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The importance of the variety choice for vertical farming

Janneke Grit

by Janneke Grit, HAS University of Applied Sciences

Choosing the correct variety is often underexposed in vertical farming. However, the differences between varieties are huge. The differences between varieties can be a factor 2 or more. Results of variety tests are limited accessible. Our basil varieties trial in Brightbox showed the importance of doing variety tests.

Janneke will speak during Vertical Farming Conference on June 23. The conference is part of a two-day AgriFood Innovation Event, with 4 conferences (focused on 2 tracks: food and agriculture), an expo, workshops, student demo corners, lab tours and more. For the entire program of the event and registration, visit: https://www.3dprintingevent.com/program/

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Air the way you want!

Gerjo de Zeeuw

by Gerjo de Zeeuw, CEO, GrowAir. B.V.. Air is invisible, but the effects of air distribution and air handling are visible. How do you create a homogenous and optimal climate?

The people of KE Fibertec – GrowAir are driven to develop, produce and to market homogenous air distribution systems for the horticultural and many other different sectors. To create a good air-distribution system in a greenhouse, vertical farm or indoor facility looks very simple and easy, but it’s very complicated to reach a homogenous climate and maximum growing results.

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The importance of the variety choice for vertical farming

Jasper den Besten

by Jasper den Besten, HAS University of Applied Sciences

Vertical farming is a young industry and only at the beginning of its product-life-cycle. Technical developments go fast within the horticulture sector and even faster in the world around us. The innovation hype of vertical farming is over, the industry is getter mature and making more and more sense businesswise. The presentation gives an impression of challenges and future chances for this new type of farming.

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The true ROI of indoor farming

Maarten Vandecruys

by Maarten Vandecruys, Urban Crop Solutions

Indoor farming has been around for a while now and organisations of different sizes have implemented this technology as part of their supply chain. But which size of farm actually makes most financial sense? What level of automation should be chosen? Where do robotics come in?

As founder and CTO of Urban Crop Solutions, Maarten will share his insights.

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Brightbox tour during Vertical Farming Conference

BrightBox opens its doors for participants of the Vertical Farming Conference and Agrifood Innovation Event in Villa Flora on 23 June 2020.

BrightBox is an expertise centre for daylight-free multi-layer cultivation, i.e. city farming.  By determining the ideal growing formula for a plant – light, temperature, humidity, CO2, nutrition, water and substrate – we achieve the best results for the client. A higher yield, for example. A lower cost price, faster production, better quality or more delicious flavour. We research, produce, teach, and share our knowledge. Unique in Europe. In a closed environment, we open up the future of food.

The tour will take place on June 23 during the lunch break between 13:00 – 13:45. Meeting point registration desk. Only 20 seats available – Select the option when you register for the conference – REGISTER HERE

 

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Sky high nutrition content in food production

Celine C.S. Nicole

by Celine C.S. Nicole, Signify Research

Plant Factories (also known as indoor farms or vertical farms) are gaining widespread attention over the last few years. Pioneered in Japan, the last few years show an acceleration in the adoption of plant factories in other regions such as the USA, Canada, Europe and South-East Asia.

Leafy greens are crops that are very suitable to be grown in plant factories. Among them are lettuce, arugula and fresh herbs. Locally grown, these crops can reach the end-consumer faster and therefore the freshness can be guaranteed longer.

For those crops which are usually sold minimally processed, it is important that the quality and food safety is fulfilled. Apart from reducing risks from bacterial load and other micro-organisms, plant factories offer the possibility to grow these crops without pesticides.

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Farming value beyond the economic: cases of social innovation through Controlled Environment Agriculture in New York

Presented by Wythe Marschall, Ph.D. candidate, Harvard University / Research associate, Cornell University

This talk examines the production of different social values by a network of agricultural technology entrepreneurs in greater New York City. I document how farmer–entrepreneurs relate agricultural practices such as hydroponics to claims about what makes a food “good,” and what makes a vision for the future of urban dwelling sustainable or just. I argue that, since few Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technologies are of recent invention, the novelty that my interlocutors produce is primarily social in nature—such as business models, imaginaries regarding urban future, and relations with consumers, including how consumers understand the category of “local,” plant nutrition, and the vocation of the farmer.

Click here for the complete conference program

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Indoor Urban Farming, the Beginning of a Sustainable Era in Food Production. How We can Reduce the Energy Demand Cost – Presented by Dafni Avgoustaki, Aarhus University

Dafni Avgoustaki

Dafni Avgoustaki, Aarhus University, will speak at Vertical Farming Conference, on June 26, during AgriFood Innovation Event 2019 in Venlo, The Netherlands.

Until 2050, it is estimated that global population will scale up to 10Billion people. This rapid escalation of population dynamics creates a lot of difficulties in food production and distribution at a global scale. People have to be fed with nutritious and fresh food and at the same time, this procedure has to sustainable and efficient both for humanity and the environment.

Last years, scientific world is focusing in a new, innovative and promising technology called plant factories. Plant factories can partly solve the problems of food waste and unjustified run-offs in food production, by supplying fresh fruit and vegetables at the so-called megacities (population> 10Million).

This novel type of farming gathers many optimizations from different scientific fields (engineering, agriculture, and mechanics) and promotes the sustainability in food production. Plant factories allow users to cultivate their plants in a completely isolated environment simulating the solar radiation with different types of lamps, advanced ventilation systems for heating and cooling of the cultivation area and hydroponic substrates that are water efficient (up to 90% water economy).

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Vertical Farming: Catalyst for Customer Value Creation in the Hospitality Industry – Presented by Cristian Toma, Kalera

cristian toma

Cristian Toma, Kalera (former Eco Convergence Group), will speak at at Vertical Farming Conference, on June 26, during AgriFood Innovation Event 2019 in Venlo, The Netherlands.

The vertical farming industry is now at the peak of expectations. However, this favorable window will close soon if we – as an industry – do not prove our economic viability. This is particularly challenging in a commoditized industry such as fresh produce supply. Technological innovation does not automatically lead to economic success – it must be applied in the right business context.

My presentation discusses how vertical farming can disrupt and innovate fresh produce supply in the hospitality industry. In order to be successful in a commoditized industry, one must be able to build durable customer relationships.

Vertical farming provides a platform that can be used as a catalyst for creating customer value, and the presentation shows how this can be achieved in the context of the hospitality industry.

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