Author: Indoor Ag-Con

Organic, Sustainable, Affordable, Accessible: Q&A With Soli Organic CEO Matt Ryan

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on February 5, 2022. Posted in Blog.

Indoor Ag-Con is excited to announce that Soli Organic CEO Matt Ryan has joined our CEO keynote line-up for the February 28-March 1, 2022 edition of Indoor Ag-Con. 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.

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 We checked in with Matt ahead of his keynote to learn more about the company’s latest developments and plans for future growth in this month’s CEO Q&A.

Given your proven leadership background in branding /marketing with companies like Starbucks and Walt Disney, how did your outside perspective come into play with the Soli rebranding and what do you hope to accomplish with the new branding?

I’m very grateful for the incredible experiences I’ve had leading up to this point in my career and the lessons I’ve learned at each stop proved to be valuable as we went through our re-branding process in 2021. The new branding is a reflection of Soli Organic’s commitment to growing indoors, in real soil, and we’re aiming to convey to consumers the company’s vision to produce fresh products that are organic, sustainable, affordable and accessible to all.

Congratulations on the recent news about the $120 financing arrangement with The Decennial Group. How does this play into your growth plans?

This is a very exciting time for Soli Organic as we continue on a track of accelerating growth to build on our company’s 30-plus year history of strong financial performance. The arrangement with Decennial – one of the largest of its kind for a controlled environment agriculture company – will help to support that growth, providing financing for three new indoor Biofarm facilities that will enable us to continue to scale the growth of our operations and meet the growing demand for fresh, sustainably-grown, organic produce that is affordable.

Speaking of news, can you also share a little more about the new partnership between Soli Organic and Rutgers University and how you will be working with its plant breeding experts?

Over the next five years, we’ll be working with the world-leading plant breeding experts at Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences to select and advance the next generation of commercial organic, indoor-grown produce. Specifically, we’ll be analyzing the chemistry of new crop lines to optimize flavor, aroma, nutrition and yield traits for indoor cultivation. The partnership is an example of Soli Organic’s deep commitment to a “biology first, technology to scale” philosophy as we work to provide consumers with great-tasting and affordable organic produce.

What’s next for Soli Organic?

Right now, our focus is on executing against current product timelines and continuing on our growth track to enhance our ability to meet the growing demand for fresh products that are organic, sustainable, affordable and accessible to all. To that end, we have plans in place to build eight new high-tech indoor Biofarm facilities, in addition to the seven farms in operation today. We’re very excited about the future at Soli Organic.

To learn more about Soli Organic, visit the website at www.soliorganic.com

Jim Pantaleo To MC Indoor Ag-Con Las Vegas 2022 Educational Conference

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on January 25, 2022. Posted in Blog.

We’re pleased to announce long-time indoor farming advocate and operator, Jim Pantaleo, will be joining the 9th annual edition of Indoor Ag-Con as MC of our educational conference, February 28 – March 1, 2022 at Caesar’s Forum.

As a pioneer in indoor farming in Southern California and a part of the Indoor Ag Con family, Jim has been instrumental in creating content and gathering credible and dynamic speakers over the years — a role held today by our Conference Program Developer Kyle Barnett.

In his new role with the USDA-funded AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems located on the campus of UC Davis, the focus is on how artificial intelligence and machine learning can help CEA and the broader food system address inefficiencies, cost, yield, quality, food safety and other critical areas of operations and production.

Matt Ryan Soli Organic Indoor Ag-Con 2022 Keynote

Soli Organic CEO Matt Ryan Joins Keynote Line-Up For Indoor Ag-Con Las Vegas 2022

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on January 24, 2022. Posted in Press Releases.

Soli Organic CEO Matt Ryan will lead the day two opening morning keynote address for the 9th annual edition of Indoor Ag-Con, Feb. 28 – Mar. 1, 2022, at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, NV. Themed “Growing Your Business,” the premier trade show and conference for indoor|vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture will give attendees the opportunity to explore new resources on the expo floor and hear from Ryan, other CEO headliners, thought leaders and industry experts from today’s cutting-edge farms and CEA companies.

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 ASSOCATION 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: https://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.

Rivulis C8100 Fertigation System-01 (002)

Scale Up Your Indoor Grow with Fertigation, Irrigation and Environmental Control by Rivulis

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on January 18, 2022. Posted in Exhibitor News.

Growing Indoors is Easy, right?

It sure was easy in the olden days if you produced only a handful of plants in your home. It was all manageable by hand and required only manual labor of love. However, expanding to grow commercially today requires thought, strategy, and most importantly, advanced automated technology to grow consistent premium crops and high yields. All are still produced with love but much more efficiently, consistently, and cost-effectively returning better crops and maximum profit. Indoor cultivation is an art. Adding automation is a scientific art backed by plant data.

When you think of automation, are you thinking no humans will be involved?

That’s not true at all; with automation, you’re eliminating the potential of human error in your indoor cultivation process. You’re taking out the inconsistency of hand watering and nutrient application—the manual management of lighting, humidity, CO2, and HVAC. You gain a more comprehensive view of your whole grow operations.

Commercial growers aim for consistency in their crop. The only way to repeat this turn after turn is with automated technology. Allowing growers to dial in their grow cycle with complete control of water and nutrient feed and precise environmental controls to maintain that profile, crop production and quality. Adding automation brings a considerable leap of innovation to your grow operations.

Rivulis has been at the forefront of helping farmers grow for the past 55 years with advanced drip and micro-irrigation technology and is bringing it indoors, assisting indoor growers in driving consistency and growth for higher yields and premium quality crops.

We offer the most comprehensive product portfolio in the industry with an extensive line of irrigation solutions and end-to-end automation projects for any crop in any climate. Our business is to help you grow bigger, better, and beyond. And we have been perfecting it for over five decades. Our expertise and automation technology can help YOU take your grow to the next level.

Amplify your grow power with Rivulis

Rivulis is the new standard in the industry that will help you push your grow into uncharted territory for premium crop and yield. The Rivulis C8100 precision fertigation system takes the guesswork out of your irrigation and feed programs with a user-friendly controller interface. Growers can easily program customized irrigation and nutrient feed schedules based on the plant’s needs. Giving them the exact amount of water and nutrients needed every time. The system comes with an EC/PH controls, so you can quickly and easily manage nutrient imbalances.

Taking your grow to the next level requires control of the growing environment. The C8100 system base model comes standard with the C4100 Irrigation Controller to manage your irrigation and fertigation needs. Add the C4100 Climate Controller for more control. The C4100 Climate is totally modular and works fantastically well with one, two, four up to an unlimited number of zones. Together, this platform is a powerful system to intelligently manage your indoor commercial grow, from lights, HVAC, CO2, temp/humidity control, and ventilation, all the way to the roots, with custom irrigation and feed programs.

Ready to take your grow to the next level? Visit us at the Indoor Ag-Con and talk to our experts about how to amplify your cultivation power. Find more information at www.rivulis.com.

Jonathan Webb CEO AppHarvest Indoor Ag-Con 2022 Keynote

Farm of the Future: Q&A With AppHarvest CEO Jonathan Webb

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on January 16, 2022. Posted in Blog.

Indoor Ag-Con is pleased to announce that AppHarvest CEO & Founder Jonathan Webb is joining our CEO Keynote line-up for the February 28-March 1, 2022 edition at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas. His presentation, “How Tech In Farming Can Build A Resilient Food System,” will be on Monday, February 28, from 11 — 11:50 am.

From building an AgTech hub in Central Appalachia to launching the “Fight the Food Fight” campaign to investing in and supporting high school AgTech education, learn more about how Jonathan and the AppHarvest team are working to solve today’s food and agriculture challenges in this month’s CEO Q&A.

It’s your home state, what are the conditions– efficiencies of scale, workforce, available water and other benefits that make Kentucky and Appalachia an ideal location for AppHarvest?

Kentucky is my home state and I do love it. But, it also makes sense strategically to build an AgTech hub in Central Appalachia for a few reasons:

Kentucky’s climate is well-suited for the industry. We grow using 100% rainwater and climate change is making the region wetter. In fact, the past decade has seen the most rainfall in Kentucky history with three of those years being the wettest on record. If you’re growing products that are up to 95% water like fruits and vegetables, you need to be where water is available.
The strategic location of our flagship farm in Morehead, Ky., allows AppHarvest to provide sustainable produce to up to 70% of the United States population within a day’s drive.This approach gets food closer to where it’s consumed, shortens transportation time significantly and reduces diesel use by as much as 80%.
Labor is another reason. With industries such as coal and tobacco going away, the region needs more jobs for a skilled workforce, and we are able to tap into that labor pool for our high-tech farms.

What historic milestones are comparable to what AppHarvest is attempting with the Farm of the Future? Automotive assembly line? 1960s space race? Why?

At AppHarvest, we believe that controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is the third wave of sustainable infrastructure. In my experience working on major solar projects with the U.S. Department of Defense, the first wave was 20 years ago with renewable energy. The second wave came 10 years later when Tesla made electric vehicles popular in the mainstream. Now, we’re in the third wave and it’s CEA using a combination of nature supported by technology to produce a lot more food with fewer resources. We’re using artificial intelligence and robotics to make data-driven decisions to farm more efficiently and better predict crop yield.

What was the rationale behind the “Fight the Food Fight” campaign and how are sales going with your “Food Fight“ salsa?

Change begins with education. We recognized the need for a consumer movement to encourage folks to learn where their food comes from and understand that their purchases matter. The Fight the Food Fight campaign is a call to action that asks consumers to join us in creating a more resilient food system designed for the long-term wellbeing of people and planet by supporting products that promote sustainable farm operations and good, living-wage jobs in agriculture.

In early November 2021, we introduced our first product tied to the campaign, called the Food Fight Salsa. The main ingredient is AppHarvest tomatoes and all other ingredients are U.S.-grown. The salsa sold out within a few weeks and is back in stock on our direct-to-consumer website at shop.appharvest.com. We ask you to Fight the Food Fight with us!

Can you share a little about what AppHarvest is doing on the AgTech education front to help train the next generation of farmers, specifically with regard to your collaboration with Eastern Kentucky High Schools.

As we work to build a hub of sustainable agriculture in Central Appalachia, we know we need to create an AgTech ecosystem with good education at all levels. That’s why we are investing in the next generation of farmers and futurists by supporting high school AgTech education. We have launched seven container farms since the start of our program, with a goal to have 20 across Central Appalachia to serve as a model across the U.S.

These free-standing training facilities are made from shipping containers retrofitted with the latest sustainable agriculture technology, including energy-efficient LED grow lights and a closed-loop irrigation system that teaches students how to use up to 90% less water and grow up to 30 times more food in the same amount of space compared to traditional open-field agriculture. One container farm classroom can produce the equivalent of three to five acres of traditional agriculture, and the technology in each unit is a good example of what AppHarvest employees use every day on a larger scale.

Where do you see AppHarvest 5 or 10 years from now – what’s your ultimate goal?

The world’s food and agriculture problems are not going to be solved in the short-term. The AppHarvest team sees our journey to create a resilient food system taking decades. We’re at the beginning and working hard to create shareholder value now that will still be there in decades two and three. We want to help build a sustainable organization that will be able to go toe-to-toe with the larger incumbents globally.

One way we’re doing this is by growing to scale. In addition to our 60-acre high-tech farm in Morehead, which can produce an estimated 40 million pounds of tomatoes per year, we are expanding our farm network to include three more farms expected to be operational by the end of 2022. The 15-acre Berea, Ky., leafy green facility and the 60-acre Richmond, Ky., tomato facility are both approximately 60% complete, and the 30-acre Somerset, Ky., berry facility is more than 40% complete. A fifth farm, the 10-acre Morehead North leafy green facility has an expected 2023 delivery. The company is working toward a longer-term goal of up to 12 farms by 2025.

AppHarvest isn’t going to save agriculture on its own. We know that a number of large companies will be working to solve our food and agriculture problems, and we intend to be one of them.

Learn more about AppHarvest by visiting their website — www.appharvest.com — and register today to join us for the Indoor Ag-Con to hear Jonathan’s keynote address!

Katy Landt Safe Ag Systems To ATtend Indoor Ag-Con 2022

Safe Ag Systems Safety Management Software Now Available In US

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on January 16, 2022. Posted in Exhibitor News.

In case you missed all the excitement, Safe Ag Systems, an operational software for managing worker safety and health as well as farm compliance, is now available in the United States! Designed especially for growers, farmers and ranchers, Safe Ag Systems software offers a practical, cloud-based safety management system.

Australia’s leading farm safety solution became a fully fledged start-up company in 2016, launching as a safety and health system including its safety audit tool. Co-founded by Caroline Graham, of the Graham Group, and her daughter Katy Landt, the SaaS solution was created after a near miss on a family farm in Arthurton, South Australia. Many within the South Australian community and agricultural industry know Caroline Graham as a key supporter and driver of safety education.

With over 40 years in agriculture and horticulture sectors, and 20 years in vocational education, Caroline has spent her whole life on farm. Championing the project, co-founder and CEO, Katy Landt is from a five-generation farming family on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia.

Katy who left the family grain farm at 17 years old, combined her time as Design Director for one of Adelaide’s leading communication design companies with her understanding of product design, business operations, strategic UI/UX and industry knowledge to produce the digital solution. Allowing for easy management of compliance with occupational safety and health requirements, the safety management system is accessible via desktop and mobile app.

Based on common principles of effectively managing risk, complying with local laws and good record keeping, the data driven software was created to gather records in real-time. Data flows in and out of the product to both educate the worker on best practices as well as gather evidence to demonstrate compliance with various regulations and certifications. Provable compliance is essential for all agricultural businesses. There is no right or wrong way to manage safety in the workplace, but you need to be able to prove that you are meeting legal responsibilities, which can differ for the business, supervisor, and workers. By equipping the people on the ground, Safe Ag Systems educates as well as gathers the records required.

The diversity across commodities and constant feedback, over the past five years, straight to the Safe Ag Systems team has allowed the technology to improve and focus on providing a productivity tool to the business and its workers. Since Safe Ag Systems understands that not everyone has an inhouse Safety and Health expert, the program offers over 300 pre-made templates relating to work safety in agriculture. Safe Ag Systems covers a range of areas including policies and safe operating guides, safety checklists, chemical, machinery and equipment management, injury, illness and work-related incident reporting, worker onboarding, emergency management and more. One of the key drivers Katy identified with the acceptance of a safe system for work in agriculture was simplicity.

“Our farmers need to carry out their required safety obligations without impacting productivity and causing frustration. We need to be innovative and design a user Interface that takes them on a pathway, gathering data and prompting response.” “The mission at Safe Ag Systems has always been to remove the paperwork associated with compliance for agribusinesses without having to compromise on productivity and quality assurance. This top-of-mind awareness for safety and health should not be limited by country borders, but with the aim to take this mission global.”

As Katy has previously stated, “We have seen a positive change in the perception and importance of workplace safety and health over the past few years in Australia. Having witnessed this cultural shift, as well as the uptake and impact of Safe Ag Systems for our clients, we have an obligation to go global.” Over the short period of time that Safe Ag Systems has been available, its team and product offering have grown considerably. Having started out with a focus on family farms, Safe Ag Systems has evolved to include corporate farm needs.

Growing its community, Safe Ag Systems is now available throughout five countries including Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.

Katy Landt, Safe Ag Systems CEO, will be accompanied by Kirby Richmond-Davis, Business Development Manager, at this year’s Indoor Ag-Con. Bringing both their years of industry knowledge and experience, they can’t wait to meet you! If you’d like to know how Safe Ag Systems can help you or organize a demo head to www.safeagsystems.com

CarbonBook Launches Carbon Calculation Tool For Indoor Farming

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on January 16, 2022. Posted in Exhibitor News.

Indoor Ag-Con 2022 Exhibitor CarbonBook℠ has launched its flagship product — an easy-to-use software tool of the same name, that empowers indoor farms to become more sustainable and productive.

This new product helps indoor farmers, retailers, and input providers measure, document and improve their carbon footprints.

“Consumers, retailers, and investors are hungry for reliable sources of produce with reduced carbon footprints. Carbon score labeling is just around the corner,” remarked Daphne Preuss, CEO. “With CarbonBook, growers will be able to document their carbon footprint over time, using an ISO-compliant model. This opens the door to more sustainable indoor farming and will provide the validation needed for additional revenue streams through the sale of carbon credits.”

Developed specifically for indoor agriculture, the software takes a comprehensive and nuanced approach, including:

• Evaluating and monitoring CO2 emissions.

• Measuring carbon contribution from energy inputs, consumables, packaging, storage, and transportation.

• Capturing benefits from biomass production, recycling and power generation.

• Providing reporting and data analysis

Designed to meet the highest industry requirements for carbon footprint products, the software uses the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and indoor agriculture- focused life cycle analysis to provide the most accurate carbon calculations available for indoor farming. About CarbonBook CarbonBook℠ is a global leader in calculating greenhouse gas contributions from indoor farming. We assess and standardize carbon footprint calculations for produce grown indoors, from high-tech vertical farms to ordinary greenhouses.

Our products enable growers, distributors, retailers, and input providers to track and improve carbon footprints, from seed to harvest to delivery.

For more information, visit the company’s website at carbonbook.com.

Koppert New Branding : Inspired By Nature

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on January 16, 2022. Posted in Exhibitor News.

Indoor Ag-Con 2022 Exhibitor Koppert is pleased to present its new logo and branding! Koppert has grown and evolved tremendously since it was founded. Therefore, after 30 years it was time for an update, a branding that matches its ambition and reflects our connection to nature.

‘Our mission to contribute to the health of people and the planet by partnering with nature has led us to where we are today: a solid purpose-driven organization with strong core values. Our new branding reflects that mission and values. This will ensure that what we stand for is reflected consistently in how we communicate,’ says Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), Peter Maes.

With offices in thirty countries, our solutions are being used in 100 countries all over the world. Over the years, othe family company has evolved from a pioneering concern with four employees into a global market leader. According to Martin Koppert, Chief Business Officer (CBO), it was time the branding evolves as well: ‘To make our world more sustainable, we need ways of growing that are both safe and healthy. Our goal is 100% sustainable agriculture. We work together with growers and farmers towards this goal. Our new branding will ensure a powerful image across all global markets and confirms Koppert’s unique dedication and commitment in providing a comprehensive range of biological solutions in a wide range of crops.’

‘We aim to collaborate and co-create with partners in pursuit of our mission. We believe this branding will open a world of opportunities, connecting customers and partners who are willing to contribute to a better world,’ adds Maes. ‘We are convinced that we can be part of the solution, in which we offer our knowledge, expertise, and products to produce healthy food in the most sustainable manner.’

The new branding shows our connection with nature. ‘Nature is where we draw all of our inspiration from, where our solutions find their origin. Obviously, our new identity is rooted in nature,’ says Maes. The Koppert ‘K’ is designed to aim forward: always looking ahead for new sustainable solutions. In addition, the symmetry symbolises the equal importance of plant protection above and underground. The natural shapes and colours of the new Koppert brand express the connectivity with nature, and the unlimited solutions which can be found in it.

Jonathan Webb Keynote Indoor Ag-Con 20222

AppHarvest CEO Jonathan Webb Joins Indoor Ag-Con 2022 CEO Keynote Line-Up

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on January 11, 2022. Posted in Press Releases.

How Tech In Farming Can Build A Resilient Food System

AppHarvest Founder and CEO Jonathan Webb will lead the Indoor Ag-Con keynote presentation, “How Tech In Farming Can Build A Resilient Food System,” on Monday, February 28, 2022 from 11:00 am – 11:50 am. A headliner event at the February 28 – March 1, 2022 edition of the trade show and conference for the indoor|vertical farming industry at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, Webb’s discussion will focus on what needs to be done to truly fix the world’s food system. And that, according to Webb, is the Farm of the Future, which he is creating at AppHarvest by investing in robotics, artificial intelligence and tele-operation, while developing the types of technologies that were required for Amazon to transform retail.

Themed “Growing Your Business,” Indoor Ag-Con will give attendees the opportunity to explore new resources on the expo floor and hear from Webb, other CEOs, thought leaders and industry experts from today’s cutting-edge farms and other innovative companies.

During his keynote presentation, Webb will dive deep into what new technologies can deliver quality produce with safe, more efficient growing methods– which is good for all stakeholders — and how AppHarvest’s AI and robotic technology allows the company to make data-driven decisions on plant health, productivity and better predict crop yield.

Webb will also discuss how AppHarvest is bringing these technologies to market with its TechCo business, which is expected to serve the entire controlled environment agriculture sector.

Jonathan Webb is the Founder & CEO of AppHarvest, a sustainable foods company developing and operating some of the world’s largest high-tech indoor farms to build an efficient food system.

Before founding AppHarvest, he spent years developing massive solar projects for the U.S. Department of Defense. During this time, Webb learned about the Netherlands’ modern, tech-forward system of hydroponic agriculture. This research, coupled with reports that global food production would need to nearly double by 2050 and news of expanding drought and wildfire across the country, led him to realize that the American food system required change – fast.

He returned home to Kentucky to start AppHarvest. Jonathan knew that, by harnessing the best of nature’s capabilities with future-forward technology to grow delicious produce at scale, we could tackle systemic supply chain issues while also advocating for modern methods of sustainable farming. He also knew that AppHarvest could reduce environmentally costly diesel emissions incurred during the shipping process by locating closer to consumers, all while delivering more reliably fresh and nutritious fruits and vegetables.

Learn more about Jonathan Webb and his Indoor Ag-Con keynote session here.

“Jonathan Webb’s vision for the future of agriculture and the steps he is taking with AppHarvest to get there are inspiring and exciting, “ says Brian Sullivan, partner/owner, Indoor Ag-Con LLC .”We are thrilled to have him join the Indoor Ag-Con keynote stage in February and know our audience will be eager to hear from him.”

ROBUST 2022 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE NOW IN DEVELOPMENT
Webb’s presentation joins the Indoor Ag-Con 2022 CEO 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. Look for additional announcements coming soon on other headliner keynote presentations planned for the February edition. The 2022 conference will also include a full roster of panel discussions offering a deep dive into three core tracks – Grower, Business & Technology.

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

CO-LOCATION WITH NATIONAL GROCERS ASSOCATION 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.

ABOUT APPHARVEST
AppHarvest is an applied technology company in Appalachia developing and operating some of the world’s largest high-tech indoor farms designed to grow non-GMO, chemical pesticide-free produce, using up to 90 percent less water than open-field agriculture and only rainwater while producing yields up to 30 times that of traditional agriculture on the same amount of land without agricultural runoff. The company combines conventional agricultural techniques with world-class technology including artificial intelligence and robotics to improve access for all to nutritious food, farming more sustainably, building a domestic food supply, and increasing investment in Appalachia. The company’s 60-acre Morehead, KY facility is among the largest indoor farms in the world. For more information, visit https://www.appharvest.com/.

Agritecture Pre-Event Indoor Ag-Con Workshop

Agritecture To Host Pre-Event Urban Farm Planning Workshop

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on January 3, 2022. Posted in Blog, Press Releases.

Urban and controlled environment agriculture advisory firm Agritecture will host the pre-event workshop, “Planning Your Commercial Urban Farming Business,” on Sunday, February 27, 2022 – the day before Indoor Ag-Con opens — February 28 – March 1, 2022 at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, NV. Focused on providing participants with a clear understanding of how to think strategically and avoid mistakes when planning an urban farming business, the workshop will run from 2 – 5 pm.

Participants will receive access to Agritecture Designer, Agritecture’s proprietary urban farm planning software. This workshop will utilize Agritecture Designer and participants will work in teams to complete a design workshop to explore how urban agriculture might fit in with their current projects or long-term goals.

Workshop participants will also meet and hear from some of Agritecture Designer Partners and Indoor Ag-Con exhibitors, including Ceres Greenhouse Solutions and Montel.

The Agritecture workshop is an optional pre-event workshop add-on available to Indoor Ag-Con attendees for just $150. To learn more and sign up, visit www.indoor.ag/agritecture-pre-event-workshop/

“We are excited to partner with Agritecture to bring this comprehensive educational opportunity to our grower audience,” says Brian Sullivan,” partner, Indoor Ag-Con, LLC. “Participants are sure to find this workshop to be a great way to kick off their Indoor Ag-Con experience. Not only will it help them strategically navigate the concurrent Indoor Ag-Con and National Grocers Association Show events that start the next day, the workshop also adds even more networking, market research, and partnership development opportunities for their businesses.”

Led by Agritecture’s Director of Digital Strategy, Ricky Stephens; Marketing & Sustainability Lead, Briana Zagami; and Director of Consulting, Djavid Amidi-Abraham, the workshop outline includes:

Lesson 1 | Introduction to Commercial Urban Farming

Understanding the full spectrum of urban agriculture solutions & impact categories
Key lessons learned from current case studies and past failures
How to position your farm for success

Lesson 2 | Choosing Your Equipment, Crops & Marketing

Greenhouse vs. Vertical Farm considerations
An introduction to hydroponic systems
Understanding lighting options, nutrient solutions, air flow, and CO2 enrichment
How to conduct proper market research
Marketing & selling your product
Evaluating various sales channels

Lesson 3 | Presentations from Partners, including

Ceres Greenhouse Solutions
Montel

Design Workshop | Participants will be broken into teams

Teams will develop an urban farming concept based on a selected site location and parameters using Agritecture’s proprietary urban farm planning software, Agritecture Designer.

INDOOR AG-CON 2022 QUICK FACTS
WHAT:                 Premier trade show & conference for indoor |vertical farming and controlled environmentagriculture industry
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 event. More information: www.indoor.ag

ABOUT AGRITECTURE
Agritecture was founded by Henry Gordon-Smith in 2011 to help others navigate the crucial planning stage for their urban farming business and avoid costly mistakes. Since then, Agritecture has grown into the world’s leading advisory firm on urban and controlled environment agriculture, working with clients of all types – from entrepreneurs, to investors, to technology providers – in more than 35 countries. In recent years, Agritecture’s service offerings have evolved to meet industry needs beyond farm planning and include strategy, due diligence, market research, and more. For more information visit www.agritecture.com