By Scout Nelson
North Dakota’s long, cold winters and unpredictable weather make traditional farming challenging. To address these limitations, farmers and researchers are turning to Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) to grow crops indoors throughout the year.
CEA uses technology to control temperature, light, and water conditions, allowing crops to grow regardless of outdoor weather. Common CEA systems include greenhouses, high tunnels, vertical farming, hydroponics, and indoor farming. These systems provide a reliable food source and help protect against droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures.
At North Dakota State University, Professor Xinhua Jia is leading research into how CEA can support food, energy, and water security. Her work includes studies on water pH for lettuce growth, hydroponic bio-media using local crop waste, and nutrient use optimization.
“As traditional agriculture faces increasing challenges due to weather variability, water scarcity and soil limitations, I was drawn to CEA for its ability to precisely control environmental conditions and optimize resource use, especially water and energy, while producing high-quality crops year-round,” said Jia.
"Controlled Environment Agriculture is not just innovation; it’s a lifeline for North Dakota’s agricultural future,” said Sai Sri Sravya Vishnumolakala, a graduate student working on the NDSU CEA research this summer. “By enabling year-round, resource-efficient crop production, CEA offers resilience against harsh weather events and creates new opportunities for high-value agriculture, strengthening both rural economies and food security across the state.”
New greenhouse facilities like the one at United Tribes Technical College and the Native Green Grow complex also demonstrate how solar and waste energy can power sustainable crop production year-round.
“I really enjoy Controlled Environment Agriculture because it brings the latest tech into farming,” said Alex Spech, who worked on the CEA project as a graduate student for the past two years. “As cities keep growing, CEA could be a great solution for urban agriculture. It also has real potential to help the environment by using renewable energy and keeping nutrients contained, instead of letting them run off into the ground like in traditional farming.”
With support from the USDA, North Dakota is positioning itself as a leader in cold-climate farming through technology-driven innovation and collaboration.
Photo Credit: north-dakota-state-university
Categories: North Dakota, Business