Third annual CEA Summit East sparks innovation, collaboration in Virginia

The third annual Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East returned to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, Virginia, Oct. 1-2, 2024.

Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con and the CEA Innovation Center — a joint project with Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, IALR and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center — the event attracted almost 250 attendees from 35 U.S. states, Canada, the Netherlands and Hong Kong.

The audience of growers, educators, scientists, extension personnel, suppliers, tech specialists and government leaders gathered to explore the latest advancements in CEA technology and build partnerships.

"We’re proud to see the CEA Summit East improve year after year," said Brian Sullivan, CEO of Indoor Ag-Con. "The diversity of expertise represented here is impressive, and it's a testament to the collaborative nature of this growing sector."

The two-day event featured a packed agenda of keynote presentations, panels, breakout sessions and tours of the CEA Innovation Center facilities. There were 21 tabletop exhibits showcasing cutting-edge innovations and services shaping the future of CEA.

"It’s inspiring to see leaders across the CEA spectrum come together to exchange ideas and strategies that drive our industry forward,” said Scott Lowman, co-director of the CEA Innovation Center and vice president of applied research at IALR. "This event underscores the importance of partnerships and shared knowledge in achieving the growth and success we envision for CEA."

Speakers at CEA Summit East

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, a strong supporter of the indoor agriculture sector, kicked off the event with a keynote address to a standing-room only audience.

His session was immediately followed by the session, “What Is CEA: Its Mission, Definition and Purpose,” with Paul Brentlinger, CEO, CropKing; Jessica Soare, senior director of marketing, BrightFarms; Mike Ross, co-founder and CEO, Beanstalk; and Michael Evans, Virginia Tech and co-director of the CEA Innovation Center.

On the second day, the Leadership Insights Panel welcomed John McMahon, co-founder and COO, Better Future Farms; Molly Montgomery, acting CEO and executive chair, AeroFarms; Carl Gupton, CEO, Greenswell Growers; and moderator Emily Gee, CEA Alliance board member and marketing director, AeroFarms, to the stage.

In addition, the panel "Horizon Ahead," moderated by Kelli Rodda, editorial director of GIE Media's Horticulture Group, brought together Andrew Brooks, business development manager, Priva; Cody Journell, founder and CEO, Vegg; and Maximilian Knight, CEO, Rooted Robotics, to discuss emerging trends, technological advancements and innovations shaping CEA today.

CEA Summit East educational tracks

The CEA Summit featured three educational tracks — Production; Business and Education; and Workforce and Training — that brought academics, growers and business experts together covering a wide range of topics ranging from food safety, economics of CEA, crop selection and aquaponics to strategies for energy management, onboarding training programs for new employees and building international partnerships.

Other panel discussions and 15-minute CEA Industry & Research Showcase sessions gave attendees the chance to hear about some of the latest research findings and other industry success stories.

Graduate Student Poster Competition

This year’s summit hosted the second CEA Graduate Student Poster Competition to provide an opportunity for graduate students to share high-quality CEA-related research; to expose commercial companies to qualified candidates; and to foster collaboration between individuals in academia and in private industry.

Eight finalists competed, and Liam Reynolds, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, took first prize for his poster, “Evaluation of Radish, Broccoli, and Lettuce Microgreens Irrigated with Hydrothermal Liquefaction Aqueous Phase.”

Nathaniel King-Smith, The Ohio State University, was awarded second place for his poster, “Exploring Sustainable Alternatives for Critical Materials: Hydroponic Cultivation of Rubber Dandelion ( T.kok-saghyz) for Rubber Production.”

CEA Innovation Center Tour

The event wrapped up with group tours of the CEA Innovation Center. Conference attendees took advantage of the unique opportunity to get an inside look at the CEA Innovation Center’s hydroponic systems and facilities, including the greenhouse and vertical growing racks. They also got to hear more about the center’s research projects.

The next edition of CEA Summit East will be held Sept. 9-10, 2025. More information will be available soon at ceasummit.com.

The next edition of Indoor Ag-Con is March 11-12, 2025, at the Westgate Las Vegas.