Controlled Environment Agriculture – Solutions for stable and reliable operation

Automation and process control solutions for reliable operation in existing CEA and vertical farming facilities

What is Controlled Environment Agriculture?

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) refers to a modern approach to plant cultivation and production that uses technology to optimise growing conditions within enclosed structures such as greenhouses, protected cultivation, vertical farms, and growth chambers.

By precisely managing factors such as light, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide and nutrient delivery, CEA offers various benefits such as  consistent, year-round cultivation with reduced reliance on external climate conditions. 

SMC provides automation and process control solutions focused on solving real operational challenges in CEA facilities and indoor agriculture environments, including vertical agriculture applications and vertical farming systems. By helping stabilise key growing parameters and improve repeatability, we support critical processes with solution-oriented technologies in controlled environment agriculture systems and vertical farming technology.

Process automation and control solutions for Controlled Environment Agriculture

The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) sector is experiencing strong growth, driven by the need to secure sufficient food supply for a rapidly increasing global population in a sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective way. Within this sector, vertical farming and vertical agriculture show particularly strong momentum, supported by the increasing adoption of automated environmental control systems and robotic harvesting and packaging technologies.

Operating a CEA facility requires multiple interconnected processes to work continuously and reliably. Producers must maintain precise monitoring of critical parameters while simultaneously ensuring optimised water and resource consumption across indoor agriculture operations and vertical farming systems.

These requirements make reliability, accuracy and process stability essential throughout the entire production process.

SMC applies its expertise in industrial automation, pneumatic and electric control, fluid handling, thermal management and industrial communication to support CEA and vertical farming facilities with solution-oriented automation architectures designed for continuous operation and integration into existing systems in controlled environment agriculture and protected cultivation.

Automation and control solutions to overcome CEA operational challenges

SMC addresses the main operational challenges in Controlled Environment Agriculture through automation and process control solutions designed to stabilise critical parameters, improve repeatability, and support continuous operation in vertical farming solutions and existing CEA facilities. 

Operational challenge

SMC Automation approach

Indoor climate instability
Variations in temperature, humidity and airflow create microclimates that negatively affect plant development.

SMC enables closed‑loop control of airflow, temperature and humidity, supporting stable and uniform environmental conditions across cultivation zones.

CO₂ and gas management
Uneven gas distribution or inaccurate dosing can limit photosynthesis efficiency.

SMC provides regulated gas distribution, pressure control and isolation functions, enabling more consistent CO₂ concentration at plant level.

Irrigation and nutrient dosing accuracy
Fluctuations in flow or concentration lead to uneven crop growth and wasted resources.

SMC offers precise control of fluid flow, pressure and dosing, ensuring repeatable irrigation and nutrient delivery.

High manual workload in cultivation processes
Planting, transplanting, handling and harvesting often rely on repetitive manual tasks.

SMC supports automation and handling technologies that improve mechanisation and process repeatability.

Reliability in humid and aggressive environments
Moisture and temperature fluctuations accelerate wear and component failures.

SMC delivers components designed for harsh and humid environments, contributing to system reliability and reduced downtime.

Limited process visibility
Without real‑time data, deviations may only be detected after they impact production.

SMC integrates sensor connectivity and industrial communication architectures to enable continuous monitoring of critical parameters.

Process-oriented Controlled Environment Agriculture solutions 

Frequently Asked Questions about Controlled Environment Agriculture

Trust SMC – Take control of your Controlled Environment Agriculture operations now

SMC is a global leader in automation solutions, trusted across industries for safety, precision, and long-term reliability.

From optimising environmental conditions to automating key cultivation tasks, streamlining material handling, and providing continuous monitoring and data insights, SMC helps growers achieve efficient, reliable, and high-quality production in controlled environment agriculture and vertical farming.

Contact our experts for guidance or support on the right solutions for your Controlled Environment Agriculture  facility and controlled environment agriculture technology integration.