Indoor Ag-Con and the Virginia Tech-Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center have announced that Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin will deliver the opening keynote address at the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East, taking place in Danville, Virginia, on October 1-2, 2024. Governor Youngkin's keynote will kick off the summit on the morning of October 1st, setting the stage for two days of dynamic discussions, research showcases, tabletop exhibits, and collaboration within the indoor agriculture industry.
Governor Youngkin has been a supporter of the indoor agriculture industry, advocating for the combination of state investment, new technology, and company development to create a thriving ecosystem in Virginia. His commitment to fostering an environment that supports safe, sustainable, and locally grown food is why he was chosen as the keynote speaker for this year's summit.
Brian Sullivan, CEO of Indoor Ag-Con said that the Governor's efforts to drive economic growth had made them "thrilled" to have him open the conference with his keynote address.
During Governor Youngkin's term, Virginia has experienced notable economic growth in the CEA sector. This progress is attributed to its strategic location, access to resources, skilled labor, and strong public and private partnerships. These factors have contributed to Virginia's prominent position in advanced agriculture and set a foundation for ongoing innovation and growth in the field.
Returning for its third year, the CEA Summit East will be held from October 1-2, 2024, at the IALR Conference Center in Danville, Virginia. Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con, the premier trade show and conference for the vertical farming, greenhouse, and CEA sector, and the Virginia Tech (VT) - IALR CEA Innovation Center, this summit continues to be a key event for industry collaboration and innovation, featuring two days of tabletop exhibits, networking and conference programming.
Building on the success of its 2023 edition, which drew participants from 33 U.S. states, Canada, the Netherlands, and Sweden, the CEA Summit East 2024 is expected to once again unite professionals from academia, business, and technology within the CEA industry. Attendees will include greenhouse growers, urban agriculture operations, vertical farms, outdoor growers exploring hybrid opportunities, educators, scientists, extension personnel and agents, suppliers, engineers, tech specialists, architects/developers, government officials, and other industry members.
To register for the CEA Summit East click here.
For more information:
Indoor Ag-Con
+1 404 991 5186
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www.indoor.ag