Workforce Development and Lighting Innovation: GLASE at Indoor Ag-Con
Last week, GLASE had the pleasure of attending Indoor Ag-Con in Las Vegas for the second year, where we hosted two impactful panels, focusing on workforce development and lighting innovation in greenhouses and indoor farms.
Vivid Canopy: Diverse Workforce in Action
Our first panel, ‘Vivid Canopy: Diverse Workforce in Action,’ featured GLASE Extension Support Specialist Matt Del Buono, Nour El-Naboulsi, Executive Director at Village Hydroponics, Kelly Stewart Danner, Director at Growing Justice, and Stacia Lewis, Grower at Eden Green Technology. In this session, the panel addressed the pressing issue of labor shortages and emphasized the importance of promoting inclusivity within the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) workforce to tackle these challenges.
Nadia Sabeh, President and Founder of Dr. Greenhouse, Inc., kicked off the Vivid Canopy panel with an inspiring welcome address titled “Now is the Time to be More Vivid than Ever!” Her talk emphasized the importance of continuing to support each other and staying resilient in the face of challenges and uncertainty.
Illuminating Success: Creating the Best Light Recipe for Your Crops
On the second day, GLASE Principal Investigator Dr. Neil Mattson moderated the “Illuminating Success: Creating the Best Light Recipe for Your Crops” session. This panel delved into the science of light recipes, guiding participants on developing customized lighting strategies to optimize crop growth and yield.
We were fortunate to have insights from esteemed panelists including Neil Mattson, Professor and Principal Investigator at Cornell University and GLASE, Blake Lange, Vice President of Horticulture at Acuity Brands, Whit Allen, CEA at SpectraGrow Inc., and Ellis Janssen, Global Director City Farming at Signify (Philips Horticulture LED Solutions). Their expertise provided attendees with practical knowledge and innovative approaches to lighting in CEA.
For those interested in learning more about plant lighting, consider enrolling in the GLASE Plant Lighting Short Course. This course, along with others, is available in the GLASE Store and accessible via GLASE membership.
Looking Ahead
We are thrilled to have been part of Indoor Ag-Con for the second year and are grateful for the meaningful discussions that emerged from these panels. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making these sessions a success. We look forward to continuing our efforts to advance CEA research and foster industry collaboration.
Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to engage with GLASE!
