Indoor Ag-Con will be hosting its first event in Asia from 18-19 January 2016 to discuss the prospects for this tech-rich industry in the region. The two-day seminar is tailored toward corporate executives from the technology, investment, vertical and greenhouse farming, and food and beverage industries, along with hydroponic, aquaponic and aeroponic startups and urban farmers. Participants will also have the opportunity to network at a drinks party on the first evening.
The event will consist of 12 keynotes from industry leaders and academics, panel discussions and extended networking breaks.
Keynote speakers include world renowned Prof.Toyoki Kozai (Chiba University, Japan), an expert in integrative environment control of greenhouses using heat pump, fogging and CO2 enrichment systems for hot summer regions, as well as plant factories with artificial lighting for commercial production of plants.
Other keynote speakers include Nicholas Tan, startup program manager of Microsoft’s Developer Experience and Evangelism (DX) team in Singapore, managing technical communities and marketing engines on earned, owned and paid digital channels. His flagship initiative is Microsoft BizSpark, a free three-year program that gives startups access to software development tools, connects them with key industry players, and provides marketing visibility with more than 50,000 members in over 100 countries.
Paul Hardej from VP Hortittecture Lighting Solutions, Illumitex, will share his vast experience in developing and managing vertical farms to Illumitex’s turnkey lighting solutions program, while also running the company’s marketing efforts. A co-founder of FarmedHere, Hardej served as Chief Technology and Development Officer at the innovative Chicago-area vertical farm. Hardej developed the first organic-certified indoor vertical aquaponic farm in the US, designing multi-level indoor aquaponic and hydroponic grow systems with LED grow lights.
Nate Storey, CEO of Bright Agrotech, is the manufacturer of ZipGrow Products and the largest designer of high-density farming and vertical growing equipment in the world. In addition to equipment design and manufacturing, Bright Agrotech farms in Laramie, Wyoming and Ft. Collins, CO, and manages the UpStart Farmers network of independent vertical growers, helping them to build strong business models, marketing power and brand recognition in their markets. Nate founded Bright Agrotech with his business partners after finishing up a Ph.D. in vertical aquaponic farming.
J.J. Price is the global marketing manager at Spread Co., Ltd. (part of the Trade Group). He is currently focused on exploring business opportunities and potential partnerships outside of Japan for the expansion of Spread’s Vegetable Factory™, which is a large-scale vertical farming system. He is also involved in other business activities within the Trade Group such as the promotion and expansion of its two vegetable brands, Vege-tus and Rakuichi.
Also speaking will be Martin Lavoo, the Sales and Finance Director of Sustenir Agriculture, which uses modern science to grow high-nutrition, specialty leafy greens through sustainable Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). Its location near Singapore’s bustling Central Business District minimises the required costs and carbon footprint to grow and distribute their vegetables, making Sustenir products both socially and environmentally responsible. Concerned by the planet’s limited resources and growing population, Martin is passionate about applying his financial acumen towards a sustainable cause. Holding an Australian CPA and a BA in Accounting and Management from UNSW, Sydney, he calculates costs, balances the budget and spends to drive growth at Sustenir.
Tsuyoshi Stuart Oda co-founded Alesca Life Technologies in 2013 with the mission to make sustainable and nutrient dense foods available to everyone. The startup has developed climate controlled facilities and operational management software apps to enable anyone anywhere to grow the safest, healthiest, and freshest produce using their smartphones. Alesca Life launched their shipping container system at the Global Innovator Conference and their restaurant system in a Swire Hotel property in Beijing. Stuart possesses a unique blend of corporate finance and consumer product know-how having previously worked in the investment banking division of Merrill Lynch Japan Securities and the global emerging markets business strategy team at Dell China. He has an intimate understanding of key global mega-trends through his extensive industry and country coverage. He received his B.A. in Political Science and Business Economics from UCLA.
Mikael Krogh is Managing Director at BioGill Asia, a biotechnology company that manufactures unique above ground, attached growth bioreactors and biofilters used worldwide in water treatment systems. As an experienced investor and venture capitalist throughout Europe, Asia Pacific and the USA, Mikael is also the Founder of a Singapore-based investment firm specialising in accelerating the growth of clean technology companies. Armed with a deep technical understanding and an extensive background in finance, he is committed to address environmental and development challenges through business and cleantech. Mikael Krogh holds a Master of Business Economics from the Norwegian Business School, is originally from Norway and now calls Singapore home.
Sarah Taber is a food safety scientist and regulatory consultant specialising in horticulture and aquaculture. As Director of Food Safety for the Aquaponics Association, she worked with the FDA to ensure continued legality of aquaponics under new FSMA regulations; heads the Association’s research program; developed evidence-based best practices for aquaponic food safety; and works with auditing bodies and other stakeholders to build a channel for aquaponic produce to enter the mainstream marketplace. Another current project is heading a startup to distribute and grow top quality, sustainable, farmed caviar in the United States.
Darryn Keiller is the Chairman of Autogrow Systems, who produce connected devices, process control, automation and data systems for indoor agriculture. He is also Independent Director of Revolution Fibres, an advanced materials company specialising in nano-fibre based applications.Darryn is the Principal of ARCIS, a business advisory, specialising in rapid-growth high-technology companies working at the Board level alongside founders, key shareholders and investors. His multinational corporate experience includes HP, LexisNexis and Polycom working with multinational partners including IBM, Cisco, and Microsoft. Darryn is a member of the Institute of Directors and the New Zealand Venture Capital Association. Educated at the University of Auckland, he holds a Masters in International Trade & Finance (Hons).
The two-day seminar will be held at Microsoft, 1 Marina Blvd, Singapore. Registration from S$549 is available now. Registration includes: access to all conference sessions, light breakfast and lunch on each day, and drinks party on the first evening of the event. Organisers offer discounted admission to current registered students and to academics teaching at an accredited institution.
Indoor Ag-Con is an initiative of Newbean Capital, a registered investment adviser that manages early stage venture capital mandates on behalf of institutional clients, and has a particular interest in agriculture. Its founder – Nicola Kerslake – has a longstanding interest in agriculture investment, having previously covered agriculture stocks as an equity analyst and managed institutional portfolios that covered the sector. She founded Indoor Ag-Con three years’ ago to provide a meeting place for those who are as passionate as she is about the promise of the indoor agriculture industry.
For further information including conference program and sponsorship opportunities, go to: https://indoor.ag/singapore/?mc_cid=a43d02b282&mc_eid=2273cd23df Ω
Posted 4 December 2016