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Month: December 2020

Indoor Ag-Con Announces Inaugural Advisory Board

Committee of Industry Leaders From Indoor Agriculture, Grocery, Specialty Food, Commercial Real Estate, Hemp, Other Sectors To Provide Guidance, Insights To Help Shape 2021 Exposition & Conference

LAS VEGAS (December 15, 2020)  Indoor Ag-Con, the premier trade show for the indoor agriculture | vertical farming industry, announces the formation of its inaugural advisory board.  Bringing together industry leaders from across the agriculture supply chain – from indoor farming to grocers to commercial real estate – the new board will advise and help shape the educational conference and exhibition floor offerings of the 2021 edition of Indoor Ag-Con and other new initiatives planned for the coming year.

Indoor Ag-Con 2021 Advisory Board (3)

“As we look at the challenges and opportunities the Covid-19 crisis has brought to live events and indoor agriculture,  it’s more important than ever that we  work with a group of recognized thought leaders in the industry to act as our Advisory Board to guide us in the right direction as we plan our 2021 event,” said Nancy Hallberg, co-owner, Indoor Ag-Con. 

“Taking this a step further, we wanted our board to include leaders from key industry sectors that drive and intersect with indoor agriculture, like grocery business, commercial real estate, alternative crops and others,” adds Brian Sullivan, co-owner, Indoor Ag-Con.  “For 2021, successful indoor agriculture business development strategies will be the primary focus for our event. The insights and intelligence we’ll gather from these successful leaders of indoor agriculture,  as well as a number of the sectors our attendees and exhibitors hope to do business with, will go a long way in shaping meaningful content, networking and exhibition opportunities.”

2021 Indoor Ag-Con Advisory Board


Samuel Bertram,
CEO | Co-Founder, OnePointOne, Inc.
 Julie Emmett,
Senior Director, Retail Partnerships Plant Based Foods Association
Greg Ferrara,
President & CEO, National Grocers Association
Henry Gordon Smith, CEO & Managing Director, Agritecture
Marni Karlin,
Executive Director, CEA Food Safety Coalition
Tracy Lee,
Division Lead, CEA Department, Sakata Seed Company
Jody McGinness, Executive Director, Hemp Industries Association
Tim McGuinness,
Sterling Advisory Group & Former SVP, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Chris Nemchek,
President , Coach Global Solutions & Former SVP, Specialty Food Association
Matt Roy, Vice President of Business Development Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), Tanimura & Antle
E. Austin Webb, CEO & Co-Founder, Fifth Season, Powered By Robotany
Nona Yehia,
CEO | Co-Founder ,Vertical Harvest

For 2021, Indoor Ag-Con will co-locate with The National Grocers Association (NGA) Show, the leading trade show and conference for independent grocers. The combined event will be held at the new Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas from May 16-18, 2021. 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.

ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON

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 , so setting the stage for further expansion of the events globally. More information: https://indoor.ag

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More Choices | New Jiffy Essence and Jiffy Finesse Growbags

Jiffy Essense Grow BagsJiffy has doubled its range of growbags. Now it’s easier than ever for plant propagators and growers to meet their crops’ needs and boost yields.

New Jiffy Essence Growbags: the perfect budget choice

Jiffy Essence is our new standard range of growbags. Filled with Jiffy’s high-quality peat-free substrate, Jiffy Essence Growbags are delivered ready to be rinsed and treated by the end user. That way propagators and growers can save costs and meet the exact needs of their crops. Recommended for tomatoes, cut flowers, hemp, etc. Jiffy Essence Growbags are OMRI-listed, ISO-certified, and are suitable for USDA-certified organic produce.

Jiffy’s premium growbags now called Jiffy Finesse

Jiffy Essence is the little brother to our premium range, the famous growbags Jiffy has produced for years. The premium range is now called Jiffy Finesse, to make it easier to differentiate. Jiffy Finesse Growbags are ready-to-use: no rinsing or treatment is required. Best for sweet peppers, soft fruit cultivated in high-tech growing systems, and other demanding crops.

Note: All Jiffy Essence and Jiffy Finesse Growbags are made from exactly the same raw materials: 100% high-quality coir made from the pithy tissues of the coconut husk. Our coir is a renewable, eco-friendly substrate with no disposability issues.

So what’s changed exactly?

Jiffy Essence is our brand-new range. Jiffy Essence Growbags contain our high-quality coir, but this has not been treated. The end-user must rinse it and may choose to treat it before use.

When it comes to Jiffy Finesse, nothing has changed – except the name. Our high-end, RHP certified growbags are now called Jiffy Finesse. They are guaranteed low in sodium and chloride thanks to our RHP-certified treatment process. Their optimized EC levels ensure the best possible yields.

Netled’s Vera® Vertical Farming Technology Introduced In S Groups’ Prisma Hypermarkets

Netled's Vera® vertical farming technology introduced in S Groups' Prisma hypermarketsNetled has entered into a significant long-term cooperation agreement with Pirkanmaan Osuuskauppa, a regional operator of the largest commercial chain in Finland, the S Group.  Prisma Pirkkala, which opened at the beginning of December, is the first hypermarket in Finland to launch Netled’s  new Vera® Instore Cabinet inside its new store.

Netled’s Vera® produced herbs and salads will be sold in Prisma hypermarkets in the Pirkanmaa area. Leafy greens are produced within the store in Vera® Instore Premium Growing Cabinets. Herbs are harvested directly off the shelf. The growing conditions are automated and controlled remotely.

S Group is a customer-owned Finnish network of companies in the retail and service sectors, with more than 1 800 outlets in Finland. S Group’s main branches are grocery, consumer goods, hotels and restaurants, fuel trade and bank & services. As a major operator, the S Group’s main focus is also sustainable food, and the new ways it can offer healthy and responsibly produced food for its customers.

”With this newly formed collaboration, we can offer consumers fresh, ultra-locally produced products and at the same time introduce them to vertical farming as a method of ecological, urban farming.” – Ville Jylhä, COO of Pirkanmaan Osuuskauppa.

”We have developed our range of offering for different segments of vertical farming. Instore growing systems is interesting and growing segment and as technology provider we have a lot to offer for it. Co-operation with Pirkanmaan Osuuskauppa proves the viability of instore concept also for our other customers and partners globally.” – Niko Kivioja, CEO of Netled.

The Benefits Of Keeping Greenhouse Technology Simple

Sourced From Greenhouse Grower Magazine 

Greenhouse equipment should be simple for the end user. This was the topic of a blog post written earlier this year by Chris Higgins, General Manager and Co-owner of HortAmericas, a wholesale supply company. The main message offered by Higgins was that the most successful products should be easy to use, learn, operate, and maintain. Why does this matter? It affects how much money a grower can make, as smart purchases can lead a better return on investment (ROI).

Indoor Ag-Conversations Session Why Does GreenHouse Equipment Need To Be SimpleSo how can this relatively simple concept carry out across the controlled-environment industry? Higgins tried to tackle this topic with three market experts during a webinar in October that was part of the Indoor Ag-Conversations webinar series. Joining Higgins were Nadia Sabeh, President and Founder of Dr. Greenhouse, an HVAC design company; Paul Brentlinger, President of Crop King Inc., a greenhouse manufacturer and hydroponic supply company; and Isaac Van Geest of Zwart Systems, an irrigation company.

Together, the group offered several thoughts on how growers can make sure they are being smart in their equipment investments. Here are some of their top insights.

  • Every greenhouse location has its own unique properties, such as sunlight, temperature, and humidity, Sabeh says. Putting those together adds a level of complexity to any design process, but the end result will hopefully optimize the environment for the crop.
    “One thing we see is not a lot of focus on how systems interact with each other, like air flow and how it’s affected by fans, evaporative cooling pads, or screens,” Sabeh says. “Growers need to look at the entire system as a whole, not piece by piece.”
  • Plan ahead before working with your supplier, Van Geest says.
    “It’s important to know everything you need from the beginning,” Van Geest says. “We can then take all those things into account when planning a design.”
  • There’s so much new technology out there that it might create headaches when you try to sort it all out. The problem, Brentlinger says, is the equipment is not always as simple as it seems.
    “Technology get better every year, and you can always upgrade, but the design needs to stay simple,” Brentlinger says. “Our focus is on designing for simplicity to maximize return on investment. If we can’t show the ROI, we won’t suggest the system.”
  • Simplicity doesn’t change, even if the equipment does, according to Van Geest.
    “We have updated our boom controllers several times, but they still need to work in a simple way,” Van Geest says.
  • In too many cases, after the supplier leaves the job site, the grower is left to figure out how to fine tune the system, Sabeh says. The problem is that growers are not often prepared to operate on that level of complexity to maintain and monitor new high-tech equipment.
    “My concern with very advanced technology is that growers will take for granted the plants they have and the system they have,” Sabeh says. “They think they don’t need to be engaged. I still want growers to walk through the crop and scout, no matter how simple or complex their system is. You have to know how the plant responds to the system and vice versa.”
  • Simple does not mean sub-par; it means a well-engineered product that is easy to operate, Higgins says.
    “Simple should be a compliment to the engineer, as it implies that the product is designed well.”

Article by Brian D. Sparks, senior editor of Greenhouse Grower and GreenhouseGrower.com. See all author stories here.

Autogrow and Agritecture Consulting Release 2nd Annual CEA Census Report

Global CEA Census ReportAutogrow and Agritecture Consulting have released the 2nd Annual CEA Census Report highlighting positive signs of growth despite the global pandemic.

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

GET 2020 CEA GLOBAL CENSUS REPORT

About Autogrow

Autogrow leverages the power of technology, data science and plant biology to provide indoor growers affordable, accessible and easy-to-use innovation – 24/7, anywhere in the world.

Our solutions support growers and resellers in over 40 countries producing over 100 different crop types.

We are the experts in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and continue to stay ahead of a rapidly evolving landscape.

 About Agritecture Consulting

Agritecture Consulting provides a comprehensive approach to CEA project development.

In operation since 2014, Agritecture has helped more than eighty organizations determine the feasibility of their ideas, validate their business strategies, recruit talent for their projects, and manage operational challenges.

Our job is to jumpstart your knowledge of CEA, help you navigate barriers to entry, make industry connections, and mitigate risk. Our consulting services are backed by several years of operations data and a team of experienced growers, engineers, and sustainability managers.