Category Archives: Urban Agriculture
Urban Agriculture
Online Urban Farming Course Crosses Continents, Seeks to Boost Number of Farmers Producing Food Locally
A three-quarter acre parcel of land in the city can be transformed into a successful urban farming business when combined with the right training. Or at least that’s the opinion of startup company GroAction, which offers an online class on the topic. About 470 people from around the world are now testing this theory. They are doing so through the Continue reading
Vertical Greenhouse Co. Seeks to Bring Fresh, Affordable, Low Carbon-footprint Produce to Urban Areas
Plantagon is a Stockholm-based urban agriculture company that strives to balance commercial and values-based forces to simultaneously achieve profitability and ‘do good.’ To do this, it has introduced the Plantagon Greenhouse, a vertical greenhouse designed to bring fresh, affordable, low-carbon-footprint produce to urban areas. According to the company, the greenhouses’ efficiency and high productivity make them economically viable – it’s Continue reading
Sustainable Ag Startup Sees Aeroponic Technology as Key to Re-integrating Agriculture into Urban Environs
Eating locally within a hundred mile radius is certainly an impressive feat. But imagine the convenience of picking fresh produce from a farm that’s only a hundred feet away, or even ten, while still living in a crowded city. The Waters Wheel, a Los Angeles-based company, aims to do just that by bringing the farm to your doorstep or rooftop Continue reading
In Creating Fleet of Sustainable, Urban Farmers, Milwaukee-based Growing Power Seeks to End World Hunger
Will Allen, CEO and founder of Growing Power, Inc., has a straightforward goal – to end world hunger. “It’s a lofty goal, but that’s how things should be,” said Allen, a sharecropper’s son who was a professional basketball player when he rediscovered his love for agriculture. “The only way to end world hunger is the local food system that we Continue reading
Against Tide of Antiquated City Ag Laws, Sustainable Urban Flower Farm Flourishes In Los Angeles
Valentine’s Day finds most romantics dashing to the neighborhood florist for a fresh bouquet of flowers for their sweetheart. But roses that have been doused with toxic pesticides and shipped half way across the globe, hardly inspire romance, especially for the environmentally conscious consumer. Thankfully, Tara Kolla of Silver Lake Farms in Los Angeles, dedicates herself to growing and selling Continue reading
In Partnership with NYC High School, Cornell U. Builds and Enhances Sustainable Agriculture Technology
Students at culinary arts-focused Food and Finance High School in New York City learn more than just how to cook up a good fish fillet—they also learn how to grow the fish along with other foods using real-time, applied science and Cornell University technologies. The high school is home to the Cornell University Cooperative Extension (CUCE), New York City Hydroponics, Continue reading
Re-Imagining Agriculture Event in Los Angeles to Focus on Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship
(Los Angeles, CA, February 2, 2012) – A growing crop of agricultural entrepreneurs is beginning to sprout in Southern California. Compelled by a desire to meet the food and energy demands of a world population forecast to peak at 9 billion by 2050, these entrepreneurs are endeavoring to re-imagine a more sustainable, healthy and profitable future for agriculture – from Continue reading
Roof Agriculture – An Old Concept Comes to Boston in a New Form
This is a guest post from John Stoddard, a Founding Farmer of Higher Ground Farm in Boston. Higher Ground is currently seeking a 25,000+ square foot roof space for a farm. Can you hear mooing coming from the Common? Listen closely: it’s distant. Like 200 years in the past distant, but it’s there – part of the spirit of Boston. It’s Continue reading
Local Urban Aquaponic Farming Model to Reduce Food Mile, Create Jobs, Enhance Food Security
On the Westside of Los Angeles, in the Mar Vista district, urban farming organization, EVO Farm, is utilizing aquaponics to create a replicable and sustainable farming model that will facilitate the creation of a network of local urban farms that grow and distribute produce that exceeds organic standards. “Who would want a big giant farm in one place when you Continue reading
City Growers Brings Fresh, Sustainable Produce To Boston’s Low Income Neighborhoods and Beyond
Boston may have long carried the nickname “Beantown”, but the urban agricultural trailblazers behind City Growers are moving beyond the bean to bring a diverse array of sustainable and locally grown produce to the city. As a for-profit enterprise, City Growers aims to transform neglected lots around the Boston area into thriving urban farms that provide immediate access to healthy Continue reading
Boston-based Startup Freight Farms Aims to Reduce Food Miles in Used Shipping Containers
Nearly three years ago, Jon Friedman and Brad McNamara left their careers in marketing to research the pressing issue of food miles, or the distance food is transported from the time of its production until it reaches the consumer. “It seemed crazy that we were shipping in lettuce from California. We figured there had to be a better way,” said Continue reading
Video – Presentation by Jeff Robbins of Revolution Landscape on Entrepreneurship and Edible Landscaping
Jeff Robbins, co-founder of San Diego-based Revolution Landscape, discusses his background and his company’s approach to designing, building and maintaining sustainable “edible landscapes” for San Diego area residents and businesses.
Video from Seedstock’s San Diego Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship Event
Last week, Seedstock, in association with Rady Entrepreneur Club held a panel entitled, Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship in Southern California at the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego. The sold out event featured seven entrepreneurs discussing their companies and their reasons for pursuing and developing sustainable agriculture ventures and technologies. From high tech indoor urban farms that utilize the latest Continue reading
Penn State Launches Urban Farming High Tunnel Project with Community Partners in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania State University’s Penn State Extension office is teaming with community partners in Philadelphia to put up high tunnels, which are considered an inexpensive way to extend the growing season for fruits and vegetables, the university announced. The university’s College of Agriculture and Sciences sought funding for the acquisition and construction of 10 high tunnels. The funding was sought out, Continue reading
San Diego, CA Event to Focus on Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship and Marketplace
San Diego, CA, November 28, 2011 – Despite the fragile state of the economy, a burgeoning crop of agricultural entrepreneurs is beginning to sprout in San Diego, CA, poised to develop sustainable and profitable solutions to meet the food and energy demands of a world population forecast to peak at 9 billion by 2050. From high tech indoor urban farms Continue reading
Startup Profile: Central NY Aquaponic Farm, a Business and Testing Ground for Future of Agriculture
What began as a business plan drawn up for fun has spawned Aqua Vita Farms, central New York’s first aquaponic farm. Aqua Vita Farms was founded by Mark Doherty and seeks to provide wholesale food distributors with safe, high value, aquaponically grown seafood and produce. Retrofitting and construction on the company’s indoor farming facility, a 13,000 square foot building in Continue reading
