'Curious Conversations' podcast: Mike Evans talks about controlled environment agriculture

Michael Evans joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about controlled environment agriculture. He shared its historic roots, economic challenges, and impact on consumers. He explained how this method of farming allows for the cultivation of crops in controlled settings, the role technology plays, and the importance of efficiency and sustainability in modern agriculture.

“Curious Conversations” is available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube. 

Takeaways

Controlled environment agriculture allows for year-round crop production and dates back to Roman times with early greenhouse structures.

Technological advancements, especially in LED lighting, have helped revolutionize modern controlled environment agriculture and allow growers greater control over crop quality and variety.

Controlled environment agriculture can lead to more efficient use of resources such as water and fertilizers, which is important because economic viability is crucial for the success of these operations.

About Evans

Evans is a professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and co-director of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center, which is primarily housed in Danville. His current controlled environment agriculture research is focused on the production of crops such as lettuce, herbs, medicinal plants, and strawberries in soilless and hydroponic systems within greenhouses, factories, and vertical farms.

Learn more

Researchers transform produce farming with controlled environment agriculture

Mike Evans uses his life’s experience to lead new School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and Virginia Tech launch the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center in Danville

About the podcast

"Curious Conversations" is a series of free-flowing conversations with Virginia Tech researchers that take place at the intersection of world-class research and everyday life. Produced and hosted by Travis Williams, assistant director of marketing and communications for the Office of Research and Innovation, university researchers share their expertise and motivations as well as the practical applications of their work in a format that more closely resembles chats at a cookout than classroom lectures. New episodes are shared each Tuesday.