Charlie Smith's journey to integrated greenhouse technology

Charlie Smith started studying biology at Michigan State University in 2016 with plans of becoming a laboratory scientist. But he soon realized that lab work wasn’t for him, and that “wearing a lab coat and gloves kind of sucked.”

Fortunately, he got a job on campus working as an undergraduate assistant in a biochemistry lab that was conducting research on tomatoes in the greenhouse, where he discovered his true calling. “I really liked working in the greenhouse,” he says. “I found it to be very peaceful and rewarding.”

Smith switched his major to plant biology and earned his bachelor’s degree. After graduation, he landed a job at an indoor cannabis cultivation facility, where he worked his way up to head grower within three years.

After the operation closed down, he began applying for other greenhouse jobs, but he changed his trajectory when he heard from a former MSU classmate who had just graduated with a master’s degree in horticulture. Smith applied to the program and went on to earn his master’s in horticulture, graduating last spring.

Now, he’s pursuing his doctoral degree, with plans of becoming a greenhouse grower and eventually teaching the next generation of propagators.

Shining a light on LED

When Smith entered the master’s program at MSU, he told his adviser, Roberto Lopez, “As long as I get to work in propagation, I don’t really care what I’m doing.” Lopez, whose research explores how supplemental lighting affects crop morphology and pigmentation, engaged Smith to examine why petunia cuttings grown under LED lights were displaying purple discoloration.

“I didn’t plan to study lighting,” says Smith, who gained hands-on experience with supplemental lighting at the indoor cannabis operation. “But as LEDs become more affordable and the technology evolves, there are new issues that we’ll need to address. I like doing practical research that growers can use as soon as it’s published.”

For example, Smith presented his master’s research at Ball Horticultural Company’s headquarters. “They were super excited about the purpling work,” he says. “It’s great to see people who are actually interested in my work and know what I’m talking about.”

Currently, Smith’s initial doctoral research is exploring how much supplemental LED lighting plants can receive in a greenhouse before any morphological or coloration issues occur.

Tapping into opportunities

Smith’s parents, who are both public school teachers, were happy to see their son pursuing higher education in a field he truly enjoyed. His online gaming friends, however, were a little more surprised by his career choice.

“They were like, ‘You don’t even garden. What are you doing?’” he says.

Smith had to explain to them that horticulture is a much bigger field than just tending crops.

“There’s a huge demand for people with this kind of education, or at least a passion for growing plants,” he says. “Many people might not be aware of all the job opportunities in this field.”

Smith’s ultimate dream is to one day teach plant propagation courses. In pursuit of his education, Smith has traveled around the world attending and presenting at horticulture conferences, from the American Society for Horticultural Science meetings in New Orleans and Orlando to the International Plant Production Society conference in New Zealand. In 2026, he plans to attend the International Horticultural Congress in Kyoto, Japan, and another industry event in Costa Rica.

As much as he enjoys meeting growers from other parts of the world, he’s had his fill of tropical destinations.

“I’m tired of having conferences close to the equator. I’m talking about supplemental lighting in areas that don’t even need light,” says Smith, who prefers cold northern locales, like Vancouver, where he recently attended the Floriculture Research Alliance annual meeting. “All these growers from northern regions want to go into the south, but I don’t want to go to Hawaii every year. I like the cold.”

Integrating greenhouse tech

Between his work with supplemental lighting and his personal hobby of online gaming, Smith is intrigued by the intersection of technology and growing. Whether it’s fruit producers using Xbox controllers to fly drones that hunt for blighted trees or students using automated climate controls in MSU’s newest greenhouses, “the future is now,” he says.

One advantage that the 27-year-old Smith’s generation brings to the industry is an inherent comfort level with novel tech.

“We’re more receptive to newer technologies,” he says. “We’re willing to use AI and aren’t afraid of it as some sort of Skynet Terminator thing.”

However, he also warns against relying too heavily on automated controls and AI tools, which are still too expensive for some greenhouses to employ.

“The downside is that people might get a little lazy and used to not having to think for themselves,” he says. “Having someone who understands the needs of your lighting environment and how your additional spectrum may impact your crop is huge.”

Brooke Bilyj owns and operates Bantamedia, a national award-winning content, PR and SEO firm based in Cleveland. She is a frequent contributor to GIE Media’s horticulture publications.