The TRI-CEA project continued to make strong progress during Year 2 (September 1, 2025 – August 31, 2026) toward advancing CEA research, workforce development, and community engagement across New Mexico, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Supported through the NSF FEC program, TRI-CEA brings together an interdisciplinary team from the University of New Mexico (UNM), University of South Dakota (USD), University of Wyoming (UW), New Mexico State University (NMSU), and Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) to explore how CEA can strengthen food security and economic growth in rural communities.

Year 2 activities focused on advancing coordinated efforts across the project’s three primary research thrusts: (1) advancing the fundamental science of CEA systems, (2) assessing the socioeconomic impacts of CEA, and (3) enhancing CEA workforce development and outreach. Despite some delays related to early project coordination, infrastructure readiness, and staffing transitions, the project maintained strong momentum and established a solid foundation for expanded implementation in Year 3.

Under Research Thrust 1, the Biophysics Subteam made significant progress deploying and operating hydroponic Deep Water Culture (DWC) and Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) systems across partner institutions. Participating institutions established synchronized experimental systems and began coordinated data collection focused on plant physiology, environmental conditions, and microbial community dynamics. UW conducted multiple kale (Brassica oleracea) growth experiments examining biomass accumulation, photosynthetic performance, and microbial community composition across hydroponic systems. Preliminary findings indicated that microbial communities converged rapidly after plant introduction despite initial variability among systems, providing important insight into microbial dynamics within CEA environments.

Across institutions, researchers deployed and refined environmental monitoring systems capable of collecting temperature, humidity, nutrient, dissolved oxygen, and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) data. UNM, in collaboration with CNM Ingenuity’s Technology Solutions Lab, redesigned IoT-based monitoring devices to support affordable spatial environmental monitoring and cloud-based data collection using both Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity. These redesigned devices will support the planned cross-institutional experimental campaign in Fall 2026.

Research teams also advanced standardized operating procedures (SOPs) for hydroponic system operation, microbial sampling, and environmental monitoring to improve consistency and comparability across institutions. The Biophysics Subteam’s progress has positioned TRICEA to conduct a fully integrated cross-jurisdictional research campaign in the coming year.

Under Research Thrust 2, the Socioeconomics Subteam focused heavily on community-engaged research and preparation for conducting listening sessions and surveys in partner communities. The project achieved a major milestone with the completion of designing three survey instruments targeting community producers, consumers, and organizations. Institutional and tribal IRB approvals were secured through close collaboration with the Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board (NNHRRB) and Rosebud Higher Education Research Review Board (RHERRB), reflecting TRI-CEA’s commitment to ethical research practices, Tribal sovereignty,
and Indigenous data governance.

Community engagement efforts included ongoing collaborations with the Navajo Nation, Rosebud Sioux Tribe (Sicangu Lakota Oyate), Eastern Shoshone Tribe, and Northern Arapaho Tribe, where project teams presented TRI-CEA goals, obtained resolutions of support, and discussed community priorities related to food systems and CEA adoption. These activities strengthened relationships with local partners while ensuring that future research activities remain community-informed and culturally responsive.

USD also expanded its socioeconomic and sustainability research capacity through the hiring of Dr. Guillermo Marcillo, a new tenure-track faculty member who will lead future Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) activities beginning in Year 3. In parallel, researchers at UNM and UW advanced system dynamics modeling efforts related to crop production, pathogen management, and economic analysis. Preliminary socioeconomic datasets, including kale market pricing analyses and regional environmental datasets, are being prepared for public release to support future modeling and policy analysis activities.

Under Research Thrust 3, the Workforce Subteam focused on workforce development, outreach, and educational pathway development. The project conducted an industry-informed workforce needs assessment that identified plant production, pest management, instrumentation, and operational skills as critical workforce competencies for the CEA sector. Survey findings also highlighted the importance of business, project management, and system thinking skills within the emerging CEA workforce landscape.

Building on these findings, the project refined its strategy for developing competency-based micro-credentials led primarily by SFCC. Discussions with multiple stakeholder groups highlighted the differing workforce development roles of two-year and four-year institutions – for example, highlighting the more targeted approach focused on transferable technical competencies of two-year institutions rather than the broader credentialing often pursued at four-year institutions. The project is preparing to pilot a micro-credential focused on instrument calibration and environmental monitoring tools during the 2026 TRI-CEA All-Hands Meeting in Wyoming.

Educational outreach expanded significantly during Year 2. TRI-CEA-supported activities reached hundreds of K–12 students, teachers, and community participants through workshops, field days, hydroponic demonstrations, and youth training programs. SFCC and partner institutions in New Mexico distributed hydroponic systems to 43 schools and trained 54 teachers. In South Dakota, USD partnered with Sicangu Co. and the Boys & Girls Club of Rosebud to create a youth hydroponics and entrepreneurship program that supports food sovereignty and workforce development.

The project also strengthened interjurisdictional collaboration and integration across all participating institutions. Monthly full-team meetings and regular subteam meetings fostered strong communication, cross-training, and collaborative problem-solving among faculty, staff, and students. Cross-institutional mentoring and student engagement activities have become a key component of TRI-CEA’s workforce and research integration strategy.

Overall, Year 2 demonstrated meaningful advancement across TRI-CEA’s scientific, educational, and community-engagement objectives. The project successfully expanded research infrastructure, strengthened rural and institutional partnerships, advanced workforce development planning, and laid the groundwork for integrated cross-jurisdictional experimentation and modeling activities scheduled for Year 3. These accomplishments position TRI-CEA to continue generating impactful research and scalable workforce solutions that support resilient food systems and sustainable economic growth across participating EPSCoR jurisdictions.