Controlled Environment Urban Agriculture conference set Dec. 5 in Dallas

The first Controlled Environment Urban Agriculture Conference Dec. 5 in Dallas will provide information on a wide range of topics as well as access to Texas A&M AgriLife and industry experts, coordinators said.

Experts from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the city of Dallas and others will cover urban agriculture production, controlled-environment crop performance and management of temperatures, nutrients, fertilizers, light and other factors from a grower’s perspective.

Joe Masabni, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension vegetable horticulturist, Overton, said various levels of sponsorship are still available for the event.

“The conference is designed for new and prospective growers interested in specialty crop production under a controlled environment, such as high tunnels, greenhouses or indoor vertical farms,” Masabni said. ”Also welcome are experienced growers who want to learn more about the nuts and bolts of crop production in a controlled environment.”

When, where, who, what

The event is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Water Education Building at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 17360 Coit Road in Dallas. Cost to attend is $105 if registered during the month of November or $125 on-site. Texas Nursery and Landscape Association members and AgriLife employees are eligible for $20 and $40 discounts, respectively.

Register at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/horticulture or call 979-845-2604.

Speakers and topics include:

–          Masabni – Urban agriculture production systems and technologies.

–          Mengmeng Gu, Ph.D. AgriLife Extension ornamental horticulturist, College Station – Nutrients and fertilizers.

–          Genhau Niu, Ph.D., AgriLife Research urban agriculture horticulturist, Dallas – Light management.

–          Ling Sun – technical manager, Denise Farms – Temperature control for container-grown plant production.

–          Karla Garcia, technical support, HortAmericas – Mastering environmental controls and how to improve crop performance with technologies.

–          Robert Curry, special projects manager, City of Dallas – Urban agriculture in the city.

–          Drew Demler, greenhouse manager, the State Fair of Texas.

Three Texas Department of Agriculture general continuing education units will be available.

For more information, contact Masabni at jmasabni@ag.tamu.edu, Niu at gniu@tamu.edu; or Gu at mgu@tamu.edu.

– Adam Russell, Texas A&M AgriLife

The Controlled Environment Urban Agriculture Conference will cover a range of topics related to growing plants like these Asian leafy greens being grown hydroponically inside a greenhouse. Photo by Paul Schattenberg/AgriLife Extension