From space science to dinner plates: a blueprint for sustainable food
Extreme weather—heavy rainfall, heatwaves, and prolonged droughts—threaten crop yields across the globe. In response, an international team from the University of Adelaide, the University of Cambridge, the University of Western Australia, and NASA has reimagined how we grow food for the future. Their work, published in Trends in Plant Science, argues that controlled environment agriculture (CEA) can transform our food systems without assuming that traditional farming becomes obsolete.
“Controlled environment agriculture allows crops to be grown indoors under the precise control of light, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, and nutrients, while reducing pest risks,” says Dr Alison Gill, a postdoctoral researcher and first author of the paper. “The result is food that can be produced anywhere, year-round, with yields up to 20 times greater than traditional agriculture, with much less arable land and water required.”
What is controlled environment agriculture (CEA)?
CEA is a farming paradigm where crops are cultivated inside controlled facilities—ranging from climate-controlled rooms to compact container farms—so that environmental variables can be tuned for optimal growth. By integrating decades of plant science with real-time monitoring technologies, CEA aims to deliver consistent, nutritious crops while minimizing pests and environmental stressors. Importantly, the authors describe CEA not as a replacement for conventional farming, but as a powerful supplement that can expand production capacity where weather or terrain limits land-based agriculture.
Key capabilities and current scope
The core appeal of CEA lies in its predictability. Growers can modulate light spectra, photoperiods, temperatures, humidity, carbon dioxide, and nutrients to tailor plant development. Today, CEA has seen success with lettuce, herbs, cucumbers, and microgreens, with ongoing work to broaden the range of crops suitable for indoor farming. The researchers acknowledge the challenges of scaling up to large-volume production and achieving energy-efficient operation, but they emphasize a clear roadmap to address these hurdles.
From space labs to Earth’s edge: practical potential
The project began with space-focused experiments funded by UK and Australian space agencies, exploring how to grow food beyond Earth. The outcome is a blueprint for wide-scale terrestrial use. In Australia, container farms could deliver fresh produce to remote outback communities, shorten food miles, and support farmers during droughts using recycled water. The team also sees potential for indoor production of high-value bioproducts, including plant-based pharmaceuticals, creating an economic boost alongside food security benefits.
Beyond sustenance: economic and social implications
“By combining precise environmental control with cutting-edge plant science, we can grow plants that are best suited to meet the challenges ahead,” notes Professor Alex Webb of Cambridge. When fully realized, CEA could secure year-round fresh food in inner cities and far-flung regions alike, reduce imports, and foster regional resilience in the face of climate extremes. The authors also point to a broader pipeline—for traditional horticulture, broadacre agriculture, and even forestry—where pre-breeding and targeted trait development pave the way for indoor-compatible varieties.
Pathways to scale: what needs to happen next
To unlock the full potential of CEA, researchers outline specific targets and methodological routes. “We have identified targets that plant scientists must address, and the routes by which this could be achieved, as a prerequisite for controlled environment agriculture to form a viable production platform going forward,” explains Professor Matthew Gilliham, director of Plants for Space. A key takeaway is building a robust pre-breeding pipeline and integrating agricultural and industrial know-how to move from small, leafy crops to a broader crop portfolio.
Collaboration and a hopeful future for Australian research
The collaboration brings together leading minds from Australia, the UK, and the US, underscoring the global nature of the food-security challenge. The work also highlights Australia’s evolving research landscape, including the planned formation of Adelaide University, which aims to unite strengths from Adelaide and the University of South Australia to deliver large-scale, globally relevant research and industry-informed teaching as of January 2026.
Conclusion: a supplement, not a replacement
CEA represents a powerful supplement to traditional farming, expanding where and how we produce food and enabling resilience in the face of climate change. With targeted investment and continued collaboration, indoor farming could help ensure fresh, nutritious food is available year-round—from city rooftops to remote towns—while opening new opportunities in bioproducts and pharmaceuticals. The vision is bold, practical, and grounded in decades of plant science—an example of how space-age science can translate into tangible benefits on Earth.
