2024 Joint National Workshop on Sustainable Development of Controlled Environment Agriculture

Francis Marion Hotel, 387 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403, USA

July 9 -12, 2024

Clemson University and USDA-ARS are proud to host the 2024 joint workshop on Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in collaboration with the Department of Energy (DOE), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The objective of this workshop is to coordinate the federal government's support efforts on CEA research, exchange innovative ideas, and share scientific information and personal experiences to advance the sustainable development of the CEA industry in the U.S. and around the world.

Experts from federal agencies, state universities, and industry partners will convene to discuss challenges, opportunities and the needs for research in CEA, and how resources from federal agencies on research and development can be leveraged to strengthen the future of CEA.

Topics for the meeting include:

• CEA industry stakeholder discussion to identify the challenges and opportunities.

• How innovation happens in CEA: what prevents it, what makes it easier, etc.? 

• Onsite/nearby energy and renewable integration 

• Innovative technologies on artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation.

• Artificial light efficiency to improve photosynthesis and renewable energy.

• Water quality, hydroponic nutrient efficiency, and growth media.

• Plant breeding and adaptation to CEA with clean plant and certified seed

• Pest and disease surveillance and management, and microbiome 

• Food processing, quality, safety, and nutrition

• Marketing, food distribution and social economic impact

• Federal funding opportunities for CEA research and development

Expected outcomes from this conference:

• A workshop report will be prepared based on the meeting presentations and discussions to provide a comprehensive overview on the current state of CEA industry in the U.S., challenges, opportunities and needs for research as well as the funding support opportunities from federal and state agencies as well as small business innovation programs to help grow a sustainable CEA indoor food production industry.

• Conference participants will develop a proposal for a coordinated agricultural project (CAP) to the USDA-NIFA program on CEA indoor food production based on the major thematic areas determined at the conference.

Scientific program committee:

“SpaCEA” an animated film developed by Luke Fountain and his colleagues at Univ. of Sheffield. Luke is a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow working at the Kennedy Space Center. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF05jDrxSJI&list=PLR1Lzd07rhwQB9IAm-uAzNQxvVUgM-omt&index=4

Acknowledgement: This conference is supported by Agricultural and Food Research Initiative grant no. 2024-67013-42003 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.