Knowledge, training and education in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)

Behind every high-tech CEA project, there’s something even more powerful than the technology itself: people.

In this episode of the Fresh FoodCast, we shift the spotlight from hardware to human capital. Exploring the knowledge, skills, and education needed to truly make Controlled Environment Agriculture thrive on the ground. From hands-on vocational training to cutting-edge academic research, we dive into what’s working, what’s missing, and how collaboration across the ecosystem can unlock real impact.

The Fresh Foodcast explores the future of food security and sustainable agriculture in the Gulf region. Hosted by Giovanni Angiolini, Director Middle East and Africa at Dutch Greenhouse Delta, with insights from Dutch and regional experts, innovators, and policymakers. Brought to you by Dutch Greenhouse Delta and the Embassy and Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the UAE and the Netherlands Agricultural Network in the GCC, working together to build future-proof food systems.

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:00

Hi there and welcome at episode 4 of the Fresh Foodcast, a production of the Netherlands Agricultural Network team, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and Dutch Greenhouse Delta. My name is Giovanni Angiolini and I'm your host. Today we talk about knowledge sharing. Because when we talk about controlled environment agriculture in the Gulf, the conversation often starts with technology. Behind every successful CEA project, whether it's a high-tech greenhouse, a vertical farm or an RD facility, there are people, people who understand not just the systems, but how to operate them. And that's where knowledge sharing, training and education become absolutely critical. So in this episode, we want to take a step back from the hardware and look at the software, skills, education, practical training, and the ecosystems around them. What's needed? What's missing? And how different actors like governments, universities, research institutes, and the private sector can work together to make controlled environment agriculture sustainable in the long run. And to start that conversation, I am, like always, joined by my co-host, Nike Geldelos, the agriculture advisor for the UAE at the Netherlands Consulate Channel in Dubai. Ninka, hi there. From your perspective and from what you see across the United Arab Emirates and the wider region, why are knowledge sharing, training, and education so crucial in the world of controlled divine agriculture? And why is this topic becoming more important now than ever?

SPEAKER_00 2:04

Hi Giovanni, thank you for that question. And I think it's interesting to shed some light on this because the average layman is convinced that it's very easy to grow foods. And for a while, a major supermarket chain in the Netherlands, they had a loyalty program where they gave all of their customers uh seeds and grow kits to grow their own vegetables. And all the consumers start trying it out, and soon they realize that all the different factors playing a role in controlled environment agriculture or open field agriculture are actually crucial to the success or failure of your little project.

SPEAKER_04 2:40

It's a big thing, it is a big thing, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:43

So they all figured out that the light, the water, the nutrients, the temperature, the wind, everything plays a role, and this is just a fraction of the factors that a professional grower needs to take into account. So this actually led to a big admiration and an increase of respect for a vegetable and leafy green and fruit growers across the world, from the Netherlands at least. Um, having said that, in horticulture, a lot of the knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. But at the same time, we also have a culture of sharing insights and um benefiting from innovations uh as a group. Um, so we have a lot of mutuals and it's really part of our DNA. Um, and that's also part of our Dutch Diamond approach. How come?

SPEAKER_04 3:32

What makes it so special? And and and why did we uh eventually came to this Dutch Diamond approach?

SPEAKER_00 3:38

Um there is a lot of challenges in the Netherlands where we think if we team up, we will have a better result. And this is why we work together with uh the public sector, the private sector, knowledge institutes, and NGOs. And this is also where uh, for instance, this uh PIB, this partners in international business, has sprung from. Uh so we work together a lot.

SPEAKER_04 3:59

Yes, we do indeed. Uh uh, me representing Dutch Queen as Delta, you representing the Netherlands government. Um can you maybe rephrase a bit what we are doing with that Partners for International Business program?

SPEAKER_00 4:11

So we're working together in this PPP structure, and we are helping Dutch companies to uh access the market in the Middle East and in other uh sectors or other areas in the world. And we do this by teaming up, by uh making contacts, by participating jointly in events, by organizing all kinds of things. And also uh a very important part is by sharing knowledge and insights and developments so that we can all uh have a better picture of what's happening and where our opportunities are.

SPEAKER_04 4:41

And that's why we decided today to talk about uh knowledge sharing in controlled environment agriculture and then particularly here in the Gulf.

SPEAKER_00 4:47

Definitely. And uh here in the Gulf, of course, a lot of the um knowledge is not passed down from generation to generation, especially where it comes to uh the more technologically advanced projects. Um but I think the good news is uh that it's not necessary to be born in a greenhouse in order to be successful in this business. Um, there is a lot of knowledge that can be transferred and that is transferred. Um, so if you're curious and entrepreneurial, you can have a steep learning curve and also keep learning for the rest of your life because there is always something new in this field.

SPEAKER_04 5:25

What else? What can you tell us more?

SPEAKER_00 5:27

So maybe a bit more about the Dutch system and how we uh are set up. The Dutch system distinguishes between uh vocational training, but also universities for applied sciences and universities for scientific research. And we think that all of these different institutes play an equally important role in a well-functioning ecosystem.

SPEAKER_04 5:57

Today we are joined by Assistant Professor Dr. Behanu De Geva, who brings extensive experience in agricultural development, education, and applied research. An agricultural economist by training, he has worked internationally on food security, rural development, and water use in agriculture. Dr. De Geva is currently affiliated with the UAE University in Alain, where he focuses on the transition from traditional farming to more modern, sustainable, and commercially viable systems. He has also contributed to research at the International Center for Bicillin Agriculture, ICBA, working on climate-smart and water-efficient solutions for aired regions. His work connects economics, research, and practical implementation in the field. Hi, Doctor. In a region where many farmers still operate small scale and traditionally, how can they be supported to scale up and become more sustainable and use water more efficiently? And is the region ready for that shift?

SPEAKER_03 6:55

Yeah, good question. Uh when I was at Iqaba, one time we did uh uh a survey in the northern emergence. So in that survey, what we found was more than 70% of the farms, the small farms, basically the small farms are traditional and hobby farms, not really farms oriented towards uh commerce and marketing. So very relevant question. How do we change these farms to a productive and resource-efficient and market-oriented farms is a big question. Um I think as you said, uh young, young, especially young farmers, uh, they are newly investing in farms, but they have also difficulty, as you noted, because uh they have to really be able to compete in the market and make it a successful business. So I think it's a big task to convert these uh hobby farms, traditional farms into market-oriented and productive uh farms. Um I think the government is uh from time to time uh providing support, strategy, and policy, encouraging local uh food production. That is one way. The other thing is I think uh there is a need to train young people.

SPEAKER_04 8:31

That's an important point, especially what you say about government support and the growing focus on training young people to enter more competitive agricultural markets. But if we look beyond policy for a moment, the real challenge is how that translates into skills and practical know-how on the ground, particularly in a field as complex as controlled of high and agriculture. So, Doctor, from your perspective at UAE University in Alain, what do you see as the most pressing challenges and opportunities for developing CEA in the UAE today?

SPEAKER_03 9:01

I think one of the challenges as I understand is uh when you take the farms, for example, in Abu Dhabi there was a program that lasted uh, let me say eight, seven years to promote hydroponic farms. Um, a program that identified willing farmers and they provide uh loans that should be uh paid back after some years, and they are very much supported by the Adal ADAFSA field workers, extension workers. And I I did a study uh in 2019 on uh taking a sample of these hydroponic farms. What I have seen there is there is a shortage or a lack of uh farm workers in this technology, so they really rely on a regular visit and even calibration of the units on the Adafsa experts. So what I can say is that there is there is a lack of skilled managers, skilled workers on the ground to expand uh this new high tax. Even according to my interview with some uh extension workers, there are places where farmers abandoned these technologies after they they installed because they they couldn't cope with the complex uh skill requirements, of course.

SPEAKER_04 10:37

Sorry to interrupt you there, because uh so basically you you also say like technology, fine, and we may need it also to secure uh food security in general in the future. Yes, but in the same time, it does require guidance, training, education.

SPEAKER_03 10:51

Exactly. By the way, also when it comes to technology, one time uh when I was at ICBA, we're doing a survey somewhere around And or somewhere, we came across a very young farmer who was complaining about the cooling system, he was trying to modify his own. So, one of the tasks, as you said, the future collaboration in knowledge sharing and research is to customize through the local conditions and especially ability to come up with energy efficient type of cooling system, especially because, as you are aware, although we say this controlled environment uh system is saving a lot of water up to 70-90 percent, on the other hand, there is a big cost of cooling because they use water to cool through the parts and uh and the funds, which also need a lot of energy. So, one of the big costs of cocaine is water. So when you account for water costs, it is very difficult to make them profitable. That's what uh one thing I say. So uh I I think uh when it comes to a knowledge gap, uh I would say we don't have yet a tailored control environment agricultural education program.

SPEAKER_04 12:13

How do you see your role there? Um, I mean, with some exceptions like yourself, but often the horticultural uh knowledge comes from horticultural professors and not tech people. So do you also require training from, let's say, the the modern agri tech sector?

SPEAKER_03 12:29

Definitely. Uh for example, in in our college, the College of Uh Agriculture and Veteran Medicine, we have the Department of Integrated Agriculture, which consists of my program, Agriculture Resource Management. There is a horticulture program, and there is Marine Fisheries and Animal Sciences. So it should be in the horticulture program. This curriculum, and of course, here and there, there can be topics on controlled agriculture, but as such, there is no full-fledged independent course on this subject. I'm talking about a tailored customized curriculum and educational program that talks about controlled environment agriculture. Because this is, as you are aware, not only about the agronomy of the horticultural crops, it is about the IT system, it is about agricultural engineering, advanced agriculture, agricultural engineering, which is not really, which is really lacking. So if you take our faculty over here, they are horticulturists, but the the area of uh controlled environment, horticulture that integrates the IT system uh together with uh advanced agricultural engineering technology is lucky.

SPEAKER_04 13:59

This is the Fresh Foodcast. From the United Air Emirates, we now shift our focus to Saudi Arabia. To share a perspective from the kingdom, we reached out to Professor Dr. Mark Tester of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, also known as KAUST. Professor Tester is an internationally recognized plant scientist whose work focuses on crop improvement and plant science for challenging environments, including aerotensiline conditions. Highly relevant, by the way, for agricultural development in this region. At KAUST, he has played a key role in linking fundamental scientific research with applications that support food security and innovation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His insights help bridge the gap between advanced research and real-world implementation. So therefore, I needed to ask him the following.

SPEAKER_05 15:04

We need more researchers to help develop technologies, technologies in plant science, in engineering, insects, material science, and in the advanced digital technologies. And we need gaps at the complete other end. We need to have more skills at the uh level of the operators and the workers in the greenhouses to even have great benefits in increased training and uh education at that level.

SPEAKER_04 15:35

How can local universities, research centres, and international partners like those from the Netherlands help bridge these gaps?

SPEAKER_05 15:42

Local universities, research centers, and international partners can all contribute to filling skill gaps in the CEA area in Saudi Arabia. The Netherlands, of course, is uh probably the strongest country in the world for um this area of controlled environment, agriculture, and contributions uh from the Netherlands in partnership with locals, uh, universities, governments, and companies can really help greatly to fill in the skill gaps in Saudi Arabia.

SPEAKER_04 16:22

And what role do you see for public-private collaboration in translating research into practical solutions for growers?

SPEAKER_05 16:28

Private partner collaboration can be central, in fact, is central, uh, for the translation of research into practical solutions. Innovations can come from universities, they can also come from uh the private companies, and we need to collaborate with each other and with the uh public sector to help translate this research. Um, the private, the public sector can make really good contributions by reducing upfront capital requirements, capital expenditure requirements. And of course, they can also help with reducing risk so they can take on some of the high-risk collaborations, high-risk technologies and help them get through to delivery, both through improving the technologies as they are deployed and through demonstrations to farmers, as well as, of course, of facilitating farmers in taking on these technologies through, for example, low interest loans. SATI's already good at that. Uh, it'll be great if we can help that system become more supportive of the adoption of um ag tech innovations in the CEA space.

SPEAKER_04 17:48

And Professor, what advice would you give to policymakers seeking to accelerate education and talent development in the agri tech sector?

SPEAKER_05 17:55

One of course is simply financial in supporting um the development and actually deployment of courses, training courses, education programs. These can be at a wide range of levels from MOOCs all the way through to master's courses. Diplomas, of course, would be very important. Um, policymakers can also help us uh uh can help generate an environment in which it is more favorable to be investing in CEA facilities in which people can be uh educated, trained, and to do uh very applied research.

SPEAKER_04 18:38

Thank you, Doctor. Uh oh, you wanted to say one more thing?

SPEAKER_05 18:40

Your first question, I also noticed that I didn't really talk about the critical knowledge gaps, I focused on the skills gaps. The knowledge gaps I think are quite clear. Um we have wonderful technologies, especially those developed in the Netherlands for making fantastic high-tech greenhouses. What we need to do is add on to those amazing systems that have been developed, I mean not only in the Netherlands, but in particular in the Netherlands, and adapt them, make them even better, even more suitable for the hot, arid conditions in which we find ourselves in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, a lot, in fact, of a lot of North Africa and West Asia. So we need to be helping develop technologies to make the greenhouses really good more appropriate for the hot, dry conditions we have here, reducing their water footprint, reducing their energy footprint, integrating with solar energy because here in our conditions, the energy provided by solar radiation matches beautifully the energy requirements of the greenhouse.

SPEAKER_04 20:03

You're listening to the Fresh Foodcast. We now turn to a Dutch perspective from Professor Dr. Jauke Kampe of Wageninger University and research. Professor Dr. Jauke Kampe is a specialist in greenhouse horticulture, working on the design and optimization of production systems under different climatic conditions. His work focuses on how technology, climate control, and energy systems come together in practical greenhouse operations. So over the years he has been involved in multiple international projects, including feasibility studies in the Gulf region, such as SD Dama in Saudi Arabia, assessing how CEA can be adapted to local environments. Dr. Camper brings a strong focus on translating knowledge into workable scalable systems. So his insights are closely linked to how CEA can be implemented effectively on the ground in this region. Doctor, welcome to the show. What are the most critical knowledge and skill gaps that need to be addressed to advance CEA capacity in the Gulf?

SPEAKER_08 21:03

Well, advanced uh horticulture uh demands that uh training is is facilitated because well even even simple technology like a simple irrigation system demands some practical knowledge on how to put in set points, for example. So there needs to be some institution within um within uh the Middle East country where uh this type of technology is explained and practical cases are uh are shown um yeah by which the farmer can um learn on how to use this slightly more advanced technology which in general really enhances the productivity.

SPEAKER_04 21:49

Enhancing productivity, that makes sense. But doctor, um that requires also partnerships and how can these kind of partnerships between, for example, universities and applied research centers And the private sector contribute to building regional knowledge hubs?

SPEAKER_08 22:03

Uh well from the Dutch experience we see that uh partnerships between university and and uh supply industry and farmers is quite crucial in order to adopt uh new technology. So I think also in the region there should be a clear uh connection between what research institutes are doing and uh what farmers how they apply this technology. So uh I think a a kind of regional uh knowledge hub where farmers can get answers and where knowledge institutes can bring uh knowledge, I think that's quite crucial. We've been involved in the region now for almost 10 years, and uh one of the main uh successes is the SDAMA Research Center, which was uh established around 10 years ago, and in the past 10 years we did quite extensive research there on uh saving on water and better climate control. And well, we saw from the data that really by adopting some technologies you can save tremendously on water, from even 30% water saving up to almost 95% water saving. So, and also from this research, we clearly showed what is the benefit and also what are the economic costs if you apply a certain technology in your greener? So I think uh this this role or this this center being established like SD Dharma in the region really contributes to gaining more knowledge about growing economically feasible in the region.

SPEAKER_04 23:43

What lessons from Wagening in this global experience could help Gulf countries set up successful RD and demonstration facilities?

SPEAKER_08 23:50

Well, what we've seen from the experience in in Saudi Arabia with SD Dharma is that initially the government uh should be heavily involved in setting up the center, they should um provide the finance but also the uh the people, the whole um uh echo uh system in order to um to facilitate these kinds of centers, and it's really crucial from the beginning. The uh yeah, the Ministry of Agriculture, for example, is involved. But aside of that, it's also quite crucial to have companies already involved since they can contribute in a more practical way. So, yeah, setting up research and starts by um yeah, initialization by a ministry party.

SPEAKER_04 24:38

Okay, Doctor, thank you. And finally, how can Dutch expertise best be positioned to support the region's growing demand for skilled tenants and innovation in sustainable horticulture?

SPEAKER_08 24:47

Well, I think the Dutch expertise is uh or should be positioned by giving courses, uh partially online, but also, and that's what we've seen also in in the Emirates, where we are providing courses for uh farmers. So we give uh practical courses but also uh theoretical courses where farmers attend, we give them exercises, that we give them really insight on if they are going to adopt a certain technology, what will be the benefits, what will be the potential production increase. So I think this kind of support really helps to uh make the transition in uh in agriculture in these countries, and it's for that reason quite uh valuable.

SPEAKER_02 25:39

This is the Fresh Foodcast.

SPEAKER_04 25:42

We're almost at the end of this episode of the Fresh Foodcast. But before we conclude today's episode, we now turn to the perspective of applied education. With Arjen Alblas and Mohammed Adelsan from IDIS University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. IDIS is known for its strong focus on vocational training and hence-on learning in agriculture and horticulture. Their work is closely linked to preparing students and professionals for real-world operations, bridging the gaps between theory and practice. In the context of controlled environment agriculture, that means training growers, technicians, and operators who can actually run and optimize these systems on a daily basis. So their experience offers valuable insight into how skills and knowledge can be developed in a practical, scalable way. So their perspective is directly connected to building the workforce needed to make CEA successful. Mohammed, what role can applied education play in strengthening CEA training and skill development in the Gulf region?

SPEAKER_01 26:43

So um Eritch University of Applied Sciences, which is based in the Netherlands, have had and still is um uh um, let's say, contributing and working uh with com with local partners, both academic and commercial, in the MENA region. In terms of uh supporting or let's say advance strengthening um CEA uh training in the Gulf region and education. I mean, we can we can provide a lot in that sense. First of all, um I think one of our possible possible contributions is that we can work not purely as an academic actor, but rather as an educational partner. So working together with local academic uh institutes, as well as trying to bridge, let's say, the CEA expertise from Europe and try to set um, you know, with the input from the Gulf market, uh, whether it is commercial or from academia, build capacity based on uh you know to support local talent, but in a way, how to say it, um, you know, through customized training programs, through uh uh tailor-made programs that would fit with the local market demand and uh you know with the capacity and the assets that are there as well.

SPEAKER_04 27:49

I understand. Still, um, tailor-made or not, there are always some challenges. Uh vocational and hands-on training still appears to be a missing link in many of these Golf CEA initiatives. Uh, sometimes it's being picked up by universities, but not always. So, and in your case, then how could applied education help bridge the gap between, for example, the academic research from the big universities to the day-to-day operational excellence like the farmers on the field or the commercial part that you were referring to earlier?

SPEAKER_01 28:17

Yeah, so this is where I mean uh collaboration and um partnership with commercial stakeholders is quite essential because, for example, I mean, we usually get this case, we get the uh we got we get these issu issues where, okay, companies say, well, we have a lot of graduates, but they really don't have expertise and and know-how. I mean, they have the theory but not the practice. And then we contact the academic academic sector and they say, Well, we can provide them with a theory, but we don't have a place for them to actually do an internship. So a partnership between the commercial and academic sectors. I mean, uh, our role is not only bridging them or linking them, I mean, they can do that as well, but working as a consortium together to set up such an approach would be the best way. I mean, a partnership, uh, a partnership where everybody wins. For example, what we utilize is an approach with uh, you know, 33% based on theory, 33% on internships, and 33% or one-third is on practice.

SPEAKER_04 29:12

Tell me more about that model. I I would like to know more about that.

SPEAKER_01 29:15

Well, the theory is is uh provided, of course, by lecturers in the university. Practice is of course, you know, it's not a demonstrative practice, but rather actually uh, you know, small projects or assignments that are provided on the university campuses, etc., or in their laboratories to give uh hands-on training for the students or the trainees at the university. However, the third third, or the last third, which is uh in my opinion the most important, that gives the students or the trainees this um you know real feel of how how things would actually work out in a in a commercial setup. Because there are things that are necessary in a job that goes beyond books and uh you know uh what you write down. It's you know, for example, decision making, time management, uh risk assessment. These are very important things. And of course, you know, uh soft skills, how to actually provide and receive feedback. These are essential tools that may not be actually uh, you know, the only way to actually provide them or train them to train the uh the students in them is to have them in a place in an internship where you know they can actually experience them firsthand. So, what we do, for example, in our um uh format is that students would actually have to go on internships on an annual basis, and over a bachelor's degree of four years, students would actually then have will have spent an internship period of two to three months every year at a different company. At the end, you know, they have experience four months, four four different internships at four different companies. Uh, so in in that sense, students not only get one experience but rather uh you know a plethora of experiences in different um different functions, conditions in a in different companies, they are well experienced, um, and uh which supports their know-how that they get from theory and uh practice in in the school.

SPEAKER_04 31:03

What would as it is, uh what kind of suggestions would you like to make to our listener today? Um, with regards to knowledge sharing, education training, etc. We know, and I think they acknowledge themselves, is extremely important in this region, right? Without proper education training, you can't run a normal greenhouse facility, whether it's mid-tech, high tech, even low tech, left and right. Who wants to reply to that? Arjan?

SPEAKER_07 31:30

Oh, yes, uh, what's very important is I think um not only knowledge, we're not developing knowledge, they need to learn how to use the knowledge, and that means also uh other skills like taking responsibility, taking the lead, um, have a look what's going on. Um, if something's going wrong, what should be our action? That kind of stuff is very, very important. And if we had an advisor coming for us straight from uh great university, that was a little bit hard because they don't talk the uh the language of the grower, we say. So we learn them to to talk and think about uh growers are thinking and talking like growers, that's very important, I suppose.

SPEAKER_01 32:17

Maybe I can just add to this. Um, well, I mean it's a piece of advice on three levels. Let's start with the trainees. To the trainees, I would say, you know, um, investing your time right now at this stage, most of you are actually young. Investing in this time would really pay out uh on the long term. The return on investment is very high. I would say invest your time in education and training. It would really advance you, advance you uh, you know, personally, the way of thinking, but also advance you. I mean, I mean the effect is long term, uh uh and it's not only personal, it's also for society, you know, for the society itself. It improves everything. Now, for the companies, I would say uh, you know, getting staff in-house trained and uh you know uh also investing in such high-tech or mid-tech, even low tech production, protected in a region like uh the Middle East, especially in the Gulf region, it really reduces the chain. The supply chain, it reduces your expenses. Even now, you know, think about it as an investment in RD. But you're not actually doing research, you're actually investing in human capital. And you would have a bigger pool of trained, uh trained employees that would improve your efficiency immensely, and everything would work out. I mean, uh, you know, one way of um one way of improving your economic viability would be having better staff, better trained staff, more informed staff. They will be happier because you're also developing them. And on the finally, to the policymakers, and I think this is this they they don't need my words for it because I know that United Arab Emirates is already investing immensely in this, is um, you know, it's I mean, I I come from a Lebanese background and I know very well that the region is coming, uh it's always we always had uh water water shortage, but we were always innovative in a way or another dealing with this. However, with increasing human population there, um we would need um and also you know, political turmoil, we'd need uh food security for political reasons, for general uh national security reasons. And I think this is one way of doing it. Yes, we can make more with less, and one way of making more with less, working efficiently, what to use efficiency especially, is CEA. So I would say uh well, I mean, I'm I don't think I'm adding you know something that is not already on the portfolio in front of the ministers in United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia, but this is also for the listeners, and um yeah, hopefully we can, you know, using education, uh knowledge transfer, co-creation between Europe and the MENA region, we can create a better future for everybody.

SPEAKER_04 34:58

And that brings us to the end of the episode. My sincere thanks to all contributors for sharing their valuable insights on knowledge, training and education in control of ammon agriculture. It's important to note that this episode was recorded prior to the current tensions in the Gulf region. Yet, if anything, these developments only underline how relevant this conversation is, especially when it comes to resilience, self-sufficiency, and building robust folk production systems for the region. In our next episode, we will turn to governance and policymaking and explore how food security strategies are evolving in a time of increasing uncertainty. My name is Giovanni Angelini. Thank you for listening to the French Foodcast.