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Sunday Wrap Up: Balancing Safety and Innovation in the Agricultural Sector
Discover this week's latest development from the world of Controlled Environment Agriculture.
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BrightFarms has voluntarily recalled spinach and four salad kit products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The spinach, supplied by Element Farms in New Jersey, has raised concerns about possible health risks. Additionally, there is a potential for cross-contamination, leading to the recall of certain salad kits produced in Selinsgrove, PA. These products have been distributed across seven states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Consumers are advised not to consume the recalled items and to seek a refund. The recall includes products in clear, plastic 4-oz containers with specific "best by" dates, UPCs, and facility codes, encompassing varieties like BrightFarms Baby Spinach, Mediterranean Crunch Kit, and others.
The health risks associated with Listeria monocytogenes are especially serious for vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, with potential complications like miscarriages in pregnant women. Despite the absence of reported illnesses related to the recalled products, the decision for recall was made following a positive test for Listeria in routine sampling by Element Farms. BrightFarms has stopped the distribution of spinach from Element Farms to address the issue and advised retailers to remove the affected products from shelves. Customers who have purchased these products are urged to either dispose of them or return them for a full refund, with a photo of the product or receipt required as proof of purchase.
GreenPlus Co. Ltd. has launched an innovative 2.8-hectare smart farm system operated by its subsidiary Green K-Farm. This state-of-the-art facility marks a significant advancement in agricultural technology, utilizing vertical farming and advanced automation to produce various crops. Designed for continuous production throughout the year, the smart farm targets both the Korean market and online stores and includes capabilities for value-added manufacturing, such as chives and kimchi. A unique feature of the farm is its up-down gully system, which optimizes space utilization and reduces labor costs by allowing vertical movement of growing channels.
Financially, GreenPlus anticipates the smart farm will generate around AUD 11 million in annual sales, significantly contributing to the company's performance in 2024. This smart farm initiative is part of GreenPlus's broader vision to achieve global leadership in the smart farm industry. The company has already made strides internationally, securing orders for similar smart farm systems across the Asia/Pacific region, including Australia, Thailand, and Japan, and planning demonstrations in the Middle East. The launch of this facility underscores Korea's growing role in pioneering vertical farming technologies following two years of intensive research and development.
Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) has successfully raised £22.5 million in Series C funding to expand its vertical farming technology globally. This funding round, supported by institutional investors and private shareholders, will enable the deployment of IGS's technology worldwide. Additionally, IGS is partnering with ReFarm to build a 900,000 square foot GigaFarm in the UAE, a project aimed at replacing 1% of the UAE’s food imports and recycling over 50,000 tons of food waste annually. Leadership changes accompany this growth phase, with Andrew Lloyd appointed as the new CEO and Sonya Hotson as CFO, both of whom will play crucial roles in steering the company during this transformative period. This year is set to be a milestone for IGS, with the UAE project underscoring its impact on global food security and the company's evolution from a concept to a leader in vertical farm technology.
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Warm regards,
Marc Lev Shulman
Associate Director
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