How Geothermal Energy Transforms Strawberry Production in Iceland
Ichigo Strawberries, an Icelandic startup launched in 2023, has repurposed a long‑abandoned building near the Blue Lagoon into a geothermal‑powered indoor greenhouse. By using steady underground heat and pure Icelandic water, the farm grows premium Japanese strawberries year‑round despite the Arctic climate. The operation demonstrates how Iceland’s renewable energy can be paired with high‑tech agriculture to create a circular economy. The model highlights the potential for similar geothermal food‑production clusters in other cold regions.
"Zero Investment From the Grower, but Direct Savings on Energy Costs"
Voltiris’ spectral‑filtering greenhouse modules, now being rolled out across Europe, split sunlight so crops receive full photosynthetically active radiation while near‑infrared is turned into electricity. Trials in the Netherlands and Switzerland showed a 3 °C leaf‑temperature drop, boosting optimal‑temperature exposure from...
Asda Announced a Partnership with Ocado Group
Asda announced a strategic partnership with Ocado Group to upgrade its online grocery experience. The collaboration will deploy Ocado’s Smart Platform across Asda’s website, mobile app, in‑store picking and home‑delivery operations. With more than 700,000 orders processed weekly, the technology...
Using Synthetic Microbial Communities to Boost Bydroponic Tomato Growth
Researchers have engineered synthetic microbial communities that markedly increase tomato growth and yield in hydroponic systems. Published in npj Sustainable Agriculture, the study uses a bottom‑up design of bacteria‑fungi consortia to replicate soil‑microbe functions missing in soilless environments. The method...
“We Don’t Need to Blast These Poor Plants with Hundreds of Micromoles on the Very First Day”
Growy, an Amsterdam‑based vertical farmer, has slashed energy use by tailoring light intensity to each growth stage, delivering only a third of peak light to seedlings. The strategy also reduces heat, cutting cooling demand and boosting the kilowatt‑hour yield. By...
Australian Vegetable Growers Face 61% Diesel Cost Increase
Australian vegetable growers report a median diesel price jump of 61% and fertiliser costs up 51% since the Middle East conflict began, driving overall production expenses up 28% on average. Some growers face cost increases as high as 79% depending...
Researchers Harvest First Vegetables in Antarctica
Researchers at the German Aerospace Centre have harvested the first vegetables grown in Antarctica, producing 3.6 kg of lettuce, 18 cucumbers and 70 radishes in the EDEN‑ISS laboratory. The crops were cultivated without natural sunlight or pesticides, relying on LED lighting,...
"You Get One Crop Failure and There Go Your Profits for the Year"
Bruce Bugbee, professor and Apogee Instruments president, presented a photon‑conversion efficacy (PCE) model that ties indoor crop yield directly to the amount of photosynthetic light delivered. The framework sets a theoretical ceiling of one gram of edible biomass per mole...
Village Grocer: "A Wide Array of Premium Fruits and Vegetables Flown in Daily"
Village Grocer opened a new outlet in Johor Bahru, promising daily imports of premium fruits and vegetables from Australia, Japan and New Zealand alongside local produce. Across the region, grocery operators are scaling up: Spain’s BonÀrea is committing €121 million ($132 million) to...
Peat Producer Upgrades with Automated Packaging Line
Lithuanian peat producer Sulinkiai has installed an automated packaging line developed with Premier Tech, TMG Impianti and Bocedi. The system automates bag forming, filling, sealing, palletising and transport preparation, boosting capacity while ensuring uniform product quality. The upgrade positions Sulinkiai to...
Texas A&M Assistant Professor Leads Push to Breed Crops Specifically Designed for Indoor Farms
Texas A&M AgriLife researcher Dr. Krishna Bhattarai is spearheading efforts to breed crops specifically for indoor farms, greenhouses and vertical production systems. The initiative will be highlighted at the National Association for Plant Breeding (NAPB) meeting in College Station, Texas,...
Malta: PL Proposes AgriTech and Vertical Farming to Tackle Land Constraints
Malta's Labour Party (PL) unveiled a plan to boost agricultural resilience by investing €120 million ($131 million) in AgriTech, establishing a Future Food Innovation Lab and promoting vertical farming. The proposal includes a 60% tax credit over four years for automation, advanced...
"Institutions Are Starting to Understand that Fresh Food Access Is Infrastructure"
Fork Farms, a Wisconsin‑based hydroponic company, now supports over 5,000 institutions across 50 states and 22 countries, producing nearly 2 million lb of fresh food each year at under $1 per pound. Schools, especially Milwaukee Public Schools with 86 Flex Farms, are...
"Without Partners Like Priva, We Would Have a Massive Challenge Keeping Even Conditions"
Avisomo has launched a large‑scale vertical farm inside a Coop distribution centre near Oslo, focusing on leafy greens to cut imports and boost local production. The project relies on Priva’s climate‑control, irrigation and automation platform, integrated with hardware from Danvan,...
Germany: Herbs and Vegetables From a Pigsty
German pig farms have shrunk by 44% over the past decade, leaving many stables vacant. Münster‑based start‑up Stallgrün is converting those former pigsties into year‑round indoor farms for herbs and vegetables. Backed by €125,000 (about $135,000) from the German Federal...