Controlled farming may help plants survive climate swings, UGA says

University of Georgia researchers are studying controlled environment agriculture to help growers combat the effects of climate change, such as extended periods of drought. Ruchika Kashyap, an urban and controlled environment plant pathologist at the University of Georgia, said controlled environment agriculture can range from growing crops in a hoop house to a high-tech greenhouse.

“Producing crops in controlled environments can vary,” Kashyap said. “Water-based production is hydroponics — growing plants in water. Controlled environments can also be simpler, like blocking rain, regulating temperature, or installing artificial lights, humidity controls, or airflow systems. You can go really deep in controlling different parameters. That’s why it’s called controlled environment agriculture.”

The UGA team of experts dedicated to advancing crop resilience and innovation in controlled environment agriculture also includes Zhihang Song, assistant professor of horticulture; Erich Schoeller, assistant professor of entomology; and Rhuanito Ferrarezi, professor of horticulture.

Kashyap said it’s important to note that controlled environment agriculture is not intended to replace traditional farming. “On a broader scale, controlled environment agriculture is mostly used for specialty crops like vegetables and ornamentals,” she said. “The most dominant crops are leafy greens, followed by tomatoes. Growers are also trying to produce strawberries in high-tech hydroponic systems.”