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Research supporting development of fully regenerative life support system of the type known as Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems or CELSS has matured to a point where a shift in approach is appropriate. The approach of environmental manipulation and observation of resulting effects on biomass production provided the bases of CELSS feasibility. While plants provide the only known method of producing food, the processes of transpiration, leading to potable water production, and assimilation, leading to CO2 uptake and O2 production, are dynamic and can be independently controlled. These processes have traditionally been considered as fixed to a particular set of growing conditions. Knowledge of these independent control parameters can provide optimization of biomass, water, and O2/CO2 process rates, increase energy efficiency, and increase stability and predictability for life support systems.