As the indoor farming sector grapples with the fallout from the energy price crisis, newcomers face a labyrinth of complex concepts related to energy sources’ role in the efficiency, profitability, and sustainability of their operations. The path ahead may seem daunting, but key Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) players have joined forces to offer a lifeline: A Beginner’s Guide to Energy in CEA. This comprehensive guide, a collaboration between UKUAT, LettUs Grow, and District Eating, aims to empower indoor growers by breaking down critical decisions related to energy use and making information accessible and relevant across the sector.
The guide stands out as a testament to the power of collaboration between industry leaders. With contributions from experts in urban agriculture, indoor farming technology, and low-carbon horticulture, A Beginner’s Guide to Energy in CEA provides a wealth of knowledge to help newcomers establish a solid foundation in understanding the impact of energy on both their business models and sustainability initiatives. The content has been rigorously peer-reviewed by UKUAT members, ensuring it encompasses up-to-date, hyper-relevant information in every area of CEA.
Mark Horler, Chairman at UK Urban Agritech, said, “As an industry association, UKUAT is often a first port of call for prospective entrepreneurs looking to establish their farms. Unfortunately, we often still hear from them that getting started and finding reliable information in those crucial early stages is tough. Our purpose is to actively nurture and encourage the growth and expansion of our sector and to lower barriers to entry. So we are delighted to be able to bring together the expertise of organizations in our membership, and across our wider networks, toward those goals.”
India Langley, Food Systems Research & PR Lead at LettUs Grow, is a core contributor to the guide, specializing in the environmental impacts of energy sources. She believes that technical solutions alone are insufficient for creating sustainable food systems and that fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing and collaboration is crucial for innovation. By providing insights from experts in the controlled environment sector, the guide delivers valuable information for growers and business owners, empowering them to make informed choices and contributing to a flourishing industry.
As the energy landscape evolves and prices surge, indoor growers face increasing pressure to find more reliable, low-carbon energy sources. Faye Tomson of District Eating points out that businesses can access stable, low-carbon energy at lower prices by identifying sources of waste heat and renewable energy near potential growing sites. By guiding newcomers through the array of energy options available, A Beginner’s Guide to Energy in CEA enables growers to make smarter choices for their businesses, paving the way for a thriving, sustainable horticulture industry.
Read the complete report here.
Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash
