Project: Planted Detroit LLC, Cultivation Facility and CEA Technology

Year Started: 2018

Year Completed: 2023

Purpose: Produce fresh food year-round for local residents of Detroit

Role: Managing Partner and Lead designer of CEA (controlled environment agriculture) technologies, systems (irrigation, lighting, HVAC, building layout and construction), and facility development. Responsible for designing, building, operating, and maintaining CEA systems.

Collaborators: Planted Detroit Leadership Team and Development Team, consulting architects, engineers, contractors, and community stakeholders.

Product: We produced several varieties of leafy greens for salads, micro-greens, and herbs.

Seeding occurs in multiple ways, based on the system design and product type. These microgreens are hand seeded in flat trays while plug trays can be seeded with an automated machine for precision and consistancy.

After germination, crops are moved to a nursery. Here they receive specific light and irrigation recipes based on the plants needs.

Plants spend one to two weeks growing in the nursery before they are transplanted into automated systems where they remain until harvest.

High levels of automation allow for precise irrigation events. Farm water use is reduced by targeting crop roots for direct water and fertilizer applications.

Direct irrigation to the roots prevents fertilizer and water reaching the leaf surface, keeping food clean and fresh with a longer shelf life.

Recirculating irrigation systems allow for reuse of water and fertilizer not captured by plants. Irrigation run off, fertilizer inputs and water needs are reduced significantly compared to traditional field agriculture.

Extending leafy green shelf life requires equipment made with food safe materials, biosecurity protocols and an environmental monitoring plan to ensure consistent, safe, and healthy food.

Leafy greens, micro-greens and herbs are weighed and assembled into fresh salads, all within a climate controlled processing room, minimizing risks by following biosecurity and food safety best practices.

CEA technology and biosecurity measures can help local growers cultivate long lasting, nutritious and safe food year round for their communities.

Controlled Environment Agriculture is a multidisciplinary field, requiring experts in horticulture, engineering and food safety. Development of these facilities can range in complexity, from fully enclosed biosecure facilities to naturally illuminated greenhouses. Development of these facilities benefit from cooperation between experts in horticultural production, architects, engineers, construction teams and business operators.

Learn more about my work managing these projects here.

Photos by Emily Berger, courtesy of Planted Detroit. Additional photos by Kai Misner and Madelaine Corbin. Illustrations by Kai Misner and Madelaine Corbin based on designs by Design Team Plus and MacDonell Associates Architects, Pipp Horticulture, Dramm Corporation, courtesy of Planted Detroit.