Introduction
Soilless Cultivation Planning is currently underway for the establishment of a Center of Excellence in indoor farming at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). Led by the Yield Lab Institute, this center aims to promote innovation, knowledge sharing, commercialization, and best practices in indoor agriculture. Additionally, it will focus on enhancing food equity and access. The center will be located on the northern part of the UMSL campus, near Express Scripts and Florissant Road.
The Role of UMSL and Stakeholders
UMSL, as a primary partner to the Yield Lab Institute, has been actively involved in planning sessions with community stakeholders to identify the purpose and role of the center. Karl Guenther, UMSL's assistant vice chancellor for economic and community development, states that the university has been working with partners to develop strategies for the center's realization on the North Campus. The St. Louis Controlled Environment Agriculture Coalition, which includes local stakeholders and national experts in various fields related to indoor farming, is collaborating to leverage existing assets, expertise, partnerships, and innovative technologies to bring soilless farming operations to the region and increase productivity and scalability.
Advantages and Challenges of Indoor Farming
Indoor farming, whether through hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics, or other methods, offers several advantages over conventional farming. It can reduce the harmful effects of traditional agriculture, such as land pressure and habitat loss, which can negatively impact biodiversity. However, indoor, soilless farming requires significant energy consumption, presenting a challenge in terms of commercial viability.
The Center's Objectives Soilless Cultivation
The Center of Excellence will support workforce development, business development, and research and innovation in indoor farming. It will focus on identifying successful technologies and growth setups, as well as facilitating their commercialization. The center will also play a crucial role in promoting greater food access, addressing the feedback received from community members during the planning of the North County Business and Workforce District on South Campus. These conversations led to discussions about local and urban farming and ultimately the connection to the Yield Lab Institute.
Integration of Different Disciplines
Haitao Li, the chair of the Department of Supply Chain and Analytics in the College of Business Administration, played a vital role in establishing the connection between UMSL and the Yield Lab Institute. Li's involvement in a project focused on indoor growing, along with other partners in the University of Missouri System, demonstrated the potential for integrating different disciplines to support innovation in the industry. UMSL aims to leverage its expertise and partnerships across the UM System, including MU Extension and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, as well as UMKC, to collaborate with researchers, businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs in the field of indoor agriculture.
The Yield Lab Institute's Contribution
The Yield Lab Institute has been working on the development of the Center of Excellence for several years. Their collaboration with UMSL emerged from a shared commitment to locate the center and advance inputs, technologies, and businesses for modern food and agriculture production. Their work also aims to address food access and insecurity issues in metropolitan areas, particularly in north St. Louis.
The Center's Independence and Campus Presence
Although the center will be run independently from the university, its presence on the UMSL campus will provide opportunities for students and the surrounding community to access training, research, and innovation. This will further enhance the region's reputation as a leading center for agricultural technology, with institutions such as the Danforth Plant Science Center, the Helix BioIncubator Center, BRDG Park, EDGE at BRDG, BioSTL, and 39 North.
Conclusion Soilless Cultivation
The establishment of the Center of Excellence in indoor farming at UMSL represents a significant step towards promoting innovation, knowledge sharing, and commercialization in the field of indoor agriculture. By leveraging partnerships, expertise, and innovative technologies, the center aims to address the challenges of indoor, soilless farming while enhancing food equity and access. With its location on the UMSL campus, the center will provide valuable resources for students and the community, further reinforcing the region's position as a hub for agricultural technology.
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