Precision Horticulture and Engineering

The Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering (DENG) brings together ISHS members dedicated to advancing plant cultivation in open-field and agroforestry as well as greenhouses and vertical farms across both urban and rural areas. Our research encompasses a broad spectrum of topics aimed at optimizing controlled environment agriculture (CEA). These include monitoring plant growth and development, environmental control including light, water, and aero-environment, modeling and simulations, sensing and monitoring technologies, decision optimization and automation and artificial intelligence.
Beyond technological advancements, the Division is committed to sustainability and resource use efficiency. Research efforts extend to the conservation of natural resources, the integration of renewable energy sources, life cycle assessment (LCA) and the development of building-integrated agriculture. We also explore the connections between horticulture and the 6th industrialization, a concept that links primary production with processing, distribution, and services, adding value across the agricultural supply chain.
DENG operates as a multidisciplinary group, fostering collaboration between academia, research institutions, and industry. We emphasize the synergy between science and engineering, bridging the gap between basic and applied research, and promoting the industrialization of cutting-edge agricultural technologies. Additionally, we seek to strengthen the relationship between agriculture and other industries, ensuring that technological advancements translate into real-world applications.
The Division is structured around several specialized ISHS Working Groups, each addressing key aspects of precision horticulture and engineering:

• Computational Fluid Dynamics: analyzing airflow, heat transfer, and fluid movement in controlled environment systems,
• Design and Automation in Integrated Indoor Production Systems: developing efficient and intelligent indoor cultivation frameworks,
• Greenhouse Environment and Climate Control: enhancing climate management strategies for optimal plant growth,
• Light in Horticulture: investigating the role of artificial and natural light in plant development and productivity,
• Mechanization, Digitization, Sensing and Robotics: innovating automation and sensing solutions to improve efficiency,
• Modeling Plant Growth, Environmental Control, Greenhouse Environment: using predictive models to optimize horticultural systems,
• Sensing Plant Water Status: advancing precision irrigation and water management through sensor technologies,
• Vertical Farming: exploring high-density, resource-efficient plant production in vertically stacked systems.