SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT | 28 SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT | 29 Findings traditional agriculture, and free up land for rewilding Decarbonising the energy supply and other environmentally advantageous purposes. Some CEA technologies require only a tenth of the The technologies can also reduce the risk of crop failure water of conventional agriculture, but a great deal of due to environmental influences, and they provide energy to perform what the sun does naturally, so the consistently high yields of food. To fully reap the key to more sustainable CEA lies in decarbonising the benefits of decarbonisation, the report authors urge thermal and electrical energy supply it relies on. action now. Investment timelines in CEA are 20–50 years, so current policy will influence the state of British The necessary energy technologies already exist, and food production at the 2050 deadline for net zero. the report recognises that the obstacles to widespread “This study was based on extensive interaction with use are overwhelmingly economic and political. The the industry to obtain real-world perspectives on the UK is ideally situated, with access to renewable energy challenges and opportunities facing the sector,” says MethodA broad range of energy-eciency measures were and the necessary technology to become a major Dr Sam Short. “Low-carbon technologies exist and are reviewed in the study, including:international player in the field, so growers need strong already proven today, and we observed a willingness To gain a comprehensive understanding of current and • maintenance and operations management (enhanced policy support to reduce the individual risks they run by emerging energy technologies, as well as trends in CEA investing in these growing technologies.in the industry to embrace transformation, but there energy supply and demand, the authors conducted routine maintenance and repair, and operations is a considerable lack of clarity, and there are funding expert interviews, desk-based research and a validation monitoring and control systems)challenges on the pathways forward. This report • equipment optimisation (high-eciency pumps Clear policy needed for guidanceprovides insights to assist both industry and policy- workshop with sector representatives, policy-makers and motors, high-eciency boilers/other thermal The report recognises that there is no one-size-fits- and technology experts. Tools used to assess the all solution to decarbonising the sector. Dierent makers in enabling a wider deployment of low-carbon dierent technologies included:energy generation, improved ventilation and cooling controlled environment agriculture.” systems) technologies require dierent solutions and • ‘fast-start’ strategic roadmapping• building/glasshouse structure and materials infrastructure to meet the electrical and thermal energy • the IfM’s Innovation Velocity Tool underpinned by needs of the individual CEA operation, and policy Dr Diana Khripko continues: “One of the radical the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and (system insulation, thermal screens, novel glazing dierences in moving away from fossil fuels towards technologies, and closed/semi-closed glasshouses)must reflect this need for flexibility and facilitate it. a low-carbon energy system is that there is no one- threats) analysis• energy storage (diurnal thermal energy storage, and As an example, vertical farming requires less energy • the marginal abatement cost curve (MACC) to help for heating than glasshouse-based CEA, and with a size-fits-all technology or solution, not even within visualise the cost/emissions benefits of dierent seasonal thermal energy storage solutions)one sector such as CEA. A future-proof and eective • enhanced crop production (optimised LED lighting warming climate the needs of the sector will start to transition pathway therefore requires a strategy that is technologies.duration and wavelengths, CO2 management, and include cooling as well as heating. flexible enough to embrace legacy and existing low- Data used in the study was primarily retrieved from selective crop breeding/genetic modification).carbon technologies, and potential future breakthrough Attracting and encouraging CEA technology innovations to align dierent industrial practices Defra, the Climate Change Agreement (CCA) scheme Evaluated energy generation and conversion investment from the National Farmers Union (NFU) and from Despite dwindling numbers overall, certain CEA and their specific requirements to locally available publicly available documents such as academic articles, technologies included CHP and boilers fired by renewable energy sources. alternative fuels, electrically powered technologies technologies, in particular indoor and vertical farming, grey literature, including white papers and government such as heat pumps and electrical boilers, as well are growing in popularity for investors who perceive documents, and industry reports.as heat recovery from waste heat and geothermal the practices as innovative technology ventures rather sources. These technologies were assessed based than agricultural techniques. In the UK the authorities’ “One of the key challenges in defining energy transition on seven factors: technical feasibility, commercial policy-encoded pledge to reach net zero by 2050 is pathways at the sectoral level lies in the requirement for feasibility; environmental performance; organisational driving investment in sustainable practices. The policy a systems-thinking approach. The selected approach requirements and capacity; suitability of existing framework for sustainable agriculture and horticulture, and underpinning tools need to enable a holistic policy, regulatory and fiscal incentives; societal value however, is too vague for many growers and investors evaluation of how altering the ecosystem, such as creation potential; and societal, consumer and retailer to see CEA as a safe choice. They are hesitant to take Growers need strong policy through incentivising a scaled-up adoption of a new acceptance.the risks involved in adopting novel technologies technology, will influence and reshape the sector as without support and policy guidelines in place; hence support to reduce the a whole. A further level of complexity is given by a the recent exodus from the sector.individual risks they run by large number of stakeholders, who have dierent If investments are made in CEA technologies that capabilities and interests that can benefit the transition. run on renewable energy, the report paints a positive investing in these growing Consequently, formulating a methodology that fosters picture of the role that the UK CEA sector can play on their buy-in to the final outcome by involving them in the path to net zero. CEA can produce 10 to 20 times technologies. a multi-stage consultation process was crucial for the as much food on the same geographical footprint as overall success of the project,” says Diana.