At the recent Indoor Ag-Con in Las Vegas, where the company recorded its 100th podcast episode, Dr. Sabeh noticed an important trend among growers and technology providers.
"The big takeaways I heard again and again were that people are optimistic about the future of CEA, and they're realizing that CEA is farming, not just tech," she says. "We're getting back to the basics of how to grow crops with the tools we have."
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For Dr. Sabeh, this shift is personal as well as professional. "Just three years ago, 90% of our work was focused on indoor farms. Last year, 70% of our projects were greenhouses," she says. "I am so glad that the 'greenhouse' in Dr. Greenhouse is alive again!"
The earlier excitement around vertical farms was driven by very specific needs. "For cannabis, vertical made sense for security. For leafy greens, it was about maximizing control," she explains. "But now, we're seeing a return to general-purpose greenhouses, which is great."
"We're seeing a shift from flashy new builds to optimization and sustainability. Owners are less willing to spend $20 million on a new facility that might not deliver returns and are instead investing half a million into improving what they already have. They're focusing on energy efficiency, controllability, and consistent crop quality in structures that are already there."
From big builds to smart upgrades
Dr. Sabeh is reflecting not just on milestones, but on how the industry has developed and where it is heading next.
Being a mechanical engineer with a PhD in Controlled Environment Agriculture from the University of Arizona, she launched Dr. Greenhouse over eight years ago. Since then, the consultancy has become a leading specialist in HVAC design for greenhouses and indoor farms, supporting cannabis, leafy greens, vegetables, and increasingly, berries and soft fruit. "We work with growers who are passionate about their crops and are looking to optimize the controllability of their systems," Dr Sabeh shares. "We always start with the plants and the people."
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The rise of crop steering and plant empowerment
As the industry matures, growers are becoming more experimental, embracing techniques like crop steering and plant empowerment. These approaches require both a sophisticated understanding of plant physiology and precise environmental control—an area where HVAC design plays a critical role.
"We're getting more questions from growers about how to manipulate irrigation, lighting, and climate to influence plant growth and development. They want to understand how a small change in input affects stem elongation, leaf number, and flower or fruit set." In March this year, Dr. Greenhouse completed its 200th project—an achievement that speaks not only to the company's expertise but also to the growing maturity of the CEA sector.
By tailoring inputs across different cultivars, experienced growers can unify growth patterns and productivity across varieties. "They're figuring out how to make different cultivars grow to the same height or develop at the same rate—even when those cultivars naturally want to do something different," she adds.
This level of attention to detail signals a positive trajectory for the sector. "It shows that the industry is maturing," she says. "And as these growers become more experienced, they're better able to train and mentor the next generation. That's essential for the future of CEA."
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Energy efficiency and the berry boom
The team at Dr. Greenhouse has partnered with both private businesses and public entities—including the California Energy Commission—to improve the energy performance, crop quality, and overall viability of indoor growing environments. With energy remaining one of the biggest variables in CEA, Dr. Greenhouse has launched a new podcast series titled Energy in CEA. "Energy is one of the biggest variables we can optimize. It's a huge cost driver, but also an opportunity for sustainability."
One of the most challenging crop groups from an energy and climate control standpoint is berries, especially in greenhouses.
"Berries are the next big topic in CEA," she notes. "But they're delicate. They need warm, sunny days with cold, humid nights. Basically, you're trying to replicate the Salinas Valley in California."
Achieving this kind of microclimate year-round requires robust, intelligent HVAC systems. "Our job is to design systems that allow growers to recreate those ideal conditions wherever they are," she says. "It's about being precise, efficient, and adaptable."
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Moving forward to a new chapter
Despite the current economic uncertainty and a more cautious investment climate, Dr. Sabeh remains optimistic about the future. "This is a great time to be in controlled environment agriculture," she says. "We're seeing real innovation, real learning, and a growing community of passionate growers."
For more information:
Dr. Greenhouse
Dr Nadia Sabeh
nadia@doctorgreenhouse.com
www.doctorgreenhouse.com