| Description
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Controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) is any agricultural technology that enables the grower to manipulate a crop's environment to the desired conditions. CEA technologies include greenhouse, hydroponics, aquaculture, and aquaponics. Controlled variables include temperature, humidity, pH, and nutrient analysis.
A February 2011 article in the magazine, ""Science Illustrated"" states, :In commercial agriculture, CEA can increase efficiency, reduce pests and diseases, and save resources.... Replicating a conventional farm with computers and LED lights is expensive but proves cost-efficient[citation needed] in the long run by producing up to 20 times as much high-end, pesticidee-free produce as a similar size plot of soil. Fourteen thousand square feet of closely monitored plants produce 15 million seedlings annually at the solar-powered factory. Such factories will be necessary to meet urban China's rising demand for quality fruits and vegetables.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled-environment_agriculture
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| Technology for the Application of
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| ☑ Solar
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☐ Biomass
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☐ Biofuel
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| ☐ Biogas
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☐ Wind
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☐ Geo-Thermal
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| ☐ Hydro
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☐ Energy Efficiency
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| ☐ Other: /
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| Primarily Relevant for the following Agricultural Value Chain Steps
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| ☐ Mechanization
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☐ Efficiency of Operation
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☐ Processing
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| ☐ Transportation
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☑ Controlled Atmosphere
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☑ Controlled Temperature
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| ☐ Mechanical Sorting
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☐ Preservation
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| ☐ Other: /
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| Primarily Relevant for the following Agricultural Value Chain Activities
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| ☐ Grinding
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☐ Hauling and conveying
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☐ Sorting
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| ☐ Seedbed Preparation
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☐ Milling
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☐ Tearing
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| ☐ Planting
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☐ Washing
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☐ Mixing
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| ☐ Pumping
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☐ Heating
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☐ Drying
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| ☐ Irrigation
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☐ Cooling
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☐ Animal feeding
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| ☐ Fertilizing
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☐ Venting
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☐ Animal health and Welfare
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| ☐ Pest Management
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☐ Lighting
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☐ Packing and branding
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| ☐ Cutting
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☐ Sanitation
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| ☑ Other: N/A
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| Primarily Implemented in the following Commodity Groups
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| ☐ Cereals
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☑ Fruits and vegetables
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☐ Nuts and berries
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| ☐ Forage
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☐ Dairy products
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☐ Meat products
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| ☐ Oil Seeds
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☐ Roots and Tubers
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☐ Eggs
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| ☐ Pulses
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☐ Fiber Crops
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☐ Forestry
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| ☐ Sugars
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☑ Stimulants
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☑ Spices
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| ☐ Other: /
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Region & Country of
Development
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Region
☐ Africa
☐ South Asia
☐ East Asia & The Pacific
☑ Europe & Central Asia - Netherlands
☐ Latin America & The Caribbean
☐ Middle East & North Africa
☑ North America - United States of America
☐ N/A: /
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Region & Country of
Current Deployment
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Region
☐ Africa
☐ South Asia
☑ East Asia & The Pacific
☑ Europe & Central Asia
☐ Latin America & The Caribbean
☑ Middle East & North Africa
☑ North America
☐ N/A: /
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Region & Country of
Potential Deployment
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Worldwide
☑ Africa
☑ South Asia
☑ East Asia & The Pacific
☑ Europe & Central Asia
☑ Latin America & The Caribbean
☑ Middle East & North Africa
☑ North America
☐ N/A: /
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| Manufacturers
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N/A
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| Economics
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Economics has to be evaluated in each project; In some cases very profitable;
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| Technology Development Level
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Still a lot of Research and development is required;
Pilot projects and first implementation;
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| Required Maintenance Technical Level
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Still high: Technology can only be maintained through its life cycle with uncommon tools and requires trained professionals for maintenance;
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| Required Infrastructure for Deployment
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Research and more project experiences;
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| Required Resources during manufacture
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Metals, plastics, electronics;
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| Required Resources during operation
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So far, most of the CEA operations require a lot of resources for its operation, energy (electricity and heat), fertilizer and feed;
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Deployment
Level
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Local availability;
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| Deployment Capability and Potential
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Worldwide;
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| Requirements for Deployment
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Research for more ecological approaches with less requirement of resources, development of closed loop CEA's based on renewable energies and local cycles of matter and materials;
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| Relevance for Autonomy and Food Security
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High, if energy efficient, energy independent (based on renewables) and local cycles of matter are implemented;
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| Environment Impacts (emissions)
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High: direct and indirect emissions;
Has the potential to become low: no direct emissions but indirect emissions;
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| Conformity with Bio- Cybernetic System Rules
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Has the potential to fulfill conformity, if resource issues are solved;
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| Additional information / Comments
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No comments.
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| Internal Reference
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| Additional Links
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled-environment_agriculture
http://ag.arizona.edu/ceac/
http://www.except.nl/en/#.en.projects.1-polydome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building-integrated_agriculture
https://practicalaction.org/vegetable-production-under-protective-structures
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