Why indoor farming is on the global radar
Extreme weather events—from heavy rains to heat waves and droughts—are increasingly threatening crop yields around the world. In response, researchers are reimagining how we grow food indoors. The goal is simple but powerful: produce reliable, nutritious crops anywhere, year-round, while using far less land and water. This vision is backed by a collaboration among the University of Adelaide, the University of Cambridge, the University of Western Australia, and NASA, whose work is shaping the future of controlled environment agriculture (CEA).
A blueprint born in space, designed for Earth
The team’s paper, published in Trends in Plant Science and selected for a 30th anniversary special issue, argues that CEA allows crops to be grown indoors under precise control of light, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, and nutrients—greatly reducing pest risks in the process. The result is food produced year-round with yields up to 20 times greater than traditional farming, achieved with dramatically less agricultural land and water. The researchers emphasize that CEA is a powerful supplement to conventional farming, not a wholesale replacement.
From space labs to everyday tables
What began as space research—experiments to grow food beyond Earth—has evolved into a practical Earth-based blueprint. Dr. Alison Gill describes CEA as a platform that blends decades of plant science with modern tracking technologies to monitor crop health and fine-tune growth. This combination creates crops that are more consistent, nutritious, and tailored to specific needs. In the near term, container farms could deliver fresh produce to remote regions, reduce food miles, and support farmers during droughts by recycling water. A broader view includes indoor production of plant-based pharmaceuticals and other high-value bioproducts, presenting a significant economic opportunity for CEA ecosystems.
Expanding the scope beyond salad greens
Historically, CEA has demonstrated success with lettuce, herbs, cucumbers, and microgreens. The paper outlines concrete targets and pathways to extend these successes to a wider array of crops, including traditional horticulture, broadacre agriculture, and even forestry. A pre-breeding pipeline is proposed to accelerate the development of varieties that thrive under indoor conditions, thereby widening the range of crops suitable for controlled environments.
Why this matters for communities and industries
Professor Matthew Gilliham, director of Plants for Space, highlights that the broader impact lies in building resilient food systems. Projected gains in yield and precision agriculture could help de-risk food supply chains, especially in areas prone to drought or extreme weather. Professor Alex Webb of Cambridge argues that combining exact environmental control with cutting-edge plant science enables crops to be optimized for indoor life, potentially delivering local, fresh food year-round—from city cores to the planet’s most remote corners.
Challenges on the path to viability
Despite the promise, significant hurdles remain. Building and operating high-tech indoor farms efficiently requires tackling energy use, crop diversification, maintenance costs, and the scalability of controlled environments. The authors acknowledge these challenges and call for sustained investment, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a clear roadmap that links plant science breakthroughs with practical farming operations. The intended outcome is a future where indoor farming complements traditional agriculture, expanding access to fresh, nutritious food while conserving resources.
Looking ahead: a new era of how we grow, eat, and share
With the right investment and thoughtful implementation, indoor farming could redefine 21st-century agriculture. By leveraging the insights from space-oriented research and applying them to Earth-based farming, societies could secure local, year-round food supplies—even under extreme weather. The vision extends beyond food: enabling higher-value crops and bioproducts that support health, industry, and sustainability. In short, controlled environment agriculture offers a practical, scalable pathway to a more resilient and equitable food system.
