eng Enviro Research Publishers Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal 2347-467X 2322-0007 2026-05-25 14 Special Issue Sustainable Nutrition February 2026 26220 article Gopalan Kathiravan 1 *, Jessica Churaman 2 Nkosi Felix 2 Department of Animal Husbandry Statistics and Computer Applications, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, India Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago Increasing global demand for safe, pesticide-free produce has intensified interest in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) as an alternative production system.Given the novelty of CEA technology in Trinidad and Tobago and its relatively high production costs, this study examines consumer willingness to buy (WTB) and willingness to pay (WTP) a premium for CEA-grown lettuce.Data were collected through a supermarket-intercept survey of lettuce-purchasing consumers across four regions of Trinidad and Tobago (n = 160). Consumer decisions were analysed using a binary logistic regression model for willingness to buy and a Tobit regression model for willingness to pay a price premium.Results indicate that several factors influencing willingness to buy also influence willingness to pay a premium. The analysis demonstrates that there is a similar directionality of key predictors.Household income and food-safety concerns emerged as the most significant determinants of both WTB and WTP.Higher income levels were associated with greater willingness to purchase premium products, while concerns regarding pesticide residues and food safety increased stated willingness to pay for CEA produce. Education also showed a positive association with consumer acceptance, suggesting that awareness and knowledge influence valuation of CEA-grown produce. The complementary findings indicate that CEA lettuce exhibits substantial market promise, predominantly among knowledgeable, wealthy, health-oriented, and safety-conscious urban consumers. These findings provide empirical evidence on consumer acceptance and valuation of CEA produce in Trinidad and Tobago, offering insights for pricing, marketing, and policy strategies aimed at supporting emerging controlled-environment agriculture systems. https://www.foodandnutritionjournal.org/vol14nospl-issue-sustainable-nutrition-2026/consumer-acceptance-and-valuation-of-controlled-environment-agriculture-cea-lettuce-an-integrated-analysis-of-willingness-to-buy-and-willingness-to-pay/ Controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) Food safety concern Household income Willingness to buy Willingness to pay