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Report examines research-industry alignment in Controlled Environment Agriculture

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Research into a multi-billion pound crop production industry has helped identify growers' priorities regarding technology – and discovered optimism over the opportunities it can offer.

The work - funded by the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – examined Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).

This is the production of crops, usually fruit and vegetables, in glasshouses and completely-enclosed ‘vertical farming’ systems.

In the UK alone, around £421 million worth of vegetable and £52 million of fruit crops were produced in controlled environments in 2024.

CEA allows the production of crops in areas with unfavourable climate conditions and allows production seasons to be extended, reducing reliance on crop imports.

As a high-tech industry, it is ideally placed to take advantage of developments in technology that allow more precise control of growing conditions and so provide higher crop yield and quality.

However, despite an increase in research interest in the sector, there is little data available on whether the focus of this research aligns with the needs of its producers and what the drivers and barriers are for technology adoption in the sector.

The work funded at ÎÞÂ붯»­ set out to establish the global focus of CEA technology research and cross-reference this to the needs of UK growers.

An interdisciplinary research team drawn from a wide range of academics and postdoctoral researchers set out to examine scientific literature and work out the categories of research in CEA technology that were most popular. Among the areas this work identified were modelling and simulation research, as well as papers and other works examining energy, lighting and nutrient application.

Senior Lecturer in Crop Production and Agronomy Dr Andrew Beacham, who was one of the eight-strong team who conducted the research, said: “Using standardised interviews with UK CEA growers and technology providers, the wider team were able to identify a degree of overlap between research focus and industry requirements.

“However, some grower priorities, including nutrition and robotics, were found to be under-represented in the research literature- and warrant increased funding focus.”

Reader Dr Iona Huang added: “Interviews showed that UK growers remain optimistic regarding the opportunities technology such as alternative energy sources and automation can offer the sector, including reduced costs, improved efficiency and crop quality, extended supply season and mitigation of import risk.

“This must, however, be balanced with threats - including operational and capital costs, which are viewed as the most significant barriers to technology innovation uptake.

Professor of Crop Science Jim Monaghan said: “This study has highlighted areas of CEA technology research that require increased attention and brings to light the opportunities and challenges growers face.”

The research has recently been published in the journal Smart Agricultural Technology and .