Key Takeaways:
- Resource Innovation Institute (RII) launches new working groups under the CEA Accelerator Project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO).
- Working groups will focus on energy management, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, and knowledge transfer from high-tech greenhouse operators in Canada and the Netherlands.
- The project is aimed at advancing sustainability, efficiency, and competitiveness in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).
- Each working group will produce a Best Practices Guide to help CEA operators optimize resources and adopt new technologies.
- The initiative is supported by partners including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and is expected to conclude in early 2025.
Portland, Oregon – The Resource Innovation Institute (RII), a not-for-profit organization promoting climate resilience, announced the topics for its 2024 working groups under the CEA Accelerator Project. This project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) and hosted in partnership with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), will gather experts from various sectors to address key challenges in advancing Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).
Focus on Sustainability and Efficiency
Derek Smith, Executive Director of RII, emphasized the importance of the working groups for the future of CEA: “The long-term future of CEA depends upon the ongoing work we are doing to identify the tools and processes that best help growers leverage opportunities to increase efficiencies, meet day-to-day challenges, and expand the possibilities of current operations.”
This year’s working groups will focus on areas critical to sustainable CEA operations, including energy management, artificial intelligence, automation, and international knowledge transfer. Each group will collaborate to develop industry best practices and recommendations for growers.
Working Groups Overview
The working groups announced by RII include:
Energy Management Working Group:
This group will focus on developing strategies for energy efficiency and decarbonization in CEA. Key topics include strategic energy management, peak reduction, electrification, demand response, and distributed generation. The group will advise on solutions to optimize energy use while reducing carbon emissions in greenhouse and indoor farming.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Advanced Robotics Working Group:
As AI and robotics play a growing role in CEA, this group will recommend best practices for adopting technologies such as sensing, imaging, crop modeling, autonomous growing, and data collection. The group will also address utility-price forecasting for resource optimization, offering insights into how growers can leverage AI and robotics for better productivity and sustainability.
Industry Working Group on High-Tech Greenhouse Knowledge Transfer:
This group will facilitate the exchange of expertise between U.S. producers and greenhouse operators in the Netherlands and Canada. By transferring knowledge on high-tech greenhouse design and operations, the group aims to enhance productivity, sustainability, and competitiveness in the U.S. CEA sector.
Delivering Best Practices for CEA Operators
Each working group will produce a Best Practices Guide, offering actionable recommendations for CEA operators to improve resource management and technology adoption. These guides are expected to be a valuable resource for the industry, helping growers optimize their operations for efficiency and sustainability.
The working groups kicked off in May with the Energy Management Working Group’s first meeting. All working groups are expected to complete their efforts by early 2025. The project builds on years of collaboration between RII, academic partners, and CEA operators through previous grants funded by the USDA. This collaboration laid the foundation for the CEA benchmarking, reports, and best practices that the new project will expand upon.
Resource Innovation Institute Latest News
Releases Groundbreaking Report on CEA Trends (2024/08/05)
The Resource Innovation Institute (RII), a non-profit organization aiming to improve climate resilience, has released a report summarizing key trends in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) based on the USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture. The report provides insights into market potential, growth trends, and state-specific data, and is available in two versions: a free public preview and a comprehensive version. The report is available for free public preview and is accessible to RII members or non-members. The report also includes a webinar on August 7th, featuring Dr. James Altland from the USDA ARS Application Technology Research Unit and other panelists. The report is deemed crucial for the future of CEA and provides a roadmap for industry growth and resilience.
Publishes Best Practices Guide for Enhancing Efficiency in CEA (2024/04/26)
The Resource Innovation Institute (RII) has released a comprehensive guide to enhance climate resilience in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) through improved controls and automation. The guide, authored by Rob Eddy, aims to help both small and large CEA operators integrate the latest technologies for optimal efficiency. Developed with input from the Controls & Automation Working Group, the guide emphasizes system integration and aims to improve resilience, profitability, and resource efficiency.
Unveils Environmental Accounting Guide for CEA (2024/04/09)
The Resource Innovation Institute (RII) has released a groundbreaking “Guide to Environmental Accounting and Reporting for Controlled Environment Agriculture Operations,” which sets a new precedent in environmental accountability. The guide proposes standardized systems and methodologies for environmental accounting and reporting, urging their adoption across CEA operations. The initiative has received widespread acclaim from industry leaders, who view the guide as a critical step towards setting consistent standards that benefit the entire sector. The guide is now available for free download, and interested parties can explore its implications in an upcoming webinar.
Welcomes George L. Carter III to Spearhead Decarbonization Partnerships (2024/03/07)
The Resource Innovation Institute (RII) has announced the appointment of George L. Carter III as Director of Decarbonization Partnerships. In this role, Carter will focus on developing partnerships to promote sustainable practices in the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) sector. He will also be involved in establishing best practices guidance and contributing to the CEA Accelerator partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and Berkeley Labs. Carter brings a wealth of experience in building sustainable food infrastructures and will represent RII at the upcoming 11th Annual Indoor Ag-Con show in Las Vegas.
Partners with DOE to Boost Climate-Smart Agriculture (2024/02/22)
The Resource Innovation Institute (RII) has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to develop a national infrastructure for energy and water-efficient Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in the United States. The collaboration aims to streamline the process for site identification, benchmarking, and professional credentialing programs in AI & robotics, energy management, and construction practices. Additionally, the partnership will help to leverage federal investments to support climate-smart CEA development in leading states like Pennsylvania and California.
Resource Innovation Institute and Southern California Edison Launch Fall Webinar Series on Sustainable Agriculture Practices (2023/09/13)
Resource Innovation Institute (RII) is launching a fall workshop series with Southern California Edison. The first free webinar on September 14th will discuss energy reduction strategies in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). The second webinar on September 28th focuses on water use efficiency in CEA facilities. Caleb Hayhoe from ICF, Luis Trujillo from Hoogendoorn, Mikhail Sagal from TSRgrow, Rob Hanifin, Carlos Salazar from BearAg, and Jeffery Martens from Newterra are the expert panelists for the webinars. You can learn more about the upcoming webinars and register on RII’s event page.
Resource Innovation Institute to Host USDA Webinar on Water Circularity in Greenhouses and Indoor Farms (2023/09/06)
The Resource Innovation Institute (RII) will hold a webinar on September 14 at 2 p.m. EST. The webinar will focus on designing and operating water circularity systems in greenhouses and indoor farms. The session is sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and will feature insights from the co-authors of the recently published Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Water Circularity Best Practices Guide. The guide provides actionable tips and tools on the operational benefits of adopting water-saving practices and offers practical solutions to reduce, remediate, and recycle a CEA facility’s water usage.
Resource Innovation Institute Releases CEA Benchmarking Report (2023/08/10)
The Resource Innovation Institute (RII), a not-for-profit public-private partnership, has unveiled its Controlled Environment Agriculture Energy & Water Benchmarking Report: Establishing Preliminary Benchmarks. This report, a result of a collaboration with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), emphasizes the water-saving potential of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).
Resource Innovation Institute & FarmTech Society Partner To Introduce Benchmarking To The CEA Market (2023/02/27)
Resource Innovation Institute (RII) and FarmTech Society have announced a new partnership to support Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) producers. RII is a not-for-profit organization specializing in energy and water benchmarking, while FarmTech Society is an international non-profit sectoral association supporting the CEA industry.
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