FOODI: Facilitating Overcoming Obstacles to the Development and Integration of Modern Technologies for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)

Research Team

Lead Researcher:

• Dr. Nhut Ho, Director, ARCS, Mechanical Engineering

Mentor:

• Fred Gross, Senior Advisor, ARCS

Collaborators:

• Guillermo Herrera, Mechanical Engineering
• LAPD PALS Devonshire Youth Center
• LA Pierce College, Department of Agriculture

Student Team:

• Jade Dergevorkian, ARCS Fellow, MS Computer Science
• Farhan Darvish, BS Biotechnology
• Keira Ebner, Calabasas High School Senior
• Isabel Lucero, BS Computer Science
• Diego Machuca, BS Mechanical Engineering
• Alyssa Muldong, BS Computer Science
• Hao Phan, BS Mechanical Engineering
• Luis Arroyo Turcio, MS Manufacturing Systems Engineering & Management
• Nikhil Naik, MS Manufacturing Systems Engineering & Management
• Salman Sattar, BS Computer Science

SYNOPSIS

• This initiative aims to better understand and address the obstacles faced by companies that have started to CEA and then develop solutions to overcome those obstacles.   
• Efforts have started to create “digital twins” to help educate students on using AI Technologies as well as provide support to the CEA industry.
• A small-scale hydroponic growing effort has been initiated to provide data for training models to educate students on data-driven autonomous systems.
• Efforts are underway to help stimulate a Southern California Hub for CEA by providing a skilled workforce through CSUN, local high schools, and LA Pierce College.

Abstract

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technologies provide numerous advantages over traditional agriculture, particularly considering climate trends that have altered the suitability of land for cultivation. CEA offers more sustainable food production with significantly reduced water, nutrients, and land usage, and enables food production closer to population centers in various climates. Additionally, CEA is more amenable to automation compared to traditional farming methods. Despite some successes in recent years, many CEA facilities have failed, including those with substantial investments and initial market presence. The objective of this project is to continue to analyze the obstacles limiting the growth of the CEA industry and understand the factors contributing to both the success and failure of commercial ventures.  The project will work to develop and implement solutions and build tools to help overcome these challenges.

Motivation/Research Problem

Many nations face growing food insecurity issues, which are exacerbated by threats to agricultural areas from competing land uses, water shortages, climate change, and rising costs of labor, equipment, and materials. Collectively, these issues represent an existential threat to the California economy. CEA has the potential to address these challenges; however, its technology remains underdeveloped and faces numerous obstacles that have led to the failure of many CEA farms and significant investment losses. This research seeks to identify and clarify these obstacles and propose viable solutions.