At the recent annual meeting of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), agInnovation (a unit of the APLU Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable Resources) presented the 2024 Excellence in Multistate Research Award to the NCERA-101 Committee on Controlled Environment Technology and Use.
This multi-state committee has worked for more than 40 years to advance the design and operation of controlled environments such as growth chambers and greenhouses, which are essential for crop production, research, and education. Bringing together members from multiple states and disciplines, this committee has coordinated research and shared diverse expertise, information, technology, and other resources, driving innovation and impact.
Led by Land-grant Universities, the committee has provided unbiased development and assessment of technologies and practices for lighting, humidification/dehumidification, and water and nutrient use that have improved controlled environment efficiency and sustainability.
These and other advances have allowed for the production of crops in seasons and areas where they previously couldn't be grown. For example, spinach typically cannot be grown during the long summer season in the southern U.S. even in a greenhouse, but findings on root zone cooling and heat tolerant cultivars will allow greenhouse growers to extend the season through early summer.
The committee's work has also been used to spark interest in STEM topics among millions of K-12 students and has influenced the expansion of controlled environment agriculture programs at multiple universities.
The Excellence in Multistate Research Award not only recognizes the committee's past work but will also support future impacts. The committee will receive $15,000 from the Hatch Multistate Research Fund to support their research and/or outreach objectives.