Controlled Environment Agriculture (PA Technology)

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Last modified by Axel Heinemann on 2014-12-15. This is a wiki so please feel free to update information by clicking on "Edit with form". | Printable version

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Name of technology example:		Type
Controlled Environment Agriculture		☐ Energy Efficiency ☐ Renewable Energy ☑ Alternative Methodology

Description	Controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) is any agricultural technology that enables the grower to manipulate a crop's environment to the desired conditions. CEA technologies include greenhouse, hydroponics, aquaculture, and aquaponics. Controlled variables include temperature, humidity, pH, and nutrient analysis. A February 2011 article in the magazine, ""Science Illustrated"" states, :In commercial agriculture, CEA can increase efficiency, reduce pests and diseases, and save resources.... Replicating a conventional farm with computers and LED lights is expensive but proves cost-efficient[citation needed] in the long run by producing up to 20 times as much high-end, pesticidee-free produce as a similar size plot of soil. Fourteen thousand square feet of closely monitored plants produce 15 million seedlings annually at the solar-powered factory. Such factories will be necessary to meet urban China's rising demand for quality fruits and vegetables. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled-environment_agriculture
Technology for the Application of	☑ Solar ☐ Biomass ☐ Biofuel ☐ Biogas ☐ Wind ☐ Geo-Thermal ☐ Hydro ☐ Energy Efficiency ☐ Other: /
Primarily Relevant for the following Agricultural Value Chain Steps	☐ Mechanization ☐ Efficiency of Operation ☐ Processing ☐ Transportation ☑ Controlled Atmosphere ☑ Controlled Temperature ☐ Mechanical Sorting ☐ Preservation ☐ Other: /
Primarily Relevant for the following Agricultural Value Chain Activities	☐ Grinding ☐ Hauling and conveying ☐ Sorting ☐ Seedbed Preparation ☐ Milling ☐ Tearing ☐ Planting ☐ Washing ☐ Mixing ☐ Pumping ☐ Heating ☐ Drying ☐ Irrigation ☐ Cooling ☐ Animal feeding ☐ Fertilizing ☐ Venting ☐ Animal health and Welfare ☐ Pest Management ☐ Lighting ☐ Packing and branding ☐ Cutting ☐ Sanitation ☑ Other: N/A
Primarily Implemented in the following Commodity Groups	☐ Cereals ☑ Fruits and vegetables ☐ Nuts and berries ☐ Forage ☐ Dairy products ☐ Meat products ☐ Oil Seeds ☐ Roots and Tubers ☐ Eggs ☐ Pulses ☐ Fiber Crops ☐ Forestry ☐ Sugars ☑ Stimulants ☑ Spices ☐ Other: /
Region & Country of Development	Region ☐ Africa ☐ South Asia ☐ East Asia & The Pacific ☑ Europe & Central Asia - Netherlands ☐ Latin America & The Caribbean ☐ Middle East & North Africa ☑ North America - United States of America ☐ N/A: /
Region & Country of Current Deployment	Region ☐ Africa ☐ South Asia ☑ East Asia & The Pacific ☑ Europe & Central Asia ☐ Latin America & The Caribbean ☑ Middle East & North Africa ☑ North America ☐ N/A: /
Region & Country of Potential Deployment	Worldwide ☑ Africa ☑ South Asia ☑ East Asia & The Pacific ☑ Europe & Central Asia ☑ Latin America & The Caribbean ☑ Middle East & North Africa ☑ North America ☐ N/A: /
Manufacturers	N/A
Economics	Economics has to be evaluated in each project; In some cases very profitable;
Technology Development Level	Still a lot of Research and development is required; Pilot projects and first implementation;
Required Maintenance Technical Level	Still high: Technology can only be maintained through its life cycle with uncommon tools and requires trained professionals for maintenance;
Required Infrastructure for Deployment	Research and more project experiences;
Required Resources during manufacture	Metals, plastics, electronics;
Required Resources during operation	So far, most of the CEA operations require a lot of resources for its operation, energy (electricity and heat), fertilizer and feed;
Deployment Level	Local availability;
Deployment Capability and Potential	Worldwide;
Requirements for Deployment	Research for more ecological approaches with less requirement of resources, development of closed loop CEA's based on renewable energies and local cycles of matter and materials;
Relevance for Autonomy and Food Security	High, if energy efficient, energy independent (based on renewables) and local cycles of matter are implemented;
Environment Impacts (emissions)	High: direct and indirect emissions; Has the potential to become low: no direct emissions but indirect emissions;
Conformity with Bio- Cybernetic System Rules	Has the potential to fulfill conformity, if resource issues are solved;
Additional information / Comments	No comments.
Internal Reference
Additional Links	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled-environment_agriculture http://ag.arizona.edu/ceac/ http://www.except.nl/en/#.en.projects.1-polydome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building-integrated_agriculture https://practicalaction.org/vegetable-production-under-protective-structures