Indoor agriculture is amidst a cultural revolution. It’s an industry that is projected to be worth $151.36 billion by 2032. Although indoor agriculture continues to increasingly grow in size and number, the hit it has given the environment is enough to urge cultivators to make a difference in their operations and cultivation methods.

In general, indoor agriculture relies heavily on energy-intensive practices. These unsustainable methods can lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately contribute to long-term climate change. By embracing sustainable practices in indoor agriculture and cannabis cultivation, the industry can all together significantly reduce its environmental footprint and offer an even greener future for the next generation.

Nevertheless, sustainability in indoor agriculture promotes resource conservation by optimizing water usage, minimizing waste generation, and reducing reliance on non-renewable resources. Today, you’ll find a variety of cultivators, farmers, and brands in the indoor agricultural industry that are prioritizing sustainability for a safer work environment and a healthier ecosystem for plants.

From lighting, pest control, water management, and cannabis packaging – consider this a guide to the best and most efficient sustainable practices for indoor agriculture operations.

The Best Sustainable Methods for Indoor Agriculture Cultivation

Today’s highly competitive and technology-driven world offers a plethora of options and opportunities for more sustainable and energy-efficient cultivation. Depending on the crop being grown, many indoor cultivations will operate slightly differently with their own regulated guidelines.

Regardless of the type of crop being grown, these facilities need to comply with state and local regulations to operate within the confines of the industry lawfully and successfully.

Here are a few of the best sustainable practices and methods encouraged for indoor agricultural cultivation:

Energy-Efficient Lighting

For most indoor agricultural cultivations, high-intensity discharge (HID) lights and high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps are used to provide plants with efficient energy and photosynthesis for their growth development. However, this type of lighting is commonly known for consuming significant amounts of energy.

Sustainable alternatives to grow lighting include energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) lights. LED lighting systems are a highly sought-out alternative for cultivation because:

It consumes less electricity
Emits less heat
Custom to provide specific light wavelengths optimized for plant growth
Lowers cooling requirements in plants

An agricultural study at Purdue University found that LEDs can surpass 50 percent efficiency – converting about half of their energy into plant-usable light – versus just 30 percent for HPS lamps.

Advancements in LED lighting technology are creating safer and more efficient environments for crops to produce with higher yields and shorter grow cycles, no matter what climate.

Integrated Pest Management

Managing and mitigating plant pests and diseases can be a tricky and cautious process for cultivators. Plenty of pest control methods rely on chemical pesticides with negative environmental and health impacts on humans and the surrounding environment.

However, more sustainable indoor agriculture operations are promoting integrated pest management (IPM) practices to provide a more holistic and sustainable approach to pest control. IPM management tactics are designed to:

prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage
minimize the risk to people, property, natural resources, and the environment
reduce the tolerance of pest resistance to pesticides and other practices

Various IPM strategies include integrated biological controls, beneficial insects, physical barriers, and other influential factors to prevent and manage plant pests accordingly.

The plants are given a healthier and less toxic growing environment by minimizing the use of chemical pesticides in the process.

It's common for indoor-grown cannabis plants to have insect pests, which can be a challenge for producers to manage. Because of that, there are numerous agricultural studies and government resources available for cultivators to implement sustainable IPM practices for indoor crops.

Renewable Energy Sources

Solar panels and wind turbines are both examples of renewable energy sources that can significantly reduce the environmental impact of indoor cultivation. By generating clean, renewable energy on-site, cultivation facilities can help offset the electricity demand and reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based power grids.

By generating renewable energy to power lighting, ventilation, and other indoor agriculture equipment, cultivators can reduce their carbon footprint in one of the most resource-consuming aspects of the industry.

The 2023 Renewable Capacity Statistics by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reported that renewable energy generators were primarily solar and wind resources, 90% in 2022. With innovative technology designed for indoor agriculture, this industry is poised to be the leader in sustainable, renewable energy practices.

Streamlining Sustainability from Start to Finish

Whether you are an agribusiness using a specific product or piece of equipment for cultivation, or an in-house manufacturing company that must package each product for retail – it’s no secret that cannabis packaging plays a crucial role in reducing waste.

Cannabis brands and companies will often incorporate sustainable packaging and renewable materials into their products marketed for retail. On the cultivation side, you may often find cultivation supplies or cannabis nutrient equipment packaged with recyclable and compostable materials.

No matter what is being packaged, a more sustainable, biodegradable, or waste-free industry solution can help to benefit the planet.

According to a report by the United Kingdom company Protega Global, 81% of consumers are demanding sustainable packaging options. More consumers are looking towards promoting sustainable efforts with their purchase, and these practices should begin at the initial stage of any cannabis cultivation production.

Recirculating Water Systems

Water management is another critical aspect of sustainable indoor agriculture with high consumption of resources.

While most of these recirculating or reclaiming water systems may differ, many of these wastewater systems are designed to collect and filter excess runoff to be repurposed or reused in some capacity. Implementing sustainable water technology could be done by any of the following:

These efficient wastewater systems allow cultivators to reuse and recycle water that is used during cultivation processes. It helps to further reduce overall water consumption from indoor agricultural facilities on a day-to-day basis.

Watering methods like drip irrigation or aeroponics also optimize water usage by delivering water directly to the plant roots, minimizing waste.

The USDA states agriculture is responsible for 80-90% of water consumption in the United States. Considering the operations and process of indoor agriculture versus outdoor cultivation, water is much easier to recycle and doesn’t evaporate or runoff into the environment. All wastewater can be cycled back into a system to be used again. By promoting this concept of water reuse, indoor agriculture can create a renewable resource from water used each day.

How Geomat Can Help Your Indoor Agricultural Facility Reach Environmental Sustainability

Sustainability is of paramount importance for indoor agriculture due to its potential to address environmental concerns and the rising demands of limited natural resources.

By implementing these sustainable methods, indoor agriculture and cannabis cultivation can significantly reduce its carbon footprint and negative harm, while increasing its LEED score and beneficial efforts to the environment.

Through innovative and sustainable practices, facilities can conserve energy consumption, recycle natural resources, minimize environmental impact, and promote a more eco-friendly approach to indoor cultivation.

Geomat’s Patented closed-loop water recovery systems are designed to capture, collect and recycle all wastewater and water run-off formed in indoor agriculture operations. From the sanitation of the cultivation equipment used to the irrigation of plants and crops — recycling and renewing water resources with technologies like Geomat hold immense potential for a greener future.

Ready to increase your operation’s sustainability efforts? Learn how your facility can capture, collect and recycle all wastewater with Geomat! Contact us for a custom quote and more information.