US tech firm to introduce 'indoor growing systems'

SAN FRANCISCO - As the world faces food safety and other pressing issues, a Silicon Valley company sees opportunities in China to expand its "indoor farming" technology.

"We incorporate hardware, software and plant science into our growing management system repeatedly and consistently to meet customers' demand for safe, clean and efficient plants," said Robert Chen, president and CEO of AEssenseGrows, during a two-day Silicon Valley Agtech Conference held last week.

The Sunnyvale, California-based company's core technique is aeroponics, which is growing plants on special racks that allow the roots to hang in midair where they are misted with a water-nutrient solution.