Hydroponics has emerged as a sustainable alternative to agriculture. However, new technologies such as Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence are needed to keep up with issues related to economics, automation, and social challenges in hydroponics farming.
One significant issue is optimizing growth parameters to identify the best conditions for growing fruits and vegetables. These parameters include pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), light intensity, daily light integral (DLI), and nutrient solution/ambient temperature and humidity.
To address these, a systematic literature review was conducted to answer research questions regarding the optimal growth parameters for leafy green vegetables and herbs and spices grown in hydroponic systems. The review selected 131 papers related to indoor farming, hydroponics, and aquaponics.
The majority of the articles focused on technology description (38.5%), artificial illumination (26.2%), and nutrient solution composition/parameters (13.8%). Additionally, the remaining 10.7% of articles focused on the application of sensors, slope, environment, and economy.
The review aims to provide valuable information on optimized growth parameters for smart hydroponic systems and explore prospects and the application of digital technologies in this field.
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The Friday Checkout is a weekly column providing more insight on the news, rounding up the announcements you may have missed and sharing what’s to come.
As the court battle continues between federal regulators and Kroger and Albertsons over their proposed merger, the divestiture plan with C&S Wholesale Grocers has proven to be a key argument topic for both sides.
Kroger and Albertsons have pointed to C&S’s strong track record and said the plan gives C&S the assets to effectively compete in the grocery space, while the Federal Trade Commission has argued that C&S is ill-equipped to quickly transform into a major supermarket operator.
During the trial this week, C&S’s CEO Eric Winn confirmed that the wholesaler had written a letter to the FTC last fall saying that it would be able to “compete more effectively” if it could obtain the exclusive rights to one of the grocers’ well-known banners or Albertsons’ distribution centers rather than a mix of assets from both companies, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“Kroger gave us their worst chains,” Alona Florenz, C&S’s head of corporate development, said last November, according to documents shared during the trial, the publication noted.
Instead, under the current divestiture plan C&S would acquire four banners — QFC, Mariano’s, Carrs and Haggen — and get access to license the Albertsons banner in California and Wyoming and the Safeway banner in Arizona and Colorado.
Winn declined in court to say whether C&S asked for specific banners and said Kroger selected which assets it would divest, the paper reported. Analysts have suggested that divesting a more substantial or cohesive set of assets could help satisfy regulators’ concerns — and now it seems like C&S had hoped for a better deal, too. A key question for Judge Adrienne Nelson to consider is: How strong can C&S be without controlling a well-known banner like Safeway?
In case you missed it
Grocery price trends differ by state
Prices for groceries have fallen over the past year in some states even as they have gone up in others, according to a Datasembly report cited by Philadelphia TV station WTXF. New Jersey saw the sharpest decrease, at just under 1%, followed by Connecticut and Pennsylvania, which each logged a decrease of about half a percent. Maine, New Hampshire and Illinois each saw prices go up by close to 2%, while prices in Hawaii went up 2.2% and Vermont saw an increase of nearly 3%.
A Publix in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
Permission granted by Publix
Publix continues Kentucky expansion
The supermarket chain has signed a lease for a new store in Owensboro, Kentucky, adding to its growing presence in the Bluegrass state, the Louisville Courier Journal reported. The new store will join Publix locations slated for Kentucky cities including Louisville, Lexington and Walton. Publix opened its first Kentucky location in Louisville’s Terra Crossing Shopping Center in January.
Natural Grocers looks to fund regenerative organic agriculture
The specialty grocery chain is asking shoppers to help it raise $100,000 during September for Rodale Institute, a nonprofit organization that supports organic farming research and helps farmers transition to growing organic crops. Natural Grocers plans to collect the funds through donations from shoppers when they pay for purchases as well as from the sale of themed reusable shopping bags and zip pouches.
Impulse find
Calling all pumpkin lovers!
If you enjoy fall-themed food, personal finance website FinanceBuzz might have just the ticket for you. The site is hoping to find someone to test and rate all of the fall-inspired Pumpkin Palooza foods at Trader Joe’s — and will pay that person $1,000 to complete the job. FinanceBuzz will also give its “Pumpkin Spice Pundit” a $500 Trader Joe’s gift card to cover the cost of the foods they evaluate.
Red Lobster has received court approval of its Chapter 11 plan.
As part of the plan, RL Investor Holdings LLC will acquire the Red Lobster restaurant chain from the company. RL Investor Holdings LLC is an entity created by funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group LLC, alongside co-investors TCW Private Credit and Blue Torch. The acquisition is anticipated to close before the end of September 2024.
Upon completion of the acquisition, Damola Adamolekun will become the CEO of the Red Lobster restaurant chain, and Jonathan Tibus, who has served as the company’s CEO during the reorganization, will step down from the role and leave the company.
“This is a great day for Red Lobster,” said Adamolekun. “With our new backers, we have a comprehensive and long-term investment plan – including a commitment of more than $60 million in new funding – that will help to reinvigorate the iconic brand while keeping the best of its history. Red Lobster has a tremendous future, and I cannot wait to get started on our plan with the Company’s more than 30,000 team members across the USA and Canada. I want to thank Jonathan Tibus and his team for their stewardship, and look forward to welcoming them as frequent Red Lobster guests.”
Red Lobster will continue to operate as an independent company, with 544 locations across 44 U.S. states and four Canadian Provinces.
Tibus said, “I’m proud of what Red Lobster has achieved during this restructuring – the Company will emerge from Chapter 11 stronger financially and operationally, and with new backers who are resolutely focused on investment and growth. I’m incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from our team members and diners, and from so many of our landlords and vendors throughout this process. I’m looking forward to cheering on Red Lobster as an ardent fan in the years ahead.”
Ukraine is Europe’s largest soy exporter. Its soy exports make up 0.9% of the global supply, according to Statista. While this is miniscule compared to Brazil (49.7%) and the US (36.8%), it is the key source for soy grown in Europe.
According to Vitaliy Golovnya, Ukraine’s deputy minister for agrarian policy and food, soybean yields have seen a significant increase in recent years, despite the challenges of the war and despite a decrease in other key crops.
How can Ukrainian soy help Europe?
According to the organisation Donau Soja, Ukraine is the most important soy supplier in Europe. This is because, the organisation suggests, Ukraine’s soy can fulfil the need for deforestation-free and GMO-free soy demanded by the upcoming EUDR regulation. According to the organisation, the EUDR is expected to shift demand away from Brazilian soy towards soy like Ukraine’s, which has a lower deforestation risk.
The EU’s soya self-sufficiency rate is currently 8%, which, Donau Soja suggests, poses a threat to EU food security.
Ukraine is working hard to fulfil the requirements of the EUDR, according to Golovnya. He predicts that they will be ready by the 30 December deadline.
How has recent weather impacted Ukrainian soy?
The hot weather seen in Europe recently has decreased soy yields compared to Donau Soja’s forecasts, despite an increase in soy sowing in all major regions. Its revised prediction for Ukraine suggests the country’s soy area will grow by 10% in 2024, reaching two million hectares. Donau Soja predicts an output of 4.6 million tonnes, which is 3.2% less than the previous season.
Falling soy prices
Soy prices have continued to fall, in spite of events such as the flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, a few months ago. This is largely due to increased production, according to Expana (formerly Mintec). Weak demand also plays a factor.
Ukraine’s agrometeorological conditions improved during August, according to Donau Soja, meaning that growing conditions for soybean improved. Rainfall in western and northern Ukraine helped the crop flourish as it increased the moisture in the topsoil, while the absence of rain in southern, central and eastern Ukraine caused the depletion of the crop. In the Poltava region, the plant was completely desiccated. In some regions, the situation was worsened by weeds and crop pests.
How does the war affect agriculture?
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The country is still at war, which among other things makes agriculture more challenging. Since then, about 19% of land has been lost to Russia. However, soybean production has increased 2.2 times since the 2020/2021 marketing year, despite other crops decreasing.
How can soy comply with the EUDR?
In order to comply with the EUDR, you must be aware of your supply chain. The more certainty about your supply chain the better. Certification schemes for sustainable soy can also help. However, neither of these things are enough on their own and manufacturers must perform due diligence.
The biggest priority, Golovnya suggested, is de-mining agricultural land. As of today, over 400,000 hectares of land have been de-mined. Farmers receive full compensation for the de-mined land when they have a contract with a de-mining company.
Through its use of the Black Sea corridor, Ukraine’s agricultural exports began to return to their previous frequency. In fact, Golovnya suggested, in the period of January to May this year, the country exported more agricultural goods than before the war.
US cattle producers have stopped slashing their herds, Reuters reported, citing Tyson Foods chief financial officer on Thursday, after supplies dwindled due to dry weather that limited pasture land available for grazing.
The meatpacker is still not seeing signs that producers are starting to rebuild herds in a meaningful way, CFO Curt Calaway said on the webcast of a Barclays investor conference.
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Dive Brief:
Chicago-area investment group Yellow Banana has started reopening six Save A Lot stores it owns in the city following a multimillion-dollar renovation effort partially funded in part by a municipal grant, the company announced Thursday.
The first of the upgraded locations, in the city’s West Garfield Park neighborhood, reopened on Thursday, with the remaining five stores in other parts of the city slated to reopen at unspecified points this fall.
The project reflects a joint effort by Yellow Banana, the government of Chicago and community organizations to improve access to groceries for people in underserved parts of the city.
Dive Insight:
Yellow Banana covered the cost of the remodeling campaign in part with a $13.5 million community development grant the company received from the city of Chicago in 2022.
The company, which owns and operates 38 Save A Lot locations in major metropolitan areas in Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Florida and Texas, said last year that it would also use money it raised from third-party backers, New Markets Tax Credit and its own funds for the renovation effort.
The retooled stores are gaining a variety of interior and exterior improvements, including new floors, lighting, heating and air-conditioning units, refrigerated cases and signage.
In addition to the Save A Lot store that reopened Thursday, Yellow Banana is preparing to begin serving customers during the coming weeks at locations in Chicago’s Morgan Park, South Chicago, South Shore, Auburn Gresham and West Lawn areas. The company noted in 2022 that the Auburn Gresham location had closed in 2020.
Yellow Banana said in April 2023 that it expected to complete the work within a year, but the company indicated on Thursday that the project fell behind schedule due to an array of problems. Those issues included trouble obtaining equipment, “unavoidable” construction delays and utility issues stemming from vandalism that left two stores without electricity for almost three months, Yellow Banana said, adding that it continued to pay workers during the renovation process.
“I’m confident that the investment made to remodel and upgrade these stores will pay off for shoppers, providing a significantly improved customer experience,” Yellow Banana CEO Joe Canfield said in a statement. “We’re grateful to the City of Chicago, to the communities around these stores and to Save A Lot for their patience and support throughout this process.”
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Leftovers is our look at a few of the product ideas popping up everywhere. Some are intriguing, some sound amazing and some are the kinds of ideas we would never dream of. We can’t write about everything that we get pitched, so here are some leftovers pulled from our inboxes.
Ferrero Rocher unwraps a new chocolate bar
Ferrero Rocher, the popular globe-shaped sweet, is taking a bigger bite of the confectionery space.
The brand is launching Ferrero Rocher Dark Hazelnut and Crunchy Salted Caramel bars. The new products feature crunchy hazelnut pieces, caramel with a touch of salt and a dark chocolate shell with 55% cocoa. Inspired by the original Ferrero Rocher pralines, they are wrapped in the brand’s signature gold foil.
The bars are available this month online and at retailers nationwide.
The new product is part of an effort by Ferrero to turn Ferrero Rocher into a $1 billion brand in the U.S.
“Innovation within our portfolio of products is a consideration as we drive towards that goal,” Ferrero said in an email to Food Dive. “Our primary focus is on establishing a larger share of everyday consumption.”
The Ferrero Rocher Dark Hazelnut and Crunchy Salted Caramel bar is being launched as part of a promotion to encourage people to take part in a four-week “Reading is a Treat” challenge.
Once readers complete the challenge – which features curated, fall-inspired reading prompts that pair with Ferrero Rocher chocolate – they’ll receive a complimentary bar.
Ferrero has been aggressively expanding its U.S. presence during the past seven years through a series of deals that pushed it deeper into candy and new categories, such as ice cream and cookies.
But it hasn’t lost sight of its core brands like Ferrro Rocher or Tic Tac. In May, Ferrero launched Tic Tac Chewy, a fruit candy with a crunchy exterior and chewy inside. It’s the first product for thegiant outside of the chocolate or mints section.
— Christopher Doering
Optional Caption
Courtesy of Tabasco
Tabasco takes on Tex-Mex
The popular hot sauce is leaning in to Mexican cuisine.
McIlhenney Company’s Tabasco brand has launched Salsa Picante hot sauce, a rich and thick sauce designed to add heat to tacos, guacamole and burritos. The star ingredientof the sauce is red-jalapeño peppers.
“Innovation has always been a priority for us, and we’ve been experimenting with this style of sauce for a while now,” Lee Susen, the chief sales and marketing officer at McIlhenney, said in a statement.
As a thicker sauce, the bottle was designed for easier drizzling and dipping, according to the company.
The product is now available on shelves, joining the array of unique hot sauces Tabasco has launched in recent years, including Sriracha, Buffalo and Sweet & Spicy.
Founded in 1868, Tabasco hails from Avery Island, Louisiana. Its signature sauce is consistently ranked in the top five of the most popular hot sauces in the U.S.
Mexican flavors continue to dominate new food and beverage product launches, as Gen Z marks the first generation to prefer the cuisine to Italian food as their favorite, according to Datassential research sent to Food Dive. Sales in the Mexican food segment are projected to increasing by $113.8 billion through 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.65%, according to Technavio.
Popular hot sauce brands have expanded their product lineups in recent years to meet the demand, including McCormick & Co.’s Cholula expanding into salsa and frozen meals.
— Chris Casey
Optional Caption
Permission granted by Good Culture
Good Culture falls into pumpkin
Snacking brand Good Culture is the latest company to hop on the pumpkin spice bandwagon.
The company is launching its first-ever seasonal flavor, Organic Pumpkin & Spice Cottage Cheese, which is a limited-edition offering only available at Whole Foods Market nationwide.
The new offering combines the “the rich, creamy texture that fans love with fall’s warm, comforting taste,” the company said in a press release.
“Our unique take on a fall classic features the wholesome, simple ingredients we’re known for, alongside the classic taste of pumpkin and spice,” said Jesse Merrill, CEO and Co-Founder of Good Culture.
The offering uses ingredients like real pumpkin and live and active cultures sourced from pasture-raised cows, it said.
Pumpkin spice online searches have been up 444,000 per month, according to the company, and other food and beverage manufacturers have been responding to the craze earlier and earlier.
Last week, Bimbo Bakeries brand Thomas’ English Muffins relaunched its Pumpkin Spice English Muffins and Bagels and earlier in August, Hostess got in on the celebration with its limited-edition Autumn and Halloween Snacks.
Cottage cheese is a trending product category.
Fueled by an increased consumer interest in protein intake and virality on social media, cottage cheese has gone through somewhat of a renaissance in recent years.
Over the last year the hashtag #cottagecheese has had half a billion views on TikTok, with videos like cottage cheese being turned into pizza crusts taking the forefront.
Good Culture has touted itself as the brand that revolutionized cottage cheese for the modern age.
Besides its new season limited edition offering, the company also offers Strawberry Chia and Pineapple cottage cheeses.
HERSHEY, PA. — The Hershey Co. has named Michael Del Pozzo as president, United States Confection, effective Sept. 16. He succeeds Charles Raup, who is retiring after 15 years at Hershey to pursue other executive opportunities, according to the company.
Del Pozzo will oversee the company’s brands, including Hershey’s, Reese’s and Jolly Rancher. He will join Hershey’s executive committee and work closely with two other business unit leaders, including Kristen Riggs, president of Salty Snacks, and Rohit Grover, president of International, according to the company.
Del Pozzo joins Hershey from PepsiCo, Inc., where he most recently was president and general manager of Gatorade. Earlier, Del Pozzo was chief customer officer for PepsiCo’s Frito Lay North America unit.
Del Pozzo was with PepsiCo for 23 years before transitioning to Hershey. He joined the company in December 2001 as an account executive and worked his way to several manager and leadership roles. He oversaw such brands as Propel, Muscle Milk and Evolve.
“Mike’s deep consumer insights, his customer relationships, and his track record of delivering results and driving strategic change position him as the ideal leader to guide our US Confection business through its next chapter,” said Michele Buck, chairman and chief executive officer of The Hershey Co. “He will be instrumental in building on our strengths and advancing our Leading Snacking Powerhouse vision. I want to thank Chuck for his many valuable contributions during his long tenure at Hershey. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”
Raup has been president of US Confection since December 2019. Previously, he was general manager of US Confection and Grocery. Raup joined Hershey in September 2009 as vice president, general manager of US Sweets and Refreshment. He held several leadership roles during his tenure with Hershey.
Prior to Hershey, Raup was senior director of marketing at Kraft Foods.
Consider supporting Jeremy and Johnny and the Farm Africa team as they raise money to support African farmers grow more, sell more and sell for more
6 September 2024
3 minute read
5m Books, the publisher of the recently released book, Six Inches of Soil, which supports the massively successful film is taking part in Farm Africa’s current fundraising challenge by entering two of its own into a 500 km London to Paris cycling challenge.
Jeremy Toynbee and Jonny Badley will be part of a larger Farm Africa team consisting of Gillian, Millie and CharloIe from vegetable grower Barfoots, Michelinstarred chef Paul Foster, and longstanding Farm Africa supporter, farmer Tim Jury.
Riding between 25 and 28 September, they will complete 500 km riding from the outskirts of London to the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, the iconic finishing point of the Tour de France.
Both Jeremy and Jonny used to cycle a reasonable amount but are definitely rather rusty now. Following them as they try to get in shape in time should be quite amusing.
The team is supporting Farm Africa, a charity that reduces poverty in eastern Africa by helping farmers grow more, sell more and sell for more.
Today, over half of the world’s extreme poor live in sub-Saharan Africa. The vast majority work in agriculture.
Working in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Farm Africa is growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural areas.
Here’s how a donation could help:
£5 could help to buy 10kg of forage seeds, so that farmers can grow food for their livestock.
£11 could provide training to one woman in high-quality coffee production in Uganda.
£16 could help to pay for a farmer to hire help to bring in his harvest.
£22 could help to establish a forest products enterprise.
£60 is enough to buy two local female goats for pastoralist women in Ethiopia.
£100 could help to provide two farmers with the means to start a beekeeping business, including a hive, beekeeping equipment and a bee colony.
Publishing Manager Alessandro Pasini said, “As a publisher of agriculture books we were delighted to throw Jonny and Jeremy under the bus to support this great cause when the idea came up in a meeting with the Farm Africa guys. 5m’s mission is to improve the health and happiness of the animals we farm and live with and to regenerate the world we farm and live in. SupporEng Farm Africa’s wonderful work with smallholder farmers unlocking the transformaEve potenEal of sustainable agriculture.”
Partnership Development Manager at Farm Africa, Louise Spearman, said: “We are incredibly grateful to 5m Books for taking on the London to Paris cycle ride in support of Farm Africa. Their dedication to our cause will make a significant impact, helping us provide farmers in eastern Africa with the tools and knowledge they need to build sustainable livelihoods. 100% of funds raised by 5m Books will go a long way in supporting communities to overcome challenges and secure a better future. We can’t thank them enough for their commitment and generosity!”
Smalls Sliders, which has more than 300 units — dubbed “cans” by the company — under development, has inked its latest multi-unit deal with entrepreneur Brett Stewart. Stewart, who is based in St. Louis, plans to add six cans throughout Fort Worth, according to a press release.
Stewart has more than 14 years working with other QSR brands.
“Smalls Sliders is truly unlike any other concept in the QSR industry,” Stewart said in the press release. “Having worked alongside other QSR brands, I knew Smalls Sliders was special and wanted to be a part of its extensive growth. I couldn’t be more thrilled to join Smalls as it continues to achieve record-breaking growth and can’t wait to bring its craveable cheeseburger sliders to even more communities across Fort Worth.”
Don Crocker, CDO of Smalls Sliders, said the brand is excited for Stewart to join the company as a franchisee.
“We’ve already seen great traction across Texas and are confident that Brett will uphold our standards for excellence as we continue our growth across the region,” Crocker said in the press release. “Operators with so much relevant industry experience, like Brett, help establish our solid foundation as we continue growing in new and existing markets, and ultimately explode nationwide.”
