Agricultural Innovation: Transforming Shipping Containers Into Local Farms

Urban agriculture has a new hope, and its name is PodPonics. Based in Atlanta, the startup is pursuing a new kind of recycling: transform old shipping containers into miniature hydroponic farms that can be used to grow food anywhere. Started by Matt Liotta in 2010, PodPonics is already supplying about 200 pounds of leafy greens a week using six converted containers. Each “pod” can produce about one acre’s worth of produce in only 320 square feet. PodPonics crops use 90% less water than traditional farms, no pesticides, less fertilizer, and go from harvest to your plate in just a matter of hours!

This is just the beginning. PodPonics has 16 new pods being built on land at the Atlanta International Airport, raised $725,000+ in private investment, and is gaining partners at all levels of their operation. From LED lighting specialists to restaurants, everyone wants a piece of PodPonics. Check out Matt Liotta interviewed on CNN in the video below.

For those familiar with hydroponic farming techniques, PodPonics is pretty much what you’d expect. An old shipping container is retrofitted with up to five tiers of growing platforms where beds of lettuce are grown with their roots in water, not soil. Nutrients are added as needed, and banks of LED lights shine overhead.

PodPonics is primarily selling its produce to local restaurants at the moment, and has received rave reviews for the taste and consistency of their lettuce. Have they found a better formula for growing these greens, is eating produce just hours old simply much better for our tastebuds, or is it just hype? It’s unclear, but there’s little doubt that the Atlanta company is winning over many hearts, minds, and tongues.

EU-Digest

Agricultural Futurist Jack Uldrich to Keynote Four Events in the Coming Months

Noted keynote speaker, global futurist and best-selling author, Jack Uldrich, has been selected to deliver keynote addresses on future trends in agriculture to four agricultural-related organizations in the coming months. In September, Uldrich will be speaking at Land O'Lakes Cooperative's annual statewide managers meeting in Brainerd, Minnesota. In November, Uldrich, a well-regarded farm futurist, will be highlighting the Christian Farmers Federation Annual Meeting in Waterloo, Ontario, and in early 2013, he'll be addressing Ag Spectrum and Mushroom Canada.

In addition to covering many of the aspects in his popular book, "Foresight 20/20: A Futurist Explores the Trends Transforming Tomorrow," Uldrich - who is also the author of "Higher Unlearning: 39 Post-Requisite Lessons for Achieving a Successful Future" will discuss how exponential advances in a variety of emerging technologies, including practical advances biotechnology, nanotechnology, information management, augmented reality, robotics, RFID, renewable energy sources and satellite and sensor technology will affect agriculture. Uldrich will also cover how social networking, biofuels and water management will transform farming in the years ahead. (A sample of some of Uldrich’s ideas on the future of agriculture can be found in this chapter from his latest book, “Foresight 2020”.)

In the past year, Jack Uldrich, who is also recognized as a leading expert in the field of change management and unlearning, has addressed dozens of agricultural corporations and associations, including The Iowa Institute for Cooperatives, The Agricultural Adaptation Council of Ontario, AgGateway, the California Ag Summit, Trimble Agriculture, InfoAg, the Minnesota-South Dakota Equipment Dealers Association, Growmark, and The National Cotton Council. (A full list of his past clients can be viewed on his website. He is currently represented by a number of professional speakers' bureaus, including Leading Authorities, Convention Connection, Brooks International and Executive Speaker Bureau.)

EU-Digest