Probiotics: Microbes poised to transform food production and health.

Microbes poised to transform food production and health. At Canada’s Food University, microbes are rapidly emerging as a star player in the quest to produce food safely and sustainably, and improve gut health in both food animals and consumers.

This is because microbes – ubiquitous yet virtually invisible to the naked eye – play essential but usually unsung roles across the food chain. 

 Some of these roles are well known; for example, microbes help cycle nutrients in soil, making them available for crop uptake and growth, and without microorganisms we wouldn’t have some of our favourite foods such as cheese, yoghurt, wine and beer. 

But other roles are just beginning to be understood, such as the ability of “good” microbes to suppress harmful pathogens in soil, plants, food products and the gut. Microbes poised to transform food production and health.

Researchers extract cancer-fighting properties from Ontario grown onions.

Researchers extract cancer-fighting properties from Ontario grown onions. New research at the University of Guelph has found a way to safely extract the free-radical fighting properties of Ontario-grown onions, creating new opportunities for Ontario farmers and the nutraceutical and food production industries. In the not-so-distant future, you could be enjoying the healthy properties of onions through supplements, additives and creams. Scientist have long known that onions carry the highest content of quercetin (an antioxidant flavonoid) of nearly 40 different fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids like quercetin attract and neutralize free radicals – the naturally-occurring molecules in human tissue that can lead to cancerous cells. Researchers extract cancer-fighting properties from Ontario grown onions.

AGRIBUSINESS: New app diagnoses crop diseases.

AGRIBUSINESS: New app diagnoses crop diseases. A New app diagnoses crop diseases and notifies farmers. A team of scientists has developed a mobile phone application which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to accurately identify crop diseases in the field. The app also delivers the latest advice to manage all major diseases and pests that affect root, tuber and banana crops, and helps African farmers identify the nearest agricultural extension support for the farmers. AGRIBUSINESS: New app diagnoses crop diseases.The project which is being implemented by a global network of scientists is part of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research’s (CGIAR) research programme on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB). “As smartphones become more common in rural Africa, they also become handy in agricultural productivity.” AGRIBUSINESS: New app diagnoses crop diseases. “Smallholder farmers or extension officials having basic smartphones with a camera can download the application free of charge, run it up and point the camera at a leaf that has disease indications. They will then get an immediate diagnosis of the disease affecting the plant.” said Dr James Legg, a researcher at the IITA, in Tanzania, who heads the project alongside Dr David Hughes of Penn State University. New app diagnoses crop diseases and notifies farmers.

World record breaking carrot weighs in at 23 pounds.

World record breaking carrot weighs in at 23 pounds.Grown by gardener Chris Qualley of Minnesota, Canada the 22.44 pound carrot looks like an entire ecosystem of smaller carrots.Verified by Guinness World Records, the organisation says that the entire weight of the vegetable did not include any sticks, dirt or stones. The previous record, held by Peter Glazebrook from the United Kingdom, topped out at just over 20 pounds. World record breaking carrot weighs in at 23 pounds.

SUN FARMING : TOMATOES GROWN ON THE ROOF OF LARGEST HOTEL IN EUROPE.

. SUN FARMING : TOMATOES GROWN ON THE ROOF OF LARGEST HOTEL IN EUROPE. On the sun terrace of the Estrel in Berlin, the largest hotel in Europe, SUNfarming has built its agro-solar greenhouse. The greenhouse, covered with a 4 m wide light dome, has a size of 42.5m² (5m x 8.5m). The roof tops, east and west of the light dome, are equipped with SUNfarming modules, the generated solar electricity is used directly by the hotel. The “SF Urban Farming Concept”, developed by SUNfarming, produces sustainable solar energy and regional food – on the same place. In addition to the solar power, vegetables, fruits, flowers or fish can be gained between the modules of new or already built PV free-field plants or in special agro-solar Food & Energy greenhouses.SUN FARMING

SUN FARMING.

SUN FARMING.Solar energy is the most economical and secure source of energy for the future, and farmers are tapping in to practice sun farming. 
SUNfarming feels an obligation to observe this responsibility. They are convinced that with every newly-installed photovoltaic system we come a step closer to the goal of renewable energies as the source of energy supply. 
With a solar energy system you can produce your own electricity at a cost of around 11 cents per kWh. Surplus power can be fed in to the grid.
 The SUNfarming Food & Energy Urban Concept.According to the World Bank studies, the urban consumption of urban life will triple urban consumption by 2030. By 2030, about 40 percent of humanity will be insufficiently supplied with water. At the same time, global energy consumption and food consumption will increase by 36 % by 2025. If urban infrastructures are to keep pace with these onslaught, we need to make them more intelligent. Technological knowledge and the available resources in the water, energy and nutrition sectors must be used sustainably in order to create an environmentally and climate-friendly development in cities and municipalities. SUNfarming has developed the unique “Food & Energy Urban Concept”: Sustainable solar energy and regional food are produced together – on the same area. In addition to the solar power, vegetables, fruits, flowers or fish, regional or local PV production can be gained in new or already built PV open-air installations between the module series or in special agro-solar food & energy greenhouses. JOIN IN, BECOME A SUNFARMER.

Data driven indoor agriculture.

Data driven indoor agriculture. Indoor agriculture is growing everywhere on the planet, and it's growing fast. As land and water supplies are harder to find, the traditional agriculture methods are changing drastically and moving to indoor vertical farming, container farming and hydroponic greenhouses. With indoor farming, the possibilities are endless. You can grow greens, micro-greens, herbs, cannabis, tomatoes, strawberries, lemons, flowers and even indigenous crops if you like. We can help you create the perfectly well-balanced environment for the crop's specific needs. In addition, new agriculture methods are becoming automated with electronics: artificial intelligence is everywhere, and data collection and analysis are the key points of having a highly profitable farm. Did you know that you could grow a lettuce indoors 4 times faster than outdoors? In this era of agtech, that's how Motorleaf can change the world. Data driven indoor agriculture.