Growers working in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) consider energy efficiency the top priority in 2025, according to the 2024 Global CEA Census from vertical farming consultancy Agritecture and partners CEAg World and Meister Media Worldwide.
This year, the census focuses on tech adoption in the CEA industry, and found that across regions, energy efficiency is a top priority in determining which technologies are integrated into farming operations.
While it varies between farm types, and from one operation to the next, energy usage has long been a challenge for the indoor farming industry. A handful of high-profile companies have already integrated technologies such as solar into their farms. The CEA Census authors expect this number to grow in the future as more and more growers "are seeking technologies that "reduce operational costs and support sustainability efforts."
CEA is also a difficult business in which to break even, let alone profit, so cost-cutting plays a role here, too: "Trimming this expense category will help ensure future success," notes the report.
Read more at AFN