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Agritecture Pre-Event Indoor Ag-Con Workshop

Agritecture To Host Pre-Event Urban Farm Planning Workshop

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on . 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

Cultivatd

Cultivatd Raises $3 Million Series A Round

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on . Posted in Exhibitor News.

Cultivatd has raised $3.5M in the past year and is actively expanding into the USA, UAE and Australia.

  Cultivatd Inc, a Cornwall Ontario based indoor farm brokerage (and Indoor Ag-Con 2022 exhibitor!), announces the closing of a Series A round of investment of $3M USD led by Malcolm Bean of Resilient Earth Ventures (REV) Fund, a California-based firm focused on climate smart solutions and food security projects.

The funds will primarily be used to fuel the company’s expansion plans with new offices coming to Austin Texas, Dubai UAE and Perth Australia in 2022.

Cultivatd was founded in 2020 and the company’s Managing Partners, Eric Levesque and Eric Bergeron are both industry veterans who have been involved in Agtech for several years. Cultivatd has secured over 40 partnerships with some of the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry’s biggest technology providers such as IGS, Elevate Farms, Artechno, Cubic Farms, AmplifiedAg, Netled, RotoGro, and Delta9 in the past year, and intends to continue to expand its roster of partners over the coming year.

“These funds will allow us to service our growing list of clients, partners and projects and will help us get right into the middle of the CEA industry”, says Eric Levesque, Managing Partner and co-founder. “We did not anticipate the market would be this open to our service offering and we have now raised a seed round and a Series A in the same year to expedite that growth.”

The company currently has over $250 Million in active projects in it’s portfolio and expects that number to increase substantially in 2022. “The industry is growing quickly and more and more people need a better understanding of which technology provider is best for their project. It’s a massive capital commitment to open a vertical farm and we provide the expertise to help with planning and technology selection on behalf of our partners”, says Eric Bergeron, the company’s other co-founder and an AgTech industry veteran since 2014.

Malcolm Bean, Principal at REV Fund says “This investment is strategic in that it allows our fund access to the projects Cultivatd is brokering, helping speed up the process of their clients completing their vertical farming projects. We are very excited to see where this company is headed and to be part of it.” Malcolm will also hold a Board Seat at Cultivatd and help with strategy and growth.

Cultivatd is primarily a broker of technology but also offers a Farming-as-a-Service program in which the company will manage a farm’s operation for their clients. “We believe that success in this industry doesn’t just come from having the right technology (which we can help with) but also in having the right people running that technology. Our client’s success is ultimately our business model”, says Levesque.

The company intends to hire a few more staff to fill some major roles but is planning on staying lean – focusing instead on marketing and sponsorship opportunities to grow the brand into the $50 Billion dollar vertical farming equipment market.

For more information –

Eric Levesque
Managing Partner eric.levesque@cultivatd.com 613-360-5195
ABOUT CULTIVATD

Cultivatd Inc is a startup that connects people and businesses with the proper vertical farming technology for their needs. The company utilizes its years of experience in the indoor farming industry to assess needs and recommends the best solution for a clients’ budget, type of growing, location and knowledge. The company also offers services such as Farming-as-a-Service, where they deploy farmers to your location and general consulting services through a network of vertical farming experts throughout the world. Cultivatd helps clients get into the vertical farming space by guiding clients through the process of selecting the proper technology solution for their needs.

https://cultivatd.com

ABOUT REV FUND

Resilient Earth Ventures is a fund that accelerates sustainable energy and food systems in islands and remote communities. Managed by partners Malcolm Bean and Mark Higgins, the mission is to accelerate clean, sustainable, resilient energy and food. REV does this by investing risk capital in project developers, projects and technologies that can address the unique challenges of islands and remote communities.

We’re unique because we’re willing to take carefully considered business model, market and technology risks.

https://rev.fund

 

Bright Farms CEO Steve Platt Keynote at Indoor Ag-Con 2022

Q&A With BrightFarms CEO Steve Platt

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on . Posted in Blog.

‘It’s An Exciting Time To Be In the Business Of Indoor Farming’ 

Indoor Ag-Con is excited to announce that BrightFarms CEO Steve Platt and Cox Enterprises VP Steven Bradley will kick-off the February 28 – March 1, 2022 edition of Indoor Ag-Con with the opening morning keynote address. Platt and Bradley will share how BrightFarms and Cox are working together to transform the indoor farming industry – further strengthening its position as a sustainable platform for the future.

Ahead of his upcoming keynote, we had the chance to catch up with Steve to hear more about BrightFarms’ future plans and goals in this month’s CEO Q&A.

Cox Enterprises, which had a majority stake in your company since 2020, acquired BrightFarms earlier this year as part of its stated mission to build a healthier, more sustainable future. What attracted Cox to Bright Farms initially?

BrightFarms Greenhouse

The mission of Cox Cleantech aligns with BrightFarms’ mission to improve the health of Americans and the planet with fresher, sustainably grown local food. BrightFarms has been a leader in indoor farming since 2013, building out a decentralized network of local farms. Our demonstrated ability to replicate our model while developing deep partnerships with retailers was unique to the indoor farming industry. Since investing in 2018, Cox has been a fantastic partner and we’re now proud to be a fully owned subsidiary of the company.

We read that BrightFarms has expansion plans designed to bring local indoor leafy greens to more than 2/3 of the US by 2025. Can you share more about how you hope to achieve this goal?

We’re expanding our footprint and capacity with much larger farms ― 10-40-acre greenhouses that can serve as a complete salad category solution for retailers. We predict that in 10 years, 50% of leafy greens nationwide will be sourced from indoor farms, and BrightFarms will be a big part of that growth. We’re poised for massive growth in the coming years as we scale across the country. It’s an exciting time to be in the business of indoor farming.

What differentiates BrightFarms’ growing methods and services from others in the space?

BrightFarms Greenhouse

We have a proven, scalable model and are developing proprietary technology, called BrightOS, to support everything we do — from growing the plants themselves, to staying on top of food safety and leveraging greenhouse supply and retailer demand. Our experience and success in the market sets us apart from many other indoor farming companies still establishing their technology, footprint, or go-to-market strategy. We’re also the first company to be backed by a blue-chip company, Cox Enterprises, that is wholly supportive of our model and growth.

This year, BrightFarms also announced larger investments in R&D including the creation of a new R&D hub, BrightLabs. Could you share a little about why you created it and what the BrightLabs team is working on?

In 2021, we brought on our VP of Agriculture & Science, Dr. Matt Lingard, who heads up our R&D and food safety programs. Matt is building a team that will focus on delivering the highest quality complete salad program in the industry.

For more information on BrightFarms, visit the company website.  And, register today to attend the 2022 edition of Indoor Ag-Con to hear more from Steve about the company’s exciting plans!

intelligent Growth Solutions

IGS Vertical Farming Buyers Guide Series

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on . Posted in Exhibitor News.

IGS’ latest publication, ‘The Vertical Farming Buyers’ Guide Series,’ presents the latest, verifiable facts about our vertical farming system. Make an informed decision about whether vertical farming could form a profitable part of your business.

IGS split the series into the different areas you need to consider before setting up, expanding or diversifying your own vertical farming operation. The Buyers’ Guide Series comes in three parts:

IGS is a technology company that has combined farming and engineering expertise to create a vertical farming system that delivers grower benefits while also addressing the pressing challenges such as food security and sustainability.

Our Total Controlled Environment Agriculture vertical farming system allows customers to grow crops in a clean environment with zero pesticides, fungicides and herbicides, while supporting reductions in power and labour requirements.

To learn more about IGS, visit www.IntelligentGrowthSolutions.com

Overcoming Obstacles In Starting An Indoor Farm

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on . Posted in Exhibitor News.

Story sourced from AgritechTomorrow

In this Q&A, Cultivatd Co-Founder & VP of Business Development Eric Levesque talked about the indoor farming industry — and how to overcome obstacles when startning an indoor farm — with AgriTechTomorrow.

Tell us about yourself and what inspired you to start Cultivatd.
I entered the ag tech space approximately 5 years ago when I joined ZipGrow Inc in a leadership role as Head of Sales and Business Development. After acquiring a minority stake in the company, I helped to grow the company to 10 million in sales and from only a few employees to 20 or so in the first 24 months. The outpouring of support from potential clients was astounding but the solution offered was niche for most projects, leading us to turning away potential buyers on a regular basis. With that in mind, Eric Bergeron (Co-Founder of ZipGrow and Cultivatd) and I set out to flip the industry on its head by partnering with a wide range of companies in order to have a solution for every project. A year later and Cultivatd now has nearly 50 partnerships with some of the world’s leading ag-tech companies; from hydroponics, aquaponics, LED light manufacturers (etc) and we are working on projects around the world.

What is Cultivatd’s mission?
Our mission is to be at the center of the indoor ag industry connecting our clients, partners and funders to create successful vertical farm projects. Our business model is unique in that our primary role is to be a connector. We accomplish this by working with some of the best tech companies in the industry, with funders and by teaching people how to operate their indoor farms.

Why is it so important for AgTech companies to coexist and work together to improve the industry.
The world has a huge problem to solve in the coming decades; Growing more food, for more people, with less space and less resources. Localizing the supply chain is a global problem and AgTech companies are getting pretty good at solving some of these issues. We feel like there is some pretty good collaboration amongst our partnerships, although we do see quite a few of the larger ‘big names’ in our industry making some bold claims that I believe are detrimental for the industry. Large mergers, over-valuations etc hurt our industry and so we are focused instead on helping projects become profitable and successful by finding the best companies in the industry that are looking to help be part of the solution to recommend to our clients. There is a reason we work with the companies we do, and collaboration is one of those traits.

What are some of the biggest obstacles to entry for a person or company looking to start up an indoor, vertical or container farm?
Cultivatd was founded with the goal of addressing what we feel is the biggest issue in entering the vertical farming industry; knowledge. Our team has experience as growers, product manufacturers, start-up founders and we have seen the industry from many sides (investors, clients, growers etc) and we look to share that every time we work on a project. We’ve seen too many people buy the wrong technology and be stuck trying to make a business work because they only spoke to one company – they simply didn’t know what else was available.

Capital is also a big barrier to entry for many. We get hundreds of calls from people that want to impact their communities with vertical farms only to be put off by the true cost of a system (CAPEX) so we are always very clear with people early on. We also work with partners to help lower this barrier to entry as technology is now at a more profitable state than when our industry was just beginning.

How does your indoor farm brokerage work to help solve some of these start-up issues.
Our business model has a 3-pronged approach to solving the issues we see from our clients;

1. Brokerage: We help clients’ select the best technology for their project and walk them through which different AgTech solutions work with their budget, market and type of products they are looking to grow. While every agtech company can offer only their solution, we can offer almost 50 options.

2. FAAS: We are aware that operating a vertical farm is a much more complicated and involving venture than just growing food. That said, we launched a service called Farming As A Service where we will send experienced farmers to our clients locations to help manage the farm.

3. Funding: One of the biggest hurdles in our industry is the CAPEX cost of setting up a farm. We have partnered with groups like Contain.ag to help our clients get off the ground with funding. We are also in the midst of setting up our own capital fund (announcement coming soon) that is specifically geared towards our clients and their capital needs.

Where do you see indoor farming going over the next 10 years and how do we get there?
We think we are still at the beginning of this industry, even though our team is now 8 years in, and that the need for indoor farming is going to continue to grow exponentially over the next decade. The global food supply need is getting bigger while the ability to grow food outdoors is changing quickly. We see vertical farms solving a lot of the issues facing mankind in the next 10 years through a variety of technological advances (LEDs, automation, aquaculture, plant varieties (proteins, hops, medicinal etc), localization of supply chain etc) and we are proud to be at the center of it. The farm of the future is a hybrid model with multiple technologies and we are positioning ourselves to be core to the industry’s evolution.

Interview realised by agritechtomorrow.

Agnetix and JARS

Jars, Agnetix Partner For Large-Scale Vertical Farm In Arizona

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on . Posted in Exhibitor News.

JARS Cannabis has selected Smart Horticulture Lighting technology leader and Indoor Ag-Con 2022 exhibitor, Agnetix, for a new high-tech vertical farming project in Phoenix, Arizona.

Purpose built for Agnetix lighting, this new state-of-the-art facility will feature over 2000 liquidcooled PHENOM luminaires in a high energy density double-tiered configuration.

JARS Director of Cultivation, Ian Haselmire, spoke about why they were drawn to Agnetix: “JARS began this project with a simple goal: build a highly effective vertical cannabis farm. Vertical growing introduces additional design and operational challenges over single-tiered facilities. We selected the new water-cooled Agnetix PHENOM LEDs for their ability to displace heat before it accumulates inside our tiered benches, maintaining a consistent environment without stagnation and microclimates. The dense array of sensors built into the PHENOM platform further enables us to confirm the effectiveness of our HVAC and supporting equipment, highlighting areas of concern for immediate improvement.”

Dr. Ihor Lys, Agnetix co-founder and CTO, explained: “The Agnetix HMI provides a unique three dimensional view of these sensors, clearly showing the conditions, plants and process in real time. JARS found this capability quite compelling. The PHENOM platform provides unparalleled insight for crop steering, facility management and operational improvement.” Ian continued: “In the short term, this capability speeds commissioning. Every facility goes through
a break-in period, and the faster you can identify areas for improvement the faster you drive the projects’ return on investment.”

For more information about the PHENOM vertical farming lighting systems, visit www.agnetix.com or contact sales@agnetix.com.

About JARS:
Founded in 2020, JARS is a vertically integrated multi-state operator committed to providing the best quality cannabis with the widest variety of options at affordable prices. JARS is a progressive cannabis company that provides a welcoming and uplifting environment for its employees and customers. JARS dispensaries offer an abundance of product choices with knowledgeable staff that can provide insight into customers’ medical and lifestyle needs. Our approach to products, design, and community is helping change the conversation about cannabis in a positive way. In a short amount of time, JARS has built a trusted and powerful brand resulting in rapid growth across multiple states. JARS owns and operates eleven retail locations in Michigan and four retail locations in Arizona, with multiple cultivation and extraction sites in Arizona coming online in early 2022. www.jarscannabis.com

About Agnetix:
Agnetix is a technology company on a steep growth trajectory focused on the development of advanced smart horticultural lighting and information technology solutions for commercial indoor and greenhouse growers – both in fresh produce and cannabis markets. The Agnetix Responsive Agriculture™ platform delivers meaningful plant and energy data insights for quick, informed decisions. The Agnetix system includes highly efficient, water-cooled LED lighting,
environmental sensors, AI (Artificial Intelligence) imagers, data, and real-time monitoring solutions. Agnetix helps serious controlled environment agriculture (CEA) growers to significantly improve their crop yield, reduce their operating cost, reduce their carbon footprint, and run a more profitable business. www.Agnetix.com

Indoor Ag-Con 2022 Opening Keynote With BrightFarms and Cox Enterprises

BrightFarms, Cox Enterprises Kick Off Indoor Ag-Con 2022

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on . Posted in Press Releases.

BrightFarms CEO Steve Platt & Cox Enterprises VP Steven Bradley Kick Off Indoor Ag-Con 2022 With Opening Morning Keynote Address  

December 14, 2021 – BrightFarms CEO Steve Platt and Cox Enterprises VP Steven Bradley will lead the opening morning keynote address for the 9th annual edition of Indoor Ag-Con, scheduled for Feb. 28 – Mar. 1, 2022, at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, Nev. Themed “Growing Your Business,” the premier trade show and conference for indoor|vertical farming will give attendees the opportunity to explore new resources on the expo floor and hear from Platt & Bradley, other CEOs, thought leaders and industry experts from today’s cutting-edge farms and CEA companies.

“When Cox Enterprises acquired BrightFarms earlier this year, the industry took notice,” says Brian Sullivan, co-owner, Indoor Ag-Con LLC. “We are thrilled to welcome Steve Platt and Steven Bradley to our keynote stage to share their exciting growth plans and vision for the future of our industry. It promises to be an inspiring kick-off to this year’s conference!”

During the opening morning keynote – 8:00– 8:50 am on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022 — Platt and Bradley will share how BrightFarms and Cox are working together to transform the indoor farming industry – further strengthening its position as a sustainable platform for the future.

Steve Platt is CEO of the mission-driven indoor farming leader BrightFarms, and a veteran Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) executive with a proven record of growing brands. Under Steve’s leadership, BrightFarms was acquired by lead investor Cox Enterprises in 2021, resulting in a clear roadmap for future growth and a positive exit for initial investors. His passion for BrightFarms’ mission and products led him to the company, which grows pesticide-free leafy greens in its six high-tech facilities across the country. BrightFarms grows and delivers its greens to local retailers as soon as 24-hours from harvest, producing fresher and more nutritious salads, and significantly reducing overall environmental impact compared to West Coast farms.

As Vice President of Cox Cleantech for Cox Enterprises, Steve Bradley is responsible for building new cleantech verticals that tackle sustainability challenges while driving profitability, topline growth and diversification of the core business. With Bradley’s leadership, the Cox Cleantech team is investing in and acquiring solutions that positively transform key sectors including food, waste and energy to more sustainably meet the needs of the world’s rapidly growing global population.

ROBUST 2022 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE NOW IN DEVELOPMENT
In addition to Platt & Bradley’s opening morning keynote, 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.

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 event. More information: www.indoor.ag

CEO Search Announcement From Joe Produce

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on . Posted in Blog.

 Joe Produce Search to lead the search

 

Joe Produce Search has been retained to lead a confidential search for a best-in-class Chief Executive Officer, who will lead this $300MM North American grower-shipper-processor operation.

 

This business is known across the globe for its innovation and category leadership. With all its success to date, the opportunities remain plentiful. The present CEO has driven the company’s topline and culture through growth and evolution acquisitions, innovation and customer execution. The next CEO’s challenge is to pull it all together and while improving the bottom line.

 

“We love dealing with values-based organizations, who treat their people, customers and the planet with integrity and mindfulness,” says Rex Lawrence, president of Joe Produce. “Of course it’s always a compelling proposition to be a part of helping to place leadership in a company. In this particular case, the new CEO will have the opportunity to balance honoring the company’s heritage and culture, while at the same time steering it into a more profitable future.”

 

This role requires a CEO who will lead a highly respected and experienced executive team in a strong values-based culture. This dynamic leader will have experience managing a multi-site operation, with the ability to motivate, unify and drive the performance of a team of thousands. Most importantly, the incoming CEO will have values consistent with the company expectations of remaining steadfast in its pursuit of excellence and always doing the right thing while driving innovation and profitability. Compliance, ethics, and sustainability are more than buzz words with this organization – the ideal new leader has demonstrated that they do not just talk the talk… they walk the walk.

 

“This is an international search. Our team of Executive Search Consultants are interviewing leaders in the top echelons of fresh produce, agriculture-at-large and perishables. While we have some excellent candidates in our pipeline now, we’d like a few more. Finding candidates who match our client’s criteria and culture is not easy….but that is why they hire us,” shares Lawrence.

 

The incoming CEO will ensure the company remains steadfast in its pursuit of operational excellence, next-gen technology and production stability to keep customers happy and margins growing. The CEO will have full responsibility for the company’s P&L, reporting to a board of directors currently composed of representatives from the parent company and industry experts. The CEO has both the autonomy to run the business and the support of the corporate shareholder. Given the international component of our client, the new CEO will need to have the presentation, communication and collaboration skills to work with the board and leadership team.

 

This is truly a special opportunity to lead one of the preeminent produce organizations in its category and North America.

 

For those interested in the position, please CLICK HERE to learn more.

Also, call or write to us for a confidential conversation.

Erinn Barberini, Sr. Executive Search Consultant

Erinn@JoeProduce.com

916-365-9561

About Joe Produce and Joe Produce Search

Joe Produce Search (JPS) is the executive search division of Joe Produce, LLC. As the name suggests, Joe Produce is focused on the fresh produce industry, with thousands of client-companies across North America as well as international markets. Their clients include companies throughout the agriculture supply chain, including growers, shippers, distributors, wholesalers, logistics, packaging, retailers, associations and more. Joe Produce’s searches extend across most departments.

Searches include C-level executives, Senior and Middle Management and Sales. Tapping into decades of produce, recruiting and HR experience, Joe Produce Search has developed a well defined approach and care-centric philosophy, while incorporating a deep understanding of the clients and professionals they represent. They think of it as, “The Art and Science of Search sm.”

 

 

Indoor Ag-Con Hosts Successful 2021 In-Person Edition In Orlando

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on . Posted in Press Releases.

Back To Business In A Big Way: Indoor Ag-Con Hosts Successful In-Person Edition In Orlando
Premier Trade Show & Conference for
Indoor |Vertical Farming Welcomed Back Growers, Suppliers, Industry Leaders

(October 12, 2021) — Indoor Ag-Con, the premier trade show and conference for indoor |vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture, welcomed growers, suppliers, tech companies, startups and others back for its in-person edition held October 4-5, 2021 at the Hilton Orlando. Delighted by the chance to return to a face-to-face gathering, 398 industry members came to the 2-day event to explore the newest innovations in 52 booths on the expo floor; attend 17 panel presentations, keynotes and fireside chats with 60 speakers; and enjoy a variety of networking events.

“As our first in-person event since the Covid pandemic, we’re thrilled with so many aspects of this edition — including a larger expo floor and notable upticks in our grower, supplier, start-up, tech, construction and other attendee sector numbers ,” said Brian Sullivan, owner|partner, Indoor Ag-Con. “The feedback we’ve gotten from our exhibitors around the meaningful contacts, connections and new business they generated here has been incredible.”

“The energy on the show floor, in the educational sessions, and networking events, exceeded all our expectations,” adds Nancy Hallberg, owner|partner, Indoor Ag-Con. “Everyone was so happy to have the chance to step away from the computer screen, onto the expo floor , and into meeting rooms to see old friends and make new ones. There’s just nothing like a live event for fostering those chance meetings and encounters, quality networking opportunities, and invaluable information exchanges. It’s good to be back!”

Among the many highlights of the 2021 Show in Orlando show included:

Indoor Ag-Con | Signify Welcome Party | October 3
Indoor Ag-Con and Signify lit up the October 2021 edition of Indoor Ag-Con on Sunday, October 3, with a Welcome Party at the Orlando World Marriott Center | Kalera Hycube Harvest Terrace. Attendees had the chance to network with industry friends, enjoy cocktails & hors d’oeuvres, see and learn more about Kalera at the place where it all began

Three CEO Keynote Sessions:
David Rosenberg, CEO, AeroFarms kicked off Indoor Ag-Con with the opening morning keynote with his session, “Indoor Agriculture and the Power Of Partnership.” Later that day, Austin Webb, CEO, Fifth Season, led the keynote session, “A New Category of Freshness.” Mike Zelkind, CEO, 80 Acres Farms, led the day two keynote session, “Maturing the Industry,” on Tuesday, October 5.

Panel Discussions & Fireside Chats

Attendees were able to choose from an array of panel discussions featured within Business & Marketing, Science & Technology and Alternative Crops tracks. Fireside chats included discussions with Ralph Fritsche, Space Crop Production Project Manager, NASA; Greg Ferrara, President, National Grocers Association; and Don Taylor, CEO, AmplifiedAg, Inc. In addition, other sessions included a Women in Ag panel, Hydroponics panel, a cannabis program moderated by Chris Walsh, CEO, MJBiz, and much more.

Sold Out Show Floor

The 2021 edition’s sold out show floor brought together some of the top brands in the business, as well as a number of emerging companies, representing everything from lighting and control systems to irrigation, substrates, pest management and more.

Networking
From lunch and cocktail parties on the show floor to “After Parties” hosted by Native each evening at the nearby Pub Orlando, attendees and exhibitors had countless opportunities to mix, mingle and connect with each other during the 2-day event.

The next edition of Indoor Ag-Con will be February 28 – March 1, 2022 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show 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 opportunites. 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 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. More information: https://indoor.ag

 

Agnetix Launches Phenom

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on . Posted in Exhibitor News.

AGNETIX LAUNCHES PHENOM LIQUID COOLED MULTI-SENSOR AND IMAGING SMART HORTICULTURE LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL FARMING

Advanced data-focused solutions for indoor cultivation

PHENOM is a trailblazing new vertical grow lighting system with integrated sensor and imaging technologies building on the success of the innovative A3 and ZENITH luminaires. PHENOM integrates plant health sensors and a canopy imaging platform with the patented Agnetix liquid cooled hydronics system. Vertical farms can now increase density, height and energy efficiency by counteracting the environmental impacts caused by micro-climates and fixture waste heat pervasive in commercial grows featuring passively cooled lights.

PHENOM is designed for crops that require a Daily Light Integral (photosynthetic light measurement) for optimum growth ranging from 15-30 DLI, such as lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes and strawberries, to much higher DLI crops such as cannabis, which requires over 40 DLI. PHENOM may also be used in combination with the Agnetix A3 or ZENITH luminaires from start through vegetative growth and flowering as a full facility cultivation platform operating at the lowest carbon footprint of any grower in the same class.

The industry benchmark efficiency of the Agnetix system can now deliver close-proximity 100% PAR light (photosynthetically active radiation) to multi-level grows with luminaire wattage of 375 and an astonishing PPE (photosynthetic photon efficacy) of up to 3.61µmol/J and precision dimming 100-1%. Agnetix patented hydronics cooling extracts up to 140 watts of waste heat from the room per fixture significantly reducing the amount of energy intensive HVAC required versus any other light source.

The Agnetix environmental, thermal-sensing and computer-vision platform allows the vertical farmer to interact via the user interface remotely from the safety and convenience of their computer or mobile device, continuously monitoring the conditions and plant performance at enterprise scale with speed and convenience.

Sensor and imaging technologies empower key stakeholders with direct visualization of plant size and quality:

• Temperature, Relative Humidity, CO₂ ppm Sensor
• Leaf Temperature Sensor (IR)
• Reflected Canopy Light Intensity and Color Sensor
• Canopy Distance and Growth Rate Sensor
• Imaging Engine with Camera and Multi-wavelength LED Flash Illuminator

Critical plant and environmental information captured from PHENOM and HARMONY sensors intersect on the Agnetix HMI dashboard, enabling both manual and automated analysis capabilities.

“PHENOM is the next level of sustainable cultivation for high density controlled environment agriculture. It’s the ultimate high efficiency data driven solution for serious commercial growers and a game changing competitive advantage for our customers.” said Jordan Miles, CEO, Agnetix

Agnetix PHENOM is available to pre-order today with a select offering from the series available to ship to customers in Q2, 2022. For more information, visit www.agnetix.com or contact Sales@agnetix.com.

You can see PHENOM first-hand at Indoor Ag-Con, February 28 – March 1, 2022 in Agnetix booth 3013.

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