{"id":9292,"date":"2026-05-01T09:00:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T00:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dry-fog.com\/en\/?post_type=cases&p=9292"},"modified":"2026-05-01T22:29:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T13:29:30","slug":"osu-cearc","status":"publish","type":"cases","link":"https:\/\/www.dry-fog.com\/en\/projects-technology\/cases\/osu-cearc\/","title":{"rendered":"Dry Fog Supports Strawberry Production at Ohio State University\u2019s CEARC"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Intro<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

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At The Ohio State University\u2019s Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Center (CEARC), researchers are exploring new technologies to make greenhouse fruit production more productive, sustainable, and commercially viable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inside the facility\u2019s strawberry greenhouse, Professor <\/span>Dr. Chieri Kubota (left)<\/b>, Director of CEARC, and research specialist <\/span>Mark Kroggel (right)<\/b> are leading work focused on improving yield and fruit quality in controlled environments.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Their research greenhouse was designed to replicate real commercial growing conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur research complex was designed to conduct studies in a setting relevant to actual commercial applications,\u201d says Dr. Kubota. \u201cHere in the strawberry greenhouse, we are developing technologies to produce strawberries productively and sustainably.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

One challenge quickly became clear: maintaining proper humidity in a closed greenhouse environment.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Challenge: Low Humidity Limiting Strawberry Productivity<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

During the first year of production in the commercial-scale strawberry chamber, the team encountered several issues common to greenhouse strawberry growers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Powdery mildew management was a concern, and researchers also discovered the presence of Neopestalotiopsis, a fungal disease recently identified in strawberry propagation systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most significant environmental challenges was low humidity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Data analysis showed that the greenhouse environment frequently dropped to very low relative humidity levels.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWithout a humidification system, relative humidity can drop to 20 to 30 percent,\u201d Dr. Kubota explains. \u201cIf you know plants, you get a heart attack when you see 20 percent.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Low humidity caused plant stress and limited photosynthesis.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen plants are stressed, stomata close,\u201d Kroggel explains. \u201cWhen the stomata close, there is no CO\u2082 uptake. That ultimately limits productivity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Because much of the strawberry growing season occurs during non-cooling periods, the enclosed greenhouse structure combined with concrete floors made it difficult to maintain adequate humidity levels naturally.<\/span><\/p>\n

The team needed a solution that could raise humidity without introducing canopy wetness.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Previous Humidification Approaches Had Limitations<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

Before installing Dry Fog, the greenhouse relied on a nighttime misting system that had previously been used in strawberry production to prevent a physiological disorder known as <\/span>teppan<\/span><\/i>, a fruit surface disorder associated with low humidity and calcium imbalance in greenhouse strawberries.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

However, misting during the day was avoided.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t want to wet the canopy during daytime,\u201d Dr. Kubota says. \u201cSo we didn\u2019t have a good humidity control system in the greenhouse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Traditional misting or fogging systems can leave water droplets on plant surfaces, which creates another problem: disease risk inside the canopy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen water reaches the plant canopy, it can become trapped,\u201d Kroggel explains. \u201cHumidity inside the canopy can become much higher than the surrounding environment. That promotes foliar fungal diseases such as botrytis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

To support plant productivity while minimizing disease pressure, the research team began looking for a humidification solution that could increase humidity without wetting plants.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Why Dry Fog Works Differently<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

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The CEARC team installed an <\/span>AKIMist\u00ae Dry Fog humidification system<\/b> in September 2024.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dry Fog technology produces extremely fine droplets that evaporate almost instantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Dr. Kubota, humidification technologies can generally be categorized into three droplet classifications:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  • Misting (largest droplets)<\/li>\n<\/div>\n

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  • Fogging<\/li>\n<\/div>\n

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  • Dry fogging (smallest droplets)<\/li>\n<\/div>\n

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    Because Dry Fog produces the smallest droplets, the surface area of the water particles is significantly larger relative to their volume. This allows the droplets to evaporate before reaching plant surfaces.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cYou can see the fog coming out, but it disappears well before it hits the canopy,\u201d Kroggel says. \u201cI can literally put my hand in front of the fog stream and it doesn\u2019t get wet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    Instead of settling on leaves or fruit, the droplets quickly transition into vapor. This raises relative humidity while keeping the crop dry.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The benefit is not only for plants.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cWorkers also like it,\u201d Dr. Kubota adds. \u201cThey don\u2019t get wet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Improvements in Fruit Quality and Crop Environment<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

    After implementing Dry Fog humidification, the researchers began to notice visible differences in the strawberries themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

    During the first year of production, fruit appearance had been inconsistent.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cThe fruit lacked glossiness and had more of a dull sheen,\u201d Kroggel says. \u201cYou expect strawberries to have that shine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    With improved humidity control, the fruit developed a noticeably better appearance.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cOnce we started growing with humidity enhancement, we saw the berries develop that sheen again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    Humidity management also helps support plant productivity while avoiding additional disease pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cDry Fog allows us to promote plant productivity without promoting foliar disease,\u201d Kroggel explains. \u201cWith other systems it can become a tradeoff. You either increase humidity and risk disease, or keep things dry and stress the plants.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Simple Integration and Minimal Maintenance<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

    The Dry Fog system was installed by the CEARC team themselves and integrated into the greenhouse control system using Priva environmental controls.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The system is operated through a relative humidity setpoint.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cWe basically turn the system on and off through Priva,\u201d Kroggel says.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Compared with high pressure fog systems, which typically operate between 1,000 and 1,500 PSI and often require regular maintenance, the AKIMist system has proven remarkably simple to maintain.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The greenhouse uses reverse osmosis water, and after two years of operation the team reports that the system has required no maintenance.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cWith high pressure systems, maintenance was constant,\u201d Kroggel explains. \u201cWith the AKIMist system, we have had it running for two years and have not needed to do anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    The system\u2019s compact design also integrates easily into the greenhouse environment.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cThe footprint is very small,\u201d he adds. \u201cUnless you point it out, people often don\u2019t even notice it running.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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    An Additional Benefit: Occasional Cooling<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

    While humidification was the primary goal, the research team discovered another benefit.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Under certain conditions, the Dry Fog system can also contribute to evaporative cooling inside the greenhouse.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cCooling is not the primary purpose of the system,\u201d Kroggel says, \u201cbut when conditions are right it can help reduce temperatures, which was a pleasant surprise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Supporting the Future of Controlled Environment Agriculture<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

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    For Dr. Kubota and her team, technologies like Dry Fog are also important teaching tools.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Controlled environment agriculture requires expertise across multiple disciplines.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cYou have to understand plants, engineering systems, sensors, control software, pest management, and even the business side,\u201d Dr. Kubota says. \u201cIt is a very integrated field.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    At CEARC, students learn how crop science and technology work together to support commercial greenhouse operations.<\/span><\/p>\n

    This integration is becoming increasingly important as the industry evolves.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cThe emphasis used to be mainly on quantity,\u201d Dr. Kubota explains. \u201cNow the focus is both yield and quality. Growers are paying much more attention to flavor, consistency, and year round production.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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    A Sustainable Approach to Humidity Control<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

    Sustainability is also a major focus of CEARC research.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Dr. Kubota defines sustainability as maximizing productivity relative to resource use.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Dry Fog humidification supports this goal in several ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Because the droplets evaporate quickly and distribute efficiently throughout the greenhouse, water use efficiency is significantly higher than many traditional humidification systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cDry fog humidification is very efficient from a water use standpoint,\u201d Dr. Kubota says.<\/span><\/p>\n

    In high tech greenhouse production systems that rely on lighting, heating, and environmental control, improving resource efficiency is critical.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    A Technology Worth Expanding<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

    The positive experience with Dry Fog humidification has led the research team to consider implementing the system in other greenhouse chambers at CEARC.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Several compartments are designed for high wire crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. In those environments traditional fog systems can cause wet plant surfaces because the emitters are close to the crop canopy.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cI would rather have the AKIMist system in those chambers,\u201d Dr. Kubota says.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The team is also considering Dry Fog for leafy greens production areas where maintaining adequate humidity remains a challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Improving Productivity Without Increasing Disease Risk<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

    For commercial strawberry growers and many other greenhouse crops, humidity management often involves a difficult balance between plant productivity and disease risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The CEARC research demonstrates that Dry Fog technology can help resolve that tradeoff.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cIf growers are producing strawberries or other soft fruits,\u201d Kroggel says, \u201chumidity control is essential. Having a system that promotes productivity without increasing disease pressure makes it a worthwhile investment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Full Interview:<\/h3>\n

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