Items Tagged with 'Controlled Environment Agriculture'

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is a unique food production system with its own food safety risks and considerations.

The Achyut Adhikari Research Group is conducting several projects focused on preventive, FSMA-aligned strategies to reduce microbiological risks during pre-harvest and processing of produce, including hydroponic production, manure fertilizer treatment, food-contact surface sanitation, and antimicrobial packaging development.

The researchers conducted environmental sampling throughout a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operation and tested swabs for L. monocytogenes. Boot covers proved to be a useful tool for evaluating the effectiveness of cleaning and sanitation.  

A new FAO report offers the first comprehensive global review of the food safety hazards, controls, and regulatory considerations associated with modern indoor farming/controlled environment agriculture (CEA).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $300,000 grant to a University of Arkansas research project that aims to develop best practices for controlling pests and pathogens in soilless substrate used in hydroponic lettuce production.

A recent study comparing the presence of chemical contaminants in conventionally and hydroponically grown produce found pesticide residues and toxic heavy metals in a larger number of conventional samples than in hydroponic samples. Phthalate levels were consistent between conventional and hydroponic samples.

Controlled environment agriculture can help meet food requirements of the future, but this objective must be achieved by specific processes that minimize negative impacts on the environment and place food safety front and center.

A project funded by the Center for Produce Safety aims to analyze risk factors and sampling points for pathogens in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) facilities to provide data industry can use to develop control measures.

An article recently published in the Journal of Food Protection has highlighted the food safety gaps and needs that must be addressed in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector, such as supply chain control, foodborne pathogen mitigation, research, education, and collaboration.

As the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector has grown, so too has its original industry group. In 2022, the CEA Food Safety Coalition became the CEA Alliance, adding multiple workflows and new produce commodities to the group.