Controlled Environment Agriculture

Overview

Klimate Consulting is spearheading the creation of a Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technology catalog and analyzing the impact of these technologies on water, energy, and emissions — as part of a $2.5 million DOE initiative led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. This project focuses on sustainable food production, optimizing CEA facilities nationwide to reduce environmental footprints and enhance local food security.

The Challenge

Controlled Environment Agriculture — including greenhouses, vertical farms, and indoor growing facilities — represents a rapidly growing sector of food production. While CEA can dramatically reduce water use and eliminate pesticides, these facilities are often energy-intensive. Understanding the full environmental footprint of different CEA technologies is essential for guiding the sector toward sustainability.

Our Approach

We are building a comprehensive technology catalog that documents CEA systems across the United States, analyzing each technology's impact on three critical dimensions: water consumption, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions. This catalog will serve as a decision-support tool for CEA operators, policymakers, and researchers working to optimize the environmental performance of indoor agriculture.

Impact

This $2.5 million DOE-funded initiative will produce the most comprehensive assessment of CEA technology performance to date — helping the industry scale sustainably while enhancing domestic food security.