GreenTech has wrapped up in Amsterdam and Ellepot has been nominated for an Innovation & Concept Award for their Sleeve System. 

The Ellepot sleeves are what I consider to be the world’s longest horticultural growing media hot dog, ranging from 2 to 13 meters in length. Paired with their automated seeding machine, as many as 20 of these seed-filled sausages can be planted and watered in simultaneously, with seeds being automatically inserted at various spacings depending on your crop and production strategy. 

Paired with the right growing gutter, the Ellepot Sleve System represents an elegant solution to automating seeding and transplanting into leafy green gutter systems. Check out their website and video to learn more.

Ellepot Sleeve System

Lately, there’s been renewed interest in Nutrient Film Technique. Just a few years ago, I visited a nearly complete greenhouse built around Deep Water Culture, showcasing the latest in automation. At the time, the efficiency and simplicity of DWC seemed hard to beat. But now, gutter-based systems are gaining traction as a preferred platform for automation in controlled environment agriculture. Interestingly, the DWC greenhouse from a few years back is no longer in operation. Perhaps the crypto crowd was right with all their talk of NFTs; no idea they knew so much about horticulture. 

As I’m trying to keep my ear to the ground with the latest trends in indoor growing, it seems everything is trending towards gutter-based systems. What are your thoughts? Email me and let me know.

The latest issue of Inside Grower is now available, and it’s packed with great stuff.

This edition features a highlight from Indoor Ag-Con, where Dramm showcased the CE-Line—a major leap forward in fertilizer management. CE-Line, short for Capillary Electrophoresis, offers real-time nutrient monitoring and could be a game changer for precision growers.

Also inside: a fresh look at microdwarf tomatoes as a viable NFT crop. These compact, high-yielding varieties offer a smart option for growers with limited vertical space who want to diversify what crops they are growing.

Don’t miss the regularly updated calendar of industry events and conferences to help you plan your next trip or stay ahead of what’s happening.

Click here for the digital edition of the Summer Issue of Inside Grower Magazine.

Wyoming is making moves in the CEA space, with a wave of investments aimed at establishing the state as a hub for next-generation farms and technologies. A new partnership between the University of Wyoming and Vertical Harvest is at the forefront, combining innovation with workforce development.

Beyond industry partnerships, the university is also expanding its educational offerings. This summer marks the second year of its interdisciplinary CEA courses, open to students from the University of Wyoming and nearby community colleges. Classes are in session and run through July 18.

The curriculum explores key CEA topics such as plant physiology, environmental controls, production automation, system-specific hazards and harvest/post-harvest practices. The program also includes stipends, meal plans and accommodations to support student participation.

Backed by the Wyoming Innovation Partnership Program, this initiative is growing more than crops, it’s cultivating the next generation of skilled growers and ag tech professionals. We look forward to seeing the program continue in the years ahead.

Vertical Harvest's Farm

Svensson, Priva, Philips LED Lighting and Grodan have partnered to create Advancing Cultivation Technology, or ACT. This partnership aims to provide U.S. greenhouse growers with information on crop specific strategies to create modern and technologically advanced growing environments.

Recently ACT has announced the webinar series “Power Your Production: Real-World Tech for Better Crops & Better Margins.” The first of these will be from 1-2 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, June 19 focusing on flower production. This session will contain information on light management and dynamic shading strategies, indoor LED propagation, climate and irrigation control, as well as substrate and fertigation optimization for improved root health.

In addition to the webinar on the 19th, ACT will host another webinar in November with a focus on leafy greens.

Learn more and register for the webinar here.

University of Florida’s Nutrient Management Course begins on July 8. This course is designed for people with some experience or entry university level in production, technical or sales roles. This course will provide information on everything from common nutrient issues, the main essential nutrients, types of fertilizers, media and testing.

The course is offered in both English and Spanish and will take place over four weeks. The overall price of the course is $285. The course is online and asynchronous, and therefore can be taken at your own pace and when you have time. An interactive discussion board with Dr. Paul Fisher will also be available as part of the course. If you are registering five or more staff members, a 20% discount is available.

Follow this link to register for the course!

Dr. Marshall Porterfield has made a splash lately with a timelapse of a mushroom crop grown by a method he calls Mycoponics. This “hydroponics for mushrooms” presents an interesting way to cultivate fungus, as it lends itself well to growing in specific shapes for vegan leather production and packaging, as well as increased efficiency for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and edible products.

As a sustainable technology, I imagine CEA could leverage mycoponics not only as a way to diversify the products we grow, but in closed and semi-closed loop systems like aquaponics. I’m curious to see where we can incorporate fungi systems like this and if they can cohabitate in growing environments with plants.

Check out Dr. Porterfield’s website and the video of a mycoponic time lapse.
 

Mycoponics System (photocredit Mycoponics)