CEA Industry Challenges*

Technology Challenges

Market Challenges

Policy Challenges

Near-Term (0-3 years)

Near-Term

Near-Term

• Need for greater emphasis on cooling technologies
  
   
• Growers need assistance assessing energy resource and cost issues

 
• Limited by variety of products that can be grown

• Lack of public education of CEA products

 
• Increasing consumer demand

 
• Conflicting definitions and value of local food

 
• Economics of CEA vs. conventional growing still unclear to potential growers

 
• Need for greater understanding of market potential for current growers

 
• Branding of local/CEA products to achieve premium pricing

 
• More business development assistance for CEA industry

• Lack of federal incentives

 
• Lack of more state-based incentives

 

Mid-Term (4-10 years)

Mid-Term

Mid-Term

• Need for more research on control systems

 
• Need for improvement of stability of nutrient solutions

 
• Greater understanding of the metabolic pathway in growing plants

 
• Need for a luminaire testing facility

 
• Develop effective treatment systems for municipal source water

• Wholesale market perception of CEA product as a commodity

 
• Need for more centralized information resources, re: system performance, design, financing, etc.

 
• Lack of skilled workforce for management of CEA systems

• Lack of federal assistance for local food producers

 
• Need for federal funding for research in plant-based pharmaceuticals