be available for cross-over educational event attendance. Look for more details coming soon.

EXPANDED EXHIBIT FLOOR
2022 will also welcome the largest expo floor yet for Indoor Ag-Con. From irrigation and LED lighting to environmental control systems, substrates, greenhouse equipment, energy solutions, business services and more, attendees will have the chance to see the latest introductions and innovations from some of the biggest names in the business, as well as emerging leaders.

MORE NETWORKING
Exhibitors and attendees can enjoy complimentary luncheons on the show floor each day, a show floor cocktail reception, breakout sessions and other opportunities to reconnect with friends and meet new business partners.

QUICK FACTS:

WHEN: Monday, Feb. 28 – Tuesday, Mar. 1, 2022
WHERE: Caesars Forum, 3911 Koval Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89101
INFO: For information on exhibiting or attending visit www.indoor.ag or email suzanne@indoor.ag

___________________________

ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON LLC
Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con has emerged as the premier trade event for vertical farming | indoor agriculture, the practice of growing crops in indoor systems, using hydroponic, aquaponic and aeroponic techniques. Its events are crop-agnostic and touch all sectors of the business, covering produce, legal cannabis |hemp, alternate protein and non-food crops. In December 2018, three event industry professionals – Nancy Hallberg, Kris Sieradzki and Brian Sullivan – acquired Indoor Ag-Con LLC, setting the stage for further expansion of the events globally. More information: www.indoor.ag

ABOUT SOLI ORGANIC
Founded in 1989 as Shenandoah Growers, Inc., Soli Organic Inc. is the leading grower and marketer of fresh organic culinary herbs in the United States, providing sustainable, USDA certified organic, regionally grown produce to retailers coast-to-coast. The Rockingham, Virginia-based company has developed the nation’s largest commercial indoor organic, soil-based growing system and continues to redefine how to bring fresh, organic, and sustainably farmed produce to market – operating across a nationally integrated platform of farms, production, and logistics facilities. For more information, please visit www.soliorganic.com.

This year Agritecture Consulting will partner with AgTech leader WayBeyond who has taken over responsibility of the Census from automation business Autogrow.   

“Our WayBeyond ethos for sustainable crop production technology fits perfectly with this year’s Census. Understanding the impact of CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) on the planet allows us to continue highlighting the growers doing remarkable work to reduce environmental impact while producing quality crops.

There’s clear evidence showing consumers, particularly Gen-Z, are making decisions based on the sustainability factor of not only the food they eat but also the packaging, distribution and producers themselves. This Census will give a clear view of the role CEA can play in creating a more sustainable planet.”

— WAYBEYOND CEO & FOUNDER DARRYN KEILLER

This is the third year the Census has run with increasing participation each year from greenhouse, indoor vertical, and tunnel house growers. Past Census reports have brought forward key information on the state of the industry, tactics being used, and the people behind its many operations. For example, the 2020 report showed that there was plenty of optimism despite the pandemic, with 95% of respondents having an “excellent” or “good” outlook for the 12 months ahead, and only 5% indicating that the business’ future was uncertain.

“We work hard to encourage as many growers to participate as possible and, with a focus on sustainability, we hope to gain an even better uptake this year, especially from large-scale operations.

This is the most comprehensive global survey of CEA operations running, and the published findings will provide valuable insights that may affect policy, financing options, operational practices, and new technology. That is a benefit for all of us in the industry.”

— AGRITECTURE CONSULTING FOUNDER AND CEO HENRY GORDON-SMITH

The 2021 Global Census will run from 7 July 2021 until 20 August 2021.

Take the survey: Global CEA Census

Survey Terms and Conditions can be found here.

Simple answer, those with the most passion and perseverance.

As the controlled environment agriculture industry we spend a significant amount of time discussing how we are going to improve our communities, the environment, the farming experience and the quality of food we eat. By themselves these are major commitments. Together they are an enormous commitment. This got me thinking about a simple question, “who should be the leaders of this proposed revolution?” In this post I am going to discuss how we can learn from another industry that is historically conservative as well as providing three focal points I think we should concentrate on.

To find an answer, I started to think about other interests in my life. For those that know me well you know that I love being outside. (For those that don’t know me, hold on you are about to get some insight.) I started to think about my interest in fly fishing and I started to pay close attention to the challenges this niche industry is also experiencing.

In order to explain this better, let me “paint” a picture for you. Rarely, once a year (if I am lucky), I get to travel to one of my favorite places with one no more than two people on a remote saltwater flat. A saltwater flat is any area of shallow water with a relatively even bottom. You can find flats in freshwater, but for me I dream of a remote quiet flat with no people and no access to technology. The most iconic place nearest me are the excotic sands of the Bahamas. (See opening photo.) I am not necessarily there to “catch” a fish, I am more there to capture the experience. The beautiful and hopefully untouched and unpolluted gin clear ocean water provides me a feeling that has been unmatched in my travel. The colors of amazing sunset or dramatic sunrise (to me) are more valuable than the finest piece of art. The wildlife exist in a volume that one never gets a chance to experience in the majority of the USA. The pinnacle, if I am lucky, the chance to get to walk up on a tailing fish. I then have a choice, I can choose to simply watch or I can choose to grab my fly rod, a hook wrapped in some twine and feathers and then play a game of trickery with a very formidable competitor. Either way, my the perfect day has been had.

For those of us who live in the United States, one place you can still have this amazing outdoor experience of chasing a tailing fish is Florida. Luckily for me I have family in Florida, but the experience in Florida is getting more difficult to come by. The opportunity to capitalize on agriculture, tourism and other business has put the Florida coast in the state of constant development. With development you have increased pollution and a growing amount of people putting pressure on a limited resource. Development also means more and more fishermen, many of whom do not share my values of protecting the resource and the surrounding environment which if done correctly allows the many generations still to come the opportunity to enjoy this highly unique experience. Let me be clear, I do not believe in limiting access regardless of whether I disagree with their opinions. I think we should all have access to our nation’s natural resources regardless of one’s financial or political position. So what’s the difference between me and those other outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen? What’s their focus? Normally its land as many fish as possible, kill as many fish as the law will allow (because most everyone I meet does follow the local regulations), get a photo, share on Instagram and think nothing of the trail of trash and destruction they leave behind. It is now a fact that this approach is not sustainable if we want everyone to continue to have access.

Now let’s remember that there is a complete, complex industry that makes money off trying to provide me with this experience– airlines that get me there, the hotels that keep me there, the guides that take me there or retailers that sell me all the necessities I “must have” to be there. These companies and the individuals they employ need these shared resources to continue to make a living, pay taxes and support their families.

And this is where the talk gets oddly political. Not all of those heavily invested in making these experiences possible agree on the best way of protecting these resources.Heck, not all of those individuals even agree that these resources need to be protected.

This leads me back to the basic question, “who’s responsible” for protecting these precious resources?

I started digging deeper into the outdoors industry to see what was actually happening. For those not interested in outdoor activities, it is easy to think that hunters and fishermen/women only really care about going into the wilderness to kill stuff. I realized quickly that within the industry there is a clear difference between a hunter, a fisherman and an outdoorsman. And it’s interesting to see that more and more the outdoorsmen/women who are leading the fight to protect the environments are the same ones that not only cherish it but use it to make a living. They are changing the narrative by encouraging people not to be focused on killing as many fish as they can catch. They are building platforms like Captains for Clean Waters that allow your voice to support science-based solutions and empower your dollar to fight for water quality and hold elected officials accountable. They are better educating themselves by creating entities like Bone and Tarpon Trust to support fisheries through collecting data by using science-based methods supported through collaborations with institutes and governments.

Most importantly I noticed that these individuals are also by far the most passionate about their careers, their hobbies and the natural resources. They are motivated because they see the importance of making change now. They are political, but not in the way you would think (I am still trying to figure this one out so I will hold off on additional comments.) They are motivated by money (this is their living), but the money is not directly derived from the actions they are taking to create change. They have convinced their industries biggest personalities to take a stance while promoting science backed solutions in their most popular venues (tv shows, podcasts, movies and retailers.) Most interesting to me they have convinced these personalities to do this even though it might go against the beliefs of their typical customer base. They realize that offending their customer base is not as important as protecting the resources that allow them to actually have a client base.

Now let’s get back to one of my earlier questions, “who should be the leaders of these changes in our industry?” I think we can learn from other industries by saying, that those whom are most passionate should be our leaders and we as an industry need to find ways to work together to give those passionate individuals a platform that will help to attract new talent to our industry and better educate those individuals interested in our industry or the consumer eating the produce we so proudly grow.

We need to remember that we don’t need to solve every problem, because that’s not realistic. We need to know that if we all work to solve small manageable problems, collectively we will solve big problems. We need to remember that it’s important to encourage those individuals tackling these problems as they will be the ones that create opportunities for all of us.

So what problems can we solve as the controlled environment agriculture industry?

1. Education: The environmental impact that occurs as farmers feed the world. 

We have all read, watched or heard the statistics on how “bad” traditional farming is for the environment. I for one think it’s unfair to put this all on the farmer, even if the facts support much of the rhetoric. It’s unfair because of economics. Traditional farmers do an amazing job of providing “us” with inexpensive food options because that’s what “we” as the consumer have asked them to grow. This creates a big problem for many farmers I know who spend a significant amount of time contemplating how to best steward their land while producing enough yield to pay the bills. We are asking much of these individuals and their relatively small family business.

REMEMBER:  FARMING IS A BUSINESS.

This is our opportunity to support voices that educate. We need to encourage voices that can show or present positive environmental outcomes for the future of farming. One which allows the farmers to become excited for their future and that of their families. For certain crops and in certain geographies, controlled environment agriculture practices can allow farmers solutions to problems like nitrogen run-off, high pesticide usage and inefficient water use. This technology will also allow the farm to become more labor efficient while extending their selling seasons. Success will be based on how well we take the science based data coming out of universities like Wageningen, Ohio State and North Carolina State and then turn it into something that the farming community, local government and ultimately the consumer can use to change the way they grow and purchase food.

Warning:  Our industry needs to be careful that we don’t over promise while at the same time focus on the positive impact we can make while not creating other possibly larger problems.

2. The Platform: Rebuilding of blighted rural and urban communities.

Not historically an “ag” or “hort” conversation, community development is becoming a popular part of many new ventures’ pitch decks. It’s obvious that local politicians in certain areas are interested in this concept, but the reality of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) businesses creating many jobs with good salaries is still yet to be proven.

The current interest, global attention and spotlight may well mean it’s our best opportunity at creating a platform with real stakeholders financially committed to helping us drive opportunity forward.

In order to do this, we will need to open up and think like a community. We will need to:

• Create platforms that support developing an industry within an industry.
• We will need to educate innovators with the problems that truly need to be solved.
• We will need to think about how we work together to build up a variety of businesses that have the same focus and shared missions.
• We will need to think creatively about what business makes sense in what settings.
• We will need to think about investing in our industry to create ways of educating the next generation of workers and leaders.
• We will need to lobby to get the support of both the financial and political communities.
• We will need to focus.

Most importantly we need to understand it’s not our businesses that will alone strengthen the community; it’s the creation of opportunities that lift up families giving them the economic means to further their education, improve their diets, become property owners and invest in their own futures.

“Today, our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.”
– Martin Luther King.

3. Changing the Narrative: Health and wellness of individuals in our communities.

For most, the food we eat becomes the center of our social universe.  Think about it.  Where do people gather when they visit your house?  The kitchen.  When you think about some of your best memories what is one of the things you remember?  The food and drink you enjoyed.  When you need to feel at home, what do you turn to?  Comfort food.

That’s why for me, this is a no brainer.  We grow fresh produce.  We create the fuel people put in their bodies.  We have an opportunity to be part of the memories the consumer makes.  We need to be proud of this.  We need to motivate consumers by educating them to understand why fresh produce is an important component of creating a long healthy happy life filled with good memories surrounded by family, friends and happiness.  

We need to promote diets high in fresh vegetables and produce which means challenging the animal protein industry for space on plates.  We need to work with chefs to make sure our product is the centerpiece and not a side dish.  We need to promote these diets as fashionable and desirable.  Not encouraging the stereotypes of meatless diets, but the benefits and enjoyment that comes from a plant based lifestyle with animal proteins as the side dish.  We need to look at our own homes and look at the dollars we are spending on our plates.  We need to ensure that we are supporting those that support us.

Finally, the exact solutions will not be provided by one person.  My colleagues and I continue to work to do what we can to play a small role in improving the environment around us.  But, for us to ultimately succeed we will need to identify multiple individuals that have grit, then support them and their passion to solve specific problems.  Join me in starting this journey and remember its most important to start now as its only getting harder and harder to protect what we love.

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. – Gotham Greens, a pioneer in indoor agriculture operating high-tech greenhouses across the United States, today announced its latest state-of-the-art greenhouse in California near the University of California-Davis (UC Davis), one of the world’s leading agriculture research and teaching centers.

Located in Solano County, Calif., the first phase of Gotham Greens’ 10-acre greenhouse facility is expected to open in 2021 and will enable the company to deliver fresh, greenhouse-grown leafy greens to more retailers, foodservice operators and consumers on the West Coast. The company
operates one of the largest and most advanced networks of hydroponic greenhouses in North America, where the demand for indoor-grown produce continues to surge. Nearly a decade after launching the nation’s first commercial-scale rooftop greenhouse, Gotham Greens continues to
reimagine how and where fresh produce is grown across America.

“We are proud to bring Gotham Greens to the West Coast and partner with one of the highest-ranked agricultural research centers in the world to advance the entire agriculture system,” said Viraj Puri, Co-Founder and CEO of Gotham Greens. “California is responsible for growing one-third
of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of the nation’s fruits, yet in recent years, issues surrounding drought, food safety and worker welfare have demonstrated the need for continued innovation. Gotham Greens offers consumers clean, safe and sustainably-grown leafy greens, herbs
and versatile, time-saving plant-based dressings, dips and cooking sauces.”

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) and the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (UCD CAES) have entered into a partnership with Gotham Greens to advance research and innovation in the areas of indoor agriculture, advanced
greenhouse technology and urban agriculture. The new greenhouse facility enables opportunities for Gotham Greens and the University of California system to collaborate on research and innovation focused on advancing the science, workforce, technology and profitability of indoor agriculture globally.

“We are building a Controlled Environment Agriculture Consortium to support and advance the indoor farming industry, grow more fresh produce on less land and create new jobs for Californians,” said Gabriel Youtsey, UC ANR Chief Innovation Officer. “Gotham Greens is an anchoring partner of this research and industry collaboration that we hope will spur innovation, create a new indoor farming workforce and support industry growth.”

“We’re excited about collaborating with Gotham Greens, which is a coveted employer for tomorrow’s leaders in agriculture and engineering,” said Helene Dillard, Dean of UCD CAES. “This partnership will offer our students the chance to learn best practices from leading experts in indoor farming.”

The greenhouse will generate 60 full-time jobs and provide students in the University of California system with an opportunity to learn firsthand from the industry leader. Gotham Greens recently raised $87 million in new equity and debt capital, bringing the fast-growing company’s total financing to $130 million and fueling its next phase of growth.

“We are delighted for Gotham Greens to join Solano County’s thriving agricultural economy and help to usher in a new era in farming innovation, job creation and economic growth for the region,” said Solano County Supervisor John Vasquez.

Gotham Greens owns and operates greenhouses in New York, Illinois, Rhode Island, Maryland and Colorado. Its products are currently available in more than 40 U.S. states and 2,000 retail stores, including regional divisions of Albertsons Companies (Safeway, Jewel-Osco and Shaw’s), Whole Foods Market, Target, King Soopers, Harris Teeter and Sprouts. The company’s items also are available for purchase through grocery ecommerce sites, including AmazonFresh, FreshDirect and Peapod.

For more information on Gotham Greens’ greenhouses, products and job opportunities, please visit gothamgreens.com.

[Photo above: Ramel with students and faculty from Breathitt High School in Jackson, Ky. on Jan. 15 at the opening of the school’s new container farm funded by AppHarvest and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.]

Growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., Ramel “Smooth” Bradley aspired to become a professional basketball player like some of the kids that came before him. NBA Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Bernhard King were two of his role models.

“These great legends inspired my love for the game of basketball,” Bradley said. “As I got older my talents began to increase and I became one of the top prospects in the city. I attended Manhattan Park West High School in New York City and then transferred to the Pendleton School at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where I was member of the first basketball team in school history.”

At IMG Bradley was recruited by multiple college coaches including those from the University of Kentucky.

“What brought me to Kentucky was my love for the game of basketball,” he said. “While at UK, I became the starting point guard, captain and fan favorite of the Wildcats. I earned my degree and then played professional basketball in multiple countries including Croatia, France, Turkey and Israel.”

More important than basketball

In 2016 while visiting his family in New York, Bradley discovered his grandmother was having some health issues.

“I decided to stop playing the game I love for something that I love much more–my family and my community,” he said. “When I was 10-years old and falling in love with the game of basketball, my grandmother started a mission in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, focused solely on feeding the hungry. She started the mission in her kitchen out of the need to feed people who were hungry to provide them with some hope and encouragement.”

“I studied in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky because of the seed that was planted in me by my family. My interest in agriculture came from the leadership that my grandmother and family displayed in serving the community. I could see the difference on people’s faces when they were fed a meal and they received encouraging words regardless of their circumstances or where they came from.”

Healthy food is a solution

When Bradley stopped playing basketball he became involved again with his grandmother’s mission.

“We restarted the neighborhood pantry and I started to learn a lot more about the community in regards to food deserts, preventable diseases and the number of Americans dying from these diseases,” he said. “My grandmother is blind now and going to dialysis three times a week. It is one of the most devastating things for her to go through and for my family and I to have to witness. I also have friends and family who suffer from obesity. I never realized the level of access I was provided as a professional athlete to not only training and conditioning and living a healthy lifestyle, but also having access to healthy, nutritious food.

“When I came back home and got to see firsthand that family, friends and community members were suffering from preventable diseases, I made the decision to dedicate my life to feeding the people in my community. Healthy food is a solution to a lot of problems.”

While Bradley believes having access to food can have a major impact on improving the lives of Americans, it is the type of food that is even more important.

“One of the things that drives me is the health and nutritional well-being of our urban community members–the longevity of life,” he said. “A lot of the food that we are exposed to in our communities is processed and it’s just not good for us. If we can get people to eat healthier food, how many lives do we prolong and how many family members can lead happier lives?”

The CDC reported that only one in 10 Americans consumes enough fruits and vegetables. Cost has been cited as a possible barrier to higher fruit and vegetable consumption, especially for low-income households.

“There are a lot of people who are hungry in the world and need to receive food,” Bradley said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the food insecurity issue. If we’re not growing our own food, who is growing our food? Much of the produce consumed in America is imported. The U.S. imported more than 60% of fresh tomatoes in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“If the borders are closed where is that food going to come from? It is crucial that we grow our own food, which will help increase food security, whether it is controlled environment agriculture or open-field agriculture. We’re going to need a lot more food production and we’re going to need a lot more local food production.

Bradley said family and friends recently celebrated his grandmother’s mission by supporting New York City’s largest assistance organizations by giving out 1 million food boxes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Every week we feed families in the community in cooperation with a number of community organizations, including Change Food, Food Bank NY, City Harvest and the Campaign for Hunger,” he said. “All of these organizations have really stepped up in Brooklyn and N.Y. City to deliver nutritious food to community members.”

Reaching out to local communities

In 2016 after retiring from professional basketball, Bradley received a phone call from his good friend and University of Kentucky classmate Jonathan Webb.

“We had a real-life conversation about the lack of economic mobility in our communities, me in Brooklyn and Jonathan in Pikeville, Ky.,” Bradley said. “He knew that I was feeding community members trying to help them overcome preventable diseases. Jonathan told me about his vision of growing vegetables using controlled environment agriculture and being able to feed 70 percent of the Eastern seaboard through a central location in eastern Kentucky in Appalachia.

“That was the birth of our partnership and what brought me back to Kentucky, for us to start AppHarvest. We recently opened the doors to a 60-acre state-of-the-art greenhouse facility in Morehead, Ky.”

Bradley, who is community director at AppHarvest, works with both company employees as well as doing community outreach.

“Since I’ve trained extensively in controlled environment agriculture facilities, I’m able to provide a knowledge transfer to those coming into our company learning about this new industry and providing encouragement to our employees,” he said. That is what I do from an internal standpoint.

“Externally, I go out and share the AppHarvest story with students and community groups around the state and across the country to get them excited about agtech programs. When I joined Jonathan’s vision of making Appalachia an agtech hub one of the first things I did was to create an agtech program that we implemented in eastern Kentucky.”

One of the projects AppHarvest was involved with was retrofitting a 40-foot shipping container into a hydroponic production system that operates with a 5-gallon closed-loop irrigation system and LED lights for students to grow food.

“I helped develop the curriculum which teaches the students about plant science, the local food system, the food supply chain, how to build their own local food system and entrepreneurship,” Bradley said. “We have engaged hundreds of students from elementary to high school showing them a new way to grow food.

“We recently partnered with the Save the Children organization where we made over 1,600 grow kits for students to take home and learn about hydroponic growing. The students grow their own lettuce and we provide them with recipes that they can use to cook with their parents while they’re home during the pandemic.”

AppHarvest is also partnering with five universities in Kentucky. The goal is to work closely with them to develop programming and research and development with their students.

“What we are doing at AppHarvest is not being taught at most universities or high schools,” Bradley said. “We have been working with the governor of Kentucky who has put together an agtech task force which I am a part of. We want to continue developing partnerships with universities as well as community organizations throughout the state.

“We have broken ground on a second tomato greenhouse facility and a third facility for the production of leafy greens. We are very adamant about redefining agriculture and making the biggest impact we can possibly make.”

Inspiring future ag leaders

Through Bradley’s role as one of the founding members of AppHarvest, he has transitioned from professional athlete to becoming a Black farmer and community and youth leader.

“It is only right that I use this platform and use this responsibility to provide more access and more opportunity to future Black ag leaders,” he said. “Less than 2 percent of American farmers are African-Americans. By doing the work I’m doing I can hopefully inspire folks that look like me to take advantage of the new opportunities in this growing community.”

Bradley has been talking with leading youth agricultural organizations, including 4-H, FFA and Jr. MANRRS, to implement multicultural programs to develop future ag industry leaders.

“I’m also looking to work closely with historically black colleges and universities (HBCU),” he said. “I’ll start in Kentucky and then hopefully be able to provide access and opportunity to students at HBCU schools throughout the nation. That is another way we can make the ag community more diverse.

“Barriers are being broken by the work that I’m doing. I’m looking to inspire the people who I would like to see get involved in this industry. I am the modern farmer and this is how their future could look.” 

For more: AppHarvest, info@appharvest.com; https://www.appharvest.com.

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

Data captured over an 8-week period show 95% of growers have an optimistic outlook for the next 12 months with all types of operations including greenhouses, shipping containers, tunnel and vertical farms showing profitability.

 “The optimism reflects what we have seen across many areas of the industry including increased technology adoption and increased consumer expenditure on fresh produce. And despite the challenges we’re seeing an overwhelming number of new entrants into the market,” says Autogrow CEO Darryn Keiller.

 “What has not changed is the high percentage of new growers, almost 50%, that have no experience in agriculture before starting their business. That lack of experience has an impact on new technology solutions created and the need for more education to be available to support them. It also shows a real desire to make a difference considering their willingness to start during a pandemic.”  

 Respondents from 58 countries shared their views on their farming practices, financials, and the impact of COVID-19.  The report also gave insight on three key growth regions around the world – India, the UK and MENA (Middle East & North Africa).

 “The results of the 2020 Census confirmed our hypothesis that the UK, India, and MENA regions are the emerging hotspots for CEA, albeit for different reasons. In the UK, Brexit is driving investment towards CEA to combat supply chain risks, while in India rising population and increased premium consumer demand for clean food are driving CEA. In the MENA region, government responses to COVID-19 have accelerated policies and incentives for developing scalable CEA solutions,” explains Agritecture Consulting Founder Henry Gordon-Smith.

 “All of these regions present great opportunities for the CEA industry to grow and make a meaningful impact on their respective local conditions.”

 Other takeaways from the Census:

·       CEA businesses showing optimism and resilience despite the COVID hurdles

·       88% of growers surveyed are below age 50

·       29% of respondents receive funding from multiple sources

Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Dallas is seeking a highly motivated and visionary Controlled Environment Agriculture Engineer at the Assistant Professor level. Appointment is 100% effort with AgriLife Research and is 12-month, base-funded position.

The successful candidate will be a member of the Biological and Agricultural Engineering department located in College Station and expected to train graduate students in the discipline as a member of the Graduate Faculty. Applicants should possess an earned PhD or equivalent doctoral terminal degree in biological and agricultural engineering or a related engineering field.

The successful candidate will establish and lead a national and international research program that addresses the engineering needs of the Urban Agriculture industry to provide economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable food production solutions, particularly addressing the needs of underserved communities. The candidate is expected be part of a multidisciplinary team comprised of scientists with complementary expertise in horticulture, agronomy, pathology, entomology, water science, breeding and genomics. Interested candidates should submit:

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae
3. A statement of research, experiences and interests detailing initial research projects (maximum 3 pages),
4. A statement detailing how the planned research, service, and/or other activities will contribute to the centers vision and commitment to diversity and inclusion
5. Names and contact information of four references.

Review of applications will begin January 2, 2021 and will continue until the position is filled. Only applications submitted online in Workday will be considered.

Please send an e-mail notice of application to the search chair, Dr. Daniel I. Leskovar, d-leskovar@tamu.edu

Texas A&M AgriLife Research is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer

By Chris Higgins

What is the number one thing to look for in commercial horticulture and agriculture equipment? Simplicity.

Simple well engineered commercial horticulture equipment performs best.

Regardless of the product or the product category the best selling and most successfully used products are easy to learn, easy to use and easy to fix.  But, this is not to say that they are actually simple.  They are usually far from that.  But, they are engineered with simplicity in mind.

Why is that so important in commercial horticulture?  

To understand the answer to that question we need to agree to a few things.  First, it’s important to remember that not all greenhouses are built the same.  There are a wide variety of greenhouses from low tech (some might include high tunnels) all the way to the Dutch designed glass venlo greenhouse.  Second, let’s agree that the conditions inside the greenhouse can vary widely.  From extremely hot and humid to very cold and dry.  Finally we need to agree that there are a lot of crops grown commercially in greenhouses and indoor farms.  Often the expectation is that many of these crops can be grown in the same greenhouse at the same time or during different stages or progressions of that greenhouse’s life in business.  

Next, we need to consider the conditions these different variables put on the technology that we are investing in. The location of the greenhouse will have a major impact on the longevity of any equipment placed inside.  The longevity of the equipment then determines the amount of time, money and energy one needs to put into maintenance and ultimately impacts the return on investment for that purchase.  The ability to maintain the equipment will be determined by the likelihood that there is a local maintenance person with access to parts that understands how to fix it.  None of this takes into account the drastically different economic circumstances each owner may find themselves in based on their crop, access to capital and market.  Put all these things together and this means smart simple designs will be accountable for addressing all of these conditions.

One of the sayings I learned very early in my career,
“Keep It Simple Stupid” (KISS)

So what does this mean? 

Here are some brief, probably overly simplified (joke intended), examples of why it’s so important for key equipment components to be simple even in a relatively niche market where cost management is key and customers are very spread out.

Irrigation

Everyone in commercial horticulture uses some sort of irrigation system.  Options are only limited by imagination.  However the most successful technologies fit the widest purposes, they are easy to install and are even easier to fix.  Why?  Imagine you have a crop in your greenhouse and your irrigation system fails.  Imagine you have hours (yes only hours) to identify the problem, determine a solution, source parts and fix the problem before you lose your crop.  Improving the quality of source water, moving water (under pressure), uniformly adding nutrients continuously, collecting waste and recirculating all of it is complex enough.  Adding complexed equipment that is difficult to service is often not worth the hassle.

Lighting

While much less common than irrigation, supplemental lighting plays a key role in growing year round and locally for most of the world.  This also represents a major investment for those choosing to do so.  In order to achieve a reasonable return on investment it needs to last and whether it is in use or not it’s going to be exposed to a wide range of conditions.  In the summer months it will be pummeled with intense sun-light potentially high humidities and high temperatures.  In the winter it will be subject to constant fluctuations in temperature as it cycles on/off and in addition to that all of this is hung in a part of the greenhouse that is difficult to access.  Products that use passive cooling and are designed to manage these possible extreme conditions that are easy to install and maintain will help to lower the growers cost and insure a successful return on investment.

Sensors

The newest technology of the three categories, it’s also possibly becoming the most important in our ever evolving effort to manage our greenhouses more efficiently and effectively in order to increase profit.  This is also a product category in which simple to use definitely does not mean simple to design.  Sensors should be robust enough to work in a hoop house with the climate conditions will swing widely and at the same time sturdy enough to withstand tractors, laborers and other unknown variables that will for sure come in contact with them over their lifetime.  Sensors should be simple to install and operate.  If they are not, they will likely not be used for very long.  They should also allow simple access to the data.  And my last point here is something that has not yet been commercially achieved, it should be easy to share the data across platforms making the data useful and meaningful.

Remember, this article is not designed to tell you what to invest in.  Just a recommendation into what characteristics to look for in your investments.  Products will fail over time, it is the management teams job to evaluate the risk over time and insure that the product is designed for success in your specific environment.  After 25 years of working with commercial greenhouse growers and other commercial horticulture production businesses, I have witnessed that growers who invest in simple, robust and easy to maintain technology continue to have long-term success.

“We’re all operating in a unique situation right now and what’s required is a reality check. All of us, including growers, suppliers, distributors, government and financial institutions, need a clear view of what should be implemented, ensuring farm operators address a raft of challenges to continue to feed communities,” explains Autogrow CEO, Darryn Keiller.

“In every major market, media coverage of farms has made clear the high COVID-19 infection rate amongst farm workers, coupled with major challenges in getting their traditional immigration sourced labor across closed borders. Infection rates in food processing plants are another example.”

“It will take accelerated engagement between industry stakeholders to get us through the next 12 months and on into the future. Some farm operators have adapted well, whereas others will require additional financial intervention and modernize their approach to farming. We hope this Census will highlight the true impact of what’s happening and where the priorities lie.”

Last year, the 2019 Census reported on several areas including growth plans, agricultural experience, and profitability. This year, the Census will focus specifically on COVID-19 and whether decisions indicated last year have been affected.

“In 2019, we found 90% of respondents planned to increase their production area. We’re curious as to whether that is still the case, and if not, what other business changes are being implemented due to COVID-19,” says Agritecture Founder and CEO, Henry Gordon-Smith.

“The future is going to be about maintaining the health of workers, alongside the health of the business. Consumers will be looking for transparency around food sourcing, sustainable and local producers, and this is an opportunity for the CEA industry to take a lead in what will be our new normal.”

Recent figures released by the World Health Organization show the rapid spread of COVID-19 that has resulted in countries implementing various lockdown measures. This, in turn, has had a major impact on the entire food supply chain, including CEA farms that are key food producers around the world.

The 2020 Global Census will run from July 7, 2020 until August 10, 2020.

All completed submissions will go in the draw to win multiple prizes, including tickets to Agritecture Xchange, a speaking spot in the conference, a feature on Agritecture’s blog, and a discount off an annual Folium subscription with every purchase of a Folium Sensor Starter Pack.

Unfortunately, a UF/IFAS team also knows that those who grow blackberries face barriers in the market. Like all crops in Florida, blackberries can grow better if they improve their tolerance to the heat, humidity and wet climate of the state.

Zhanao Deng, a professor of environmental horticulture at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), and his team just won a $76,000 award from the UF/IFAS Research office. Deng and his colleagues plan to decrease obstacles so the blackberry sector can flourish.

The money comes from a program called “Support for Emerging Enterprise Development Integration Teams, or SEEDIT.” Through this program, 19 UF/IFAS teams earned monetary awards to launch or continue work on alternative agricultural enterprises.

“The blackberry has emerged as an important alternative crop for Florida growers,” Deng and his team wrote in their application for the funding. “Many Florida farmers are interested in growing it. Our visits to — and an online survey of — Florida blackberry growers indicated that the most concerning issue is low berry yield.”

There are many reasons blackberries don’t produce as much as they should.

Florida growers don’t have the right varieties to plant, and they don’t have tools to manage blackberry plants and pests. Furthermore, the plants differ significantly from other fruits and berries in how they grow, their requirement for chilling hours, and how farmers can manage their stems and pests.

“To break these chokepoints in an effective and efficient way and to promote a blackberry-based agricultural enterprise in Florida, we have organized this research and Extension team,” Deng said. “We will expand our team and are committed to integrating our experiences and expertise in multiple disciplines to address urgent issues faced by Florida growers and stakeholders.”

Blackberries are the fourth largest-selling berry in the United States, accounting for $549 million in 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But in Florida, blackberries constitute only a small portion of the acreage. Deng and his team hope to increase blackberry acreage to 1,000 acres.

UF/IFAS Assistant Professor Shinsuke Agehara, also at the GCREC, has been trying to help farmers grow blackberries. Agehara has been trying to develop chemical strategies that can artificially induce bud break, so blackberries can be productive even without sufficient chill hours.

Meanwhile, blackberry trials at the University of Arkansas show climate-adapted blackberry cultivars under proper plant and pest management produced as much as 17,000 pounds per acre. UF/IFAS trials from 2019 showed only few cultivars could produce 9,000 to 10,000 pounds per acre.

If the average blackberry yield in Florida is increased to 8,000 pounds per acre, the per-acre value could reach as much as $35,360. This yield is achievable in Florida, as one grower reported 14,175 pounds per acre, Deng said.

So even with a moderate yield of 8,000 pounds, blackberry production can be highly valuable, and more growers will want to grow blackberries, Deng said. In fact, if the acreage goes up to 2,000 acres, the value could be $70 million a year.

“These models indicate that blackberry production can be a highly profitable agricultural enterprise in Florida,” Deng said.

The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty  in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.

ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS

During weekly webinar sessions, thought leaders in the field of food will share his/her vision on (the future of) healthy food.

Following last week’s session with Henry Gordon Smith. Dave Chen, CEO of private equity firm Equilibrium, will explain in more detail his firm’s vision on purposeful, sustainable investment in controlled environment production and why this way of investing is so important for the future of the horticultural sector. In the past few years, his private equity firm Equilibrium invested more than 100 million USD in horticultural projects and there’s much more to come. Purpose driven investment and sustainability are key to his business.

He strongly agreed with Henry Gordon Smith and also with Meiny Prins that food production in and near the cities is becoming more important. The current crisis will only accelerate the developments towards food systems based on short(er) chains, resilience and with a regional focus. These developments will have a great impact on the future (geographical location and role) of horticulture.

He also argues that the current advances in technology that take place at break-neck speed, call for open minds and out-of-the-box thinking. To this end, attracting outside talents with different backgrounds and competences to work in horticulture is crucial for further development of the sector. 

Dave Chen will explain his vision on ‘the future of food’ in more detail during the upcoming EAT THIS! session, taking place on June 3 from 16.00 hrs CET onwards.
In Curious to know more? Join us for this session via this link: https://bit.ly/EATTHISDaveChen

Electric lighting is essential to providing supplemental light in many greenhouses and is the only source of light for indoor agricultural environments. These lighting systems are extremely expensive to purchase and install, so it is important for growers to select a lighting system that will provide the most effective lighting for their application at the lowest overall operating cost.

The horticulture luminaire calculator developed by the LRC, is based on a metric called photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). PPFD is analogous to photopic illuminance on a work surface in an architectural application. Just as it is only valid to compare the power densities of alternate lighting systems at equal illuminance levels on the work plane, the power densities of alternate horticultural luminaires should only be compared when they provide the same PPFD on the plant canopy.

Growers can easily be misled by considering luminaire efficacy alone, when selecting lighting products for horticultural applications. Luminaire efficacy does not take into account important factors such as the luminaire intensity distribution, optimal luminaire layout, and the number of luminaires that will be required to reach a criterion PPFD. All of these factors are significant when evaluating the overall cost-effectiveness of various horticulture luminaire options.

The horticulture luminaire calculator allows a grower to determine the best arrangement and mounting height of each luminaire they are considering. Using the calculator, growers can determine the number of each type of luminaire that will be needed to light their space to their desired light level, and select the product that will provide the optimum lighting, at the lowest cost. It would take several days to make these calculations using traditional methods. The horticulture luminaire calculator does it in a manner of minutes.

“Energy use and lifecycle costs vary widely among LED lighting systems used in controlled environment horticulture,” said LRC Professor Dr. Mark Rea. “It has been the standard approach for many years in the field of architectural lighting, and is becoming readily apparent in horticultural lighting, that we must conduct complete system energy and lifecycle cost analyses to generate an accurate picture of which technology would work best for each particular application. The horticulture luminaire calculator provides an easy way for growers to make this determination.”

This project was funded by Natural Resources Canada and other members of the Lighting Energy Alliance, including Efficiency Vermont, Energize Connecticut, National Grid, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, and ComEd.

Access the calculator at https://hortcalc.lrc.rpi.edu

About the Lighting Research Center

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the world’s leading center for lighting research and education. Established in 1988 by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the LRC conducts research in light and human health, transportation lighting and safety, solid-state lighting, energy efficiency, and plant health. LRC lighting scientists with multidisciplinary expertise in research, technology, design, and human factors, collaborate with a global network of leading manufacturers and government agencies, developing innovative lighting solutions for projects that range from the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to U.S. Navy submarines to hospital neonatal intensive-care units. In 1990, the LRC became the first university research center to offer graduate degrees in lighting and today, offers a M.S. in lighting and a Ph.D. to educate future leaders in lighting. Learn more at www.lrc.rpi.edu.

About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is America’s first technological research university. Rensselaer encompasses five schools, 32 research centers, more than 145 academic programs, and a dynamic community made up of more than 7,900 students and more than 100,000 living alumni. Rensselaer faculty and alumni include more than 145 National Academy members, six members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six National Medal of Technology winners, five National Medal of Science winners, and a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. With nearly 200 years of experience advancing scientific and technological knowledge, Rensselaer remains focused on addressing global challenges with a spirit of ingenuity and collaboration.

By Chris Higgins

LED grow lights have been a very hot topic for more than a decade now and as with any (relatively) new technology, the first decade of LED grow lights has seen massive changes and improvements.  From the amount of companies selling LED grow lights to the technology powering what they are selling, we have all heard or read why each company feels their technology is the best. In recent months, that conversation has included topics ranging from fixture design to cooling to efficiency (umol/j) to intensity (umol/m2/s) to color spectrum (nm) (all of which are directly related when it comes to fixture performance).  I dare say we have probably heard and seen everything that we are going to see.

So why am I writing this article?

I am writing this article because the majority of commercial growers are still invested in older technology.  I know many of these growers are interested in innovation, but definitely don’t want to invest until they feel the technology is proven.

I also know that this article is bound to have many people and companies disagreeing with me.

That is why I am going to approach this from the perspective of what we need to happen, versus what the technology might be capable of doing.

First, I am a believer in red:blue led grow light concept.  And here are the reasons why:

1.  THE GREENHOUSE

I am still a believer in the commercial greenhouse and I am still a believer in the sun.  Most commercial greenhouse growers who are investing in light are only investing in supplemental light.  This means that for much of the year they are not using their grow lights or they are only using them for a short period of the day.  They are instead relying on the sun to provide most of the energy for the plants. This also means that the plants are getting full-spectrum light from the sun (or at least what spectrum is able to pass through the glazing) and even when the grower is using their grow lights the sun is normally contributing a significant amount to the percentage of DLI (Daily Light Integral) the plants receive each month.  Based on the knowledge we (as an industry) have today plus the equipment we have commercial access to, a well designed greenhouse with supplemental electric light is a proven and economic tool for year round plant production in a wide variety of climates and geographies.

This is not to say that I don’t believe in vertical farming.  It’s just to say that the greenhouse has been around long enough to be proven to work in a wide variety of conditions.  In a follow up article I will discuss how important vertical farming is to the future of different parts of the agricultural process.   

2. EFFICIENCY and INTENSITY

My research continues to prove that the most efficient LED grow lights are red and blue.  It also shows that those light fixtures with highest output (umols/s) are red/blue led grow lights.  Depending on the ratio of red:blue this could mean as much as a 45% savings in electricity for greenhouse lighting depending on what fixtures and type of technology one is comparing.  This could also mean about 10% more light per fixture, which means less overall fixtures in the farm. For those growing food crops or ornamental crops, these types of savings can have a big impact depending on where the farm is located and how much the farm is paying for electricity.  Efficiency should also be front and center for those growers interested in winning the sustainability discussion. There are plenty of people opposed to controlled environment agriculture. Their main opposition is the energy footprint. And that is a fair argument. That’s why it’s important that we learn to maximize production based on using the most efficient tools.

3. OPERATING COST

If we want to be profitable farmers, now and well into the future, we need to constantly focus on operating cost.  This means counting pennies and making the best investment in technology we can based on what we know and what we have access to.  Energy efficient equipment often costs more, but if you maximize the operational savings and take advantage of utility rebates, the right equipment/investments will start paying you back in a short period of time.  And since red/blue leds are proving to be the most efficient option, it only seems to make sense that we figure out how to adapt our production strategies in order to use this technology.

Again, it’s very important to remember that the only use of supplemental lighting is to increase plant performance. Plants absorb different light colors (light spectrum) at different levels. Science supports the fact that the colors most absorbed by plants in order to promote photosynthesis are red and blue. Meaning the rest of light colors will require a higher light intensity in order to trigger the same photosynthesis levels reached by red and blue LEDs. Photosynthesis is the main process in plants leading growth and development. By using red and blue light you can be sure the money you invest in your light is better used.

So, why would one not invest in red/blue leds?  Is it because the greenhouse crop does not grow well under the lights?  Not based on my experience. Many of my customers, staff and friends have been growing under red/blue leds for years now.  The crops look great and the yields are comparable when light intensities are equal. The best argument I have heard has nothing to do with the crop.  It’s that “employees” don’t like it and might be uncomfortable. That is a fair argument. But, in my opinion that is an argument with a very easy work around. Growers should look at strategically placed work lights that are capable of producing bright white light at a lesser cost.  These lights will be less efficient, but not need to run as long as the grow lights (because they only need to run when workers are present) and because of that these less effective fixtures will not have a negative impact on the potential efficiency and op ex savings.

In greenhouse horticulture there is a golden rule:
1 percent more light ensures 1 percent more yield.

Important definitions:
Supplemental light:  A strategy used in commercial greenhouse production to increase crop production during time periods with low levels of solar radiation by adding photons from electronic light fixtures.
Daily light integral: Describes the number of photosynthetically active photons that are delivered to a specific area over a 24-hour period. This variable is particularly useful to describe the light environment of plants. 
Lighting efficiency:  The appropriate metric for plant lighting is photosynthetic photon efficacy (PPE). This is the PAR photon output (unit of micromoles per second, or μmol·s–¹) divided by the input power (watts, or W) to produce that light. Thus, the unit becomes μmol·s–¹·W–¹, and because one watt (W) equals one joule per second (J·s–¹), the ratio can be simplified to μmol·J–¹ (μmol per second/joule per second).

Important questions for further discussion, please email me or message me for further discussion:

1. Why does the location of the farm matter?  
2. Why does the cost of electricity matter?
3. Do renewables make this argument stronger?  
4. And why is renewable energy so important for sustainable agriculture moving forward.

Additionally, for more information on LED grow lights or to get  a return on investment (ROI) calculation based on your current investment, please email or contact me directly.