Cultivating for Tomorrow Sustainable CEA Farming Produce with Jon Lomow

1. Cultivating for Tomorrow: Sustainable CEA Farming Produce with Jon Lomow What is Sustainable Agriculture? Also known as Sustainable Farming; Sustainable Agriculture is the process, method, and approach taken to grow and produce food products and livestock for the human population while always being environmentally aware, green, organic, and eco-friendly. It completely avoids approaches that negatively affect the environment and biodiversity as a whole. Some examples of Sustainable Farming and Agricultural Practices are - Regenerative Agriculture, Organic Farming and Greenhouse Farming, Permaculture, Crop Rotation, Urban Farming and Soilless Farming, Vertical Farming, and Climate-Smart Agriculture, etcetera. One such approach that is used in Sustainable Farming and Agriculture in the Industry is Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). Controlled Environment Agriculture is an effective technologically used strategy in the farming and growing of food produce and livestock in a safely controlled environment. This approach proves beneficial in positively combating all the issues and concerns that arise with urbanization and the depletion of natural resources. The uses of Greenhouses, Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Vertical Farming, etcetera., are some of the various innovative examples that are used under Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). Therefore in this article, we shall be exploring the exciting journey of one such sustainable food production practice in the Food and Beverage Manufacturing and Start-Up Company called “Fieldless Farms”, co-founded by Jon Lomow - who adopted CEA practices for farm- to-table produce and a mission to have a greener future. Jon Lomow - CEO and Co-Founder: Fieldless Farms - was co-founded by Jon Lomow and Paul Gardner, in the year 2017 but launched its business in the year of 2019. Jon Lomow is the Chief Executive Officer at Fieldless Farms and has been driven and determined all through the COVID-19 Pandemic, which had the company rise on the other side with little to no repercussions faced. Looking at the global environment of today, what with all the pandemics, natural disasters, illnesses, and diseases rising, the gradual increase in the rates of hospitalized people is also parallel. A large group of people in the world who consume almost normal food products that they and their previous generations have always eaten are slowly building intolerances. Due to adverse climatic changes, soil, water, and air pollution, people and livestock consuming food are falling ill. “....The pandemic showed us that our current food system is vulnerable. We need to have more locally produced products on the shelves.” - Co-Founder - Jon Lomow with FCC.

2. In response to this, Jon Lomow and Paul Gardner were inspired and motivated to start a business with the hope of providing healthy, safe, and fresh produce and livestock from farm- to-table ideas by looking toward technology-based sustainable strategies in Greenhouses, Open-Field Farming, and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). Fieldless Farms: Fieldless Farms, is a Food and Beverage Manufacturing Company established in Ottawa and Cornwall, Toronto, Canada. This organization led by CEO - Jon Lomow, is an innovative and technologically operated sustainable CEA-grown food products business. As the years go by in today’s world, there is a huge rise in urbanization that leads to the mass depletion of natural resources in the environment and inflations. With this comes, low-quality food produce being grown on depleted land, large volumes of water being consumed, huge amounts of chemicals like insecticides and pesticides used, drastic climatic changes, natural disasters, reducing green covers, dangerous rise in pollution levels, and increased waste amounts being produced. To combat all of these problems that have a direct effect on our lives as well as all habitats, the practice of sustainability strategies comes into play. These strategies are the various actions or steps taken to prevent depletions in all physical and natural resources in the present so that these essential needs can still be present and used by future generations. Sustainability has three important foundation stones on which it is built - Economy, Society, and the Environment. In Canada, almost all food products are imported, and there has been a rise in food poisoning or food going bad by the time it reaches the table. Driving toward a goal in Food Security and technology in farming, Fieldless Farms uses indoor farming systems such as CEA’s to grow safe and healthy green food products all year round. To continue its sustainability efforts, the company also uses 90% less plastic in the packaging of its farmed food. Using renewable energy in farming and devoid of any chemicals such as insecticides and pesticides, Fieldless Farms have - „Less Field. More Taste. Safe for You. And the Planet. Crunch that Lasts and Lasts. Local Produce. Even when it Snows.‟ The four main products that are launched and being sold by Fieldless Farms to the people for ready-to-eats meals are primarily composed of green food products. Ontario Sweets is a sweet salad mix of red and green oaks along with green and sweet crisp and frill lettuce. Northern Crunch is a sweet crisp lettuce that is recommended to be used in burgers, sandwiches, smoothies, and salads. Lion’s Mane Mushrooms is a meaty-textured and mildly flavored Umami, which can be a good meat and superfood product for brain function and boosting the overall immune system and well-being. The fourth new product is still in work but has been revealed to be Kale which will be launched-to-cart soon.

3. To Conclude: Fieldless Farms has been successfully and effortlessly ranked as the 1st in its sustainable and technology-based indoor farming agricultural practices among 7 other competitors who are working in the same business field. Established its locations in two areas in Ontario, Canada - Ottawa and Cornwall, Fieldless Farms aims to encourage the practice of locally farmed food products over the imported supply chains for safer and healthier consumption all year round. With hopes and a mission to expand their business to cover the produce of a wider range of food products, Fieldless Farms along with their strong workforce by CEO and Co-Founder - Jon Lomow, can be expected to farm and launch Baby Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Peppers for ready-to-eat and farm-to-table meals, shortly!