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AppHarvest increases B Corp score 15% in recertification, issues 2021 sustainability report detailing ESG progress

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Company outperforms on water conservation achieving more than 90 percent less use than open-field growing average

Increases B Corp score against added challenge of expanding farm network and ramping up production

Establishes Board of Directors-level oversight for sustainability

Earns Certified Living Wage Company designation

MOREHEAD, Ky., June 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AppHarvest, Inc. (NASDAQ: APPH, APPHW), a sustainable food company, public benefit corporation and Certified B Corp building some of the country’s largest high-tech indoor farms to grow affordable, nutritious fruits and vegetables at scale while providing good jobs in Appalachia, today announced its B Corp recertification score improved 15% over its original certification and published its 2021 “Fight the Food Fight” Sustainability Report measuring progress on its environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments. The “Fight the Food Fight” campaign is a call to action for consumers to join the company’s mission in creating a more resilient food system that delivers far more using far fewer resources for the wellbeing of people and planet.

B Corp Recertification
As both a Certified B Corp and a public benefit corporation, ESG issues are core to the AppHarvest mission. Since first becoming B Corp Certified in 2019, the company has increased its overall impact score to 95.4 – a 15% improvement. This increase came during a period of hyper-growth as the company went public, opened its 60-acre flagship farm in Morehead, Ky., and grew from a handful of employees to several hundred.

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Key actions that helped boost the company’s recertification score include establishing a Board of Directors-level Sustainability Committee; tracking and reporting data for water, energy, carbon and waste; and ensuring the highest standard of health and safety are achieved.

“The increase in our Certified B Corporation score demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement, and I’m so proud the team achieved this while working to rapidly ramp up production and expand the farm network,” said AppHarvest Founder & CEO Jonathan Webb. “Disrupting agriculture to build a climate-resilient, domestic food supply that is more sustainable for the next generation and beyond isn’t easy, but the B Corp validation is a symbol that we are committed to ‘Fight the Food Fight’ to provide good jobs and better access to nutritious fruits and vegetables while conserving the increasingly precious resource of water.”

The B Corp Certification is issued by B Lab, an independent non-profit organization that assesses a company’s entire social and environmental performance on more than 200 ESG topics. Certification is awarded to for-profit organizations that balance profit and purpose by meeting high standards in social and environmental performance, legal accountability and public transparency. An assessment must be completed every three years to maintain certification.

2021 Fight the Food Fight Sustainability Report
“Fight the Food Fight!” That’s the AppHarvest rally cry to build a robust, climate-resilient food system that’s better for both people and planet. It’s also the focus of AppHarvest’s third sustainability report detailing progress during fiscal year 2021 (January 1 to December 31, 2021) on the company’s three specific public benefit goals: empower individuals in Appalachia, improve the lives of company employees and the communities in which we operate and drive positive environmental change in agriculture. The report also discusses our approach to zero waste and actions we’re taking to reduce our energy and carbon footprint. The reporting in this report is in accordance with the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) Content Index and SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board)’s agriculture standards.

Highlights from the report that illustrate AppHarvest’s substantial environmental and social impact include:

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  • Hiring ~500 employees as of 2021 for certified living wage jobs in Central Appalachia and training them during COVID-19 while remaining safe.
  • Continuously ramping up production at our first facility to deliver more sustainably grown tomatoes to top national grocery store chains and restaurants.
  • Leveraging our closed-loop irrigation to use more than 90% less water than open-field agriculture while preventing runoff pollution of waterways in an era of exceptional water shortages around the world.
  • Dedication to Integrated Pest Management as our primary line of defense against pests and disease and innovating in this space to reduce pesticide use.
  • Progress on recycling and minimizing food waste.
  • Leverage real-time data to optimize our production capabilities and innovate sustainability measures.

“2021 marks our first full year of operations, and we can more clearly see the opportunities, challenges and the critical need to leverage controlled environment agriculture (CEA) as a solution to many of the obstacles threatening our U.S. food supply —drought, wildfires, flooding, ice storms, extreme temperatures and exceptional wind events,” said AppHarvest Chief Sustainability Officer Jackie Roberts. “With our long-term commitment to doing right by our broad range of stakeholders across the ESG spectrum, we will continue to bring a focus on ensuring domestic food security and the ability for CEA to accomplish that while providing good jobs in agriculture in areas of the country that need it most.”

The full sustainability report is available here.

About AppHarvest
AppHarvest is a sustainable food company in Appalachia developing and operating some of the world’s largest high-tech indoor farms with robotics and artificial intelligence to build a reliable, climate-resilient food system. AppHarvest’s farms are designed to grow produce using sunshine, 100% rainwater and up to 90% less water than open-field growing, all while producing yields up to 30 times that of traditional agriculture and preventing pollution from agricultural runoff. AppHarvest currently operates its flagship farm – about the size of 50 football fields – in Morehead, Ky., producing tomatoes. The company is developing a network of farms to produce a variety of vine crops, salad greens and berries with three more farms currently under construction that are expected to be operational by the end of 2022. For more information, visit https://www.appharvest.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” “can,” “goal,” “target” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding AppHarvest’s intention to build high-tech CEA farms, the anticipated benefits of and production at such facilities, including implementation of a phased approach at each facility, timing and availability of tomatoes at top national grocery stores and restaurants, anticipated benefits of the second season harvest, AppHarvest’s future financial performance, as well as AppHarvest’s growth and evolving business plans and strategy, ability to capitalize on commercial opportunities, future operations, estimated financial position, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of AppHarvest’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of AppHarvest. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC by AppHarvest on May 3, 2022, under the heading “Risk Factors,” and other documents AppHarvest has filed, or that AppHarvest will file, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect AppHarvest’s expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. AppHarvest anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its assessments to change. However, while AppHarvest may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, AppHarvest specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing AppHarvest’s assessments of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

Media Contact: Darla Turner, [email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/585f2a17-c626-4a42-994c-e40946bb8262

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Aero Design Labs receives U.S. and EASA approval for updated Boeing 737-800 drag reduction kit

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FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Aero Design Labs (ADL) today announced it has received a Supplementary Type Certificate (STC) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval for its enhanced Boeing 737-800 drag reduction kit 2.0.

“We are delighted to introduce our next generation of the drag reduction kit, which we are referring to as ‘ADL Kit 2.0′,” said Jeff Martin, ADL President and CEO. “The ADL team has once again demonstrated its expertise and commitment to aviation carbon reduction through its continued improvement process. ADL’s next generation Kit 2.0 is an evolution from our original designs, meeting the stringent requirements based on valuable feedback from our launch partners. With our new EASA approval, we can now offer our carbon reduction kits to new EU airline customers.”
The ADL Kit 2.0 captures new benefits, and significantly reduces the installation time, delivering reduced out-of-service time for the conversion while generating meaningful fuel savings and reduced carbon emissions across the popular Boeing 737-800 variant. Based on feedback from airline partners, it is anticipated that a kit can be installed overnight, minimizing critical out-of-service time for the airlines.
“Having served as an airline operational executive, I understand the need for airlines to reduce their carbon footprint, save fuel and minimize aircraft out-of-service time for the modification,” said David Campbell, ADL Chief Operating Officer. “ADL Kit 2.0 offers better economics and a shorter payback period, assisting airlines with fuel savings and carbon reduction including their IATA CORSIA carbon reduction pledges.”
“On behalf of the team at ADL, we thank ALOFT AeroArchitects, NORDAM, AAR Corp, and the many airline partners who have assisted us on this journey”, concluded Jeff Martin. “Their feedback and contributions to our engineering efforts and joint commitments to reducing aviation carbon emissions are invaluable.”
About Aero Design Labs L.L.C.
Founded in 2015, Aero Design Labs (ADL) leads the way in the research, development and installation of drag reduction systems for airline fleets globally. ADL modifications to airlines’ existing fleets can result in fuel savings, extend fleet longevity and the potential for billions of pounds of CO2 to be prevented from entering the atmosphere. 
Media inquiries: Richard Bartrem [email protected]
Sales inquiries: David Campbell [email protected]
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2519564/Aero_Design_Labs_Logo_Logo.jpg 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aero-design-labs-receives-us-and-easa-approval-for-updated-boeing-737-800-drag-reduction-kit-302262953.html

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DocPro Limited Announces the Launch of DocLegal.ai

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Affordable AI-Powered Legal Solutions
HONG KONG, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — DocPro Limited, a leading innovator in legal technology, has launched DocLegal.ai, a new platform designed to provide AI-powered legal assistance at an unbeatable price—less than the price of your daily coffee.

DocLegal.ai is a platform that consolidates legal document creation, editing, and review into a single interface. The platform offers the following features:
Custom Document Creation: Users can describe their scenario and receive a tailored legal document.Document Review and Editing: The AI assistant can edit, review, summarize documents, suggest clauses, and highlight potential risks.The platform is designed to provide affordable legal services to small businesses and individuals. It also aims to streamline workflows and automate routine tasks for legal professionals, enabling them to focus on high-value activities.
DocPro Limited has leveraged its experience with DocPro.com, which serves over 50,000 users globally, to develop DocLegal.ai. The company is a graduate of the Cyberport Incubation Program and is currently part of the HKSTP Incubation Program and Google for Startups Cloud Program.
As part of its soft launch, DocLegal.ai is offering exclusive access to the first 500 users for only $2.50  per document. Interested parties can Visit the DocLegal.ai website to sign up.
About DocPro Limited
Founded in 2020, DocPro Limited is a leader in the legal tech space, committed to enhancing the delivery of legal services through innovative AI-powered solutions. With platforms like DocPro.com and DocLegal.ai, DocPro empowers users to create and manage legal documents with unparalleled efficiency and precision. For more information, visit DocLegal.ai.
DocLegal.ai is poised to become an indispensable tool for anyone seeking reliable, efficient, and affordable legal documentation, reinforcing DocPro’s position as a pioneer in legal technology.
Media Enquiries: 
Kim [email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/docpro-limited-announces-the-launch-of-doclegalai-302260129.html

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Amagi and Phenix Partner to Bring Next-Gen Low Latency and Seamless Ad Insertion for the Ultimate Viewer Experience

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Bitmovin Complements the Partnership With Its New Player Web X, Guaranteeing Seamless, Crystal-Clear Video Playback
NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Amagi, a global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV (CTV), today announced a partnership with Phenix Real Time Solutions to deliver next-generation FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) and live events with the lowest latency available in the streaming marketplace. Amagi and Phenix will provide a complete turnkey solution for content owners to achieve real-time streaming with subsecond latency and server-side ad insertion (SSAI). By combining automation, scheduling, real-time streaming, and ad monetization, streaming customers can now deliver a “see it here first” experience, eliminate spoilers from social media, and provide a best-in-class viewing experience for their audiences.

Bitmovin adds a unique element to the mix by ensuring effortless, smooth playback on any browser, regardless of the device. Bitmovin’s open-source plugin system makes integration easy and provides the tools to maintain high-quality playback. The latest update also includes compatibility with Phenix Real-Time SSAI, combining flawless playback with real-time ad insertion.
The direct integration with Phenix now enables Amagi to output content from its Amagi CLOUDPORT automated scheduling and playout system into Phenix’s globally distributed real-time streaming network of over 34 points of presence for real-time delivery to viewers with subsecond latency. Further integration between Amagi’s Ad Tech platform and Phenix’s real-time SSAI capabilities facilitates dynamic and personalized ads while maintaining real-time playback and full compatibility with Bitmovin.
Bill Wishon, Phenix’s Chief Product Officer, stated, “Amagi has established itself as the foremost authority on FAST channel delivery. As a cloud-first company, Amagi has built itself into a pioneer in cloud technology for broadcasting and OTT. We are thrilled to join forces with them in delivering these innovative solutions.”
“Working with Phenix, the leader in real-time, scalable streaming delivery, allows Amagi to offer clients a full solution, including the industry’s first server-side ad insertion in real time. We can’t wait to see how customers deploy these workflows for next-generation OTT streaming,” said Richard Perkett, Chief Product Officer at Amagi.
Amagi provides a complete suite of channel creation, distribution, and monetization solutions. The company’s clients include some of the world’s biggest names, including A+E Networks UK, ABS-CBN, Astro, Cox Media Group, DAZN, Globo, Lionsgate Studio, NBCUniversal, Tastemade, and VIZIO.
Representatives from all the companies will be attending Amagi’s LA FAST 2024 conference on Oct. 1. More information is available at www.amagi.com/events/la-fast.
About Amagi
Amagi is a next-generation media technology company that provides cloud broadcast and targeted advertising solutions to broadcast TV and streaming TV platforms. Amagi enables content owners to launch, distribute, and monetize live linear channels on Free Ad-supported Streaming TV and video services platforms. Amagi also offers 24×7 cloud-managed services bringing simplicity, advanced automation, and transparency to the entire broadcast operations. Overall, Amagi supports 800+ content brands, 800+ playout chains, and over 5,000+ channel deliveries on its platform in over 150 countries. Amagi has a presence in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Mexico City, London, Paris, Sydney, Seoul, and Singapore, broadcast operations in New Delhi, and innovation centers in Bengaluru, Zagreb, and Łódź.
About Phenix
As the leader in delivering interactive video at scale, Phenix powers innovative digital experiences that drive acquisition, engagement and retention for some of the world’s biggest brands. Its patented technology is essential for delivering content in real-time that engages audiences with interactive experiences and generates revenue for sportsbooks, sports and gaming properties as well as broadcasters with real-time video streaming to global audiences at broadcast scale. Trusted with streaming video for world-class events like The Oscars, Cheltenham Festival and the Super Bowl, Phenix brings proven experience delivering video to mass audiences for the world’s largest events.
Phenix is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices in California and Europe. More information is available on the Phenix website or follow them on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Bitmovin
Bitmovin is the leading provider of video infrastructure for global digital media companies and service providers. The company has been at the forefront of industry innovation and all major developments in the digital video streaming industry. 
Bitmovin built the world’s first commercial adaptive streaming player and deployed the first software-defined encoding service that runs on any cloud platform. Its cloud-native technology offers the most flexible and scalable media encoding, playback, and analytics solutions available with unparalleled device reach, ease of integration, and world-class customer support.
Bitmovin customers benefit from optimized operations, reduced time-to-market, and the best viewer experience possible. Bitmovin is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and has major offices in Vienna, Klagenfurt, Austria as well as London and Berlin. The company has over 400 customers across the globe, including ClassPass, BBC, fuboTV, Hulu, and Discovery.
More information is available at www.bitmovin.com
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2519499/Amagi_and_Phenix_partner.jpg
 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/amagi-and-phenix-partner-to-bring-next-gen-low-latency-and-seamless-ad-insertion-for-the-ultimate-viewer-experience-302262768.html

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