Abstract

Dryland regions such as Saudi Arabia face extreme climatic conditions, limited freshwater availability, and heavy dependence on imported food, necessitating transformative approaches for sustainable agricultural production. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) offers a resilient pathway to year-round crop cultivation under such harsh conditions. However, the high energy and water demand of CEA systems remain critical barriers to large-scale adoption in arid environments. This seminar will highlight climate-smart strategies designed to enhance the energy efficiency, resource use, and resilience of greenhouse systems in drylands. Dr. Ahamed will present renewable-energy-based approaches—including agrivoltaic systems with retractable photovoltaic screens, hybrid geothermal heat-pump integration, and spectral-engineered smart covers—that optimize energy balance, reduce cooling loads, and regulate the crop microclimate. Coupled with advanced hydroponic and water-recycling systems, these technologies minimize carbon emissions and freshwater consumption while improving crop yield and quality. By leveraging local solar and geothermal resources, this presentation outlines a roadmap toward net-zero-energy, water-efficient greenhouse systems that can accelerate the transition to sustainable food production in dryland and desert ecosystems such as those of Saudi Arabia.

Biography

Dr. Shamim Ahamed is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). He leads the Controlled Environment Engineering Lab at UC Davis, where his research focuses on developing innovative solutions to optimize energy systems and precision controls for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), including greenhouses and indoor vertical farms. Dr. Ahamed's work primarily centers on thermal environment modeling, energy-efficient controls, and climate-smart HVAC systems designed for next-generation CEA facilities. A key objective of his research is to integrate renewable energy systems into HVAC operations, ultimately achieving net-zero energy status for CEA operations. The lab also explores precision control and monitoring of both the aerial and root-zone environments using Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT). Dr. Ahamed's long-term vision is to advance climate-smart solutions that support net-zero food production in CEA, promoting sustainability and resilience in agriculture.