CEA Technology
ALTA-CEA Indoor Vertical Farms produce food in vertically stacked layers of grow beds. The technology utilizes Deep Water Culture (DWC), hydroponics, and programmable LED lights to create a complete, environmentally controlled facility.
Each ALTA-CEA scalable design consists of a series of independent modular grow racks specifically designed to grow leafy greens, vine crops, root crops, and strawberries. A single grow module consists of a levels of 1, 2 or 3 grow bed beds connected by electric controls, a circulation pump, air fans, plumbing, and LED lights to form one independent growing module.
There are 7 critical parts of the total growing system:
DWC system
A plant’s roots are suspended in a well-oxygenated solution composed of water and nutrients, in constant flow and temperature.
Water
Using pure clean water is essential. This is one of the reasons growing hydroponically is so beneficial to quality products.
Oxygen
Because the roots are submerged in water and not soil (which has gaps and holes where air resides), the water needs to be well-oxygenated.
Nutrients
Because there is no soil, we need to supplement the oxygen-rich water with hydroponic designed nutrients to maximize plant growth.
Ideal Water Temperature
Maintaining the water temperature at the ideal growing temperature of 20c (68F).
Indoor Controlled Environment
Designed to maintain good air flow around the plants, maintain a facility temperature average of 20C (68F), and average 40% Relative Humidity.
Programmable LED Lights
LED lights that are programmable to mimic Mother Nature’s Sunlight with specific programmable spectrum to grow plants at all stages of life, and all varieties of plants.
Combining the above state-of-the-art technology with GAP (Good Agriculture Practice) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) for seed germination, transplanting, harvesting, cooling, and packaging results in superior food security and food safety. With Alta-CEA, we ensure all these pieces come together and work with you on an ongoing basis to maintain your systems and guarantee a fruitful harvest, every time to form one independent growing module. This ensures maximum food safety – if one crop gets a fungus, it can simply be removed and the area cleaned, meaning you lose only one plant instead of an entire harvest
The Alta-CEA Process
Design and Install
We proudly partner with professional engineers, builders, and general contractors who will work with you to ensure your space is ready for an Alta-CEA designed system. If you have an already existing facility that you would like to adapt for a CEA operation, our team will help design a unique system to suit your space. If your interest is in a new build, “TURN-KEY” facility our team will create the design, build the facility, and supply all the technology required to get the operation started.
Support
Alta-CEA designed facilities provide food security and employment for those who manage the systems. We will help DESIGN & INSTALL the systems and educate your workers on each step of the process until they are comfortable and confident to manage it themselves. Alta-CEA offers service and support to help maintain your systems and grow the healthiest product possible.
The Alta-CEA Opportunity
In unpredictable climates, there is a serious need for sustainable, year-round growing systems.
When the ground conditions are frozen for half the year, the ability to grow nutritious foods is minimal at best. This is worsened in rural communities where the option to purchase produce is even less.
Indoor Vertical growing systems offer a sustainable means of growing everything from leafy greens to microgreens and even vine crops year-round, regardless of your climate. If you live in a remote or rural area, there is no shipping time so no crops go bad on their way to you. Indoor vertical grown crops are of high quality, poses high nutrient contents and are grown quickly, without pesticides – as pests are not a problem.
Our Team Of Professionals
We proudly partner with professional engineers, builders, and general contractors who will work with you to ensure your space is ready for an Alta-CEA designed system. If you have an already existing facility that you would like to adapt for a CEA operation, our team will help design a unique system to suit your space. If your interest is in a new build, “TURN-KEY” facility our team will create the design, build the facility, and supply all the technology required to get the operation started.
Alta-CEA Training
Training Your Employees
Alta-CEA has PhD-designed training programs that includes a practicum so students, employees, and management can apply the CEA theory and knowledge learned in a classroom, hands-on, or distant learning, based on actual CEA technical application.
Alta-CEA Modular Complex Learning Center Curriculum
60-day curriculum that integrates food safety and food sustainability in one program
A food sustainability education and training program specific for the operation of the Alta-CEA Modular Complex that uses innovative hydroponic technologies to grow a variety of fresh produce, maize, and animal feed year-round. This program provides the opportunity for employment, business, and commercialization of CEA for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous individuals, communities, and organizations, to exercise autonomy in the production of food and feed, as well as pursue long-term food security and sustainability.
Alta-CEA Customer Training Locations:
- Alta-CEA Training Center, Onoway, Alberta Canada
- Alta-CEA Optional Customer’s On-site Training
Alta-CEA Customer Training Includes:
- Alta-CEA PhD designed curriculum
- Curriculum training using Alta-CEA PhD’s or qualified contractors
CEA Crops
With Alta-CEA you can grow a number of sustainable crops year-round
Leafy Greens
- Romaine Lettuce
- Kale
- Bok Choy
- Swiss Chard
- Collard Greens
- Spinach
- Watercress
- Arugula
Tomatoes
- Beefsteak
- Roma
- Heirloom
- Cherry
- Green
- Grape
Peppers
- Green, Orange, Red & Yellow
- Jalapeño
- Habanero
- Ghost
- Chili
- Poblano
- Serrano
Herbs
- Ceremonial Tobacco
- Mint
- Coriander
- Fenugreek
- Basil
- Fennel
- Sweetgrass