A new research and extension project led by Cornell University and GLASE in collaboration with Hoogendoorn Growth Management has been awarded $300,000 in funding to combine and refine a greenhouse energy model with a crop growth and climate control model for teen-leaf lettuce for the next two years.
Read the USDA Announcement here.
Optimal operation of greenhouse climate control systems which control environmental parameters in the greenhouse is important to optimize both crop yield and quality. However, the greenhouse industry lacks a comprehensive training platform whereby new greenhouse growers not only can learn climate control interfaces but also observe the impact of climate control settings on resulting environmental conditions and simulated crop growth.
“In this project, we will develop a greenhouse simulation training platform to train and upskill workers on the interactive effects of climate control strategies on leafy green crops,” shares Gretchen Schimelpfenig, Executive Director of Cornell University’s GLASE consortium.
The Greenhouse Crop Response Onboarding Platform with Simulated and Interactive Models (Greenhouse CROP-SIM) includes six collaborators (one greenhouse climate control system supplier and three commercial greenhouse growers) that will 1) integrate existing crop models into academic and industry software and educational platforms, 2) launch a new platform for training commercial growers to upskill workers on the interactive effects of climate control strategies on leafy green crops, and 3) pilot test the greenhouse crop simulation training platform with commercial growers.
About Greenhouse CROP-SIM
This project will develop an advanced virtual training tool for controlled environment agriculture, specifically targeting teen-leaf lettuce, a sector increasing in U.S. sales value by 36% annually. The tool will feature a climate control user interface connected to both a greenhouse energy model and a crop growth model. By enabling training in a virtual environment, CROP-SIM will help prevent crop losses from management errors, a risk in real-world settings. The project’s objectives are to enhance greenhouse management/profitability, improve resource efficiency, and support sustainable industry growth. After validating the CROP-SIM tool by working with commercial greenhouse growers to run test simulations and provide feedback to enhance the tool’s accuracy and usability, GLASE and Hoogendoorn Growth Management will publish an online training manual, host a webinar, and launch a new 12-hour short course for industry professionals and students.
