As greenhouse cultivation continues to grow worldwide, so too does the need to maximize energy efficiency of supporting systems - especially monitoring systems, on which the yields of greenhouses…

As greenhouse cultivation continues to grow worldwide, so too does the need to maximize energy efficiency of supporting systems - especially monitoring systems, on which the yields of greenhouses critically depend. Specialty crops have extremely stringent growing condition requirements, therefore the need for advanced sensors continues to grow. More energy-efficient and lower-cost sensing systems will enable the proliferation of greenhouses to areas otherwise underserved by fresh foods, as well as an increase in the opportunities in lower income regions afforded by the greenhouse horticulture business. In the past IT has been far too expensive for a grower to install many sensors within a production area. With innovations in fiber-optic technologies, IT will be possible to install a scalable fiber-optic sensing network in a production area to perform cost-effective monitoring as discussed in the following sections. The proposed work has the potential to support USDA's strategic goal 3 by helping america increase the efficiency of agricultural and horticultural production and exports while increasing food security.