cycl
controlled environment agriculture
the value of
CONTROLLED
ENVIRONMENT
AGRICULTURE
training & certification
The modern gardening movement is experiencing radical growth and evolution. This
progress has led to the beginning of a novel industry operating under the umbrella term
“controlled environment agriculture,” or CEA. Within the field of CEA are several sub-
categories (these are not mutually exclusive): urban agriculture, vertical farming, indoor
gardening, aquaponics, and greenhouse cultivation. And they all need qualified employees.
by Kent Gruetzmacher
86
grow cycle
T
he progression of modern ga rdening from a home-
based, hobbyist pursuit to full-scale commercial
agricultural can be attributed to several factors. For
starters, rapid technological advancements in CEA
equipment are making large-scale crop production
possible for the first time, on both logistical and economic
fronts. Secondly, facets of the CEA movement—such as
urban agriculture—infuse farming operations with both
societal and environmental awareness. It goes without
saying, notions of sustainable agriculture are popular
for political, moral, and ecological reasons. Finally,
the USDA’s proposed Urban Agriculture Act not only
legitimizes CEA in the eyes of the mainstream, it sets
forth to subsidize and support the industry in a way that
stimulates rapid business development.