Controlled environment agriculture
Our research looks to bridge the gap between fundamental research and real-world application, fostering an environment where scientific discoveries translate into impactful solutions.
Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is a technology-driven approach to food production that optimises growing conditions by regulating factors such as light, temperature, humidity and nutrients.
These techniques enhance yield, promote resource use efficiency and enable resilience against climate change. They are playing an ever increasing role in sustainable and reliable food production and addressing some of the great challenges of our time.
The CEA research theme within the Institute for Sustainable Food (ISF), looks to bridge the gap between fundamental research and real-world application, fostering an environment where scientific discoveries translate into impactful solutions.
We are committed to exploring new research directions that challenge conventional boundaries and encourage innovation beyond traditional paths. By aligning deep scientific inquiry with industrial and social-economic needs, we aim to catalyse transformative progress, ensuring cutting-edge research not only enriches academic understanding but also drives meaningful advancements in technology, sustainability, and societal well-being.
With emphasis on this theme being a network of networks, we look to work with local, national and international research and industrial bodies within the realm of CEA. This includes current links with UK Urban Agritech (UKUAT), Greenhouse Innovation Consortium (GIC), The South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre (SYSC) and the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures (GCSF), a list we are keen to expand.
Using these networks we will be looking to identify key funding opportunities and ensuring innovators and researchers are easily connected to exploit these opportunities.
Key projects
- H3 - Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People: Funded under the Strategic Priorities Fund ‘Transforming UK Food Systems’ programme, H3 is a multi-stakeholder project taking in various elements of food system research. Starting at the micro-scale, exploring synthetic microbial communities and their deployment in disease resistance through to macro-scale, where policy interventions are considered and tested at local and national level. In the context of CEA, we are involved in work packages (WP) 1, 2 and 4. WP1 is the aforementioned synthetic community work, WP2 investigates low-input do-it-yourself hydroponics in terms of optimisation of seasonal crop selection in the UK, using unheated, unlit polytunnels in South Yorkshire. And in WP4, we are interested in exploring the possibility of using hydroponic production as a means to enrich (biofortifying) select nutrients to target human nutritional shortfalls
- WHy-Grow-in-Me: This BBSRC funded, industry matched, Protected and Controlled Environment Horticulture (£1.66 M) project aims to develop optimised, bio-waste-based growing media using biodegradable polyurethane prepolymers, enhancing sustainability while increasing crop yields through tailored nutrient-embedded formulations. By synthesising homogeneous growing media from bio-waste fillers and optimising their properties, we seek to create a scalable, environmentally friendly solution for controlled environment agriculture
- University of Sheffield - Vita foam KTP (£281k): This project aims to develop green roof and green wall substrates by leveraging the University of Sheffield’s expertise in polyurethane-based plant growing media and binders. Transferring this knowledge to our industrial partner, a foam manufacturer, enables them to upcycle a waste stream and expand their rebond foam into new markets, such as green roofing, while addressing sustainability challenges associated with PU foam trim waste.
Facilities
The School of Biosciences environmental facilities support wide ranging research and teaching activities across the school and wider university, through access to state-of-the-art controlled environment equipment and a range of outdoor habitats.
- Sir David Read Controlled Environment Facility
The Sir David Read Controlled Environment Facility houses 57 state-of-the-art controlled environment chambers and rooms capable of simulating a wide range of environments utilising the latest LED technologies.
Conviron growth chambers and rooms utilise state-of-the-art Argus control systems for precise environmental control and Valoya and Fluence LEDs for optimal growing conditions Capabilities include:
• Simulation of extreme environments (arctic, tropical, past and future climates)
• Precise and calibrated environmental control
• Real-time and historic weather station tracking
• Ability to import climatic data
• Research grade LEDs with ‘sun-like’ spectra
• Ability to control red : far-red light
• Automated irrigation systems
• Controlled Environment (CE) equipment suited to a wide range of plant species, invertebrate studies as well as product testing
• Automated plant phenotyping and chlorophyll fluorescence systems
Environmental variable
Range Control Temperature -20C to +45C +/- 0.5C Humidity Additive and de- humidification +/- 5% Light intensity Up to 2100µmol m-2 s-1 at 1m distance
White and far-red dimming
CO2 Additive to 3000ppm and sub-ambient to 170ppm +/- 50ppm + 2% range
- Arthur Willis Environment Centre
The Arthur Willis Environment Centre houses a state-of-the-art ‘GroDome’ for larger scale experiments under controlled environmental conditions, as well as controlled environment chambers and a secured outdoor growing space.
Conviron reach-in growth chambers The Centre comprises of:
• 16 greenhouse compartments (14m2 each) with temperature, daylength and supplementary LED lighting
control (4 rooms also have additive humidity control)
• 8 Conviron reach-in growth chambers
• A dedicated controlled environment room housing a PSI chlorophyll fluorescence scanner
• Secure outdoor growing space and potting lab.
