Feeding A Hungry Planet

The United Nations has predicted the global population will reach seven billion this year, and climb to nine billion by 2050, “with almost all of the growth occurring in poor countries, particularly Africa and South Asia,” said John Bongaarts of the non-profit Population Council.

To feed all these mouths, “we will need to produce as much food in the next 40 years, as we have in the last 8,000,” said Jason Clay of the World Wildlife Fund at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). “By 2050 we will not have a planet left that is recognizable” if current trends continue, Clay said.

Food Prices Going UP!

Feb. 19, 2011, Growponics Americas (Tulsa, OK) – Have you noticed the price of food is going up, including fresh produce? Yesterday, I reached for a green pepper at the grocery store, and looked up at the price: $1.68 each! I put it back. I thought they were expenses a few weeks ago when they were 68-cents each.

What is causing this? It is a combination of factors, including weather (too much rain in California and freezes in Florida), and increased fuel prices.

Bloomberg reports that wholesale costs in the U.S. increased for a seventh consecutive month in January, led by higher prices for fuel. The producer price index rose 0.8 percent, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. Growing economies in Asia and Latin America are boosting global demand for oil and other imported commodities, raising input costs for American fields and factorie

Growponics Americas, LLC Signs LOIs with the Bahamas and Indiana

For Immediate Release – February 9, 2011 – (Tulsa, OK), Growponics Americas, LLC has recently signed two LOIs with growers in the Bahamas and Indiana to build a GPA floating-bed, rotating field system, hydroponic greenhouse to grow leafy greens and herbs, as well as vine crops for their local/ regional markets.

The Bahamas facility, headed by Marrion Heflin and Peggy Franzen will be a 2.5 acre facility to provide these crops to the Bahamas, where most of these crops are imported from abroad, raising prices. GPBahamas wants to provide local grown vegetables and fruits that are tasty, fresh and affordable to the Bahamas and also expand into other Caribbean islands.

Food Costs at Record High

Reuters – Feb 3, 2011 – World food prices hit a record high in January, the U.N. said, which is an issue that has already helped spark protests across the Middle East.

Up for the seventh month in a row, the closely watched U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization Food Price Index today touched its highest since records began in 1990, and topped the peak of 224.1 in June 2008, during the food crisis of 2007/08.

“The new figures clearly show that the upward pressure on world food prices is not abating. These high prices are likely to persist in the months to come,” FAO economist and grains expert, Abdolreza Abbassian, said.

18 Important Changes in the New Food Safety Moderization Act

(Washington, DC) – On January 4th, President Obama signed the new Food Safety Modernization Act, which is considered the largest reform of national food safety in more than 80 years. The $1.4 billion bill mainly expands the reach and regulatory powers of the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA oversees production of all food products with the exception of meat, poultry and dairy, which fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Here are 18 key changes the Food Safety Modernization Act will bring to food production and consumption in America that will affect all of our lives going forward:

J&D Produce Recall Expands to 18 Other Vegetables, Greens

(Edinburg, TX – December 30, 2010) A Texas produce company in the Rio Grande Valley that has already recalled some 7,000 cases of Salmonella-tainted cilantro and curly parsley has now recalled 18 other vegetables and leafy greens, all processed on the same packing lines.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocardititis and arthritis.

President Obama Signs Food Safety Bill

(January 5, 2011) – President Obama had a very full inbox when he returned to Washington yesterday, when he signed 35 laws, including the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.

The Food Safety law is considered the largest reform of national food safety in more than 80 years. It received bipartisan support as well as an endorsement from the Chamber of Commerce. The White House says the safety bill directs the FDA “to build a new system of food safety oversight – one focused on applying, more comprehensively than ever, the best available science and good common sense to prevent the problems that can make people sick.” But the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives may hold up funding of the $1.5 billion over the next five years.

Growponics CEO shares story of company origins

Growponics Americas CEO Sam Bein attended a recent town board meeting unannounced and was not introduced until public comment was over. However, he heard the concerns of the valley’s residents about the large hydroponics project proposed for Pahrump.

“It’s the people’s right to have their questions answered,” said Bein. “To question authority is the American way. As citizens, we should have skepticism. We shouldn’t trust.

“I want people to know who I am. I’m not a multi-national corporation coming to town. I’m Sam.”

Sam Bein is an Oklahoma farmer with a small plot of land who has a vision and a purpose. He brought the most technologically advanced, proven, hydroponic technology to the United States from Israel because he believes in it.

PROTECT YOUR FUTURE…. TODAY With Growponics Technology

Tulsa, OK, (Nov, 18, 2010) – More and more economists, political leaders, and news commentators have been tracking food costs in the USA, and some basic foods have gone up in price as much as 10% in the past year, and they are still going up. They point out that the cost of production has gone up because of energy prices, labor, and commodity prices, most of which have been absorbed by the manufacturers until now. However, the time has come that they are forced to add on incremental increases to us, the consumer. And, it will only get worse if tax cuts are not continued into 2011, and when the costs of the Obama Health Care Bill kicks in.

A year from now, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the world’s population will top 7 billion people. No matter how much food is produced worldwide, feeding that many people is almost impossible.

Growponics Texas, LLC – $30 Million Hydroponics Greenhouse to Supply Texas Premium Produce

A major Hydroponic City of more than 30-acres of greenhouses to grow leafy greens (fancy lettuces and all herbs), as well as vine plants (tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, sweet and hot peppers), and strawberries is coming to Texas.

Shocking Study on Adult Eating Habits

The National Cancer Institute and the Food Guide Pyramid recommends five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day to ward off cancer and other diseases. Healthy eating is a key to healthy living, and while most of us know this, apparently most of us don’t follow this in our eating habits. That is [...]

Growponics In Motion

Growponics Americas, LLC (GPA) designs and builds fully-automated hydroponic greenhouses that uses modern, patented and proprietary Israeli agronomics technology, to maximize food/plant production and profitability of crop yields, grown 365 days a year.

Town negotiates for $90M project – Growponics Nevada LLC

Agriculture could come back to the valley in a big way, if negotiations between the town and Growponics Nevada LLC bear fruit. The project being negotiated is valued at $90 million — larger than

Texas Closes Greens Processing Plant Linked to Four Deaths

San Antonio, TX, (Oct. 20, 2010) – USA Today reports that Texas officials have ordered the Sangar Fresh Cut Produce company to shut down after its chopped celery was linked to at least four deaths

Wal-Mart to Buy “Grown Local”

According to the New York Times (Oct, 14, 2010), Wal-Mart Stores announced a program that focuses on sustainable agriculture among its suppliers, as it tries to reduce its overall environmental impact.

Hydroponic City Proposed For Las Vegas Food Service Industry

A major Hydroponic City of more than 60-acres of greenhouses to grow leafy greens (fancy lettuces and all herbs), as well as vine plants

Pesticides and ADHD: What’s the Connection?

Jessica Wang writes, “Pesticides are harmful both to the environment and to human health. And yet, we keep using them and keep eating pesticide-laden food.

Are Chemicals Making YOU FAT?

The answer is YES, and from a source that will surprise you! It is from the vegetables and fruits you are eating. So what is the solution? … hydroponic, organic vegetables and fruits that can keep you safe.

Hydroponic City Proposed for Las Vegas, NV

A major Hydroponic City of more than 50-acres of greenhouses to grow leafy greens (fancy lettuces and all herbs), as well as vine plants (tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, sweet and

Second Recall for Fresh Express Lettuce in Two Months

On May 24, Fresh Express recalled romaine lettuce-based salads due to possible contamination with salmonella. Today, they are recalling more items because of the risk of being contaminated with E. coli.

New Outbreak of e. coli; Field-grown Lettuce is the Culprit

Tulsa, OK – (http://www.growponicsamericas.com), May 8, 2010 – Growponics Americas, a company that operates hydro-organic greenhouses around the world, including the USA,