NDSU Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Tackles Food Security and Production

Due to its long, cold winters, North Dakota has a relatively short growing season. In addition, local food production in the state often faces significant challenges from unpredictable conditions such as drought, flooding and heat extremes, all of which can occur within a single growing season.

Decreases in crop production threaten food security regionally and nationally. One method to alleviate those concerns is the utilization of Controlled Environment Agriculture, which utilizes technology to manipulate a crop’s growing environment to achieve desired results.

CEA strategies include greenhouses, high tunnels, indoor farming, vertical farming, aquaculture and hydroponics. Xinhua Jia, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering at North Dakota State University, is researching CEA and its current and future impact on food production.

“I quickly recognized the need for technologies to extend the growing period and improve crop production,” Jia said. “Over the years, I researched using mulches and high tunnels for specialty crop production, and I have since expanded my work into indoor agriculture, vertical farming and broader CEA systems.”

Jia notes how these technologies can grow crops anytime and anywhere, provided the right systems are in place.

“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,” she said.

CEA combines several technology realms, engineering, automation, edge-AI, plant science and data-driven decision making. It is part of NDSU’s Food, Energy and Water Security research initiative. It addresses key issues facing food production, energy creation and delivery, and water resources today by strongly emphasizing technology and research.

"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.”