New online workforce training program named CEA Works, to launch June 1

Cornell University's Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering (GLASE) Consortium has launched CEA Works, a new online, self-paced educational program designed to upskill the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) workforce. Supported by funding from the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the program will open its first courses to the public starting June 1, 2025. Glase Industry Advisory Board members enjoy complimentary access to CEA Works and the entire Glase Library for their teams.

CEA Works provides targeted training and certification for key industry roles, including Assistant Growers, Head Growers, CEA Farm Operations Managers. The curriculum, developed collaboratively by experts from GLASE, Cornell University, SUNY Broome, The Ohio State University, and Agritecture, equips participants with the technical knowledge and practical tools needed to succeed and advance in the fast-growing greenhouse and indoor farming sectors.

The initial four course offerings available this summer are listed below.

Overview of Crop Production in CEA
Taught by Dr. Neil Mattson (Cornell University), this course covers the fundamentals of indoor crop production, including comparisons between different CEA systems, crop-specific practices, and innovations in automation for crops like leafy greens, tomatoes, and strawberries. This course has an enrolment fee of $200.

Root Zone Management
Instructed by Dr. Uttara Samarakoon (The Ohio State University), this course introduces key concepts in managing plant nutrition, substrates, and irrigation strategies to promote healthy root development and optimize productivity. The enrollment fee for this course is $200.

Plant Physiology of CEA Crops
Led by Dr. Chieri Kubota (The Ohio State University), this course explores the core physiological processes in CEA crops and how environmental conditions, such as light, temperature, and humidity, affect yield, quality, and stress responses. The enrollment fee for this course is $200.

CEA Business Planning 101
Presented by Yara Nagi and Jeffrey Landau (Agritecture), this course provides a practical introduction to business planning in CEA, including budgeting, cost evaluation, and strategies for achieving profitability and sustainability. This course has an enrollment fee of $60.

All four CEA Works courses can be bundled and purchased for $500. Courses are online and self-paced so learners can build their skills flexibly while earning certification tailored to the demands of CEA operations. Students have access to CEA Works courses for three months after purchase.

"By bridging real-world industry needs with technical knowledge, CEA Works will help prepare today's workforce for the challenges and opportunities in sustainable food production," said Neil Mattson, GLASE Principal Investigator and Professor at Cornell University.

Gretchen Schimelpfenig, Executive Director of GLASE shared that "we are excited to expand the GLASE Library with four new courses so students and professionals alike can train for the CEA careers of their dreams."

If you wish to sign up and receive updates on the courses, you can do so at the link here.