Key Takeaways
- Gretchen Schimelpfenig On Expanding Diversity: The CEA industry is making strides to include underrepresented groups through initiatives like the Vivid Canopy project.
- Data Sharing Challenges: Growers remain hesitant to share data, often requiring financial incentives or anonymized collection methods to ensure privacy.
- CEA Sustainability and Consumer Perception: Educating consumers on the unique benefits of CEA products, such as reduced waste and local sourcing, is key to driving demand.
- Automation as a Solution: Advances in automation, such as scouting robots and integrated control systems, present opportunities for increasing efficiency and profitability in CEA.
- Industry Trends: Consolidation and geographic expansion are shaping the future of both greenhouses and vertical farms, with resilient models emerging as leaders.
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Building a Path to Representation
In the latest Vertical Farming Podcast, host Harry Duran spoke with Gretchen Schimelpfenig, a key figure in Controlled-Environment Agriculture (CEA), to discuss diversity, data, and trends in the industry. Schimelpfenig, who leads the Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering Consortium (GLASE), shared insights on her initiative, Vivid Canopy, aimed at fostering inclusion.
“We’ve been holding events to connect diverse professionals, hoping to share job opportunities and promote leadership roles for underrepresented communities,” she explained.
Tackling Data Resistance
A recurring challenge in CEA is the reluctance to share operational data, even anonymously. Schimelpfenig noted that, despite the efforts of organizations like the Resource Innovation Institute (RII), grower participation remains limited.
“To encourage data sharing, growers may need financial compensation or guarantees of tangible benefits from their contributions,” she suggested.
Educating Consumers on CEA’s Value
Schimelpfenig emphasized the importance of educating consumers on the benefits of CEA-grown products. She cited examples where local and sustainability-focused marketing increased consumer buy-in but stressed that generic claims like “90% less water” hold little sway without a unique story.
“If CEA brands can provide data-backed sustainability stories, it could compel consumers to pay a premium,” Gretchen Schimelpfenig stated.
The Automation Advantage
Automation emerged as a promising solution for enhancing efficiency. Schimelpfenig highlighted examples of automated control systems and robotics, such as scouting robots, which reduce labor fatigue and improve precision.
“Scouting robots never get bored or lost, making them ideal for repetitive tasks,” she observed.
Trends Shaping CEA
The conversation touched on trends like consolidation in the greenhouse sector and expansion strategies in vertical farming. Schimelpfenig underscored the need for resilience and strategic location selection to navigate the industry’s economic challenges.
“The most resilient models are thriving because they prioritize energy efficiency and smart financial planning,” she noted.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Schimelpfenig expressed hope for the emergence of a generation pursuing vertical farming as a career from the outset. She also sees a growing role for automation in improving CEA operations without sidelining human workers.
“We want humans involved in higher-value tasks while leveraging automation for repetitive and data-driven processes,” she concluded.