Closed-Loop Agriculture System Meta-Research Using Text Mining

Abstract

A growing global population and climate change threaten the availability of many critical resources, and they are directly impacting the food and agriculture sector. Therefore, new cultivation technologies must be rapidly adopted and implemented to secure the world’s food needs. Closed-loop greenhouse agriculture systems provide an opportunity to decrease resource reliance and increase crop yield. Greenhouses provide versatility in what can be grown and the resources required to function. Greenhouses can become highly efficient and resilient through the application of a closed-loop systems approach that prioritizes repurposing, reusing, and recirculating resources. Here, we employ a text mining approach to research the available research (meta-research) and publications within the area of closed-loop systems in greenhouses. This meta-research provides a clearer definition of the term closed-loop system within the context of greenhouses, as the term was previously vaguely defined. Using the meta-research approach, we identify six major existing research topic areas in closed-loop agriculture systems, which include models and controls, food waste, nutrient systems, growing media, heating and energy. Furthermore, we identify four areas that require further urgent work, which include the establishment of better connection between academic research to industry applications, clearer criteria surrounding growing media selection, critical operational requirements of a closed-loop system, and the functionality and synergy between the many modules that comprise a closed-loop greenhouse system.