Jul 19, 2016

Chicago Becoming Nation’s Urban Ag Capital By Jasmina Dolce

Being a Chicago native and now suburban resident, it can sometimes be disheartening to watch and read local news. Our city has its share of bad press, but thankfully, the news isn’t always so bad …

The folks at Co.Exist recently reported that the Windy City is quietly becoming the country’s urban agriculture capital with 821 growing sites across the city. These operations range from small community gardens to multi-million dollar indoor farms, according to the Chicago Urban Agriculture Mapping Project.

One notable operation on the map is FarmedHere, a 90,000-square-foot space in Bedford Park that is the only organically certified indoor vertical aquaponic farm in Illinois, and it also happens to be the largest indoor farm in North America!

According to one study, vertical farming is expected to be a nearly $4 billion market globally by 2020. FarmedHere’s CEO Nate Laurell is sure it will happen. “The greens market for Chicagoland alone is $400 million,” he said.

He also mentioned that investors are becoming increasingly interested in indoor farming as LED lighting and solar energy lower operation costs.

Urban Till is another indoor hydroponic farm located on the west side of Chicago. The company offers herbs and microgreens to more than 200 clients in the area.

CEO Brock Leach told Chicago Tribune last year that Urban Till will expand nationally and internationally with its proprietary hydroponics this year. “We have an intellectual property to produce more water from the air than what we use in the farm at no additional cost of electricity, and we’re able to produce agricultural goods without water supply to do so,” he said.

So why is the urban farming industry taking such a hold in Chicago? “If I had to speculate, I’d say that electricity is cheap here, the economics are better than the coasts,” Laurell said.

Whatever the reason, it is certainly heartwarming and uplifting to learn about the competitive spirit among Chicago’s indoor farmers. And I look forward to learning more and reporting on their continued projects, expansions and success.

Are there any urban farms in your region? Are there opportunities for partnerships? Or do you have any plans to start up a project of your own?

Fill me in at jdolce@greatamericanpublishing.com; I’d love to hear from you.

— Jasmina

Missouri State University to Hold High Tunnel Workshop

Missouri State University, in collaboration with University of Missouri Extension and Lincoln University, will present a Greenhouse and High Tunnel Workshop. The event is schedule for Aug. 3 and 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station at Mountain Grove. Topics include: basic greenhouse construction, hydroponics and soilless crop production, biological controls in high tunnels, year-round production of hydroponic leafy greens, and high tunnel production of tomatoes and greens. Registration is $40 per person and includes lunch for both days, as well as printed materials. For more information, click here or call 417.547.7500.

Tour de Fresh and Stuppy Establish Fundraising Partnership

To encourage even more support for riders in this year’s Tour de Fresh, Stuppy Inc. announced that it will award the rider who raises the most money the chance to gift one of its Aqueduct aquaponics systems to the school of their choice. Valued at $5,000, this donation will further both Stuppy Inc. and Tour de Fresh’s mission to provide access to fresh produce in schools across the country. With the ride less than a week away (July 26-28), now is the perfect time to support riders and their personal goals. To support this year’s riders, go to www.tourdefresh.com/riders.

CSU Professor Pioneers Fast-Growing Hops

CSU horticulture professor Bill Bauerie is pioneering a process to speed growth of hops, a main ingredient in many craft beers. While plants typically need three years to yield a meaningful harvest, he has sped up the process up to about three months by using a new greenhouse, hydroponic technology and a donated LED lighting system that allows multiple harvests per year. Odell Brewing Co. has already sold out a batch of Hooked on Hydroponics, a small-batch, American-style IPA that used hops Bauerie planted at the end of January. And Horse & Dragon Brewing called dibs on the next harvest. Today, Bauerie is growing Chinook, Cascade, Columbus and Centennial hop varieties.