Additional Resources
Stay Informed!
Explore our curated list of educational resources, projects, and opportunities designed to keep you up to date and easily connected with CEA.
Educational Materials on Hydroponics - Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE)
Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Factsheets on Hydroponic Production
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: Media Systems. Authors: Chris Mullin; Amber Vallotton; Joyce Latimer; Toni Sperry; Holly Scoggins
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: Planning for the Market. Authors: Chris Mullin; Amber Vallotton; Joyce Latimer; Toni Sperry; Holly Scoggins
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: System and Crop Comparisons. Authors: Toni Sperry; Amber Vallotton; Chris Mullins; Joyce Latimer; Holly Scoggins
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Systems. Authors: Chris Mullins; Amber Vallotton; Joyce Latimer; Toni Sperry; Holly Scoggins
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: Deep Water Culture (DWC) Systems. Chris Mullins; Amber Vallotton; Joyce Latimer; Toni Sperry; Holly Scoggins.
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: Management Basics. Authors: Joyce Latimer; Amber Vallotton; Toni Sperry; Chris Mullins; Holly Scoggins
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: Food Safety Considerations. Authors: Amber Vallotton; Laura K. Strawn; Toni Sperry; Joyce Latimer; Chris Mullins; Holly Scoggins
VCE Farming Foundations in Hydroponics Series
VCE Articles on Nursery & Greenhouse Production
VCE has many publications available on the production of crops in nurseries and greenhouses. Check out these articles here: https://ps.spes.vt.edu/
Produce Safety
Virginia Fresh Produce Food Safety Website
Check out this website for resources related to fresh produce and updates on what the VA Fresh Produce Safety Team is up to: https://ps.spes.vt.edu/
CEA Alliance Food Safety Resources and Webinars
The CEA Alliance has resources for food safety on their website: https://ceaalliance.com/resources/
Economics and the State of the Industry
Virginia Controlled Environment Agriculture Strategy & Roadmap
GO VA Region 3, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, and the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement evaluated the economic growth potential of CEA in VA. See the report here: https://govirginia3.org/resources/reports/
Economics Research Service Article that Highlights CEA
Trends, Insights, and Future Prospects for Production in Controlled Environment Agriculture and Agrivoltaics Systems by Erik Dohlman, Karen Maguire, Wilma V. Davis, Megan Husby, John Bovay, Catharine Weber, and Yoonjung Lee
Floriculture and Bedding Crops, Nursery Crops, Propagative Materials Sold, Sod, Food Crops Grown Under Glass or Other Protection, and Mushroom Crops: 2022 and 2017
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service 2022 Census of Agriculture was released. These are the results for the UNITED STATES and VIRGINIA.
2024 Global CEA Census Report
CEAg World and Agritecture Consulting published a report that looked at facility and system types, operation size, renewable energy use, among other topics. Read more in this CEAg World article.
HortCalculator from Purdue University
Dr. Ariana Torres at Purdue University is leading a team in developing tools for farmers around budgeting, increasing financial knowledge, and record keeping focusing on leafy green production. Learn more here: https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/hortbusiness/projects/hortcalculator/
Specialty Crop Budgets from the University of Missouri
The University of Missouri Extension program has several specialty crop budgets available for download including aquaculture, high tunnel, hydroponics, and microgreens. Learn more on their website: https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/urban-agriculture/specialty-crop-budgets
Related Associations
VA Greenhouse Growers Association
Continuing Education, Networking, and Greenhouse Operators Certificate Exam: https://virginiagreenhousegrowers.org/
AmericanHort - National Association for the horticulture industry
An association that represents and advocates for the horticulture industry. They have events, educational resources, and other resources: https://www.americanhort.org/
CEA in K12
Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC™) - CEA Module (Middle School)
Learn more in this IALR News story: https://www.ialr.org/cea-go-tec/
VA Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center K-12 Outreach
The VA Seafood AREC hired a new K-12 Coordinator to head up K-12 Outreach and Engagement. Read the full story here: https://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/virginia-seafood/arec-updates/wood-new-outreach-coordinator.html
Two and Four Year Degree Programs
Virginia College and University Programs with CEA Education Programs
- Virginia Tech: https://spes.vt.edu/Academics/undergraduate-programs.html
- Ferrum College: https://www.ferrum.edu/programs/horticulture-minor/
- Sweet Briar College: https://www.sbc.edu/center-for-sustainability/greenhouse/
General Horticulture Education Resources
Seed Your Future
A great resource and movement working to connect people with careers in horticulture. Resources include example horticulture careers, college horticulture programs, camps, internships, grants, lession plans for educators, among others. Check it out here: https://www.seedyourfuture.org/
Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Factsheets on Hydroponic Production
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: Media Systems. Authors: Chris Mullin; Amber Vallotton; Joyce Latimer; Toni Sperry; Holly Scoggins
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: Planning for the Market. Authors: Chris Mullin; Amber Vallotton; Joyce Latimer; Toni Sperry; Holly Scoggins
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: System and Crop Comparisons. Authors: Toni Sperry; Amber Vallotton; Chris Mullins; Joyce Latimer; Holly Scoggins
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Systems. Authors: Chris Mullins; Amber Vallotton; Joyce Latimer; Toni Sperry; Holly Scoggins
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: Deep Water Culture (DWC) Systems. Chris Mullins; Amber Vallotton; Joyce Latimer; Toni Sperry; Holly Scoggins.
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: Management Basics. Authors: Joyce Latimer; Amber Vallotton; Toni Sperry; Chris Mullins; Holly Scoggins
- Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: Food Safety Considerations. Authors: Amber Vallotton; Laura K. Strawn; Toni Sperry; Joyce Latimer; Chris Mullins; Holly Scoggins
VCE Farming Foundations in Hydroponics Series
Virginia Fresh Produce Food Safety Website
Check out this website for resources related to fresh produce and updates on what the VA Fresh Produce Safety Team is up to: https://ps.spes.vt.edu/
Virginia Controlled Environment Agriculture Strategy & Roadmap
GO VA Region 3, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, and the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement evaluated the conomic growth potential of CEA in VA. See the report here: https://govirginia3.org/resources/reports/
