After spending some quality time with friends, family, and, most importantly, ourselves, —away from emails—we're back! As we gear up for another exciting year of delivering all the relevant news from the horticultural industry, let's take one final look back at 2024 by revisiting the year's most-read articles.
Growing without LEDs
The top article of 2024 spotlighted a CEA startup aiming to remove artificial lighting from commercial vertical farming systems. Supported by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this innovative program sought to demonstrate that growing crops without LEDs is not only possible but sustainable. The second most-read article covered the ambitious greenhouse plans of Growing IGF Canada, capturing the industry's attention.
Coming in third, the Chatham-Kent Municipal Council's decision to adjust 2024 development charges for water and wastewater sparked widespread discussion. This change, which could lead to higher costs for greenhouse growers, resonated with many in the industry. Notable enough to secure a spot in the top 10, the changes to Ontario's building code also made waves in the horticultural community.
What the numbers say
Generally, articles about North America consistently perform well, so thanks a lot Mucci and BrightFarms for the ongoing developments in the industry, as do stories about India. Topics covering new greenhouse projects are always a hit, while reports on extreme weather events like hailstorms or tornadoes, though unfortunate, understandably draw significant interest.
We're delighted to see your enthusiasm for articles on innovations, support for IPM, combatting diseases, grower interviews, and, of course, GreenTech Amsterdam. These reflect the dynamic spirit of the horticultural industry. A special shout-out to the article that just made it into the top 50: Broccoli haircut is a hot trend. We look forward to seeing your broccoli selfies.