August 2024 Controlled Environment Agriculture, Events, Structures & Equipment, Technology

Editor’s letter: Are you controlling? By Heather Machovina

Greenhouse growers control the growing environment daily through irrigation, lighting, humidity and other manipulations that keep operations and plants in top shape. 

Scientists and researchers discover new pathways, improve genetic traits and continue to develop products that work smarter. Technologies like automation and software for use within the greenhouse advance, too. 

Trying to encompass all that is going on in CEA and lighting for greenhouse growers in one issue is definitely impossible. Although, you will find new and valuable information to share with the team here. 

If you’re adding growing lighting to your facility, or currently in decision-making mode, you’ll want to read this. Lighting space experts talk about investing in LEDs, recouping costs sooner and considerations for waiting for future technologies. 

Light is a common limiting factor for plant growth in CEA. MSU professor Erik Runkle discusses how far-red photons should be included in metrics and efficacy here. 

Are you a small greenhouse grower? The latest Small Greenhouse and Farm Technology (SGAFT) article helps you figure out inefficiencies of small greenhouse geometry and options for overcoming them. 

NEED INFO, WILL TRAVEL 

Events coming up in the last quarter of 2024 will have oodles of information about CEA and lighting, like CEA Summit East in October and GLASE Summit in November; be sure to visit gpnmag.com/events. 

What’s your favorite horticulture trade show to attend?