The project aims to identify resilient genes and use genetic editing to create improved tomato plants, which will be tested in controlled chambers and real greenhouse conditions in the final project year. They will pick the best-performing plants and analyze their genes to understand what makes them resilient to temperature changes.

In the second phase, he will cross the most heat-tolerant varieties with high-quality lines to create even more resilient lettuce. Expected outcomes include heat-tolerant lettuce for greenhouse production and improved breeding techniques for controlled environments, with a plan to explore additional germplasm resources if necessary.

The goal is to identify beneficial microorganisms by testing their effects on tomato and lettuce plants, using methods like removing individual microorganisms and passing communities through temperature-exposed plants. Expected outcomes include finding microorganisms that improve plant resilience, testing them in larger greenhouse experiments, and addressing challenges like cultivation difficulties and pathogen susceptibility.

Dr. Wells plans to investigate targeted climate control for plant meristems using inflatable ducts, aiming to improve growth efficiency in lettuce and tomatoes through localized heating or cooling.

The study will analyze impacts on yields and carbon emissions.

Dr. Chen will assess consumer perceptions and willingness to pay for low-carbon Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) commodities, using sociodemographic data to analyze preferences. Drs. Chen and Diabate will develop enterprise budgets for CEA under different practices to help small farmers understand financial implications, aiming to provide budget samples for tomato and lettuce production.

The modules, including a virtual greenhouse capstone, will utilize 3D camera technology to capture plant health deficiencies, enhancing educational immersion. Dr. Cline is also engaging regional high schools in hands-on CEA education, aimed at preparing the future food and agriculture workforce in the Southeast, with impact assessed through educational evaluations.

Faculty from AU, TU, and UF will lead extension activities in Alabama and Florida, with the University of Florida's Small Farms Academy enhancing greenhouse production workshops to incorporate the latest CEA research outcomes.

Shelia is creating dynamic crop models for lettuce and tomatoes, combining conventional mathematical methods and machine learning to improve yield predictions in greenhouse environments.

He focuses on sustainability modeling and environmental impacts.

The aim is to achieve over 90% greenhouse gas reduction compared to coal-based technology. Dr. Higgins is developing an advanced wastewater treatment system for CEA irrigation, incorporating an algal-bacterial nitrifying reactor and UV disinfection, with the goal of reducing freshwater usage, fertilizer consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.

The focus is on using diverse algae communities to absorb nitrogen and phosphorus for repurposing as soil amendments or bioproducts, enhancing plant productivity and resource efficiency in Controlled Environment Agriculture.