Researchers develop new snacking pepper cultivars for indoor agriculture
Controlled environment agriculture is growing rapidly in Virginia, using fewer resources and enabling year-round planting in indoor spaces. Crops are grown vertically, with more crops grown on fewer acres.
In response, Virginia Tech researchers are partnering in the development of snacking pepper cultivars suitable for growing in controlled agriculture environments. The project explores the potential of indoor agriculture to ensure higher yield rates and profitability while maintaining color, scent, nutrition and sweetness. The pepper plant, along with protocols to measure and evaluate the flavor experience to ensure it is better than or equal to its outdoor component, will be developed in the lab. Researchers also will investigate the nutritional values of cultivars suitable for controlled environment production.
The principles and methods used to develop the indoor sweet snacking pepper could be applied to other spicy pepper variants. Once the cultivars are optimized, seeds will be available for purchase. These new production methods create opportunities to expand access to fresh food and availability of fresh products year-round.
Photo courtesy Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station.
