Greenhouse crop production is increasingly recognized as a climate-smart approach for enabling year-round food production

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $272,771 to the University of California, Davis on February 1, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI, CFDA 10.310) to develop and optimize nanofluid-based spectrally selective greenhouse glazing systems that reduce cooling and water demand while maintaining crop productivity.

The project develops optically tuned and thermally stable nanofluids tailored to plant photosynthetic requirements, integrates the nanofluid system into prototype greenhouse glazing, and evaluates thermal, optical, and crop performance under controlled conditions using lettuce and tomato as test crops. The recipient will conduct greenhouse energy and water consumption modeling coupled with system-level optimization to quantify potential resource savings and implement educational and outreach activities to disseminate findings to growers, researchers, and industry stakeholders. The technology selectively transmits photosynthetically active radiation required for plant growth while absorbing excess infrared radiation for low-grade thermal applications, addressing heat buildup and high energy demand challenges in Mediterranean and arid region greenhouses.

Performance occurs in Davis, California, with a period of performance from February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2028.

However, greenhouses, particularly in mediterranean and arid regions, face significant challenges related to excessive heat buildup, high energy demand for cooling, and increased water consumption during extended summer periods. Energy costs associated with maintaining optimal indoor climate conditions represent a significant operational expense, and excessive heat can adversely affect crop yield and production quality. This project aims to explore the potential of nanofluid-based spectrally selective greenhouse glazing as an integrated solution within the food-energy-water (few) nexus. The central concept is to selectively transmit photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) required for plant growth while absorbing excess infrared (IR) radiation that contributes to greenhouse overheating. Unlike conventional shading or reflective approaches, the absorbed IR radiation can be effectively utilized for low-grade thermal applications, enabling improved greenhouse thermal management without compromising crop light requirements. The primary goal of this project is to develop and optimize stable, spectrally selective nanofluid-based spectral splitting systems that reduce greenhouse cooling and water demand while maintaining or enhancing crop productivity. The specific activities include: (1) developing optically tuned and thermally stable nanofluids tailored to plant photosynthetic requirements, (2) integrating the nanofluid system into prototype greenhouse glazing and evaluating its thermal, optical, and crop performance (e.g., lettuce and tomato) under controlled conditions, (3) conducting greenhouse energy and water consumption modeling coupled with system-level optimization to quantify potential resource savings, and (4) implementing educational and outreach activities to disseminate the technology and findings to growers, researchers, and industry stakeholders. The long-term goal of this project is to develop a scalable, spectrally selective greenhouse technology that reduces energy and water consumption while improving greenhouse performance in hot and arid climates, thereby contributing to resource-efficient and sustainable food production systems.