Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is rapidly redefining how we grow leafy greens. From the Netherlands to Mexico, Greece to Canada, the shift toward high-tech, resource-efficient cultivation is gaining serious momentum. Investments are pouring in, technologies are advancing fast, and governments across southern and northern regions are pushing for low CO₂ footprint, pesticide-free, and peat-free sustainable production.
But with opportunity comes complexity.
New cultivation systems, technologies, and products enter the market every year. For new growers and investors, the volume of choices in lighting systems, automation, substrates, and cultivation techniques can be overwhelming. Additionally, misinformation, overpromises, and high upfront costs only add to the confusion.
With that in mind, Denis Laci decided to start Agranom, a consultancy firm focused exclusively on providing services to growers and investors within the CEA leafy greens market.
“The field has evolved rapidly,” Denis explains. “But too often, what’s missing is clear, reliable guidance. Growers and investors don’t just need better tools—they need to understand how and why to use them.”
Denis’s journey began on the Greek island of Crete, where he completed his agricultural studies and was first introduced to hydroponic cultivation. Wanting to further develop his knowledge, he relocated to the Netherlands—the heart of greenhouse CEA innovation.
Starting as an assistant grower and R&D lead at Dry Hydroponics, Denis gained hands-on experience with the cultivation challenges that define hydroponic systems. Later, at the Delphy Improvement Centre, he worked on advanced research trials with leading industry suppliers, delivered technical trainings, and supported leafy greens projects across Europe. It was here that Denis realized the sector doesn’t just need better technologies but, it needs better informed professionals.
“Many growers and investors jump into greenhouse CEA without fully understanding the risks or design and equipment requirements,” he says. “One wrong decision in the project design or equipment choice can have a serious impact on cultivation and financial success.”
Agranom was built to address precisely that. The firm focuses on two key pillars: education and full-cycle project support, starting from concept development up to daily operations.
Through tailored training programs and hands-on workshops at commercial CEA facilities in the Netherlands, Agranom helps professionals gain real-world insights into operations, technologies, and best cultivation practices. These immersive experiences are designed to deconstruct complexity and help professionals build a solid knowledge foundation.
The second part is comprehensive project guidance from “A to Z.” Agranom’s seven-step strategy supports clients through concept development, technical design, construction, crop planning, and daily operations. The goal? To bridge the knowledge gap and ensure long-term cultivation and financial success.
Leafy Greens CEA: A Fast-Evolving Industry
“The transition to sustainable, high-tech agriculture is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity,” denis says. “in northern climates, cea is already becoming the standard, driven by harsh outdoor conditions, high labor costs, and greater access to funding.”
Southern countries are now catching up. Greece, for example, recently announced €600 million in funding for new high-tech greenhouse projects starting in 2025. Spain is rapidly transitioning from open-field to CEA cultivation, while Mexico is developing high-tech lettuce and high-wire crop facilities—an idea that seemed unrealistic just a few years ago.
The most significant advancements in scale, technology, and automation are currently happening in regions like the northern USA, Canada, and the Middle East. With easier access to capital and customers who value low-pesticide, low-carbon products, these regions are driving demand for premium-quality produce and are better able to recoup the high costs of CEA investment.
At the same time, greenhouse technology has taken a major leap forward. Climate control and automation systems have reached new levels of precision, allowing for growing conditions that closely mirror fully indoor environments. Meanwhile, leafy green varieties are being specifically bred for hydroponic cultivation under artificial lighting, delivering more consistency and higher yields.
One of the earliest challenges of hydroponic systems—especially D.W.C. and N.F.T. setups—was managing water quality, root health, and system disinfection. Today, various technologies are available that address these issues effectively, making year-round cultivation more reliable, even in extreme climates. This minimizes investment risk, particularly for newcomers entering the CEA space.
And perhaps one of the most transformative innovations of recent years? The semi-closed greenhouse. This technology offers a powerful combination of energy efficiency and high yields, enabling growers to reach production levels of 100–120 kg/m²/year in fully automated operations—setting a new industry standard.
“You can visit our website to learn more about our services – and how we cab help bring your CEA concept to life, the right way”.
