Recirculating Farm Coalition Promotes Sustainable Agriculture & Aquaculture

September 17, 2011 | Andrew Burger

The newly established Recirculating Farms Coalition (RFC) has launched a national campaign to promote the growing of local, fresh food and the creation of green jobs. The organization, which counts educators, farmers, chefs, non-profit groups and others among its members, seeks to achieve its objectives by focusing on the development of eco-friendly recirculating farms.

For reference, the organization defines a recirculating farm as one that uses clean recycled water, rather than soil, as a basis to grow food. These farms can grow plants (hydroponics), fish (aquaculture), or both plants and fish together (aquaponics). Read More

Startup Profile: Greenhouses in the Sky, Oh My

August 26, 2011 | Melinda Clark

Creating something out of nothing. Isn’t that the magic of farming? Taking things that don’t seem to mean much by themselves – dirt and seeds and water – and creating sustenance. Lately, skyfarmers like those at Sky Vegetables are trying to do that with even less. They’re taking the soil and even some of the water out of the equation, and substituting in an underused resource – roofs. In doing so, they hope to create value, jobs and local produce where before there was nothing. Read More

Rooftop Farm Couples Science with Sustainability

August 24, 2011 | Kelly Hatton

Finding fresh, high-quality produce in Montreal is a challenge. The long and winding road that produce typically travels from farm to market in this city means that it must be harvested far before it’s ripe in order to survive long shipping distances. The downfalls of the current supply chain – heavy fuel use, food safety risks, and the lack of personal connection between farmer and consumer – inspired Mohamed Hage, president and founder of Lufa Farms, to develop a model urban farm that would provide local, sustainable food to city dwellers. Read More

Vertical Farming Startups Seek Profit by Bringing Sustainable Agriculture to Cities

August 12, 2011 | seedstock

It’s Vertical Farming day over at Seedstock and we’re celebrating with a digest that features stories on a number of vertical urban agriculture startups that have the potential to play an outsize role in furthering the goals of … Read More

Startup Profile: Home Town Organic Farm Goes Vertical in the City

July 7, 2011 | Robert S. Altman

Dan Gibbs, CEO of San Diego, CA-based vertical organic farming startup Home Town Farms, doesn’t believe he’s introducing a new company, but an entire industry that will benefit consumers, the environment and the future of sustainable agriculture.

“Urban farming isn’t new, vertical farming isn’t new, but vertical urban farming is new,” said Gibbs. Read More