Potentials of Controlled Environment Agriculture

We are developing a proposal under the Horizon Europe call to explore the full potential of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) as a key enabler of sustainable, resilient, and efficient food systems in Europe.

Our aim is to design and validate scalable and integrated CEA models that are adaptable to various regional contexts. These systems will combine:

• Precision breeding and crop optimisation, tailored to CEA conditions,

• Energy-efficient infrastructure, including smart lighting and HVAC systems,

• Circular resource use, such as water recycling, nutrient recovery, and renewable energy integration,

• And data-driven management, including real-time monitoring, AI-based optimisation, and digital twins for production forecasting.

The project will also investigate the nutritional quality, market potential, and environmental footprint of crops grown in CEA systems compared to traditional methods, with an emphasis on protein-rich and nutrient-dense crops.

We are looking for partners across research, industry, technology development, and policy to:

• Test and demonstrate new CEA models across multiple European sites,

• Evaluate socio-economic impact and business models,

• And co-create a roadmap for the mainstreaming of CEA across Europe.

Our overarching goal is to unlock the potential of CEA to contribute to the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy, Green Deal targets, and global food security objectives.