A coalition of six U.S. universities has launched a joint survey targeting growers and operators in the indoor vertical farming sector, aiming to better understand the industry's current challenges and help guide future research priorities.
The initiative brings together Cornell University, UC Davis, Texas A&M University, the University of Minnesota, the University of New Hampshire, and Alcorn State University. The group was formed to combine expertise across engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence, plant science, and economics while capturing perspectives from different production regions.
© Cornell University
Why now
"It has been a challenging financial time in the U.S. vertical farming market, but there are still several important players, and we think there continue to be profitable niches and future opportunities," says Neil Mattson, professor and greenhouse extension specialist in Cornell University's School of Integrative Plant Science.
Mattson, who is leading the initiative, said the collaboration was specifically motivated by an interest in how automation, energy efficiency, and novel crop responses could improve profitability and scalability at the operational level, the areas where U.S. indoor farms have faced the most pressure in recent years.
A deliberate coalition
The participating universities span very different climatic and agricultural regions, which the organizers say is intentional. "This came together as a diverse group of colleagues that has geographic diversity, meaning that climate control challenges or crops of interest will differ substantially across our interest areas," Mattson explains.
"The group came together as one that has broad expertise in engineering, robotics, AI, plant science, economics, and so we believe we can address knowledge gaps relatively holistically."
What the survey covers
The survey asks indoor vertical farm operators about challenges and research needs in several key areas, including energy use, pest management, crop development, and the use of AI and automation.
Responses will be reported only in aggregate unless participants explicitly grant permission otherwise. The researchers say the results are intended to help universities better align research programs with the operational needs of the indoor farming industry.
"The findings will help the academic community better respond to the industry by helping direct our research," Mattson says. "In addition, the anonymous aggregate survey findings will also be shared to inform growers, operators, and ultimately inform policy."
U.S. indoor farming operators can participate in the survey here. It takes an estimated ten to fifteen minutes to complete.
For more information: 
Cornell University
Neil Mattson, Professor and Greenhouse Extension Specialist
School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Section
[email protected]
www.cea.cals.cornell.edu
