Enza Zaden COO to Step Down
Allison Thomas will step down as Chief Operations Officer of Enza Zaden effective July 2026 after eight years on the board. The change comes as the seed company moves into the execution phase of its newly announced strategy. An interim arrangement will maintain governance stability while the firm’s strategic priorities stay on course. The board highlighted Thomas’s role in strengthening operational capabilities and cross‑business collaboration.
Delivering Vertical Produce to the Heart of London
Harvest London, a vertical farming startup founded in 2017, celebrated the first anniversary of its Corner Corner facility in Surrey Quays. The 190 sq m footprint leverages a vertical design to provide roughly 400 sq m of LED‑lit growing space that operates 24 hours a...
Bahrain-Based Vertical Farm Strikes Investment Deal
Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat, through its real‑estate arm Edamah, has sealed a partnership with Badia Farms to develop a 50,000 sqm controlled‑environment agricultural oasis in Hamala. Badia Farms, backed by Gulf Islamic Investment, will invest roughly $3‑5 million to build hydroponic...
"The Industry Has Moved on From 'Is This Possible?' To 'Does This Actually Pay?'"
The CEA and Indoor Farming (CEAIF) 2026 conference kicks off on May 1, offering two full days of sessions on May 8 and May 22. Over 30 talks will cover energy management, lighting, water use, food safety, autonomous monitoring and scaling strategies for indoor...
US (NE): Omaha Restaurant Using Hydroponics to Grow Ingredients
A restaurant in Omaha has installed a LED‑lit hydroponic system to grow leafy greens and herbs directly on its premises. The move is part of a broader surge in vertical‑farm adoption, highlighted by industry announcements such as Premier Tech’s Controlled...
"We Row in the Same Direction to Support the Growth of the Biochar Industry in North America"
The American Biochar Institute (ABI) and the US Biochar Coalition (USBC) will co‑host the 2026 North American Biochar Conference in New Orleans from November 16‑18. The partnership ends years of tension, assigning ABI to standards and market development while USBC focuses on...
"Why Can't We Replicate What Happens in a Lake Exactly Where We Need It?"
Vertical Lake, a Kenyan startup, operates a solar‑powered, vertically stacked aquaculture system that recycles 98% of its water, saving an estimated 6.4 million litres per module each year. The 100 m² units produce tilapia comparable to 15 traditional ponds while also generating...
SPAR Austria and JET Will Open 5 New SPAR Express Forecourt Stores
SPAR Austria, in partnership with fuel‑station operator JET, will roll out five SPAR Express forecourt stores across Austria by the end of May as a trial phase. The compact outlets will stock a curated range of international and SPAR own‑brand...
US (MI): Partnership Brings Hydroponic Vegetables to Families Across County
Community Link, a Saginaw‑based nonprofit serving Tarrant County, launched Fresh Link Farms in 2025 using freight‑container hydroponic farms. The vertical farms produced 21,000 plants—lettuce, kale, collard greens, bok choy—within months, delivering fresh produce directly to families facing food insecurity. By growing...
Growers and Innovators Urged to Step Into the Spotlight as Fresh Awards 26 Deadline Nears
The Fresh Awards 26, a national horticultural competition, closes entries on 22 May 2026. Participation is free and open to growers, innovators and agritech firms across categories such as Agritech Excellence and UK Grower of the Year. Judges seek evidence of impact, ambition...
REWE Group Has Surpassed the €100bln Revenue Threshold in FY25
European grocery giants posted mixed results in early 2026. REWE Group broke the €100 bn ($108 bn) revenue barrier in FY25, posting 4% top‑line growth but seeing net profit dip to €525 m ($567 m). Meanwhile, Carrefour reported a 2.2% like‑for‑like sales rise in...
How Saudi Arabia Is Cultivating a New Era in Sustainable Agriculture
Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s most water‑stressed nations, is confronting escalating scarcity intensified by record‑hot 2024 temperatures and a growing population exceeding 35 million. To meet Vision 2030’s goal of boosting domestic food production, the kingdom is investing in controlled‑environment agriculture...
Cultivators, Vertify and World Horti Center Continue ‘Cultivation for Compounds’
Netherlands‑based Cultivators, Vertify and World Horti Center have launched the second phase of their international research consortium, “Cultivation for Compounds.” The new phase, beginning next month at Vertify’s Honselersdijk facility, shifts focus to practical, data‑driven studies of cannabis active compounds....
India: USDFC Invests in Punes Nutrifresh Farm Tech
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (USDFC) has deployed its first tranche of roughly $11 million (Rs 90 crore) into Pune’s NutriFresh Farm Tech, a controlled‑environment agriculture startup. This investment is part of a planned $48 million (Rs 400 crore) infusion tied to Maharashtra’s $301 million (Rs 2,500 crore)...
Croatian Strawberry Production Declines as Prices Climb
Croatian strawberry production is slumping, pushing market prices to near‑luxury levels. Domestic growers report a 40% drop in output in the Vrgorac region and labor shortages hampering harvests. Prices have risen to about $7.60 per kilogram on average, with peaks...
Edible Garden Secures $2.66 Million in Funding to Aid Facility Development
Edible Garden is converting a former National Shrimp plant in Webster City, Iowa into a 400,000‑square‑foot, technology‑driven ready‑to‑drink (RTD) beverage hub. The project is backed by a $2.66 million incentive package from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Once operational, the facility...
Technology Is the Answer, but What Was the Question?
At the conclusion of the EU‑funded Hungry EcoCities programme, InstaGreen showcased its Re.Source Society project, which reimagines indoor farm climate control through biologically‑inspired, low‑energy solutions. The team unveiled prototypes such as the 3‑D‑printed “Cooling Cactus” evaporative cooler and the “Living...
Hort Americas to Host Vertical Farming Short Course on Key Production Variables
Hort Americas is offering a two‑hour, $50 online short course on April 24, 2025, aimed at vertical‑farm operators seeking to master the variables that drive yield. The Zoom session, led by technical service specialist Karla Garcia, will cover hydroponic system selection, artificial...
South African Inventor Reimagines Urban Farming with Hydroponic System
South African inventor Jude Bezuidenhout, a 20‑year‑old self‑taught engineer, has launched UMBILO, an ultra‑high‑density passive hydroponic system capable of growing up to 100 plants per square metre without electricity or mechanical pumps. The prototype, operating at the Berea Bowling Club,...
Vietnam: A Second Chance Rooted in Clean Agriculture
Cao Van Hung poured roughly US $123,000 into a greenhouse venture that collapsed after seven months, leaving monthly earnings of only US $120‑160. He pivoted to hydroponic pennywort, a crop that thrived in winter while field plants withered, and began scaling the...
“Greenhouse Lighting Success Depends on Everything Around It”
Total Grow Light’s Jeff Mastin says greenhouse lighting is moving away from one‑size‑fits‑all fixtures toward flexible, system‑integrated solutions. He stresses that custom lighting plans—tailored to crop type, facility constraints, and financial goals—outperform standardized setups in most commercial greenhouses. Efficiency and...
REWE Group Has Reached an Agreement to Acquire up to 40 Tegut Stores
European grocery giant REWE Group announced a deal to acquire up to 40 Tegut stores from Switzerland’s Migros, expanding its footprint in Germany. In the UK, Waitrose entered airport travel retail for the first time through a wholesale partnership with...
"Buyers Can Acquire Systems that Would Cost Millions to Purchase New, at a Fraction of Replacement Cost"
SecondBloom Auctions has opened an online liquidation of more than 500 lots of equipment from Eden Green Technology’s former vertical‑farming facility in Cleburne, Texas. The auction, running until April 30, features LED grow lights, climate control systems, fertigation gear, vertical grow...
Canadian Saffron Specialist Faces Going Concern Warning as Losses Widen
Canadian indoor‑ag company Sativus Tech Corp., through its Saffron Tech unit, is developing controlled‑environment saffron production as the global market expands toward $3.7 billion by 2032. For the year ended Dec 31 2025 the firm recorded a net loss of roughly $1.0 million USD,...
"This Is a Practical Solution to a Big Pain Point in Many Vertical Farms"
SpectraGrow and Harvest Today unveiled the SLIM Lift System, a retractable LED lighting solution for high‑density vertical farms. The motorized lift retracts linear LED bars to the ceiling, clearing space for planting, harvesting and maintenance, and can support up to...
Malaysia: Hydroponics Helps to Sustain Vegetables Amidst Hot Spell
A hydroponic farming initiative in Padang Raja, Malaysia, installed tube wells costing about RM2,000 (≈$440) to secure water during the current hot spell. The system delivers a continuous 24‑hour water flow, allowing mini cucumbers to mature in just three weeks...
USDA Freezes Vertical Farming Loans over Soaring Defaults
The USDA’s Rural Business‑Cooperative Service has extended its freeze on federal loan guarantees for vertical farms and other controlled environment agriculture (CEA) projects through Dec. 31, 2026. A portfolio review showed 40% of CEA loans are delinquent, prompting concerns over underwriting quality...
Laying the Groundwork for an India-Sweden Medicinal Plant Collaboration
A March meeting at Christ University in Bengaluru brought together Indian academic and agricultural stakeholders with Sweden’s Swedish Herbal Institute (SHI) to launch a collaborative effort on medicinal‑plant cultivation. The partnership will train Indian farmers in Good Agricultural and Collection...
AI System Funghii Helps Mushroom Growers with Crop Monitoring and Harvest Prediction
Heliovision, a Belgian machine‑vision specialist, launched Funghii, an AI‑driven system that equips mushroom growing cells with four cameras each to monitor growth metrics and predict harvest timing. The platform measures cap diameter, growth rate and mushroom count over the typical...
UK: Cavolo Nero Kale Sales up 12% as Demand Continues to Build
A.H. Worth reported a 12% increase in cavolo nero kale sales value and a 17% rise in volume year‑on‑year across UK retail. The growth is driven by rising consumer interest in fibre‑rich, scratch‑cooked meals and globally inspired dishes. The company’s...
India: Saffron Research Lab Inaugurated in Telangana
Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University has opened an aeroponic saffron research laboratory in Mojerla village, Wanaparthy district, with funding from NABARD. The facility will study cost structures, yields and technology interventions for saffron grown in a soil‑free, mist‑nutrient system....
"Let's Just Build the Farm Inside the Container"
Jason Brown pivoted from a stalled container housing project to launch FarmBox Foods in 2017, converting pre‑insulated shipping containers into fully automated vertical farms. By designing custom hydroponic systems and low‑energy electrical layouts, each unit runs on roughly 190 kWh per...
NABARD Includes Vertical Farming in Delhi's First State Credit Plan as Part of Urban Agriculture Push
India's National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) hosted Delhi's first State Credit Seminar, unveiling the capital’s maiden State Focus Paper (SFP) for 2026‑27. The SFP spotlights urban agriculture models such as vertical, rooftop and organic farming, and introduces...
"We're Excited to Bring the Farm Closer to Our Customers"
Swegreen’s Saga in‑store farming system will be installed at ICA Kvantum Brunnshög in Lund, opening in the first half of 2026. The vertical farm will grow fresh herbs and leafy greens on‑site, delivering pesticide‑free produce year‑round. By producing directly in...
Bangladesh: Bepza Hydroponic Facility Expected to Create 3,000 New Jobs
Green Pure Houseware (BD) is investing $30.47 million to build a hydroponic tent manufacturing plant in the Bepza Economic Zone, Mirsarai. The 22,000 sq m facility, allocated across six plots, will create about 3,000 jobs and begin production in March 2025. It will...
Up to 50% of a Strawberry Plant's Sale Price Goes Towards Transport
Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) promotes vertical‑farm growth towers to produce strawberry starter plants in a controlled, biosecure environment. The company highlights that up to 50% of a plant’s final sale price can be eaten by transport and cold‑chain logistics, making...
Vertical Options Draw Youth to Growing in South Korea
Nubo, a South Korean ag‑tech firm, launched a six‑story container vertical farm in Gimje that grew 2,200 basil plants under fully automated climate control. A YouTube video of the operation, posted in July, has drawn about 130,000 views. The company’s...
Critical Success Factors for New CEA Operations
The article outlines the critical success factors for launching and scaling a vertical farm, emphasizing the need for a two‑stage planning approach—first a feasibility plan, then a full business plan. It breaks down capital and operating cost categories, from real‑estate...
Sales in January-March Grow From the Previous Year for S Group
Finland’s S Group reported Q1 2026 retail sales before tax of €3.44 billion (approximately $3.75 billion), marking a 5 % increase over the same period last year. The growth was driven by higher volumes in grocery, non‑food items and fuel retail at its...
A Stronger Signal for Hydroponic Leafy Greens in Latin America
Cultivators hosted its second annual GreenTech Americas workshop in Querétaro, drawing more than 60 participants—a 50% increase over last year—to discuss hydroponic leafy greens in Latin America. Speakers from Rijk Zwaan, VB and Flier Systems highlighted how variety selection, high‑tech greenhouse automation,...
CEA Alliance Publishes Second Edition of Food Safety Guidelines for Leafy Greens
The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Alliance has released a second edition of its Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for leafy greens and herbs. The revision reflects rapid advances in risk understanding, new traceability and agricultural‑water regulations, and the latest scientific...
US (PA): Wayne County Pilot Program Uses Food Lockers to Boost Access to Local Produce
Wayne County launched a pilot program installing three food lockers at a public library, fire department and borough office to distribute locally grown produce from farms such as Bialecki Farms. The lockers let residents order fresh vegetables at any time,...
US: Former Mushroom Kit Specialist Celebrates Expansion
Back to the Roots announced a Spring 2026 expansion with Target, extending its organic gardening line across more than 1,800 Target stores and online. The partnership, now in its ninth year, has grown from a single mushroom kit to a full...
Coop Danmark A/S: Recovery in FY 2025
Coop Danmark A/S announced a turnaround for FY 2025, projecting EBITDA of DKK 313 million (≈$45 million) versus a loss of DKK 37 million (≈$5 million) a year earlier. The Danish retailer’s improved earnings signal a path to profitability in 2026, while peers across Europe show mixed...
Coopérative U Is Expanding Its International Reach
French retailer Coopérative U entered the Democratic Republic of Congo through a partnership with Kin Marché, marking its latest overseas expansion. In Asia and Europe, retailers such as SPAR Sri Lanka opened new stores, Dagrofa Foodservice posted a 13% revenue rise...
"Vertical Farms Aren't a Silver Bullet, but There Are Cases Where They Make a Lot of Sense"
Growcer, an Ottawa‑based modular farming firm, won the 2026 Governor General's Innovation Award, highlighting its role in Canadian food resilience. The company now boasts over 120 installations in Canada and more than 1,000 worldwide, shifting market conversations from basic awareness...
"We Continue to Focus on Realistic Business Models and Industrial Applications that Already Create Demonstrable Value"
Urban Crop Solutions has been named to the FoodTech 500 ranking for 2025, confirming its position among the world’s most innovative AgriFoodTech firms. The Belgian company’s strategy centers on scalable, industrial indoor‑farming solutions with a clear B2B focus, proven technology and...
Baltimore Mushroom Farm Turns Former Office Into Specialty Fungi Operation for Top Restaurants
Falls Road Mushroom Company transformed a vacant Hampden office into a high‑tech mushroom farm, producing lion’s‑mane, king oyster and other specialty fungi. Owner Jonathan Manekin left a two‑decade real‑estate career to run the operation, using controlled‑environment tents, fans and spinning...
US (PA): Aquaponics Operation Looks to Expand
WestWinn Urban Agriculture Co., a subsidiary of The Winner Companies, launched a 25,000‑sq‑ft indoor aquaponics farm in Sharon, Pennsylvania in June 2023. The facility grows lettuce and other crops year‑round by fertilizing plants with nutrients from on‑site fish waste, operating seven...
Rwanda's Urban Farming Push: Vertical Farms and Hydroponics Tackle Land Scarcity
Rwanda’s government is combating rapid loss of farmland to urban growth with a multi‑pronged initiative that includes satellite mapping, strict zoning enforcement and fines of up to $3,000 for violations. The Kigali master plan reserves 22% of the city’s land...