What is Controlled Environment Agriculture;
An innovative method of growing plants, known as Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), involves optimizing both the aerial and root zone environments. This approach focuses on several key production benefits:
- high plant quality
- predictable crop timing
- consistently available quantity
In essence, CEA integrates both scientific and engineering principles to enhance productivity and optimize resource use.
Importance of CEA in the MENA Region;
- According to the World Economic Forum 2019 report, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is the most water-scarce region in the world. More than 60% of the region’s population lives in areas with high or very high surface water stress, compared to the global average of approximately 35%.
- By inducing technologies, the agriculture market in the MENA region is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 5.7% during the forecast period (2021-2026)
- Food demand is increasing in the MENA region, mainly due to two key factors: population growth and rising incomes.
In the arid and resource-constrained MENA region, CEA is emerging as a revolutionary approach to food production. By harnessing advanced technologies and meticulously optimizing growing conditions, CEA offers a sustainable and highly efficient solution to the challenges faced by traditional agriculture in this part of the world.
Challenges of Traditional Agriculture in the MENA Region;
The MENA region is known for its harsh climatic conditions, limited water resources, saline water, and arable land. Traditional agricultural practices in this region often struggle to keep up with the growing demand for food, facing challenges such as low yields, high water consumption, and vulnerability to environmental factors like drought and desertification. These challenges have prompted the need for innovative solutions to ensure food security and sustainable development.
How can a controlled environment system enhance crop performance?
When we talk about efficient CEA, we must keep in mind that we have to control the variables of CEA according to the needs of plants. For efficient CEA, it’s important for an agronomist to understand plant physiology. The most important thing is data analysis. The better you analyze data and manage the variables in your CEA system, the more effectively your crops will perform.
Important variables of CEA are:
- Temperature
- Relative Humidity
- Airflow
- Carbon Dioxide
- Light
- Oxygen
Crop Optimization in CEA Systems
One key advantage of CEA is the ability to control and optimize the growing conditions for various crops precisely. CEA systems utilize advanced technologies, such as LED lighting, climate control, and precision fertigation, to create an environment tailored to the specific needs of each crop. This level of control allows for higher yields, improved quality, and increased nutritional content, making CEA a game-changer in the MENA region's agricultural landscape.
Lighting
CEA systems use specialized LED lighting to provide the optimal spectrum and intensity of light for each crop, ensuring efficient photosynthesis and accelerated growth.
Climate Control
Advanced climate control systems regulate temperature, humidity, and air circulation, creating the ideal environment for plant development and reducing the impact of harsh external conditions.
Precision Irrigation
CEA systems employ sophisticated fertigation techniques, delivering the precise amount of water and nutrients required by each plant, minimizing waste, and maximizing resource efficiency.
Water Conservation and Sustainability
Water scarcity is a pressing challenge in the MENA region, and Controlled Environment Agriculture provides a sustainable solution to this problem. CEA systems incorporate advanced water management technologies, such as recirculating hydroponics and aeroponics, which can reduce water usage by up to 90% compared to traditional irrigation methods. By closing the water cycle and reusing resources, CEA systems contribute to the overall sustainability of agricultural practices in the region, ensuring a more secure and resilient food supply.
Reducing Carbon Footprint with CEA
Controlled-environment agriculture offers a unique opportunity to address the environmental impact of traditional farming practices in the MENA region. CEA systems are designed to minimize energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy sources, efficient climate control, and waste reduction strategies. By adopting CEA, the MENA region can significantly reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change, all while enhancing food production and security.
Renewable Energy
CEA systems can use renewable energy sources like solar and wind power to decrease dependence on fossil fuels and lessen the environmental impact of food production.
Waste Reduction
CEA technologies enable the efficient use and recycling of resources, minimizing waste and contributing to a more sustainable agricultural ecosystem.
Smaller Carbon Footprint
The optimized resource management and energy efficiency of CEA systems can significantly lower the carbon footprint associated with food production in the MENA region.
Emerging CEA Technologies in the MENA Region
The MENA region is at the forefront of adopting and innovating Controlled Environment Agriculture technologies to address its unique challenges. From advanced hydroponics and aeroponics systems to IoT-enabled smart farming solutions, the region is embracing a range of cutting-edge CEA technologies to enhance productivity, optimize resource usage, and drive sustainable development.
Vertical Farming
Innovative vertical farming techniques enable the efficient use of limited land and resources, making them particularly well-suited for the MENA region's urban and peri-urban areas.
ArtificialIntelligence and Automation
The MENA region is embracing AI and automation to optimize CEA systems, improve decision-making, and enhance overall productivity and resource efficiency.
Renewable Energy Integration
Integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, into CEA systems is a key focus in the MENA region, ensuring energy-efficient and environmentally friendly food production.
Future Outlook and Opportunities
As the MENA region continues to face the challenges of food security, water scarcity, and environmental sustainability, Controlled Environment Agriculture holds immense promise as a transformative solution. With the ongoing advancements in technology, the rapid adoption of CEA systems, and the region's commitment to sustainable development, the future of agriculture in the MENA region is poised for a paradigm shift. By embracing CEA, the region can ensure food security, conserve precious natural resources, and contribute to the global effort to mitigate climate change, paving the way for a more prosperous and sustainable future.
References
- Lefers, R. M., Tester, M., & Lauersen, K. J. (2020). Emerging technologies to enable sustainable controlled environment agriculture in the extreme environments of Middle East-North Africa coastal regions. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00801
- Engler, N., & Krarti, M. (2021). Review of energy efficiency in controlled environment agriculture. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 141, 110786. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.110786
- Nicholson, C. F., Harbick, K., Gómez, M. I., & Mattson, N. S. (2020). An Economic and Environmental Comparison of Conventional and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Supply Chains for Leaf Lettuce to US Cities. Food Supply Chains in Cities (pp. 33– 68). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-34065-0_2
- Gómez, C., Currey, C. J., Dickson, R. W., Kim, H.-J., Hernández, R., Sabeh, N. C., Raudales, R. E., Brumfield, R. G., Laury-Shaw, A., Wilke, A. K., Lopez, R. G., & Burnett, S. E. (2019). Controlled Environment Food Production for Urban Agriculture. HortScience, 54(9), 1448–1458. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI14073-19
- Specht, K., Siebert, R., Hartmann, I., Freisinger, U. B., Sawicka, M., Werner, A., Thomaier, S., Henckel, D., Walk, H., & Dierich, A. (2014). Urban agriculture of the future: An overview of sustainability aspects of food production in and on buildings. Agriculture and Human Values, 31(1), 33–51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-013-9448-4
