Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is becoming an increasingly important approach for increasing the sustainability of food production globally. CEA enables the minimization of resource usage, reduced environmental effects, and improved productivity.

The Department of Chemical Engineering started a collaboration with Niagara College and agricultural partner Jeffery's Greenhouses to provide introductory CEA training for engineering students to facilitate further engagement of engineering in Canada’s agricultural sector.

Faculty involved in the project include Professor Nasser Mohieddin Abukhdeir from the University of Waterloo, Bill MacDonald, and Evan DiValentino, from Niagara College along with Albert Grimm, Head Grower at Jeffery’s Greenhouses. The three-day training program took place in May with over twenty undergraduate and graduate students taking part.

“Proper training - like this pilot initiative - can equip current and future members of the workforce with competencies to maximize productivity and yield high-quality crops,” says DiValentino, Associate Dean of Environment and Horticulture at Niagara College. “This program is a perfect example of how colleges, universities, and industry can collaborate to create enhanced training for students. We were thrilled to team up with Jeffery’s Greenhouse to host the UW group in Ontario’s largest teaching greenhouse and look forward to building on our shared success.”

The training encompassed a variety of topics such as plant anatomy, physiology, photosynthesis, respiration, and hydroponics. Students learned about the current technology of modern greenhouse systems including temperature, control and watering systems, and the workflow of technicians.

According to Grimm, there is a critical need for technical support and new technologies to improve agricultural practices. Production systems need to be developed to allow scientists and engineers to support the farmers, and help them become more resource neutral, sustainable, and profitable.

“Greenhouses are ideal entry points for engineers to immerse themselves into the complexities and challenges faced by agriculture because greenhouse production offers environments that allow for easy control and metrics of resources and production parameters,” says Grimm.

One effective method for enhancing the sustainability of agriculture is through the management of inputs and outputs, although this can be challenging. As a form of protected agriculture, greenhouses offer a solution for Canadian farmers who may otherwise face crop failure due to drought, storms, or other external factors. Farmers need engineers to take the risk out of farming.

 Abukhdeir contends that a century ago half the population was involved in agriculture, today it’s less than five percent. This change occurred with the advent and application of technology. To ensure future food security, given significant population growth, engineers and scientists must be increasingly involved in devising better more sustainable ways to produce food.

"Increasing the engagement of engineers and scientists in agriculture is vital for improving its sustainability. Controlled-environment agriculture could enable the growth of food year-round and locally, even for remote communities in Canada. Thinking even further in the future, technologicaladvancement in this area is a 'stepping stone' to the colonization and exploration of space." says Abukhdeir, who was a semi-finalist in the Canadian Space Agency Deep Space Food Challenge. "Imagine being able to precisely control the growing environment regardless of the local environmental conditions...this is not going to happen without engineers being engaged in agriculture as much as they are engaged in other sectors!"

This novel collaboration between engineers, college faculty, and agricultural partners could one day have applications for a better future for food production for this world and beyond.