November 21, 2022

GLASE Will Host Virtual Climate Control Short Course

2 minute read

For the second year, Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering (GLASE) will be hosting a virtual short course entitled: The 2023 Virtual Climate Control Short Course. The event will run from Jan. 19 to Feb. 23, and consist of six 2-hour modules presented over six weeks.

The growing environment in greenhouses and indoor farms has a profound effect on numerous crop quality attributes, including: crop yield, consistency, growth rate, flowering, and disease.

The Climate Control Short Course is an educational series designed to delve into all aspects of climate controls in greenhouses and indoor farms. Modules will focus on lighting, temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, humidity and VPD, irrigation, and autonomous controls.

Industry experts will define the specific environmental requirements of plants, show how climate controls work to improve yields in real-life case studies and supply interactive demonstrations using commercially-available climate control technology. By the end of this virtual course, participants will be able to make informed decisions about selecting and using climate controls in their growing operations.

Module 1: Plant Lighting Control Systems

(Thursday, Jan. 19)

Supplemental lighting systems are used in commercial CEA facilities to optimize consistent production year-round, increase crop quality and control flowering of photoperiodic crops. Learn how the development of new lighting controls and technologies have provided growers options to increase energy use efficiency and reduce the cost of supplemental lighting.

Module 2: Temperature Control Systems

(Thursday, Jan. 26)

Temperature affects numerous crop quality attributes, including growth rate, plant development and plant extension. Controlling the temperature of a greenhouse or indoor farm can also be a major factor in facility energy costs. Learn how efficient temperature sensors and controls can improve crop production and reduce operation costs.

Module 3: Humidity Control Systems and VPD

(Thursday, Feb. 2)

Humidity is one of the most difficult aspects of a greenhouse climate to regulate. Temperature and air pressure, along with vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and plant transpiration, influence the humidity of the air. Plant diseases, stress and growth rate all depend on humidity. Learn the intricacies of controlling this fluctuating measurement in your climate to better control plant growth and health.

Module 4: Carbon Dioxide Control Systems

(Thursday, Feb. 9)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an essential component of plant photosynthesis. Increasing CO2 concentrations in a greenhouse improves fruit yield, flowering, and plant strength, but controlling CO2 can prove difficult in greenhouses that require venting. Learn about available technology to measure and control CO2 concentrations in your greenhouse.

Module 5: Irrigation Control Systems

(Thursday, Feb. 16)

Receiving the right amount of water is vital to the survival of all plants. In greenhouses and indoor farms, growers must provide water directly to crops, as rainwater is unavailable. Learn about different systems of greenhouse irrigation and how to control exactly how much water plants receive.

Module 6: Autonomous Control Systems

(Thursday, Feb. 23)

Precision in agriculture leads to better profits, less labor and higher efficiency. All aspects of climate control, from lighting, temperature and humidity, to CO2 and irrigation, can be controlled autonomously using integrated technology. Learn about autonomous technologies for greenhouses and how growers are using them in real operations.

Registration for the event opens on Dec. 1. Click here for more information and to register.