Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems
WHAT ARE CEA SYSTEMS?
It is projected that the global population would reach nine billion by 2050. In order to grow food in space and feed the world’s population, new technologies will be required. Food scarcity puts more pressure on the environment. Growers can control a crop’s environment to desired conditions by using technology in controlled environment agriculture, or CEA. Controlled environment agriculture includes hydroponics, aquaculture, greenhouses, and aquaculture.
Modern CEA farming is characterized by growing in areas where the conditions may be adjusted to suit the requirements of particular plants. Today’s smart farms allow for differences in humidity, temperature, light, and nutrients from area to area within a single farm. This is similar to modern homes that have smart thermostats that allow for varying temperature settings in different rooms. This implies that various plants can be grown in a single indoor farm, with their surroundings tailored to meet their specific requirements.
VERTICAL FARMING
There are various methods available for controlled environment agriculture food production. Although the greenhouse sector currently makes up the majority of the CEA industry, the vertical farming sector is also expanding rapidly. Crops can be grown year-round in controlled environment agriculture, and by varying the amount of carbon and nutrients the plants receive, yields can potentially be boosted.
In order to maximize space and productivity, vertical farming includes stacking layers of crops vertically while utilizing hydroponic systems and artificial lighting. This creative farming method is a viable choice for cities with limited land availability because it can lower transportation and water usage.
By reducing the need for long-distance transportation, vertical farming also has the potential to drastically lower the carbon footprint associated with food production. Vertical farming is anticipated to be a major factor in satisfying the rising demand for locally grown, fresh vegetables in metropolitan areas as technology develops.
WHY IS CEA IMPORTANT?
All sizes and forms of agriculture must be included in a sustainable food system. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEAD) has the potential to play a significant role in ensuring a healthy and nutritious global food supply, particularly as climate change has the ability to disrupt traditional agricultural production and consumers are increasingly looking for distinctive goods.
With the least amount of water and other inputs, CEA has the ability to produce food close to consumers that is of good quality. Many of the fresh vegetables, herbs, and tomatoes that we eat today are produced in greenhouses or other controlled conditions. Furthermore, more and more greens cultivated entirely indoors under lights are reaching the market.
In the future, CEA is probably going to be a significant supplement to more conventional outdoor growing systems. In addition to lowering the risk of food-borne infections and minimizing inputs like chemicals, water, and nutrients, CEA can also save labor expenditures. In addition, CEA systems can be installed in urban places unsuitable for traditional agriculture, utilizing available space and bringing food production closer to customers.
