Advanced innovative solutions for improved competitiveness and sustainability in controlled environment agriculture (CEA)

Expected Outcome:Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:farmers are supported in their transition into innovative controlled environment farming techniques and decision support tools for sustainable growth optimisation strategies;the competitiveness and sustainability (including climate mitigation and adaptation) in controlled environment agriculture are improved benefiting all relevant actors. Scope:Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) refers to any form of agriculture that controls and optimises environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, light or nutrient concentration. Examples of CEA include greenhouses, vertical farms, grow rooms, building-integrated agriculture, hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics, as well as other innovative farming practices - both off land and land based - where technological advancements enable precise regulation of growing conditions farming.By developing innovative farming techniques that integrate the latest technological advancements including artificial intelligence (AI), this research should provide a competitive and sustainable transformation in response to global food security and sustainability challenges. Furthermore, it should also empower farmers and key stakeholders in the agricultural primary sector by enabling them to adopt sustainable, efficient, profitable, circular, and low-emission farming practices. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and AI-driven solutions, the activities should contribute to the overarching goals of climate neutrality and climate resilience, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to a sustainable agricultural future.Proposals should:develop and assess advanced cost-effective innovative and sustainable solutions (including nature-based solutions) to address the key challenges (including climate change related and environmental) for crop optimisation in CEA. The assessment should address, among other, crop health and yield, energ