Co-designing a conceptual controlled environment agriculture (CEA) model inside an Australian maximum-security prison: A research framework

AbstractThis research paper presents the framework for a research study that aims to define and evaluate the design requirements and the related feasibility of a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) system concept within a maximum-security prison in Australia. A co-design methodology will guide...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: S Vaughan, Christian Tietz, Mariano Ramirez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023-12-01
Series:Cogent Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2188678
_version_ 1797198224657743872
author S Vaughan
Christian Tietz
Mariano Ramirez
author_facet S Vaughan
Christian Tietz
Mariano Ramirez
author_sort S Vaughan
collection DOAJ
description AbstractThis research paper presents the framework for a research study that aims to define and evaluate the design requirements and the related feasibility of a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) system concept within a maximum-security prison in Australia. A co-design methodology will guide the study so that the views of a broad range of stakeholders can contribute to the conceptualization of a CEA farm system that is appropriately suited to correctional settings. The unique aspect of this research lies in the application of a bottom-up consultative process involving both prison administrators and inmates. Stakeholders will initially be asked to consider what CEA typology would be most suitable for a prison environment and then use this as a basis for developing a more extensive system design. As open-field agriculture represents a lower-cost alternative to CEA, this will also be considered to complement CEA. The co-design sessions will run in tandem with current growth trials of lettuce within the prison environment using different growing environments. The research is aimed at assisting to reduce the impacts of climate change, by growing produce locally. Growing produce within the prison walls reduces food miles and improves the nutritional quality of produce, which benefits longer-term inmate health. Growth trials that complement the co-design study are aimed at evaluating the ease of use for each of type growing environment. This research contributes significant new knowledge for the application of co-design in prisons, aimed at developing implementation guidelines for a CEA ecosystem that would supply fresh vegetables to pre-cooked inmate meals. The researcher has a unique perspective as an inmate. Outside community groups wishing to try CEA may also benefit from this study.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T16:46:32Z
format Article
id doaj.art-6a8b130f8f264e71bd9351875674a294
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2331-1886
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-24T06:56:28Z
publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Cogent Social Sciences
spelling doaj.art-6a8b130f8f264e71bd9351875674a2942024-04-22T10:42:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862023-12-019110.1080/23311886.2023.2188678Co-designing a conceptual controlled environment agriculture (CEA) model inside an Australian maximum-security prison: A research frameworkS Vaughan0Christian Tietz1Mariano Ramirez2School of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture, University of New South Wales, Sydney, AustraliaSchool of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture, University of New South Wales, Sydney, AustraliaSchool of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture, University of New South Wales, Sydney, AustraliaAbstractThis research paper presents the framework for a research study that aims to define and evaluate the design requirements and the related feasibility of a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) system concept within a maximum-security prison in Australia. A co-design methodology will guide the study so that the views of a broad range of stakeholders can contribute to the conceptualization of a CEA farm system that is appropriately suited to correctional settings. The unique aspect of this research lies in the application of a bottom-up consultative process involving both prison administrators and inmates. Stakeholders will initially be asked to consider what CEA typology would be most suitable for a prison environment and then use this as a basis for developing a more extensive system design. As open-field agriculture represents a lower-cost alternative to CEA, this will also be considered to complement CEA. The co-design sessions will run in tandem with current growth trials of lettuce within the prison environment using different growing environments. The research is aimed at assisting to reduce the impacts of climate change, by growing produce locally. Growing produce within the prison walls reduces food miles and improves the nutritional quality of produce, which benefits longer-term inmate health. Growth trials that complement the co-design study are aimed at evaluating the ease of use for each of type growing environment. This research contributes significant new knowledge for the application of co-design in prisons, aimed at developing implementation guidelines for a CEA ecosystem that would supply fresh vegetables to pre-cooked inmate meals. The researcher has a unique perspective as an inmate. Outside community groups wishing to try CEA may also benefit from this study.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2188678co-designparticipatory designcontrolled environment agriculturesustainabilityprisons
spellingShingle S Vaughan
Christian Tietz
Mariano Ramirez
Co-designing a conceptual controlled environment agriculture (CEA) model inside an Australian maximum-security prison: A research framework
Cogent Social Sciences
co-design
participatory design
controlled environment agriculture
sustainability
prisons
title Co-designing a conceptual controlled environment agriculture (CEA) model inside an Australian maximum-security prison: A research framework
title_full Co-designing a conceptual controlled environment agriculture (CEA) model inside an Australian maximum-security prison: A research framework
title_fullStr Co-designing a conceptual controlled environment agriculture (CEA) model inside an Australian maximum-security prison: A research framework
title_full_unstemmed Co-designing a conceptual controlled environment agriculture (CEA) model inside an Australian maximum-security prison: A research framework
title_short Co-designing a conceptual controlled environment agriculture (CEA) model inside an Australian maximum-security prison: A research framework
title_sort co designing a conceptual controlled environment agriculture cea model inside an australian maximum security prison a research framework
topic co-design
participatory design
controlled environment agriculture
sustainability
prisons
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2188678
work_keys_str_mv AT svaughan codesigningaconceptualcontrolledenvironmentagricultureceamodelinsideanaustralianmaximumsecurityprisonaresearchframework
AT christiantietz codesigningaconceptualcontrolledenvironmentagricultureceamodelinsideanaustralianmaximumsecurityprisonaresearchframework
AT marianoramirez codesigningaconceptualcontrolledenvironmentagricultureceamodelinsideanaustralianmaximumsecurityprisonaresearchframework