PowerPoint Presentation

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) MORE THAN HYDROPONICS

FreshBox Farms is a sustainable grower of delicious, healthy, and clean produce.

We cultivate all of our greens at our indoor hydroponic farm, in Millis, MA, which uses 99% less water and land than traditional methods of agriculture.

2

What is Controlled Environment Agriculture? (CEA)

CEA is an umbrella term used for many varieties of indoor plant cultivation.

4

CEA is an umbrella term used for many varieties of indoor plant cultivation.This can include something as simple as a DIY greenhouse

5

CEA is an umbrella term used for many varieties of indoor plant cultivation.This can include something as simple as a DIY greenhouse

Or as complex as NASAs Biomass Production System

6

Most generally, however, CEA can be defined as a method of cultivating plants in an enclosed environment using technology to ensure optimal growing conditions.

The CEA cultivation process can be done in virtually any form of contained area, whether that be a:

8

The CEA cultivation process can be done in virtually any form of contained area, whether that be a:Skyscraper

9

The CEA cultivation process can be done in virtually any form of contained area, whether that be a:Skyscraper

Home

10

The CEA cultivation process can be done in virtually any form of contained area, whether that be a:Skyscraper

Home

Warehouse

11

This flexibility permits plants, and therefore food, to be grown in almost any location, creating agricultural opportunities in typically infertile areas such as:

12

This flexibility permits plants, and therefore food, to be grown in almost any location, creating agricultural opportunities in typically infertile areas such as:Cities

13

This flexibility permits plants, and therefore food, to be grown in almost any location, creating agricultural opportunities in typically infertile areas such as:CitiesDeserts

14

This flexibility permits plants, and therefore food, to be grown in almost any location, creating agricultural opportunities in typically infertile areas such as:CitiesDesertsEven space

15

Growing year roundBy using this method, food may be produced at any time of the year, because CEAs regulated environment is not subject to the same weather-constrained growing seasons that traditional agriculture is.

As concerns surrounding conventional field agriculture build, including its impact on topsoil degradation, water usage, and distance from urban centers, CEA is being looked toward as a viable alternative for modern food production.

Sustainable food production

17

How does CEA work?

CEA controls for several factors that influence growth rate and health of cropsThese factors most often include:

19

CEA controls for several factors that influence growth rate and health of cropsThese factors most often include:Temperature (air, nutrient-solution, root-zone)

20

CEA controls for several factors that influence growth rate and health of cropsThese factors most often include:Temperature (air, nutrient-solution, root-zone)Humidity

21

CEA controls for several factors that influence growth rate and health of cropsThese factors most often include:Temperature (air, nutrient-solution, root-zone)HumidityCarbon Dioxide

22

CEA controls for several factors that influence growth rate and health of cropsThese factors most often include:Temperature (air, nutrient-solution, root-zone)HumidityCarbon DioxideLight (intensity, spectrum, interval)

23

CEA controls for several factors that influence growth rate and health of cropsThese factors most often include:Temperature (air, nutrient-solution, root-zone)HumidityCarbon DioxideLight (intensity, spectrum, interval)Nutrient Concentration

24

CEA controls for several factors that influence growth rate and health of cropsThese factors most often include:Temperature (air, nutrient-solution, root-zone)HumidityCarbon DioxideLight (intensity, spectrum, interval)Nutrient ConcentrationNutrient pH (acidity)

25

CEA farmers typically engineer technological systems, which adjust the input and output of nutrients and resources to the plants within their enclosures.

Some forms of such technologies have been experimented with and applied within CEA operations. Examples include:

27

Some forms of such technologies have been experimented with and applied within CEA operations. Examples include:Hydroponics

28

Some forms of such technologies have been experimented with and applied within CEA operations. Examples include:HydroponicsVertical Farming

29

Some forms of such technologies have been experimented with and applied within CEA operations. Examples include:HydroponicsVertical FarmingLED Growing

30

We can explore hydroponics as a sample of these methods and explain a bit more about CEA in doing so. It is important to note that hydroponics is a technological method that works in conjunction with CEA to grow food.

What is hydroponics?

Hydroponics is an engineered way of cultivating plants that uses a soil-less growth medium and an optimized nutrient solution in order to deliver the calculated resources that a crop requires.

Hydroponics is an engineered way of cultivating plants that uses a soil-less growth medium and an optimized nutrient solution in order to deliver the calculated resources that a crop requires.Because of this, plants are theoretically able to uptakethe maximum amount of nutrientsthat they can

Hydroponics is an engineered way of cultivating plants that uses a soil-less growth medium and an optimized nutrient solution in order to deliver the calculated resources that a crop requires.Because of this, plants are theoretically able to uptakethe maximum amount of nutrientsthat they canin themost efficient waythat they can

Hydroponics is an engineered way of cultivating plants that uses a soil-less growth medium and an optimized nutrient solution in order to deliver the calculated resources that a crop requires.Because of this, plants are theoretically able to uptakethe maximum amount of nutrientsthat they canin themost efficient waythat they canand subsequently achieve thebest possible health and fastest growth that they can.

Research on hydroponics began to develop in the mid-1800s, as botanists and plant nutritionists sought to determine methods of quickly producing healthy food without relying on the weather or access to soil.

Development

Over time, improvements in the composition of growth mediums and nutrient cultures, as well as in the understanding of what plants are best grown hydroponically, have led to hydroponics being applied to large-scale agriculture.

Feed the WorldThe technology has been positioned as a possible solution for the ever-growing global population of consumers, as well as for addressing the environmental issues caused by conventional agriculture

How do hydroponic systems work?

Fundamentally, hydroponic systems work by applying an engineered nutrient solution to the root system of a plant. This can occur by using any, or a mix of the following sample methods

Static Solution CultureA set-up that positions plant root systems directly into a container of nutrient solution, which is either aerated or kept at a low enough level to provide adequate oxygen to the roots. After a certain level of nutrients have been absorbed, the solution is changed out or replenished to ensure maximum growth.

Continuous-flow Solution CultureIn this set-up, root systems of plants are constantly exposed to a flowing nutrient solution, as opposed to simply being submersed in it. This enables large-scale maintenance of nutrient levels and conditions, as the vast majority of the solution is stored in a reservoir tank at any given point

AeroponicsA slight departure from traditional hydroponics, the aeroponics set-up utilizes a mist of solution to deliver nutrients to the plants root systems. The unabsorbed mist then condenses and returns via gravity to a reservoir tank for recycling. This technique is used to prevent the plant from becoming water-logged, and to increase the amount of oxygen that is delivered.

How does hydroponics relate to CEA?

Hydroponics is a method usedwithinCEA for the best production results. It is CEAs cooperation of strategic growing strategies (like hydroponics) with technological environmental controls that creates optimal agricultural solutions.

CEA technologies are composed of an interplay between sensors, machines, and computers.

47

CEA technologies are composed of an interplay between sensors, machines, and computers. Sensors measure the levels of environmental factors (CO2, temperature, light, etc.).

48

CEA technologies are composed of an interplay between sensors, machines, and computers. Sensors measure the levels of environmental factors (CO2, temperature, light, etc.).

Machines, such as fans and heaters and LED lighting systems, regulate those monitored levels.

49

CEA technologies are composed of an interplay between sensors, machines, and computers. Sensors measure the levels of environmental factors (CO2, temperature, light, etc.).

Machines, such as fans and heaters and LED lighting systems, regulate those monitored levels.

Computers ensure that communication and response between sensors and machines operate smoothly and rapidly.

50

CEA technologies are composed of an interplay between sensors, machines, and computers. Sensors measure the levels of environmental factors (CO2, temperature, light, etc.).

Machines, such as fans and heaters and LED lighting systems, regulate those monitored levels.

Computers ensure that communication and response between sensors and machines operate smoothly and rapidly.

51

What are the benefits of CEA?

All of this information generally boils down to the question:Why should I care about how my greens are grown?

AnswerWhile there are many great answers to this question

which we address in other posts

the principle benefits of CEA are that it enables the following.Read More

Much Lower Water Consumption

CEA systems are optimized to minimize evaporation and excess using no more than the amount of water required by each crop.

55

Cleaner growing practices for you and the environment

A CEA system has fewer pests, weeds, and diseases to contend with. This means that CEA growers do not need to place nasty pesticides and herbicides in your food and waterways, as has been the case with traditional agriculture.

56

Better location and distribution to cities

Because a CEA system may be located almost anywhere, and crops can be grown using much less land, it is easier to position a farm within or close to urban centers

57

No usage of GMOs

The monitoring and mechanical solutions utilized in CEA systems ensure consistently high, healthy yields, making the usage of GMOs unnecessary.

58

Consistent availability

A CEA system ensures that crops are always in-season and experience optimal climates, regardless of whether there may be frosts or droughts outside. This means that consumers get the freshest, most reliably grown produce all year round

59

So the question that consumers should be asking is notWhy should I care about this?

So the question that consumers should be asking is notWhy should I care about this?ItsWhere can I try some?

SIGN UP

Were social. Connect with us.