Research advances in photon management for controlled environment agriculture

Global food security and energy sustainability are under increasing pressure due to continuous population growth and the escalating effects of climate change. Agriphotonics, an emerging interdisciplinary field, offers a promising technological pathway for advancing Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) by enabling precise regulation of light quality (spectral distribution), intensity, and photoperiod. This review consolidates recent advancements in photon management technologies for CEA systems, focusing on three key areas of research: (1) active spectral modulation strategies using programmable lighting to precisely match the photosynthetic needs of crops; (2) passive photon management through wavelength-conversion materials to optimize solar spectrum utilization and enhance light-use efficiency; and (3) the integrated application of photon management with radiative cooling technologies to jointly regulate the light-thermal environment, alleviating heat stress in crops. Evidence suggests that these photonics-based approaches can significantly improve crop light-use efficiency, yield, and quality, while also reducing the energy consumption of CEA systems, thus contributing to a more sustainable agricultural future.