Search Results (96)

A dual-platform mushroom cultivation system integrating artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted environmental monitoring and controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) was developed to support experiential STEM education across K–12 and undergraduate settings. Hands-on instruction with multicellular fungi is often limited by reliance on microbial models and by constraints associated with field-based activities. To address this gap, we implemented an indoor instructional platform that combines a commercial AI-assisted automated cultivation unit with a tent-based chamber for hands-on environmental control. Representative cultivated species included oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) and lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus). The AI-assisted system provided sensor/camera-based monitoring, app-based feedback, and software-assisted regulation of humidity, light, and airflow, whereas the tent-based system enabled direct student manipulation of cultivation conditions. Together, the systems allowed students to observe fungal development, manage environmental parameters, and collect quantitative and qualitative data within a single academic term. Post-harvest activities, including mushroom-based food preparation and tasting, further connected fungal biology with food and sustainability. A matched pre- and post-course survey (n = 30) showed increases in students’ self-reported perceived understanding, cultivation confidence, and engagement, with mean scores increasing from approximately 2–4 to 6–8. Because the survey instrument was not formally validated and no control group was included, these results are interpreted as preliminary self-reported perceptions rather than objective evidence of learning gains. The platform provides a practical model for integrating fungal biology, AI-assisted environmental monitoring, and CEA into STEM education. Full article

Growth chambers are vital in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), enabling precise regulation of environmental conditions for year-round crop production, especially in urban areas with limited arable land. This study retrofitted a nonfunctional cold room into a plant growth chamber with controlled temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels to evaluate lettuce (Lactuca sativa) growth under three LED treatments: broad-spectrum white, combined white and far-red, and narrow amber (598 nm). Environmental parameters were controlled at 21 °C during the day and 19 °C at night, with 65% relative humidity, and 800 ppm CO₂. After 40 days, plants under combined white and far-red LEDs produced the tallest shoots (21.8 ± 0.3 cm) and highest leaf count (23.7 ± 0.9). No significant differences were observed among treatments for fresh mass, dry mass, head diameter, or relative chlorophyll content. The findings demonstrated the feasibility of retrofitting a nonfunctional cold room into a controlled environment growth chamber capable of supporting lettuce cultivation under the tested conditions. Full article

Nanoparticles (NPs) are becoming more commonly used in agricultural practices for cultivating plants under Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). The foliar application of copper oxide (CuO) NPs can enhance the production of bioactive compounds in lettuce without adversely affecting yield. However, there is a lack of data regarding the effects of NPs on plants under various lighting conditions, which is a crucial aspect of CEA. The study aims to find out how different lighting conditions can lead to Cu accumulation, to determine the effects of CuO NPs on lettuce growth, antioxidant potential and mineral elements, and to investigate the potential risk of these NPs’ uptake to human health. Plants were grown in Ebb-type hydroponic systems with red-blue and white-red-blue LED lighting at daily light integral 8.64 and 14.4, sprayed with aqueous suspensions of CuO NPs (40 nm, 30 ppm). The influence was determined on lettuce growth, the enzymatic (GR, APX, CAT, SOD, MDHAR, DHAR) and non-enzymatic (TPC, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) antioxidants, mineral elements and hazard quotients. Our study showed the synergistic effect of foliar application of CuO NPs and lighting on lettuce. We found that CuO NPs positively influenced lettuce growth and stimulated the antioxidant system, particularly the non-enzymatic components such as phenols, carotenoids, and total antioxidant capacity. This effect was enhanced under a broader wavelength range of white-red-blue light and with a higher daily light integral value of 14.4. The application of CuO NPs significantly increased the Cu content in lettuce. Importantly, the concentration of the used CuO NPs did not reach the limit of Cu ions dangerous to humans, as the calculated intake level remained below safe limits, but it is not determined how much of them remained in the form of NPs. Full article

Microgreens have emerged as a nutrient-dense specialty crop with great potential to address global nutritional challenges through urban farming and controlled-environment agriculture. While interest in enhancing both the yield and nutritional quality of hydroponic microgreens is growing, a comprehensive synthesis of horticultural strategies is still lacking. This gap hinders the development of integrated approaches needed for efficient and targeted quality improvement. This review systematically examines the current literature on horticultural interventions for improving hydroponic microgreen production, focusing on nutrient solution management, light environmental manipulation, substrate selection, genetic potential, and emerging synergistic approaches. Nutrient solution optimization, including appropriate concentration, timing, and targeted biofortification with essential elements, enhances both productivity and nutritional density. Light spectral manipulation, particularly through red-to-far-red ratios or blue-light supplementation, enables precise control of morphology and the accumulation of bioactive compounds. Substrate physicochemical properties influence nutrient availability and uptake, while genetic variability among species and cultivars provides the foundation for biofortification efforts. Emerging approaches including biostimulant application, integrated pre- and post-harvest practices, and phenotyping and artificial intelligence integration offer additional avenues for sustainable quality enhancement. This review provides a framework for optimizing hydroponic microgreen production systems to simultaneously achieve high yield and enhanced nutritional quality. Full article

In controlled-environment agriculture (CEA), light serves both as an energy source for photosynthesis and as a regulatory factor. However, the light responses of underutilized leafy greens are still not fully characterized compared with model crops such as lettuce. This study evaluated the effects of lighting parameters on the growth, metabolism, antioxidant properties, and mineral composition of Chrysanthemum coronarium (shungiku) greens cultivated hydroponically in CEA. Three parallel experiments were conducted, aiming to explore the effects of (I) light spectrum using red (R, 660 nm), blue (B, 447 nm), and combined RB light; (II) photoperiod, using 12, 16, and 24 h photoperiods at equal daily light integral; and 150, 200, 250, and 300 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) at 16 h photoperiod. RB light promoted the highest biomass accumulation and light use efficiency (LUE), while monochromatic red and blue light limited growth and reduced Fe and Zn contents. A 12 h photoperiod yielded the best results for leaf area, fresh weight, and LUE compared with 16 and 24 h photoperiods. Higher PPFD increased biomass, soluble sugars, antioxidant capacity, organic acids, and micronutrients, with peak LUE at 200 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ instead of the maximum yield at 300 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹. These findings emphasize the importance of crop-specific and trait-oriented light optimization for underutilized leafy vegetables. Full article

With the rapid growth of the medicinal cannabis sector, there is a growing concern regarding its environmental impact and sustainability. In recent years, life cycle assessment (LCA) studies on medicinal cannabis cultivation and processing have been conducted since 2021. However, there is a lack of comprehensive LCA studies that include all stages of medicinal cannabis cultivation and processing. In this systematic review, various LCA studies conducted from 2021 to 2025 using the ISO 14040/44 methodology are reviewed and discussed in terms of their goal and scope, life cycle inventory (LCI), life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), and result interpretation. Various environmental impact indicators are considered in this review, such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy demand, water usage, eutrophication, acidification, and resource depletion. All of these impact indicators point to a significant environmental impact of indoor cultivation in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, which vary from 2.3 × 10³ to 5.2 × 10³ kg CO₂ eq kg⁻¹ of dried cannabis product. Nevertheless, it is important to note that this is significantly influenced by regional electricity sources. Low-carbon-based electricity sources, especially hydro-based sources, can reduce emissions to a significant level. Cultivation outdoors presents significantly lower emissions of (60–110 kg CO₂ eq kg⁻¹), but fertilizers and substrates used in cultivation contribute significantly to emissions. Also, outdoor plants use 22.7 L plant⁻¹ d⁻¹ water at peak growth, while indoor plants use 9–11 L plant⁻¹ d⁻¹ water. Improvements in the life cycle of cannabis cultivation can be achieved through renewable energy use, water and fertilizers, substrate use and reuse, and inventories for post-harvesting activities like drying and extraction. Botanical parameters including genotype, planting density, and harvesting frequency are identified as significant but under-characterized determinants of LCA outcomes. Ethical and legal barriers are shown to be structural drivers of the LCA data gap. A SWOT analysis contextualizes the opportunities and constraints of the sector. Future research should focus on cradle-to-grave LCA and incorporate socio-economic factors for sustainability in the medicinal cannabis sector. Full article

The transition from High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) to energy-efficient Light-Emitting Diode (LED) supplemental lighting alters the plant thermal environment in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). This study evaluated how three practical supplemental lighting regimes, HPS, LED, and LED supplemented with infrared radiation (LED + IR), influence the physiology, growth, and phytochemical profile of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.). We assessed biomass production, photosynthetic performance, oxidative stress markers (TBARS), and the concentration of primary and secondary metabolites. The LED treatment was superior for biomass production, yielding significant fresh mass while maintaining the lowest leaf nitrate content. Conversely, the addition of IR significantly increased leaf temperature, which suppressed growth but acted as a potent “bio-stress” agent, significantly increasing the total phenolic index. This biofortification, however, significantly decreased photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids), increased lipid peroxidation (TBARS), and led to the highest accumulation of undesirable nitrates. Our findings reveal a clear growth-defense trade-off, demonstrating that while LED lighting is optimal for maximizing yield and food safety, the targeted application of IR radiation is an effective strategy for enhancing the nutraceutical value of leafy greens, requiring careful management to mitigate negative impacts on growth and quality. Full article

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) relies on hydroponic systems to achieve high yields, yet optimizing plant performance remains a challenge. Beneficial endophytic bacteria offer a sustainable solution by promoting growth and nutrient uptake. Here, we investigated the mechanistic basis of growth enhancement in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) inoculated with Pseudomonas psychrotolerans IALR632 in a nutrient film technique (NFT) system. Growth measurements showed significant increases in shoot and root biomass and leaf greenness. RNA-seq profiling at 4, 10, and 15 days after transplanting revealed dynamic transcriptional reprogramming, with 38, 796, and 7642 differentially expressed genes, respectively. MapMan and GO analyses indicated up-regulation of pathways related to cell wall remodeling, lipid metabolism, nitrogen assimilation, and stress adaptation, alongside modulation of ethylene signaling. Root bacterial microbiome through 16S metabarcoding sequencing demonstrated distinct community shifts, confirmed by analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) (R = 1, p = 0.028), with enrichment of genera linked to nutrient cycling and plant growth promotion. These findings provide integrated molecular and ecological evidence that IALR632 enhances lettuce growth by coordinating host gene expression and rhizobiome restructuring, offering a mechanistic framework for microbial inoculant strategies in hydroponic horticulture. Full article

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important source of food and feed and contributes to soil improvement through its association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. By enabling higher yields and selection of tolerant genotypes, controlled environment agriculture (CEA) could meet increasing nutritional needs despite adverse conditions. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of drought stress on the development of vegetable pea genotypes under controlled vertical farming conditions. Plants were grown in CEA and exposed to drought stress at different developmental stages, after flowering and after pod formation. Drought significantly reduced pod and seed numbers, showing a stronger effect than genotype. For example, genotype Favorit produced 7.67 and 9.00 seeds per plant under control conditions, compared with only 2.00 and 2.67 seeds per plant under drought treatments. Pod length, seed number, and seed weight were also lower under stress, highlighting the importance of water availability during seed setting and filling. Fresh and dry biomass were mainly influenced by genotype, indicating differences in stress adaptability. The results also demonstrate that CEA can be used for reproducible abiotic stress experiments relevant to plant breeding and crop production. Full article

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) has become a key driver of vertical farming (VF), offering innovative solutions for the sustainable production of ornamental plants in urban environments with limited arable land. This review examines recent advances in VF technologies and their applications in foliage and flowering ornamental plant production. The literature indicates that precise environmental control, including optimized LED lighting spectra, hydroponic and aeroponic nutrient delivery, and automated climate regulation, can significantly enhance plant growth, morphological characteristics, color intensity, and overall market quality of ornamental species. In addition, VF systems demonstrate substantial reductions in water consumption, pesticide use, and land requirements compared with conventional cultivation methods. However, several challenges remain, including high-energy demand, economic feasibility, and the need for crop-specific environmental optimization for different ornamental species. This review synthesizes current research on VF systems, highlights the integration of emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and data-driven management tools, and evaluates their potential to improve production efficiency and sustainability in ornamental horticulture. Overall, vertical farming represents a promising approach for high-quality ornamental plant production, although further research is required to optimize energy efficiency and cultivation protocols for diverse ornamental crops. Full article

Light quality is a crucial factor influencing plant growth and physiological quality in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA). This study examined how different LED light spectra affect the growth and internal quality of Ligularia stenocephala cultivated in a plant factory. The plants were grown under five types of LED light: monochromatic red, monochromatic blue, a combination of blue and red, white LEDs, and quantum dot (QD) LEDs. We evaluated various growth parameters, biomass accumulation, chlorophyll indices, and antioxidant capacity. Monochromatic red LEDs promoted rapid early growth and stem elongation but led to lower chlorophyll accumulation and antioxidant capacity. In contrast, monochromatic blue LEDs increased chlorophyll content, leaf thickness, dry matter accumulation, and antioxidant capacity, although they limited leaf expansion and shoot biomass. Composite-spectrum LEDs displayed distinct trade-offs between growth and quality parameters. QD LEDs maximized shoot biomass accumulation while maintaining moderate internal quality, whereas Blue+Red LEDs provided a balanced combination of significant biomass and enhanced phytochemical content. Principal component analysis indicated a fundamental trade-off between quality-related (PC1: 57.6%) and growth-related (PC2: 22.7%) parameters, showing that no single LED spectrum could optimize all cultivation factors simultaneously. Therefore, LED selection should align strategically with specific cultivation goals: use QD LEDs for volume-based production, Blue+Red LEDs for balanced premium markets, and blue LEDs for specialty functional vegetables. These findings underscore the importance of context-dependent lighting optimization strategies in plant factory systems and offer a framework for selecting the most effective LED spectra to enhance crop performance in CEA. Full article

Controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) and circular production systems require coordinated monitoring of biological and physicochemical processes across trophic levels. This project report presents the implementation of a multi-trophic controlled-environment agriculture demonstrator that integrates computer-vision-based monitoring with established sensor infrastructure for aquaculture, poultry, plants, microalgae, duckweed, and insect modules. Stereo imaging and RGB-D systems are deployed for non-invasive quantification of fish biomass and plant growth, while continuous water-quality and environmental measurements (e.g., pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, ammonium, temperature, CO₂) provide complementary process data. These data streams are synchronized within a shared database architecture to enable cross-module evaluation of nutrient dynamics, growth progression, and operational stability under real facility conditions. The implemented framework demonstrates how computer vision can extend conventional sensor-based monitoring by directly capturing biological performance indicators across aquatic, terrestrial, and microbial domains. While advanced predictive modeling and full digital twin simulation remain future development steps, the realized data-integration architecture establishes a structural foundation for the systematic evaluation of circular indoor food-production systems. The demonstrator illustrates how multimodal monitoring can support nutrient recirculation, transparency of biological variability, and data-driven assessment within controlled multi-trophic environments. Full article

Microgreens are gaining prominence for their high nutritional value, rapid growth cycle, and suitability for controlled-environment agriculture (CEA). Among key agronomic factors, seed density critically influences both yield and microbial safety, and it also impacts production cost. This study evaluated: (1) the effects of various seed densities on the yield and microbial load of cress (Lepidium sativum L.), rocket (Eruca sativa), and pea (Pisum sativum L.); and (2) the influence of supplemental UV-A radiation on the biomass, microbial load, and phytochemical profile of pea microgreens. The study found that fresh biomass increased with increasing seed density across all species up to a threshold, achieving maximum yields at 12 seeds/cm² for cress and rocket and 2 seeds/cm² for pea. However, higher seed densities were also associated with increased levels of total aerobic bacteria (TAB), Enterobacteriaceae, and fungi, which could pose an increased risk of microbial hazards concerning food safety, e.g., TAB in cress increasing from 7.04 ± 0.09 to 7.94 ± 0.17 log₁₀CFU/g as seed density increases from 6 to 14 seeds/cm². Initially white light supplemented with UV-A recorded a lower yield (11 g) compared to white light (13 g), but the final biomass was comparable under both lights, with microbial load remaining stable at ~3.8–4.2 log₁₀ CFU/g. A temporary increase in carotenoids exhibited significantly higher levels (2.00± 0.29 µg/mg DW) under white light supplemented with UV-A radiation compared to white light alone (1.48 ± 0.23 µg/mg DW). However, these increases were not maintained throughout the growing period. These results indicate that optimising seed density in these species is vital for balancing productivity and food safety, and continuous UV-A exposure did not lead to sustained higher phytochemical levels or reduced microbial load compared with white light alone. Full article

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) microgreens are valued for their high phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, which can be modulated under controlled environment agriculture (CEA). This study investigated the combined effects of three light-emitting diode (LED) light intensities (200, 250, and 300 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and three nutrient solution concentrations (basic, enriched, and diluted) on biomass accumulation, phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and photosynthetic pigments in basil microgreens. The fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW), dry matter content (DM), total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), and pigment levels were evaluated across nine treatment combinations. Biomass accumulation was primarily driven by nutrient availability; the highest FW (18.23 g 100 cm⁻²) was recorded under low light with elevated nutrients and was 133% higher than under high light combined with reduced nutrient supply. In contrast, the DM content increased under high light and low nutrients, reaching about 9%, which was 112% higher than in the lowest DM treatment. Increasing light intensity markedly resulted in phenolic accumulation and antioxidant activity. The highest TPC (28.39 mg g⁻¹ DW) observed under 300 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ with reduced nutrients was approximately 97% higher than that under 200 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ with basic nutrition. Under the same conditions, DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP antioxidant activities increased by 54%, 54%, and 81%, respectively. Photosynthetic pigment responses to light and nutrient treatments were limited, with statistically significant differences observed mainly for chlorophyll b and the chlorophyll a/b ratio, while chlorophyll a and carotenoids remained largely unchanged. Principal component analysis separated high-light treatments by elevated phenolic–antioxidant profiles and low-light treatments by higher biomass and pigment levels. Overall, high light combined with moderate nutrient limitation promotes phenolic and antioxidant enrichment in basil microgreens, representing a quality-modulating strategy rather than a fully optimized cultivation regime. Full article