CEAg World Workshop: A Hands-On Look at the Tools Powering Tomorrow’s CEA Systems
December 2, 2025 
Neil Mattson's presentation on lighting at the CEAg World pre-conference workshop. | CEAg World
The CEAg World Conference and Expo pre-conference workshop at NC State’s Plant Sciences Initiative (PSI) building provided attendees with a structured, hands-on overview of key technologies and practices used in controlled environment agriculture. Led by Dr. Ricardo Hernandez and supported by a team of researchers, graduate students, and collaborators, the session guided participants through a series of interactive stations focused on essential CEA systems and measurement tools.
Multiple Stations of Demonstrations
Over the course of the afternoon, small groups rotated through stations covering lighting, irrigation, sensors and controls, plant-physiology instruments, and light-spectrum effects. Dr. Neil Mattson of Cornell University led a lighting presentation with details about HPS and LED setups, allowing participants to observe differences in heat output, spectral characteristics, and how those variables relate to plant growth environments.
At the irrigation station, the instructor walked through the fundamentals of various systems, including an example of an affordable fertigation setup designed to deliver crop-specific nutrient formulations.
The sensors-and-controllers portion of the workshop outlined the minimum data-acquisition tools typically required in a CEA environment and presented lower-cost alternatives for operations with budget constraints.
Station on irrigation at the CEAg World pre-conference workshop. | CEAg World
Attendees were also introduced to advanced plant-measurement instruments used in research settings to monitor physiological processes such as photosynthesis and stress responses. This demonstration highlighted how noninvasive measurements can be used to inform crop development and production strategies.
Another station featured the Light and Shade System Implementation (LASSI), a setup that simulates variable shading conditions and demonstrates approaches for managing light distribution in controlled environments.
Light and Shade System Implementation (LASSI) station at the CEAg World pre-conference workshop. | CEAg World
Across all stations, instructors emphasized practical applications, system fundamentals, and the integration of research tools into commercial and educational CEA settings. The workshop served as a detailed walkthrough of current technologies and methods used throughout the industry.