Sustainable reporting for CEA operations – Go green with data!

TLDR:

• CEA operations demonstrate significant water savings potential over field farming, but comparing the two is challenging without standardized environmental accounting and reporting.
• In early 2023, the Resource Innovation Institute (RII) and international greenhouse and indoor farms collaborated to establish methodologies for environmental accounting and reporting for CEA operations.

Environmental accounting and reporting for CEA operations is crucial for comparing resource inputs and outputs at a facility level and across agricultural segments. The guide, developed by RII and CEA Footprint Project collaborators, provides a how-to resource for energy, water, and carbon emissions accounting and reporting. It aims to standardize data collection and analysis to guide efficiency and decarbonization strategies in the CEA sector.

The report includes recommended KPIs, equations, and approaches unique to the CEA sector, with input from industry players like Bowery Farming, Little Leaf Farms, 80 Acres Farms, and more. The guide has the support of organizations like the International Fresh Produce Association, CEA Alliance, and The US Department of Energy. Standardizing data at this early stage in the CEA sector’s development presents a unique opportunity for the industry.

Overall, the guide serves as a roadmap for environmental accounting and reporting in CEA operations, with the goal of promoting market adoption and efficiency in resource management.