Report on controlled environment agriculture

From a ploughed field to an industrial scale warehouse with artificial lighting, producers exert varying degrees of control over plant growth conditions in every type of crop production system.

As a technology-based approach toward food production, controlled environment agriculture (CEA) aims to provide optimal growing conditions during crop development. It includes a broad range of semi- and fully-closed systems, from greenhouses through to vertical farms.

The CEA market is expanding globally and is projected to reach US$ 31.1 billion by 2027 (CAGR of 11.8% during 2022-2027, Research and Market, 2022). As the demand for CEA increases, there is a need to explore the pros and cons of adopting CEA systems, so that producers can make informed decisions before they decide to adopt this approach to crop production.

In this report – published by EIT Food North-West and in collaboration with Innovate UK KTN - we explore the barriers and opportunities for controlled environment agriculture. This report highlights key findings from a consultation undertaken in collaboration with Innovate UK KTN, which sought insights from experts in Iceland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom regarding local, regional and global challenges and opportunities associated with controlled environment agriculture systems.

To accompany this report, EIT Food North-West have also produced a booklet with advice for producers that are considering adopting CEA systems. Download your copy below.

We would like to thank Innovate UK KTN for supporting us with the report.