VANCOUVER, BC, March 19, 2021 /CNW/ - CubicFarm® Systems
Corp. (TSXV: CUB) ("CubicFarms" or the "Company"), a local
chain agricultural technology company, today announced that a
scientific journal has published a case study involving HydroGreen
Inc. ("HydroGreen"), a division of CubicFarms that has pioneered
innovative technologies to produce live green animal feed.
This article finds that HydroGreen's technology has great
potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the animal
agriculture industry. It warns of the imminent pressures on our
food systems through demand for consumption of animal products,
which are becoming more apparent as our global population
increases, with estimates suggesting a global population of almost
10 billion by 2050.
Hydroponic fodder and greenhouse gas emissions: a potential
avenue for climate mitigation strategy and policy
development was published by Canadian Science Publishing
in FACETS, the official journal of the Royal Society of
Canada's Academy of Science.
This scientific research was developed through a collaboration
of academic researchers and industry experts.
Academic researchers include members of the prestigious Food and
Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley: Dr.
Lenore Newman (Director and
Canada Research Chair in Food Security), Dr. Robert Newell (Associate Director), and
Charmaine White (Research
Associate).
Industry leaders participating in the research include
Mathew Dickson, Managing Director of
Hallbar Consulting, a sustainability and waste consulting firm;
Bill Vanderkooi, President and CEO
of Nutriva Group, a strategic consulting firm to the dairy, egg,
and beef industry; and Tim Fernback,
Chief Financial Officer of CubicFarms.
Dr. Newman and Tim Fernback are
also members of the newly-formed CubicFarms Scientific Advisory
Board.
The journal article explores the potential for hydroponic fodder
production for contributing to climate mitigation in fodder
agriculture. Case studies compare GHG emissions and the carbon
sequestration potential of hydroponically grown sprouted barley
fodder to conventional barley grain fodder. The case study analyzed
fresh livestock feed grown in the controlled environment using a
HydroGreen Grow System when compared to traditional farming
methods.
Results of this published case study indicate that incorporating
hydroponic systems into barley production has the potential to
reduce GHG emissions. Results also show that hydroponic farming can
provide greater carbon sequestration opportunities than simply
shifting to no-tillage farming.
HydroGreen technologies deliver reliable, cost-effective onsite
feed production with a minimal environmental footprint, using 92%
less water, less land, less energy, and less labour when compared
to traditional growing methods. Further results indicate that
hydroponic fodder farming could contribute to climate mitigation
objectives if complemented with effective energy and land use
policies.
Dr. Newman commented, "With approximately 70% of all
agricultural land being used for some aspect of livestock
production, beef and dairy farming currently represents
approximately 14.5% of all human-induced GHG emissions. Feed
production and animal waste represents the two largest sources of
these GHG emissions, representing 45% and 39% respectively. Finding
solutions like the HydroGreen hydroponic growing system that can
lower overall GHG emissions caused by livestock will be critical to
solving the world's GHG emission problems and reduce the overall
effects of global warming. This latest research estimated that the
HydroGreen demonstration farm produced 7.4% fewer GHG emissions
(per nutrient mass) than were found with conventional barley grain
fodder farming, and greater reductions can be achieved with
improved seed-to-fodder output, indicating that transitioning to
such systems can result in GHG reductions and (ultimately) climate
mitigation benefits. These are exciting findings and a bright light
in the otherwise gloomy world of climate change."
Dr. Newman continued, "The long-term future of animal
agriculture is uncertain. As new alternatives to meat and dairy
products are developed, consumer preferences shift toward these
alternatives, and global trends in vegetarianism rise. The
livestock industry is a major contributor to climate change and
other critical environmental issues that challenge global
sustainability, and perhaps a complete transition to sustainable
food and farm systems involves decoupling these systems from
animal-based industries. However, climate change is a critical
imperative that requires immediate attention, and, although
vegetarianism and veganism have experience dramatic increases in
recent years, so has meat consumption. In addition, animal
agriculture is socially, culturally, and economically significant
to communities and societies across the globe, and it supports the
livelihoods of numerous people. Transitioning toward sustainable
agriculture, and immediate solutions are needed for reducing the
impact of livestock industries is a long-term agricultural
trend."
Read the full journal article here.
About CubicFarms
CubicFarms is a local chain, agricultural technology company
developing and deploying technology to feed a changing world. Its
proprietary ag-tech solutions enable growers to produce high
quality, predictable produce and fresh livestock feed with
HydroGreen Nutrition Technology, a division of CubicFarm Systems
Corp. The CubicFarms™ system contains patented technology for
growing leafy greens and other crops onsite, indoors, all year
round. CubicFarms provides an efficient, localized food supply
solution that benefits our people, planet, and economy.
For more information, please visit www.cubicfarms.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
"Dave Dinesen"
Dave Dinesen, Chief Executive Officer
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release. This news release may contain
forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to,
comments that involve future events and conditions, which are
subject to various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual
results may vary materially from those statements. General business
conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary
materially from forward-looking statements.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/university-research-confirms-greenhouse-gas-reductions-using-hydrogreens-hydroponic-fodder-system-301250850.html
SOURCE CubicFarm Systems Corp.