CEA Accelerator
Technical Advisory Council
Identifying Opportunities
for AI & Robotics in CEA
Welcome to the Controlled Environment Agriculture AI and Robotics Working Group. We are a collective of industry leaders and innovators dedicated to advancing the use of artificial intelligence and robotics in controlled environment agriculture (CEA).
Our Mission
The Controlled Environment Agriculture AI and Robotics Best Practices Working Group aims to collaboratively develop a primer on AI and robotics for the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry, utility providers, policymakers, students and workforce trainees. The working group will focus on addressing challenges and opportunities related to the deployment and application of these technologies, including but not limited to crop monitoring, automation, resource optimization, and data security.
Scope and Objectives
Our working group focuses on key areas such as crop monitoring, automation, resource optimization, and data security. Our objectives include:
- Identify key use cases for AI and robotics in CEA, highlighting potential benefits and risks
- Identify implications for facility design and cultivation system design
- Determine what new positions may be created and other impacts on labor
- Provide guidance on workforce development and upskilling
- Identify preparation steps for CEA operations such as infrastructure, sensors, and data collection
- Suggest incentives to be provided by Governments and Utility Providers
- Identify policy considerations
- Recommend data management and security protocols to protect sensitive information collected in CEA operations
Collaboration and Impact
The AI and Robotics Best Practices Working Group is part of the larger CEA Accelerator initiative led by Resource Innovation Institute, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). We work alongside other working groups focusing on energy management, high-tech greenhouse techniques, site feasibility, and CEA decarbonization.
Who Can Join?
We welcome representatives from various sectors, including CEA industry experts, technologists, researchers, regulatory bodies, and environmental advocates. If you have a demonstrated interest and expertise in AI and robotics in CEA, we invite you to join us.
Rob Eddy, Resource Efficiency Horticulturist for RII, alongside Bryce Carleton of RII will facilitate discussions, coordinate activities, and ensure progress towards our defined objectives.
Meeting Topics
The working group members will meet in 2024 over several months to discuss emerging topics related to AI and advanced robotics in CEA. The groups will meet on the following dates:
September 11th
September 18th
September 25th
October 9th
October 23rd
November 6th
Get Involved
Join us in shaping the future of controlled environment agriculture. By participating in the working group, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders, contribute to the development of best practices, and drive innovation in AI and robotics for CEA.
The technical advisory council is composed of leaders in the CEA industry
