Controlled Environment Agriculture

Indoor Agriculture student harvests crops from freight farm

Pursuing a career in Controlled Environment Agriculture offers an opportunity to revolutionize the way we grow food, combining cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices to maximize crop yield and minimize environmental impact.

Female student works on vertical growing system

Controlled Environment Agriculture

Pursuing a career in Controlled Environment Agriculture offers an opportunity to revolutionize the way we grow food, combining cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices to maximize crop yield and minimize environmental impact.

Two students work on student designed system

Controlled Environment Agriculture

Pursuing a career in Controlled Environment Agriculture offers an opportunity to revolutionize the way we grow food, combining cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices to maximize crop yield and minimize environmental impact.

What It's All About

The Controlled Environment Agriculture program at NMU provides a comprehensive and hands-on learning experience for students interested in this rapidly expanding field. The program offers a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, equipping students with the tools needed to excel in a field focused on minimizing negative impact and maximizing yield. Students have access to state-of-the-art vertical farming systems and hydroponic set-ups where they gain valuable experience in crop cultivation, plant nutrition, pest management, environmental control systems, and automation technologies.

The interdisciplinary curriculum also emphasizes sustainability and resource management, highlighting the importance of minimizing water usage, energy consumption, and chemical inputs. With dedicated faculty members, industry partnerships, and a strong focus on experiential learning, NMU's Controlled Environment Agriculture program prepares students for successful careers in the thriving and innovative field of indoor farming.

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1ST

interdisciplinary and applied program in the U.S.

2020

program launch

24%

annual growth in vertical farming market

$8B

U.S. market size by 2030

"The Controlled Environment Agriculture program has prepared me for the majority of the things I would encounter in the future, ranging from system types and maintenance, nutrients, and growing technology."

Chris Aguilar

Programs

Controlled Environment Agriculture

Bachelor of Science

In the four-year (120 credits) Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) program, students will learn indoor agriculture techniques and their use in commercial crop production, how to optimize the amount of crops and establish standards for crops produced by indoor farming, and evaluate plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems in different facilities. Students will also analyze food system networks and their impacts on society and apply essential business practices to CEA operations.

Program Outline

Indoor Agriculture

Associate of Applied Science

With a focus on sustainability and addressing climate and population concerns, the two-year (60 credits) Indoor Agriculture (IA) program emphasizes efficient and sustainable farming practices, including the adaptation of indoor farming models to northern climates. Students learn various growing and climate control systems, cutting-edge design and construction, and facility management. They will also explore plant biology, business practices, and the integration of diverse perspectives to tackle global food insecurity and develop sustainable, pesticide-free food systems.

Program Outline

Indoor Agriculture

Minor

Studies are based on a foundation of plant cultivation techniques, greenhouse management, hydroponics, and sustainable agricultural practices to learn valuable skills that can be applied to a variety of industries, from food production and urban farming to research and development.

Program Outline

Student wearing gloves examines netting around a system

"I appreciate all the knowledge I’ve learned with the cycle of plants. Also having this knowledge I feel closer with nature, which is important."

Kristana Velazquez

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

As an emerging field, a career in controlled environment agriculture can take many forms. Professionals in this field may wish to learn indoor growing skills to complement traditional farming for sustainable growth, work to eliminate food deserts by increasing access to fresh produce in urban environments, and to address climate concerns. Employment as a grower or production manager, horticulturist, plant scientist, and data analyst are all options for those with a CEA degree.

Graduates may also apply the skills they've learned about various systems to work as a system design engineer, planning and building physical structures including lighting, irrigation, and climate control systems. Students may complete an HVAC/R certificate and seek employment as an environmental control specialist, or work in a variety of roles in the cannabis industry.

Some job examples, per CEAg World, include:

"Head Grower/Production Manager: This role serves as the operational backbone, requiring deep horticultural expertise combined with systems management skills. Production managers/head growers oversee crop planning, pest management protocols, harvest scheduling, and quality control. In smaller operations, this person wears multiple hats. In larger facilities, they coordinate between specialized teams.

Climate Control Technician: Managing HVAC systems, monitoring environmental sensors, and maintaining optimal growing conditions requires dedicated technical expertise. These positions often struggle with recruitment because the skill set crosses HVAC and agricultural domains.

Irrigation/Fertigation Specialist: Hydroponic systems and automated irrigation require constant monitoring and adjustment. This role involves water quality testing, nutrient solution preparation and system maintenance. The learning curve is steep, and mistakes can impact entire crops.

Harvest and Pack House Workers: While seemingly straightforward, CEA harvesting often requires different skills than field work. Products must meet strict quality standards, harvesting techniques may be specialized, and pack house operations typically involve more sophisticated grading and packaging requirements.

Maintenance Technician: CEA facilities house complex mechanical, electrical, and environmental systems requiring regular maintenance. Finding technicians who understand both industrial equipment and agricultural applications can be challenging.

Data Analyst/Systems Manager: Larger operations increasingly rely on precision agriculture technologies, environmental monitoring systems, and production data analysis. These roles typically require agricultural backgrounds combined with technical data skills.

The CEA labor market will likely remain challenging as the industry grows faster than the skilled workforce. Operations that proactively address these challenges through strategic hiring, comprehensive training, and competitive retention programs will have significant advantages over those that treat labor as an afterthought."

A good deal of this program is trouble-shooting, problem-solving, and discovering what works and what doesn't. Together we will explore what materials, designs, and mechanics are required to yield the best outcomes and will continue adding to our skillset to see better results each time.

No one is expected to come into this program with any experience. We draw inspiration from a variety of places and recognize that everyone has strengths in different departments. Whether you come to us with interests in chemistry, or construction, or farming, or sustainability, we place a big emphasis on teamwork and growth.

Sometimes our crop may fail, but everyone has the ability to have a green thumb.

Yes! In our bachelors degree program, students design and construct a working system. Students budget, plan, and collect materials, then have dedicated lab time to build. And no experience using tools required! We go over proper use and safety, and professors oversee open lab hours when students can come in to work on their systems.

We've had systems made of PVC pipe, wood, found materials, and even welded! Allow your creativity and innovation to shine with this project.

	Loganne Glendening As an associate professor of NMU’s Hospitality Leadership program since 2014, she has a true understanding for the needed improvement of global agriculture production. As an adopted “Yooper”, Loganne believes Marquette is an outstanding location for this one of a kind program based on climate and industry diversity. She indicates she is excited to support the knowledge and skills NMU’s Indoor Agriculture program will bring NMU students, community and local industry. She will contribute to this committee by providing multiple perspectives and resources on industry topics such as sanitation, sustainability, licensing, product diversity, and distribution. As a Certified Hospitality Educator (AHLEI) and recipient of the 2019 NMU Excellence in Teaching Award, she looks forward to contributing to the programs hands-on, exploration-based learning model by supporting current and new faculty in their development of curriculum. Additionally, she values the opportunity to work as part of a diverse team of individuals who will provide me new opportunities for growth and understanding.
	Dr. Lanae Joubert Dr. Joubert is a professor of nutrition at NMU, a registered sports dietitian nutritionist, and certified strength and conditioning specialist. She is involved with the UP Farm to School Committee and is currently helping to develop the Woodland Park Hoop House project on NMU's campus. Her research interests broadly integrate food and nutrition with physical activity. Personally, she loves food and strives to continually learn how to grow it at her home.
	Evan Lucas Evan, a co-founder of the CEA program, is an associate professor of Construction Management and Assistant Department Head for the College of Technology and Occupational Sciences. He is passionate about tackling challenges head-on through creative and critical thinking, collaborating with others to help enhance his education and perspectives, and building lasting relationships, all of which he encourages through his teaching practices. He was humbled and honored to be the recipient of the 2020 Faculty Emerging Leadership Award at NMU. He also owns a consulting firm where he assists companies with project management activities and processes. Evan enjoys being active member of both the NMU and Marquette communities by engaging in many committees and boards (both on and off campus), coaching youth hockey, playing music, and enjoying all of the wonderful outdoor activities the Marquette (and UP) area has to offer. Although he has been an avid traveler his whole life, there’s no place in the world he would rather live and work than Marquette and NMU.
	Lesley Putman Lesley Putman received her B.S. in Chemistry from Wheaton College in 1982 and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Purdue University in 1987. After doing post-doctoral research at Michigan Technological University, she began her first teaching position at Earlham College in Indiana. Desiring to return to the North, she accepted a position at NMU as an Assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry in 1993 and now holds the rank of Professor. She teaches Biochemistry and was part of the team that started the Medicinal Plant Chemistry Program in Fall of 2017. She is a plant biochemist and does research in phytoremediation, using plants to clean up contaminants in the soil.
	Dr. Kim Smith Kolasa Dr. Kim Smith Kolasa is a Partnership Development Director for Fork Farms. She co-founded Northern Michigan University's Indoor Agriculture program and served as the core faculty member and program coordinator. She has an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University, with her research focusing on plant biology education and women's experiences in the newly emerging STEM field of indoor agriculture. Kim as taught biology and science education and served as a STEM education consultant for the Glenn T. Seaborg Math and Science Center. She also owned a specialty cut flower farm and flower shop.
	Chris Standerford Chris Standerford is the Director of the Central Upper Peninsula MiSTEM Network and Director of the Seaborg Mathematics and Science Center at Northern Michigan University. He has 23 years’ experience in education, including K-12, outside of school time, and higher education. Current professional interests include interdisciplinary learning, place- and problem-based learning, equity, career exploration, and workforce development.
	Molly Stanek Molly began her career in agriculture as the Associate Director of Horticulture for Sweet Water Organics, a revolutionary aquaponic farm in an old abandoned industrial building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As Associate Director, Molly led the design and expansion of Sweet Water to seven aquaponic greenhouses producing leafy greens and vine crops on a 6.5 acre site. She left to co-found Imagine Aquaponics, a firm that designed commercial-scale, sustainable waste-to-resource food production systems and provided internationally attended trainings and consultation to both educational and nonprofit entities as well as interested individuals of high net worth. During this time, Molly fed her love for good food by enjoying a role as a founding member of three farm-to-table restaurants. After nearly seven years as an AgTech entrepreneur, Molly joined Plenty, a vertical farming in the Bay Area where she served as General Manager of the company's farm, delivering three iterations of system designs, SQF food safety certification, and ultimately the first ever product launch to consumers. Her career next led her to Sensei where she founded the future farms division for Sensei Ag, a wellness driven agriculture program founded by Larry Ellison and Dr. David Agus to nourish the world's population through data driven, sustainably rooted, technology enabled food production systems. Over the past two years, Molly has overseen the buildout of Sensei, a 5-acre Tesla solar powered hydroponic greenhouse farm on the island of Lānai, tripled the size of the division across both technology and operations teams, and worked to further plant science research into development of nutrient rich produce. When Molly is not creating innovative food systems to increase the quality, sustainability, or accessibility of food, you are likely to find her crafting fine porcelain ceramics or behind the camera capturing her latest outdoor adventures. A proud Wisconsinite, Molly pursued her BFA in Ceramics as well as a secondary program in Environmental Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
	Jared Toogood Jared has been passionate about plants since he was child, working in ornamental flower gardens with his mother. He has worked in plant academics or agriculture related industries since then. This interest lead him to become formally trained in Plant Sciences as well as Environmental Studies from Grand Valley State University, undertake Controlled Environment Agriculture professional courses at The University of Arizona, and a conduct multi-year research project in the El Yunque National Forest to understand how plant anatomical and morphological traits influence water use and subsequently how plant communities assemble. Jared has designed, built, and lead commercial cannabis facilities around the country since 2014 utilizing outdoor, greenhouse, and indoor growing systems. His experience across a wide range of regulatory frameworks and experience successfully using a broad range of cultivation methods allows him to hone in on the most important variables for any operation’s success. His passion for cultivation practices, data analytics, and implementing innovative technologies allows him to excel in commercial cannabis cultivation system design and execution.
	Alex Tyink Alex Tyink is the Founder and CEO of Fork Farms, a food access technology company building the infrastructure that enables organizations to grow fresh food where it is consumed. Under his leadership, Fork Farms has partnered with more than 5,000 schools, hospitals, food pantries, and corporations to bring affordable, on-site food production closer to the communities they serve. Alex is focused on reshaping how fresh food is produced by moving it closer to where it’s grown, prepared, and used every day.
	Manuela Zamora Raised in Bolivia, Manuela Zamora began her career as the Director of Logistics and Special Events on Sustainable Development in the Office of the First Lady of Bolivia before earning her Master’s in Education from Cambridge College in 2001. Shortly after, she founded her first organization, Fundación Carmen, where she created El Dorado: the Route of Fair Trade, a training program for low-income women artisans to learn skills in sustainable production and marketing. In 2008, she co-founded NY Sun Works’ Hydroponic Classrooms Initiative. For over a decade she has served as our Executive Director, steering our mission to transform New York’s educational landscape through a pioneering approach to sustainability science and climate education. Today, she resides in the heart of NYC, along with her husband and children.