Key Takeaways
- Innovative Guide Release: The Resource Innovation Institute (RII) has unveiled a new Controls and Automation Best Practices Guide for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).
- Expert Collaboration: The guide was developed with contributions from a 28-member working group composed of industry experts across various fields.
- Integration Focus: It emphasizes the importance of integrating control systems into a single environmental control system for enhanced efficiency.
- Sustainability and Efficiency Goals: Aims to improve facility resilience and profitability while encouraging climate-conscious planning from the outset.
The Resource Innovation Institute (RII) has announced the release of a comprehensive guide designed to advance climate resilience through improved controls and automation in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). Authored by Rob Eddy, Resource Efficiency Horticulturist at RII, the guide is intended to assist both small and large CEA operators in integrating the latest technologies to achieve optimal efficiency.
Expertise and Development of the Guide
The Controls and Automation Best Practices Guide was created with input from the Controls & Automation Working Group, convened by RII in 2023. This group, comprising 28 experts from sectors including CEA operators, academics, and equipment manufacturers, shared insights and experiences over 18 months. Their collective expertise covers a wide range of indoor cultivation technologies, from HVAC systems to lighting, greenhouse construction, and water treatment.
Key Features of the Guide
Rob Eddy emphasized the significance of system integration, stating, “The guide particularly emphasizes how necessary it is to integrate as much as possible into an environmental control system. It’s important to get everyone in the room to have these discussions.” This integration is touted to not only streamline operations but significantly enhance efficiency and overall output.
Impact and Potential Benefits
Describing CEA facilities as “more machine than building,” Eddy outlined the technological evolution from manual controls to advanced microprocessor controls that have improved crop yields, quality, and resource efficiency. The guide aims to distill this expertise into actionable recommendations that improve resilience and profitability, and it is designed to be both a resource for current operators and a foundational component for new facilities.
Eddy further noted, “Most operators currently working in CEA facilities will see the value in these recommendations right away, while others may find some ideas for improvements they did not previously know existed.”
Resource Innovation Institute Latest News
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The Resource Innovation Institute (RII) has released a groundbreaking “Guide to Environmental Accounting and Reporting for Controlled Environment Agriculture Operations,” which sets a new precedent in environmental accountability. The guide proposes standardized systems and methodologies for environmental accounting and reporting, urging their adoption across CEA operations. The initiative has received widespread acclaim from industry leaders, who view the guide as a critical step towards setting consistent standards that benefit the entire sector. The guide is now available for free download, and interested parties can explore its implications in an upcoming webinar.
Welcomes George L. Carter III to Spearhead Decarbonization Partnerships (2024/03/07)
The Resource Innovation Institute (RII) has announced the appointment of George L. Carter III as Director of Decarbonization Partnerships. In this role, Carter will focus on developing partnerships to promote sustainable practices in the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) sector. He will also be involved in establishing best practices guidance and contributing to the CEA Accelerator partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and Berkeley Labs. Carter brings a wealth of experience in building sustainable food infrastructures and will represent RII at the upcoming 11th Annual Indoor Ag-Con show in Las Vegas.
Partners with DOE to Boost Climate-Smart Agriculture (2024/02/22)
The Resource Innovation Institute (RII) has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to develop a national infrastructure for energy and water-efficient Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in the United States. The collaboration aims to streamline the process for site identification, benchmarking, and professional credentialing programs in AI & robotics, energy management, and construction practices. Additionally, the partnership will help to leverage federal investments to support climate-smart CEA development in leading states like Pennsylvania and California.
Resource Innovation Institute and Southern California Edison Launch Fall Webinar Series on Sustainable Agriculture Practices (2023/09/13)
Resource Innovation Institute (RII) is launching a fall workshop series with Southern California Edison. The first free webinar on September 14th will discuss energy reduction strategies in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). The second webinar on September 28th focuses on water use efficiency in CEA facilities. Caleb Hayhoe from ICF, Luis Trujillo from Hoogendoorn, Mikhail Sagal from TSRgrow, Rob Hanifin, Carlos Salazar from BearAg, and Jeffery Martens from Newterra are the expert panelists for the webinars. You can learn more about the upcoming webinars and register on RII’s event page.
Resource Innovation Institute to Host USDA Webinar on Water Circularity in Greenhouses and Indoor Farms (2023/09/06)
The Resource Innovation Institute (RII) will hold a webinar on September 14 at 2 p.m. EST. The webinar will focus on designing and operating water circularity systems in greenhouses and indoor farms. The session is sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and will feature insights from the co-authors of the recently published Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Water Circularity Best Practices Guide. The guide provides actionable tips and tools on the operational benefits of adopting water-saving practices and offers practical solutions to reduce, remediate, and recycle a CEA facility’s water usage.
Resource Innovation Institute Releases CEA Benchmarking Report (2023/08/10)
The Resource Innovation Institute (RII), a not-for-profit public-private partnership, has unveiled its Controlled Environment Agriculture Energy & Water Benchmarking Report: Establishing Preliminary Benchmarks. This report, a result of a collaboration with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), emphasizes the water-saving potential of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).
Resource Innovation Institute & FarmTech Society Partner To Introduce Benchmarking To The CEA Market (2023/02/27)
Resource Innovation Institute (RII) and FarmTech Society have announced a new partnership to support Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) producers. RII is a not-for-profit organization specializing in energy and water benchmarking, while FarmTech Society is an international non-profit sectoral association supporting the CEA industry.
