Biotechnology
Water Management
Vertical Farming
Data-Driven Decision Support
Pinpointing Regulation: All eyes on 2023 Farm Bill
Falling prices, rising costs
Crop sustainability
Automation & robotics
Precision agriculture
Digital agriculture
Sustainability practices
Product Category Expansion In Controlled Environment Agriculture
Universities Becoming More Involved
Rise Of Automated Vertical Farms
Soil health
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Greenhouses: Greenhouses are the most common example of CEA technology. They have been used for centuries on farms and more recently in urban gardens. Temperature, moisture, lighting, and overall climate are controlled in a particular area to promote optimal plant growth.
- Hydroponics: Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil. Instead, plants are grown in a nutrient-rich solution. This method is popular in CEA because it allows for precise control of the plant's environment.
Vertical farming: Vertical farming is another example of CEA and is popular in urban areas due to the small amount of horizontal space it requires. Plants are grown in stacked layers, often in a controlled environment.
Indoor farming: Indoor farming is a type of CEA that involves growing plants in a fully enclosed environment. This method allows for precise control of the plant's environment, including temperature, humidity, and lighting.
- Automated greenhouse or indoor farm equipment: This technology can perform rapid and consistent calculations based on visual and physical data to signal optimal environments, appropriate crop inputs, and harvest time. This sort of technology takes the costly guesswork out of farming.
CEA technology is expected to play a major role in the future of agriculture, as it allows for precise control of the plant's environment, reduces inputs such as water, nutrients, and chemicals, and can produce high yields in a small space.
Benefits of Using Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology
Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology offers several benefits to farmers, consumers, and the environment. Here are some of the key benefits of using CEA technology:
Higher yield: CEA allows farmers to create the exact environment that their crops need, with the right amount of light, heat, water, and nutrients. As a result, the plants thrive, and farmers can produce higher yields in a smaller space.
Reduction in land use: CEA requires less land than traditional farming methods, making it an ideal solution for urban areas where space is limited.
Reduction in pesticides and other chemicals: CEA allows farmers to control pests and diseases without the use of harmful chemicals, reducing the risk of contamination and making food safer for consumers.
Less food waste: CEA can help reduce food waste by producing crops year-round, regardless of weather or seasonal changes.
Reduction in water use: CEA uses up to 95% less water than traditional crops because none is wasted through runoff or evaporation.
Automation: CEA technology is highly automated, reducing the need for manual labor and making it easier for farmers to manage their crops.
Precise control of conditions: CEA allows farmers to precisely control the environment in which their crops grow, optimizing growing conditions and maximizing productivity.
Energy efficiency: CEA technology is becoming increasingly energy-efficient, reducing the carbon footprint of farming.
Safer food supply: CEA can help reduce the risk of food contamination by providing a controlled environment that keeps pests and contaminants at bay.
More sustainable: CEA is a more sustainable way of farming, as it minimizes inputs such as water, nutrients, and chemicals, while also reducing the potential for foodborne pathogens.
In summary, CEA technology offers several benefits to farmers, consumers, and the environment, including higher yields, less land use, reduction in pesticides and other chemicals, less food waste, reduction in water use, automation, precise control of conditions, energy efficiency, safer food supply, and more sustainability.
Energy Requirements for Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology
The energy requirements for controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology vary depending on the type of system used. Here are some insights from the search results:
Energy-intensive systems: There are many crucial, yet energy-intensive, technical systems operating simultaneously in a controlled environment facility which drive up electricity use and costs. Indoor agriculture is expected to be one of the main sources of electricity consumption in the next decade.
Energy use for lighting: The two most important environmental variables for growing plants are temperature and light. Both parameters must be controlled to be uniform from one location to another in a greenhouse, and consistent from day to day. The only method available to achieve consistency is to use supplemental lighting. Where the climate is cloudy, electricity needed yearly for suitable lighting can be as much as one hundred kilowatt-hours per square foot of lighted area.
Energy efficiency: CEA technology is becoming increasingly energy-efficient, reducing the carbon footprint of farming. The rising energy costs associated with controlled-environment agriculture mean that efficiency and a forward-thinking strategy when mapping.
Reduction in energy use: Studies have suggested the (non-solar) energy required to grow and transport fresh produce at least 1000 miles is equivalent to the energy required for local production within CEA facilities in cold and cloudy climates such as the Northeast and upper Midwest.
Solar energy: A number of companies are developing energy systems for CEA that either rely entirely on solar energy or use solar energy to provide.
In summary, the energy requirements for CEA technology vary depending on the type of system used. CEA technology can be energy-intensive, particularly for lighting, but it is becoming increasingly energy-efficient. Additionally, CEA can reduce the energy required to grow and transport fresh produce over long distances, and some companies are developing energy systems that rely entirely on solar energy.
Strategies for Reducing Energy Use in Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology
Here are some strategies for reducing energy use in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology:
Use data collection tools: These tools empower growers to make insights-driven decisions to improve crop performance. By gaining a deeper understanding of the conditions and inputs each type of crop needs to thrive, growers can optimize their use of energy and other resources.
Use solar energy: A number of companies are developing energy systems for CEA that either rely entirely on solar energy or use solar energy to provide power. This can help reduce the carbon footprint of farming and lower energy costs.
- Automate everything: By automating everything from light to water, farmers can reduce the amount of energy required to manage their crops. This is because automated systems can be programmed to use energy only when necessary, reducing waste.
- Use energy-efficient lighting: Lighting is one of the most energy-intensive aspects of CEA. Using energy-efficient lighting, such as LED lights, can help reduce energy use and lower costs.
- Improve insulation: Insulating CEA facilities can help reduce energy use by keeping the temperature stable and reducing the need for heating and cooling.
- Use advanced control strategies: Advanced control strategies can help reduce energy consumption in greenhouses and other CEA facilities. These strategies can include using sensors to monitor temperature and humidity, adjusting ventilation systems, and optimizing lighting schedules.
In summary, there are several strategies for reducing energy use in CEA technology, including using data collection tools, solar energy, automation, energy-efficient lighting, improving insulation, and using advanced control strategies. By implementing these strategies, farmers can reduce their energy costs and improve the sustainability of their operations.
