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Space controlled environment agriculture offers pathways to improve the sustainability of controlled environmental agriculture on Earth

Nature Food volume 4, pages 648–653 (2023)Cite this article

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Abstract

Terrestrial controlled environment agriculture (CEA) will have an increasingly important role in food production. However, present CEA systems are energy- and resource-hungry and rarely profitable, requiring a step change in design and optimization. Here we argue that the unique nature of space controlled environment agriculture (SpaCEA), which needs to be both highly resource efficient and circular in design, presents an opportunity to develop intrinsically circular CEA systems. Life-cycle analysis tools should be used to optimize the provision and use of natural or electrical light, power, nutrients and infrastructure in CEA and/or SpaCEA systems, and to guide research and development into subsystems that bring strong environmental advantages. We suggest that SpaCEA public outreach can also be used to improve the perception of terrestrial CEA on Earth by using space as a gateway for exhibiting CEA food growing technologies. A substantial focus on SpaCEA development should be viewed as an efficient contribution to addressing major current CEA challenges.

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Fig. 1: Technical framework for the design of a CEA or SpaCEA system.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Institute of Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield for funding this work. We also thank K. Ostojic from RAL Space for inputs in the early discussions on this Perspective.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Harry C. Wright, Luke Fountain, Alexis Moschopoulos.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

    Harry C. Wright & Anthony J. Ryan

  2. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Luke Fountain & Duncan D. Cameron

  3. Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Luke Fountain & Duncan D. Cameron

  4. Grobotic Systems Limited, Sheffield, UK

    Alexis Moschopoulos

  5. Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

    Tim J. Daniell

  6. Space Group, School of Aerospace, Transport & Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK

    David C. Cullen

  7. RAL Space, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, UK

    Bryan Shaughnessy

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Correspondence to Harry C. Wright.

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Wright, H.C., Fountain, L., Moschopoulos, A. et al. Space controlled environment agriculture offers pathways to improve the sustainability of controlled environmental agriculture on Earth. Nat Food 4, 648–653 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-023-00819-5

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