Start Learning Today: CEA Works Online Training Now Available
Cornell University’s Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering (GLASE) Consortium is excited to announce the launch of CEA Works, a new online, self-paced educational program designed to strengthen and expand the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) workforce.
Supported by funding from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), CEA Works offers targeted training for key industry roles such as Assistant Growers, Head Growers, and CEA Farm Operations Managers. The curriculum was developed by experts from Cornell University, SUNY Broome, The Ohio State University, and Agritecture to provide both technical knowledge and practical skills.
Whether you are entering the field or looking to advance your career in greenhouse or indoor farming, CEA Works gives you the tools to succeed in a rapidly growing industry.
Courses Now Open for Enrollment
The first four CEA Works courses are currently available:
- Overview of Crop Production in CEA
Instructor: Dr. Neil Mattson (Cornell University)
This course covers the basics of crop production in various CEA systems, including automation techniques and crop-specific practices for leafy greens, tomatoes, strawberries, and more.
Enrollment fee: $200 - Root Zone Environment Management
Instructor: Dr. Uttara Samarakoon (The Ohio State University)
Learn the fundamentals of managing plant nutrition, substrate selection, and irrigation strategies to promote healthy root systems and improve productivity.
Enrollment fee: $200 - Plant Physiology of CEA Crops
Instructor: Dr. Chieri Kubota (The Ohio State University)
Explore how environmental conditions such as light, temperature, and humidity impact plant growth, yield, and stress responses.
Enrollment fee: $200 - CEA Business Planning 101
Instructors: Yara Nagi and Jeffrey Landau (Agritecture)
Gain practical skills in business planning, including budgeting, cost analysis, and strategies for profitability and sustainability in CEA operations.
Enrollment fee: $60
All four courses can be bundled for a total of $500. Each course is available online and self-paced, allowing learners to complete the material on their own schedule. Students have access to course content for three months after enrollment and receive a certificate upon completion.
Who Should Enroll?
CEA Works is designed for professionals and students looking to build careers in CEA. GLASE Industry Advisory Board members receive complimentary access to CEA Works and the complete GLASE Library.
Preparing the Future Workforce
“By bridging real-world industry needs with technical knowledge, CEA Works will help prepare today’s workforce for the challenges and opportunities in sustainable food production,” said Dr. Neil Mattson, GLASE Principal Investigator and Professor at Cornell University.
GLASE Executive Director Gretchen Schimelpfenig shared, “We are thrilled to expand the GLASE Library with these new offerings so students and professionals can pursue the CEA careers they envision.”
For more information on joining the advisory board, contact Matthew Del Buono at mjd378@cornell.edu.
