Presentation: 2025 ND EPSCoR Annual conference
October 21, 2025, NDSU Memorial Union, Fargo, North Dakota
Advancing Controlled Environment Agriculture in Cold Climates: Pilot Studies in North Dakota
Xinhua
Jia
Professor
North Dakota State University
Co-authors: Xiaoyu Feng, Assistant Professor, North Dakota State University, Alexander Speck, Formal Graduate Student, North Dakota State University, Jannatul Ferdaous Progga, Formal Graduate Student, North Dakota State University
Session
Concurrent Presentation Session A, Group 2
Sahnish Room
North Dakota’s long winters and short growing season make it difficult to grow fresh produce outdoors, but Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) offers new opportunities. This one-year pilot project, Controlled Environment Agriculture for Future Agriculture in North Dakota, explored three approaches to improve indoor farming and was supported by ND NADA EPSCoR. First, undergraduate students in the ABEN 286 course built and managed small hydroponic (soilless) systems to grow leafy greens, herbs, and vegetables, giving them hands-on experience and creating lasting demonstration units for future classes and community outreach. Second, we studied how changes in temperature, water pH, and nutrient levels affect lettuce growth, a key crop for indoor farming in cold and variable climates. Third, we tested six different growing media, including innovative soybean- and wheat-based materials developed in North Dakota, to compare their performance with common commercial options. Our results show that bio-based media can perform as well as commercial media, supporting sustainability goals. We also found that while temperature and water quality affected growth, the choice of lettuce variety had a greater impact on yield. This pilot project generated valuable data, trained students in CEA practices, and demonstrated the potential of affordable, innovative systems to expand local food production and strengthen food security in North Dakota.