Latest news with #hydroponics
National Post
13 hours ago
- Science
- National Post
University Trial Confirms Persist® PAF Enhances Plant-Beneficial Microbes
Article content VGrid partnered with Wageningen University and Research, a global leader in controlled-environment agriculture, to conduct this hydroponics tomato cultivation trial. Article content CAMARILLO, Calif. — A recent university study found that Persist® PAF, a liquid enhancer for plants and soil, boosts the growth of beneficial microbes in biochar—leading to lasting improvements in the root zone of hydroponic tomato plants. Article content The study, conducted in the Netherlands, compared pistachio shell biochar—produced by VGrid's Bioserver® units—with standard coir slabs, untreated biochar, acetic acid-treated biochar, and biochar pre-treated with PAF. Researchers evaluated microbial activity in both the growing medium and tomato rhizosphere over a 23-week cultivation period using advanced qPCR and DNA metabarcoding methods. Article content In the trial, PAF-treated biochar showed significantly higher levels of beneficial bacteria—especially those involved in nutrient cycling and plant resilience—compared to untreated or acid-only treatments. The result is a more biologically active root zone that supports better plant growth and productivity. Article content Key Findings: Article content compared to all other substrates, including coir, untreated biochar, and biochar treated with acetic acid. Article content The bacterial phyla Nitrospirae and Firmicutes Article content , which are known to promote nutrient cycling and plant resilience, were substantially more abundant in the PAF-treated biochar. Article content PAF had a lasting impact on the microbiome of the biochar substrate and the tomato rhizosphere Article content , resulting in a more diverse and beneficial bacterial community throughout the cultivation period. Article content These findings highlight the potential of PAF to enhance crop and soil productivity, reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, and advance sustainable, organic, and regenerative agriculture. Article content Jeff Norton, Vice President of Business Development with VGrid, commented, 'We're excited with these results. They further confirm what we've seen in previous trials and the field—PAF improves plant vigor and drives positive change to the microbiome. The PAF-treated biochar also significantly outperformed acetic acid-treated biochar, showing that PAF's benefits aren't just about lowering pH—its unique chemistry is driving the results.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Gulf Business
2 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
Beyond the risk register: Why future-ready leadership demands strategic discomfort
Image: Supplied The year is 2029, and vertical farming has become a symbol of national resilience in the Middle East. Governments had have poured billions into hydroponic megafarms. Food security indices have climbed and export deals rolled in. The region has also been hailed globally as a pioneer of agricultural innovation – a place where technology had triumphed over land scarcity and climate stress. And then it all collapses. A fungal microbe, exploiting the genetic uniformity of hydroponic crops, mutated in a single facility, sweeps through the region's interconnected systems. Within six weeks, 40 per cent of regional crop output is lost. Emergency imports are then scrambled at record costs. What seemed like a shining example of resilience is exposed as dangerously brittle. The risk was known. The signals were there – just not heard, or not heeded. This isn't a possible 'future' story about agriculture. It spotlights leadership under complexity. From pandemic blindspots to supply chain fragilities and climate volatility to AI backlash, organisations across every sector continue to be surprised by visible and often documented disruptions that were ultimately sidelined. Known, but ignored Why does this keep happening? Not because the risks are invisible but because they're inconvenient, ambiguous, or don't fit the dominant narrative. In environments that reward momentum and performance, there is often little appetite for the slow work of horizon scanning or scenario stress-testing – especially when things appear to be going well. Risks that are uncomfortable or unfamiliar are easily dismissed as fringe. And when success stories dominate, dissenting signals – especially weak ones – struggle to break through. The vertical farming collapse followed this exact pattern. Early warnings were buried in obscure journals, dismissed as edge-case thinking. There was no lack of intelligence. But attention was highly selective. The illusion of the list Many organisations believe that because a risk appears on a register, it is being managed. But listing a risk and engaging with it are two very different things. Take the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report . Each year, it publishes a heat map identifying the most severe and likely risks facing the world over the next decade. Climate volatility. Biodiversity loss. Emerging infectious diseases. Cybercrime. Water crises. Year after year, these threats are mapped, flagged, and even color-coded – often with 'blobs' so large they're impossible to miss. And yet the most common organisational response is to file these risks under 'context', rather than integrate them into core planning. They are acknowledged, but rarely rehearsed. The problem isn't the heat map. The problem is what happens after. The mere appearance of a threat on a list can create a false sense of preparedness – a box ticked, a risk 'covered'. Risk registers often serve as a checklist – useful for reporting, but misleading when it comes to real readiness. Rarely do leadership teams ask: What would we actually do if this happened tomorrow? And most registers fail to consider how risks interact. A CEO scandal, shifting consumer ethics, a tech system failure, and policy fragmentation – individually manageable, perhaps. Together? Catastrophic. Strategic foresight starts where the risk register ends – not with what's on the list but with how those risks might collide. From risk registers to risk realism So, what does it take to build a future-ready organisation in a time of converging disruption? We propose three shifts: Expand peripheral vision: Build structured capacity to detect early signals from the margins – in scientific literature, startup ecosystems, citizen movements, and niche media. Weak signals are often the earliest indicators of system shifts. Unless you design for it, they won't rise through the usual filters. Institutionalise strategic discomfort: Challenge internal optimism regularly. Build in moments to stress-test assumptions and rehearse disruption. Reward people who challenge prevailing wisdom, not just those who confirm it. Map risk interdependencies: Move beyond lists. Use systems thinking to explore how risks could combine. Model chain reactions and secondary effects. Ask not just 'What could go wrong?', but 'What could go wrong together ?' Future-readiness is a cultural trait Foresight isn't about crystal balls or radical prediction. It's about readiness for uncertainty – and a willingness to engage the uncomfortable. The most resilient organisations aren't those that see the future clearly but those that build the muscles to adapt to futures they can't fully see. That begins with humility, curiosity, and the courage to ask: What might we be missing? This demands a cultural shift. One that values critical inquiry over certainty. Signals over noise. And reflection over reaction. In the aftermath of every high-profile shock – from pandemics to tech crashes – leaders demand tighter regulation, faster protocols, and better reporting. But those alone won't build adaptive capacity. Because in every one of these cases, there were warnings. The failure was not one of ignorance – but of attention. Foresight failed because it asked the system to be uncomfortable – and the system declined. Three questions every board should be asking Which of our success stories might be blinding us to emerging fragilities? What signals are we currently incentivised to ignore? If three of our 'low-impact' risks hit at once – what would break first? If your strategy doesn't create space for doubt, it's not a strategy – it's a narrative. If your risk register doesn't provoke discomfort, it's incomplete. And if your future looks smooth and linear, it's probably fiction. Doris Viljoen is a director at the Institute for Futures Research at Read:
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Vertical farming in the UAE: Fresh, clean, and grown by code
In a country better known for sand dunes than salad bowls, something quietly radical is growing behind glass walls. Inside brightly lit, climate-controlled farms, tomatoes ripen untouched by pesticides, and lettuce flourishes in vertical towers; no soil, no sunlight, no tractors. This isn't traditional farming; it's agriculture reimagined for the 21st century. No dirt under your nails. No crop seasons to worry about. Just smart tech feeding smart cities. Once dismissed as futuristic novelties, vertical farms are now rising in malls, warehouses, and hotel rooftops across the Emirates. They're feeding more than just a population — they're feeding a movement for cleaner, smarter, more sustainable food. At a time of water scarcity and climate disruption, the UAE isn't just adapting, it's innovating. As told to BTR magazine, both UNS Vertical Farms and Pure Harvest Smart Farms are reshaping how the UAE thinks about agriculture and food doesn't have to grow from the ground anymore — sometimes, it grows from innovation. And somehow — it tastes even better. Less water, more yield Ask anyone in agriculture and they'll tell you: water is everything. Which is precisely why the 90% reduction in water usage by vertical farms feels like a game changer — especially in a place like the UAE, where every drop counts. 'At UNS Farms, we run a closed-loop hydroponic system,' says Mehlam Murtaza, Executive Director at UNS Vertical Farms. 'That means water isn't lost to the soil or evaporated — it's recycled and reused. We deliver exactly what the plant needs, directly to the roots. No more, no less.' Instead of sprawling fields, UNS builds up — using vertical racks that multiply their yield per square meter. Combine that with a climate-controlled environment and you get high-output farming that's unaffected by the region's sweltering heat or unreliable rainfall. 'We've essentially engineered a micro-climate inside our farms,' Murtaza adds. 'It's about growing smarter, not just harder.' A farm without pesticides Walk through a UNS facility or Pure Harvest greenhouse, and you'll notice something odd: no chemicals. Zero. Not even the so-called 'safe' ones. For both companies, removing pesticides isn't just a marketing angle — it's a pillar of their sustainability ethos. 'We operate like we're guarding a castle,' says Sky Kurtz, CEO and Founder of Pure Harvest Smart Farms. 'Our climate-controlled, closed-loop system keeps pests out. And if something does get in, we don't reach for chemicals — we bring in beneficial insects or other natural interventions.' Pure Harvest leans into integrated pest management (IPM), a method that prioritizes balance over eradication. In short, it's about working with nature rather than against it. UNS, meanwhile, takes a similarly holistic route. 'It's about early detection, sanitation, and rotating crops regularly,' says Murtaza. 'When you have full control over your growing environment, you don't need to rely on chemicals. And that's better for the planet — and for people.' Both companies back their methods with international certifications, like HACCP and ISO 22000:2018, reassuring consumers that 'chemical-free' doesn't mean 'risky.' In fact, it means the opposite. Farms in malls, not fields There's something captivating about watching lettuce grow in the middle of a luxury mall or seeing a vertical herb garden inside a five-star hotel. It's not just for show. For UNS, these collaborations are part of a larger mission: making farming visible, accessible, and even stylish. 'When we bring vertical farms into public spaces, it changes the way people think about agriculture,' Murtaza explains. 'It's not something distant or industrial — it's fresh, it's here, it's part of your daily life.' The company's green installations — whether on a mall wall or in a restaurant lobby — spark conversations and curiosity. And that's exactly the point. Pure Harvest takes a slightly different route. Rather than public installations, they connect with consumers through transparency. 'We use QR codes on our packaging so people can trace exactly where and how their food was grown,' says Kurtz. 'We share videos, behind-the-scenes farm content, and speak openly about our practices. Because people care — and they're asking smarter questions.' Conscious consumers are here to stay And those smarter questions are reshaping the market. In recent years, there's been a clear shift in the UAE's grocery habits, especially among millennials and Gen Z. No longer content with labels like 'organic' or 'fresh,' these buyers want to know the full story behind their food. 'Consumers are now willing to pay a bit more for food that's not only good for them but good for the planet,' Kurtz says. 'There's a real hunger — pun intended — for climate-conscious, zero-mile produce.' According to him, tomatoes, leafy greens, and strawberries are leading the demand for clean, local, pesticide-free food. These are everyday staples — proof that sustainability isn't just for specialty items anymore. 'We're not just selling produce,' Kurtz adds. 'We're selling trust.' Tech at the root At the heart of this movement is technology. From moisture sensors to automated nutrient dosing systems, both UNS and Pure Harvest rely heavily on smart tools to keep their farms efficient and scalable. 'Automation reduces human error and ensures consistency,' Kurtz says. 'But more importantly, it helps us grow the same quality of produce year-round, even in the brutal heat of August.' IoT systems monitor everything — light levels, humidity, nutrient balance, CO2 levels — and make minute adjustments in real time. This allows farms to optimise every input while producing 10–15 times more food per square metre than conventional farms. Kurtz calls this approach 'veridical farming'— not just vertical, but truthful. 'We don't make vague claims,' he says. 'We show the numbers. That's what our customers, our partners, and our investors want.' A national priority The UAE isn't just watching from the sidelines — it's actively supporting this new wave of agriculture. With food security ranked as a top national priority, and a goal to reduce dependence on imports, innovations in vertical and hydroponic farming fit neatly into the government's broader vision. Controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) is seen as a long-term solution to climate stress, population growth, and unpredictable global food supply chains. And in many ways, companies like UNS and Pure Harvest aren't just riding that wave — they're helping shape it. The future is up As urban populations swell, farmland shrinks, and climate concerns intensify, the question is no longer if vertical farming is the answer—but how fast it can scale to meet growing demand. In the UAE, it's not just a futuristic experiment. It's happening now, behind glass walls, under LED lights, and in places no one expected—shopping malls, hotel rooftops, even within logistics hubs. These farms don't just grow food—they grow resilience. They bring agriculture closer to the plate, cut the carbon miles, and give consumers confidence in what they're eating. They're a quiet but powerful rebuttal to the belief that sustainable food production isn't possible in arid, resource-scarce regions. For pioneers like Pure Harvest and UNS Farms, the work is far from done. Their eyes are firmly set on the next phase: scaling up, improving affordability, expanding crop diversity, and helping the region move one step closer to food independence. But beyond the metrics and machinery, there's something profoundly human about this shift. It's about reconnecting with what we eat, about feeding growing cities without depleting the planet—and doing it with intention, intelligence, and integrity. So, the next time you're biting into a crisp local salad in the UAE, consider this: it may have never touched soil, never seen a pesticide, and never traveled more than a few kilometers. And yet, it may just be the most grounded thing on your plate. The future of food isn't out in the fields anymore. It's growing up. What's Growing in the UAE's High-Tech Farms No soil? No problem. Crisp greens and juicy tomatoes grow vertically — in towers, not fields. Soil's out, science is in. 90% less water, 100% more wow Hydroponics and closed-loop systems mean each drop is reused. It's farming tailor-made for the desert. Pesticide-free, planet-friendly No sprays, no chemicals. Just clean produce grown in sealed, climate-controlled environments. Farming without sunlight LEDs mimic daylight so precisely, plants don't miss the sun — and they thrive indoors, 24/7. Lettuce in the lobby? Yes, please. UNS puts vertical farms in malls and hotels. It's fresh, flashy, and fabulously futuristic. QR codes tell all Scan your salad — Pure Harvest lets you trace every tomato to its tech-savvy roots. Farming on auto-pilot AI, sensors, and smart climate tools run the show — ensuring perfect crops every single day. No bugs, no drama Natural pest control and integrated systems mean no creepy crawlies — and no harsh fixes. Certified clean HACCP, ISO, and Global GAP certifications mean safe food that's as trustworthy as it is tasty. Rooted in national strategy The UAE is investing big in smart farms to feed its future — no imports, just innovation.
Forbes
02-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
More Culinary Wonders In Montreal
Yellow and red tomatoes for sale in Jean Talon Farmers' Market in Montreal It's been a few months since I returned from Quebec but I can't stop thinking about how creative the French Canadians are in terms of producing great, and sustainable, food. They are particularly visionary when it comes to sourcing fresh food in winter while looking out for the future of the planet. In the same building where the hydroponic, roof garden Lufa Farms can be found is a cooperative of 20 different businesses called the Centrale Agricole. The most fascinating part of their union is that they are all working in tandem throughout the year to produce—in a stroke of genius—a combination of products that left less than a zero carbon negative. One of the key business partners is the producer of meal worms that address the garbage produced by other businesses. TriCycle and grows mealworms that eat table scraps and so they don't have to, 'generate CO2 emissions by either being sent to landfills or to compost,' notes Kevin Drouin-Léger, Centrale's manager. He adds that no one within the collective has the title of director as is it run by 'horizonal management.' The Overall Take Bee hives at the Coop. This humble cooperative is housed in a modest building. Businesses within in it range from a winery and a cidery to mushrooms and a farmed fish producer. The center was founded in 2019 and has five founding members have continually chosen the other members based on 'diversity of production, innovation, circular economy potential, how that business fits within the ecosystem and economic viability,' according to Drouin-Léger. A few months ago, I had a chance to visit the center and chat in further depth with Drouin-Léger about his vision for the group. He notes that the center has been home to 27 businesses since it has been open and 20 are still part of the group. He expects there to be room for a chosen few more by next year. In a constantly French-Canadian humble yet genial way, Drouin-Léger and the businesses within the center all are working towards a long-term, balanced approach to both food and other product production that is sustainable and environmentally friendly. Some of the Vision It is unusual to see this number of diverse businesses working in unison, particularly with small-production items. 'The coop acts as a catalyst to stimulate and encourage collaborations whether it be by sharing resources, joint ventures, or industrial synergies,' notes Drouin-Léger. Kevin Drouin-Leger heads up the cooperative. He adds that, much like the hydroponic rooftop garden found at Lufa upstairs, the center works at a steady rhythm all year long. 'We aren't as affected by seasonality as conventional growers are. We can consistently fill our orders all year with no pause. We produce more than 400 tons of food a year for our local communities.' Operating spaces are small, but being non-competitive they are all also able to promote each other. 'Since there are few or no duplicates in the businesses' production, each business naturally becomes an ambassador for the coop to push other peoples' products. That can expand market potential for our businesses as well as synchronizing logistics in terms of delivery and such,' notes Drouin-Léger. He concludes that there is,' lots of solidarity in our model.' Mushrooms at the Coop. There are a lot of innovative business practices being applied here that are reflected by Lufa, the upstairs roof garden. A combination of more-permissive laws involving the promotion of the food and wine businesses in Canada and innovation has resulted in a community of food and wine producers who can creatively and effectively cross promote their products. Hopefully more stewards of the land will start thinking more like the Centrale Agricole, if given the chance and support of local government and producers. Drouin-Léger notes that the cooperative has 'been approached by more than 50 organizations that wish to model their businesses after ours. In Quebec mainly, but a bit through Canada, France and Belgium as well.' It would be so exciting, and good for the environment, if American food producers could start working in tandem in order to produce unique products that are good for the environment.
Free Malaysia Today
24-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Free Malaysia Today
From PR to pumpkin fields: Lavinesh is big on agriculture
Lavinesh Vimalanathan left his corporate career to pursue organic farming. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle). PETALING JAYA : Lavinesh Vimalanathan, 30, once thrived in the high-energy world of public relations and corporate communications. But after a while, it wore him down. Speaking to FMT Lifestyle at his home in Petaling Jaya, he said: 'I needed to take a step back – do something more calming.' That 'something' turned out to be agriculture. Even as a child, Lavinesh was drawn to the outdoors. 'I used to dig random holes in the garden just to play with the soil,' he said, laughing. 'And when my dad saw the mess, of course I'd get a scolding.' Like many amateur gardeners, Lavinesh started small, helping his parents care for plants at home. His efforts soon expanded to his relative's plot in Banting, where he once harvested 25kg of tapioca. 'That moment was the biggest highlight of my agricultural journey,' he said. 'But, it didn't even make a scratch in the time and money I'd put in. Still, it was a good start.' Lavinesh often played with soil as a child, the beginning of his love for agriculture. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle). During the pandemic, he pivoted to hydroponics, turning his guest bedroom into a mini indoor farm. 'I had enough kangkong and mint for like, one family lunch,' he said. But it wasn't until 2022 that Lavinesh made his boldest move – leasing a 0.8 hectare-plot of land in Temerloh, Pahang, and leaving behind his childhood home in the Klang Valley. This marked the beginning of Project Kebun, his social media platform chronicling the ups and downs of his new life as a farmer. 'Of course, it was a scary move. I was leaving the security of a monthly salary to do something on my own.' Lavinesh was able to harvest thousands of kilogrammes of pumpkins from his farm in Temerloh, Pahang. (Lavinesh Vimalanathan pic) What followed was a full-blown culture shock. 'Here, traffic jams are caused by people in cars. There, it's cows or chickens crossing the road,' he laughed. He began with curry leaves. 'I didn't know that the leaf I'd been eating all these years would be my first official crop,' he recalled. 'I still remember the date – May 3, 2023. After planting the first 10 curry leaf plants in the soil, I called around 20 people to announce that I'm officially a farmer. It was the proudest moment of my life.' Setting up the farm took six months of bulldozing, excavation and fencing. He had big dreams of planting various crops. But the wildlife had other plans – monkeys, wild boars, even water buffalo were regular visitors. So he pivoted to pumpkins. 'Pumpkins take about three months to grow. The back of my Hilux was full of them – it was a beautiful sight.' His first harvest yielded over 1,000kg. Yet, despite the bounty, he made a loss. His second round didn't fare much better as monkey attacks worsened. Then in January, disaster struck: the main bridge to his farm was swept away by floods. 'I went there and the bridge was just… gone. Floating.' Despite bidding farewell to his farm in Temerloh, Lavinesh continues to garden. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle). He tried reaching the farm through muddy estate roads, getting his car stuck multiple times. Though he managed to get through, he knew he couldn't keep this going for long, not with the bridge still unrepaired. 'It took me a month to muster up the courage to tell myself it was over. It was heartbreaking. I could go on forever if you let me. But at the end of the day, it's not a hobby, it's a business. How much more can I bleed before I can't recover?' By the end of 2024, he said goodbye to the farm. But not to agriculture. Lavinesh still keeps pots of curry leaves and lime trees around the house. And now, he's sowing seeds of a different kind, with a new website called Project Harvest, dedicated to gardening tips tailored for Malaysians. The former farmer has since pivoted from 'Project Kebun' to 'Project Harvest' where he offers gardening tips to Malaysians. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle). 'I realised there's no platform like this for us. I still have all this real, hands-on knowledge. Why not share it?' Lavinesh said. He's also offering services such as house visits to help Malaysians with their own gardening woes. And if the opportunity ever presents itself again? 'I would love to go back to farming,' he said without hesitation. 'If I had the means to do it, I wouldn't think twice.' Check out his Project Harvest website and follow Lavinesh on Instagram and Tik Tok.
