January 2024 - 28

TECHNOLOGY
Growers turn to software solutions to help integrate management of sales. Photo courtesy of Keith Loria.
There is also interest in more futuristic technologies
being developed, including the use of spectral-shifting
films and transparent photovoltaics.
" While there are already some products on the market,
more research, development and economic analysis is
needed to advance these technologies, " Runkle said.
Then there are drones and robots. They roam the area
and do all kinds of efficient work, from checking the health
of plants to picking ripe items.
" Many companies are creating automated systems for
tasks like monitoring plant health, watering and even
harvesting, " Su said. " It's as if the future of gardening has
already landed. "
Another hot topic is vertical farming within
greenhouses. By growing plants in stacked layers, it
maximizes space and efficiency; perfect for urban settings
where space is at a premium. There's also been a rise
in unique designs that better allow greenhouses onto
rooftops and other areas, which is also a big win for
urban farming.
For integrated pest management, there are companies
focusing on organic and biological pest control solutions,
providing natural predators or organic treatments to
manage pests in a sustainable way.
STRUCTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY
The future of structure and sustainability is shaping
up to be quite an exciting landscape as well, with more
greenhouses moving towards renewable energy sources
like solar panels.
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JANUARY 2024 GPNMAG.COM
Water use efficiency is another key area. Innovations
like recirculating irrigation systems, where water is reused
and recycled, are becoming more common. This not only
conserves water but also reduces the runoff of fertilizers,
protecting the surrounding environment.
" For water efficiency, irrigation companies that offer
drip irrigation systems and soil moisture sensors are
key players, " Su said. " These systems ensure that water
is delivered precisely where and when it's needed,
minimizing waste. "
WHAT'S NEW
SBI Software, a Portland, Oregon-based company,
specializes in working with greenhouse growers.
" Part of the problems we have seen is that sometimes
the back-end of the software can be pretty complex, " said
Aaron Allison, a partner in the company. " There's a higher
turnover nowadays with people's positions, so we've had
more pressure to provide simpler solutions. "
For instance, in early 2024, the company will be
releasing Sprout, a low-cost platform for smaller growers
where they can log in, set up and start selling plants all at
a much lower cost than a typical software sale. It will sync
with Quickbooks Online and allow them the ability to do
inventory, availability, orders, payments and credit card
payments all with self-set-up.
SBI Software also offers an app for inventory control,
and one of the newest versions has a Spanish version,
which has been a big hit in the greenhouse space among
growers. Another platform app from the company includes

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January 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2024