Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
Driving Economic Transformation
The March 2024 edition of IALR at a Glance is jam-packed with exciting news and updates! Learn more about…
Local growers who need to verify the percentage of cannabinoids in a batch of industrial hemp.
Government agencies that need to examine the makeup of groundwater or identify if any heavy metals are present in a soil sample.
Startup companies that need to quantify the efficacy of products under development or obtain a certificate of analysis for batches of products on the way to market.
Multi-billion-dollar corporations from around the world that need an extremely specialized, customized set of product verification and quality control tests.
These are some of the primary client groups that use the reliable, unique and affordable testing services and capabilities offered by the Analytical Chemistry Lab at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR). Utilizing some of the most sophisticated and effective commercially available chemistry testing equipment, the IALR Chemistry Lab supports various industries regionally and globally with methodology development and chemical testing services.
“The IALR Analytical Chemistry Lab provides testing services that give clients the data that they need to move forward. What sets our lab apart is that we provide those services at a high level and a low cost.” – Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research, IALR
At its core, analytical chemistry involves determining the exact chemical composition of a material. This means both identifying every chemical present and quantifying the volume of each.
To complete that level of analysis, the first – and generally more involved – step is to break down a material to its base components or chemicals. This step involves chromatography, which is the process of separating the chemicals.
Once all the base components are separated, chemical detection can commence. Staff in the Analytical Chemistry Lab utilize a mass spectrometer to identify every chemical. One of the most effective mass spectrometers available, the Waters® Tandem Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (TQXS MS) can recognize components in the parts per billion, allowing for identification and analysis of trace amounts of any chemical.
The types of testing services that the IALR Analytical Chemistry Lab provides can be divided in two distinct ways:
Some clients need a one-time test run on a particular sample. For example, a government agency might need to examine heavy metals in a soil sample. Or a company may want to reverse engineer a product to determine its chemical composition.
On the other hand, many companies provide products for regular quality control testing. The chemistry team would provide a certificate of analysis that validates product claims, making it more valuable to the consumer.
Every client of the Analytical Chemistry Lab utilizes its chemical analysis capabilities on some level. The chemical analysis can range from a series of procedures that examine a single analyte to tests that scan for hundreds of different analytes at the same time.
What makes this lab unique, however, is the ability to provide methodology development to determine what types of tests and processes would work for a given material and client need. There is not a single test or process that works for every material, which is why the chemistry team often must develop an individual method for different clients.
“We’re willing to work closely with our clients to develop methodologies and targeted analysis specific to their needs.” – Yimeng “Jack” He, Senior Analytical Chemist, IALR
| Waters® ACQUITY UPLC (Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatograph) system coupled with Tandem Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (TQXS MS) |
| Waters® ACQUITY UPLC system coupled with a Photodiode Array (PDA) Detector and XEVO Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (QToF MS) |
| Agilent® 7890 Gas Chromatograph (GC) with Agilent 5975C Mass Spectrometer (MS)and Flame Ionization Detector (FID) with the 7696A Headspace Sampler add-on |
| Agilent® 7800 Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer |
| Agilent® 1100 HPLC with Diode Array Detector (DAD) |
| Astoria Pacific® A2 Segmented Flow Analyzer coupled with an Astoria Pacific 311 autosampler |
| CEM® MARS 6 Microwave Extractor |
| Teledyne® Flash Chromatograph |
| Two Heidolph® 2-liter bench-top rotary evaporators |
The Analytical Chemistry Lab at IALR supports an exceptionally diverse pool of clients, which can broadly be grouped into a few categories:
Since 2019, IALR’s Analytical Chemistry Lab has been certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to test for cannabinoids in industrial hemp. As one of the few labs in the Commonwealth of Virginia that can issue certificates of analysis for hemp, growers from around Southern Virginia come to IALR for those needs.
“A grower’s livelihood is on the line, so we are very proud to be selected as one of the few labs that can be entrusted with this type of testing.” – Yimeng “Jack” He, Senior Analytical Chemist, IALR
The Analytical Chemistry Lab supports companies from around the world across numerous industries, including agricultural, biotech, chemical, pharmaceutical and natural product industries. Services include Quality Control (QC) testing and QC release, stability studies, method development and optimization and validation.
One regular client is Mara Labs – a relatively young startup company based in Charlottesville, Va., that produces health supplements. After conducting its own internal tests, the company sends samples of its BrocElite® supplement to the IALR Analytical Chemistry Lab for confirmatory testing of the percentage of Stabilized Sulforaphane – a chemical that comes from vegetables like broccoli. Once a sample’s actual chemical makeup is confirmed to match the label, IALR provides a certificate of analysis.
“In terms of quality control, we are making sure that our products are in good shape for the customer. Jack and the team are helping us to achieve that goal.” – Wei Zheng, Lab Technician, Mara Labs
In addition to the frequent confirmatory tests for the BrocElite® supplement, He has worked with the company to develop new methods for several other newer products.
“There’s all different types of methods that you have to go through to get the extraction process for different materials. It takes individualized methods to do that.” – Yimeng “Jack” He, Senior Analytical Chemist, IALR
In addition to all the services provided to clients from around the world, the Analytical Chemistry Lab supports the innovative plant-oriented research happening on the IALR campus. While most chemistry labs are oriented towards water, air or material analysis, the IALR lab is ideally suited for plants – making it unique.
Even though it is a critical part of IALR’s Applied Research division, the Analytical Chemistry Lab is not a traditional research lab. However, its capabilities do support the ongoing research of both the Plant Endophyte Research Center – an initiative focused on the use of naturally occurring plant bacteria as biostimulants and biocontrol agents – and the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center.
An example: the Plant Endophyte Research Center is exploring ways to utilize microorganisms to help plants capture nitrogen from the air. The air is approximately 78% nitrogen, but plants cannot naturally pull nitrogen from the air; nitrogen is one of the costliest and environmentally damaging fertilizers. Some microorganisms (like endophytes) can help that process, and the Chemistry team is developing a specific methodology to see if the bacteria in experiments are fixing nitrogen from the air.
“When you combine our controlled environment agriculture work with our analytical chemistry and our capabilities in biology, it really makes the CEA Innovation Center unique in the U.S. The fact that we have everything together enriches all our programs.” – Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research, IALR
Researchers from the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) and Virginia Tech are exploring ways to improve summer lettuce production. Their recently published study in the international peer-reviewed journal Scientia Horticulturae, which IALR Chief Scientist Dr. Chuansheng Mei led, explores the role of certain bacteria in boosting lettuce growth during hot weather.
This research leverages the expertise and resources of the Plant Endophyte Research Center and the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center, both located at IALR. The team combined their plant science, microbiology, biostimulants and agronomy expertise to investigate natural solutions for enhancing lettuce yields.
The title: ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) deaminase-producing endophytic bacteria improve hydroponically grown lettuce in the greenhouse during the summer season.
The study focused on examining the effects of bacterial endophytes on lettuce growth in a hydroponic system during the summer. Specifically, the researchers looked at how these beneficial bacteria influenced the growth of two lettuce cultivars, ‘Buttercrunch’ and ‘Rex.’ By introducing selected strains of bacteria with high ACC deaminase activity, which lowers a key plant stress hormone, the team observed significant improvements in lettuce shoot growth and chlorophyll content.
Among the four endophytes tested, Burkholderia contaminans IALR1819 was particularly effective in enhancing lettuce production. With its high ACC deaminase activity, this bacterial endophyte played a crucial role in helping lettuce plants cope with heat stress and thrive in challenging conditions.
The findings of this research have important implications for agriculture, especially in regions where high temperatures pose challenges to crop production. Producers may have a valuable tool for improving crop resilience and productivity by harnessing the natural capabilities of beneficial bacteria.
As the global population grows, sustainable agricultural solutions are increasingly important. The Plant Endophyte Research Center and the CEA Innovation Center are focused on optimizing crop production while minimizing environmental impact.
The “Inside IALR” team sits down with Senior Analytical Chemist, Yimeng “Jack” He, and Vice President of Applied Research, Dr. Scott Lowman, to discuss what analytical chemistry is (1:02). They discuss the primary capabilities and services offered by IALR’s chemistry lab such as Quality Control (QC) testing, stability studies, method development, and optimization and validation (2:21). Jack highlights some of the different pieces of equipment in the lab (9:05) and explains how it compares to other chemistry labs. Dr. Lowman also highlights the differences between fundamental and applied research (25:03) and how the analytical chemistry lab factors into IALR’s other research initiatives.
The average piece of clothing is worn between seven and 10 times before it is discarded.
Most of those clothing articles end up in the landfill, the incinerator or dumped somewhere around the world.
Less than 1% of textile waste from clothing is recycled back into clothing.
Most of these clothing articles are made from polycotton, a mixture of polyester and cotton. A Danville–based business, Circ is a circular fashion company that implements a unique technology to separate the polyester and cotton, allowing both materials to be recycled and used to create additional clothes later. (Previous efforts to separate these two fibers would result in the destruction of one material or the other.)
“The building blocks of clothing are natural resources like petroleum, cotton or metals. You can take those building blocks from clothing and turn them back into clothing – that’s what we do. It’s closed-loop garment recycling. But you also can take the building blocks from clothing and turn them back into something else. In the end, the building blocks are commodities that can be recycled many, many times.” – Dr. Iulian Bobe, Circ Co-Founder
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has rented lab space and provided various analytical chemistry and research services to Circ throughout the company’s life cycle, epitomizing the mission of regional economic transformation and industry-driven programs, services and support.
“It’s just incredible to see a company grow and be a part of that growth. It’s also very rewarding and at the core of our mission of economic transformation.” – Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President, Applied Research, IALR
In the mid 2010s, Circ’s initial focus was a technology that would extract sugars and oils from tobacco to produce biofuels. Funding from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission helped the company – then known as Tyton BioSciences – locate in Danville. The hydrothermal technology they developed for the separation process worked, but they saw potential in a different application that also had deep ties to Southern Virginia: textiles.
“We learned a lot about biomass and how to extract those molecules from tobacco. That technology helped us with textile recycling, the application we do today.” – Dr. Iulian Bobe, Circ Co-Founder.
Under the new company name of Circ, they are working to create a circular fashion industry where commodities and products are recycled and reused instead of going straight to the landfill after one use. Circ is facing this issue from multiple fronts by creating new recycled yarn for other brands to use and establishing themselves as their own functional brand.
Today, the company operates out of the Dan River Business Development Center and is focused on scaling operations. Circ’s unique mission and technology recently received international attention as the company became a finalist for the Earthshot Prize – a program founded by Prince William that rewards companies focused on sustainable technology and solutions.
“The story of Circ is an amazing entrepreneurial success story. With an innovative technological advancement, the company has transformed from a startup in the tobacco repurposing sector to an internationally recognized circular textile/fashion company. The story of Circ is a great example of how IALR can play a role in supporting companies throughout their life cycle with a variety of services including office and research lab space.” – Telly Tucker, IALR President
The Applied Research team at IALR provides services and testing and collaborates with large and small companies in Southern Virginia, around the country, and even around the world. IALR has more than 60 active nondisclosure agreements with companies worldwide.
Since Circ arrived in Danville, IALR has provided a variety of services and support.
“We basically hired IALR for characterization of the starting materials,” Dr. Bobe said.
In addition to working with IALR’s advanced materials experts, over the years, Circ has contracted analytical chemistry services and even used office and lab space on the campus until 2023.
Since Circ arrived in Danville, IALR has provided a variety of support, including advanced materials and analytical chemistry testing and characterization services.
“In economic development, our job is to compile and market all the ways that a company would benefit from doing business in our area. When recruiting new companies to Southern Virginia, IALR’s ability to provide a variety of support, ranging from testing and analytical services to temporary space to collaboration opportunities, is a major selling point.” – Linda Green, Southern Virginia Regional Alliance Executive Director, IALR Vice President of Economic Development
Abigail Alderson, a Research Assistant for the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), and Narges Reiahisamani, a Plant Molecular Biologist for AgroSpheres, have worked together on the IALR campus for about a month. The pair have initially focused on running preliminary tests of the growing environment within the greenhouses at IALR and reading existing literature on RNA interference (RNAi), which allows researchers to target and “turn off” specific genes in particular pests.
Alderson and Reiahisamani are conducting research for AgroSpheres, a Charlottesville-based company focused on environmentally friendly crop protection products that utilize RNAi. In the coming months, they will ramp up their research efforts, using IALR’s Analytical Chemistry Lab and testing services, additional greenhouse space, and plant imaging technology to examine the impact of various products in different growing environments.
This collaboration with AgroSpheres exemplifies IALR’s commitment to partnerships and working closely with industry.
“The needs of industry fuel everything we do within the Applied Research division. Sharing our research capabilities and state-of-the-art equipment and spaces with companies like AgroSpheres is a way to contribute to industry growth, bring new companies into Southern Virginia and drive economic transformation.” – Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President, Applied Research, IALR
Reiahisamani and Alderson will test AgroSpheres’ next generation RNAi biostimulants on various agricultural products, including tomatoes, peppers and canola.
“Having Narges and Abigail on the IALR campus allows us to leverage these advanced capabilities without having to build them ourselves. It also allows us to benefit from the experts on the IALR research team.” – Ameer Shakeel, Founder & CTO, AgroSpheres
Reiahisamani and Alderson will grow plants in IALR’s greenhouse but will also utilize other technologies and testing capabilities, especially in the Analytical Chemistry Lab, to measure those results better. In the future, the pair will also use one of IALR’s SMART Tables, which are precision, automated plant-imaging platforms that allow for thorough measurement across a plant growth cycle.
“We want to try their product and see how it works, confirming the results with different tests and methods,” Reiahisamani explained.
“The SMART Table will give us a way to quantify the physical traits we see without intense, expensive lab procedures,” Alderson added.
Founded in the Charlottesville area in 2016, AgroSpheres aims to transform agriculture through reliable and affordable biobased solutions. In May of 2023, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the company would invest $25 million to expand in Albermarle County, creating an additional 50 jobs. In late November the company also announced $25 million in Series B funding round with a strategic investment from FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC), a global leader in agriculture sciences.
“IALR has been a very helpful partner that we can rely on for any analytical/experimental needs, and now we are hoping to invest back into IALR and increase our presence in the Danville community.” – Ameer Shakeel, Founder & CTO, AgroSpheres
“Everyone has been accommodating and collaborative and made sure we have everything we need,” Alderson said.
IALR frequently hosts and collaborates with educators, researchers and companies from Southern Virginia and worldwide. Companies that need contract research services or are interested in utilizing labs, greenhouses or research space at IALR should contact Dr. Scott Lowman.
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) utilizes four Spatially and Mechanically Accurate Robotic Table (SMART) imaging platforms, or SMART Tables, which are automated AgTech innovations, for various experiments and research.
IALR recently installed a SMART Table at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham to give students a hands-on, memorable introduction to plant and computer science concepts. So far, students in multiple environmental science classes have conducted a simple, multi-week plant growth cycle and will examine the experiment data in the future.
“The opportunity for students to work with both plant sciences and computer science, automation and robotics at Hargrave improves their overall academic experience. By combining these fields, students gain a multidisciplinary understanding and develop practical skills that can be applied in various industries.” – Betsy Kent, STEM Chair, Hargrave Military Academy
Implementing a SMART Table at Hargrave is part of a long-term goal to utilize these unique plant imaging tables as an educational tool across Southern Virginia and beyond.
“We are always trying to inspire students and introduce them to robotics, computer science and agricultural production career opportunities. Having these types of interactions with high schools provides preliminary data and proof of concept so that we can expand into more schools.” – Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research, IALR
SMART Tables are automated plant imaging platforms that allow researchers to automatically take thousands of photographs over a plant’s life cycle, collecting data from beginning to end.
The SMART tables consist of an aluminum frame with a tray of individual plants. Every 15 minutes, a webcam mounted to a mechanical arm, called a gantry, captures a picture of each plant. Computer analysis of pixel count and other factors allows researchers to automatically measure plant size, leaf shape, plant movement, discoloration and more. These functions are all controlled using Python code, which tells the gantry and camera when to move across the table and take photos. IALR interns and staff are continually working to improve the functionality of the SMART Tables, adding new, complex computer codes for enhanced automation and designing new systems.
Javon Brooks and Archie Hooper, both juniors at Hargrave Military Academy, said that the weeks-long experiment was memorable because they got to take care of the plants, see how the camera system worked and then eat the lettuce.
“Having a SMART Table here definitely left some excitement in the class.” – Javon Brooks, Junior, Hargrave Military Academy
“The process was really fast, and the lettuce started growing so quickly.” – Archie Hooper, Junior, Hargrave Military Academy
In these first experiments, the focus has been primarily on the environmental science and plant growth components. As Hargrave teachers learn the basics of the table’s computer interface and automated processes, students will be able to focus more on the computer science aspects of the table.
“We are just excited to be able to join forces with IALR to help all students learn about the different types of agriculture and to work on this project. I hope for additional projects and experiments that we can do together in the future.” – Betsy Kent, STEM Chair, Hargrave
In the future, this technology could integrate into different modules for the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program, a talent development model run in partnership with K12, higher education, industry and economic development.
Several recently awarded grants are positioning the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) and the Virginia Tech (VT)-IALR CEA Innovation Center to increase support for agribusinesses in Southern Virginia and conduct critical research in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector. These funds will allow the development of a food system initiative, the offering of affordable testing services for the CEA industry, and research into the impact of beneficial bacteria in CEA environments.
IALR was awarded two grants totaling approximately $250,000 from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC) along with $100,000 from an anonymous donor that will allow the creation of two new positions and the development and implementation of new services. A Specialty Crop Block Grant from VDACS revolves around the use of technology and biostimulants to enhance and promote Virginia’s specialty crops.
“This funding will position IALR to conduct more innovative research, empower regional producers to distribute their products, and provide critical testing services for the CEA industry. Each of these initiatives, which are only possible due to dynamic partnerships and intentional support from organizations like VDACS and the Tobacco Commission, directly relate to our mission of driving economic transformation.” — IALR President Telly Tucker
“Supporting the agricultural economy of Southern and Southwest Virginia has always been a top priority for the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission since it was first created nearly 25 years ago. Like many industries, agriculture is becoming increasingly advanced and so the Commission is proud to partner with IALR to ensure that Virginia farmers can meet the challenges, and reap the rewards, of advancements in fields like controlled environment agriculture and more. At the end of the day, the Commission is committed to creating new revenue streams and increasing incomes for our farmers and producers. These projects will do just that and I am pleased that the Commission chose to support them.” — Tobacco Commission Acting Executive Director James E. Campos
To address common issues CEA producers face, the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center will establish third-party product/method evaluation and testing services for CEA companies. Additionally, staff will expand outreach efforts by providing educational materials to growers. This project will provide assistance and information to benefit small, medium and large CEA producers and suppliers.
“Part of our mission at the CEA Innovation Center is to build partnerships with industry to advance CEA in VA. Through conversations with industry members, the need for a testing service was identified. This grant will allow us to meet that need by working with industry to evaluate products and ideas under greenhouse and vertical farm conditions.” — Dr. Kaylee South, Assistant Professor of Controlled Environment Agriculture, Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
IALR will hire a research technician to manage these testing services. The TRRC granted $145,841 towards this initiative. Virginia Tech is also providing funds to install a Postdoctoral research position.
To help diversify agribusiness and increase net farm output in Southern Virginia, IALR will establish a robust local food system that connects producers and farmers with institutional buyers, food hubs and other purchasers.
Many farmers lack the time and resources to promote their goods to potential customers. Simultaneously, many large institutional buyers would like to offer local produce, meat and dairy to their employees and visitors, but they would prefer not to interact with each farmer individually. This food system will facilitate those interactions.
“An overarching focus of Applied Research at IALR is to help diversify agribusiness in Southern Virginia and increase net farm income, profitability and opportunity for new and existing farms of all sizes. This grant will allow us to meet that goal with the addition of a value chain coordinator to help create a robust local food system where farmers’ price points are met while local consumers gain greater access to their products. This will be a unique, impactful program that fits squarely into IALR’s mission of economic transformation for Southern Virginia.” — Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President, Applied Research IALR
IALR will hire a Value Chain Coordinator to manage the implementation of this food hub. TRRC awarded $104,452 toward this initiative. An anonymous donation of $100,000 will also support this initiative.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced $550,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grant Funding at the end of October, and two of those grants were for research happening at IALR. Dr. Sajeewa Amaradasa, Senior Scientist at IALR, and Dr. Kaylee South, an Assistant Professor of CEA within Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences who works with the CEA Innovation Center, received the grants.
Dr. Amaradasa will be researching the use of endophytes – beneficial bacteria that live inside plants and help plants grow better and tolerate stress – in the growth of strawberries in soilless systems. This research outcome would help growers increase profits in hydroponically grown strawberries by using growth-promoting bacteria.
Dr. South, Dr. Michael Evans, and other Virginia Tech researchers will develop and evaluate the use of biofungicides for the control of common diseases in CEA production. This goal will be fulfilled by developing and assessing RNAi-based biofungicides targeting grey mold in strawberry production and downy mildew in spinach production.
Specialty Crop Block Grant program funding is authorized annually by the 2018 Farm Bill. The awards resulted from a competitive grant process established by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) for funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, advanced manufacturing, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s primary footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville.
The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission is a 28-member body created by the 1999 General Assembly. Its mission is the promotion of economic growth and development in formerly tobacco-dependent communities, using proceeds of the national tobacco settlement. To date, the Commission has created tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in Southern and Southwest Virginia.
Several partner organizations recently completed the development of a strategic roadmap regarding the economic growth potential for the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia, specifically in the 15 localities within GO Virginia Region 3. Analyzing the current state of the industry, this roadmap outlines ways that the partners can support future economic growth among large and small companies in the CEA sector through a variety of initiatives tied to collaboration, research, economic development, workforce training and more.
The development of this roadmap, which was completed by the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) in partnership with IALR, was funded through a $77,000 grant from GO Virginia Region 3.
“While controlled environment agriculture is not a new industry, it is growing quickly and has major economic implications for our region. Intentional partnerships and public-private collaboration are what will allow this important sector to thrive and expand right here in Southern Virginia and across the Commonwealth. Building on the current strength of the region, this roadmap outlines several crucial steps we can take to advance the CEA industry.” — Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research, IALR
CEA involves a combination of engineering, plant and animal science, and computer-managed control technologies used to optimize plant and animal growing systems, quality and production efficiency. Growing systems range from a basic greenhouse to a fully automated system with controlled lighting, water and ventilation installed. By controlling various elements of the growing environment, CEA can decrease pesticide and water use and allow for year-round production close to consumers. The concept of CEA is not new, but more recent technological advancements like biotechnology, robotic imaging and machine learning have changed the economics of CEA as an industry.
The primary recommendation of the roadmap is the development and implementation of a comprehensive CEA hub initiative, in conjunction with or led by IALR and the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center. This hub would lead and advance five additional strategies in GO Virginia Region 3 and across the state:
“We were excited to find that continued growth is expected in the CEA industry. GO Virginia Region 3 is well-positioned to remain competitive as a location for this growth. In addition, the CEA Hub Initiative would help the region, and the state, to better maximize this opportunity and grow CEA sector jobs of all types, from smaller start-ups to large-scale indoor farming.” — Dr. Scott Tate, Associate Director for Community Innovations, Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement
Due to the technology used in CEA, the skillsets required tend to be more varied than traditional farming and typically appeal to a younger workforce. Although much of CEA is automated, skilled workers are still invaluable for guiding and overseeing the equipment, plant and animal health, and other hands-on work. Some common occupational areas within CEA companies include crop production, animal production and aquaculture, machinery manufacturing and computer and electronic product manufacturing.
Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr recently shared remarks during the presentation of this roadmap at IALR.
“When an organization lacks vision, it is much harder to reach the destination. This roadmap outlines how Southern Virginia can become a hub for the CEA industry and the steps needed to get there. The synergies outlined in this plan, including workforce training, research, increased awareness and site development will make Southern Virginia a CEA leader.” — The Honorable Matthew Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
The partners involved in the study identified a total of 18 CEA companies operating or preparing to open in Virginia, seven of which are larger operators that have 50 or more employees. In all as of 2022, the team estimates there are approximately 35,000 existing CEA-related jobs in the state, 1,750 of which are in GO Virginia Region 3. Virginia has seen an increase in CEA companies locating in the state, with announcements of major projects like Plenty in Chesterfield County in 2022, expected to bring 300 new jobs and $300 million in investment to the area. Blue Ridge Aquaculture, a Martinsville-based company that is the largest indoor system producer of tilapia in the world, and AeroFarms, a leading vertical agriculture company that established one of the world’s largest aeroponic smart farms in Danville-Pittsylvania County’s Cane Creek Centre, are the largest existing CEA companies in GO Virginia Region 3.
“One of the primary goals of economic development is increasing household income, which typically leads a region’s residents to experience increased educational attainment, improved health outcomes, housing values, and household discretionary income. While large CEA companies can provide quality and high-wage employment opportunities in GO Virginia Region 3, another critical focus of this strategy is to promote and facilitate CEA-related entrepreneurship and small business opportunities, combining macro and micro approaches to grow this emerging business sector in Southern Virginia.” — Bryan David, GO Virginia Region 3 Program Director
The study identifies the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center, located on IALR’s campus, as a “unique and crucial asset and resource for innovators, policymakers and industry in the CEA sector.” This facility, which is operated through a partnership with IALR, the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, leverages the biotechnology and chemistry research at IALR and serves as a demonstration site and agricultural technology training center that brings together industry, academia and producers.
The CEA Innovation Center also serves as a co-host of the annual CEA Summit East.
“The outstanding work conducted by the whole team in developing the CEA Roadmap will help all of us to effectively work together in our common goal of making Virginia an international hub for controlled environment agriculture and utilizing the growing field of controlled environment agriculture as an economic development engine for Virginia. We are looking forward to exciting collaborations going forward.” — Dr. Michael Evans, Director of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Co-Director of the CEA Innovation Center
GO Virginia is a statewide, business-led economic development initiative with funding to invest in collaborative projects that lead to high-paying jobs in each region. The mission of GO Virginia is to encourage collaboration among business, education and government in each region. GO Virginia Region 3 is one of nine regions in Virginia and includes the counties of Amelia, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Halifax, Henry, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Prince Edward and the cities of Danville and Martinsville. For more information, please visit govirginia3.org and sign up for the Region 3 monthly newsletter or connect with GO Virginia Region 3 on Facebook or LinkedIn.
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, advanced manufacturing, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville. For more information, visit www.ialr.org.
The Center (formerly known as the Office of Economic Development) connects Virginia Tech faculty, companies, and communities in ways that help create, retain, and enhance the availability and quality of jobs and opportunities around the Commonwealth. This includes providing applied research, technical assistance, and training services to increase clients’ abilities to prudently manage economic change and build capacity to stimulate change.
Nearly a decade ago, the cutting-edge research at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) caught the eye of Dr. Tim Durham, Associate Professor of Crop Science at Ferrum College. At that time, he vividly recalls social media posts about IALR’s research involving the use of drones in agricultural production and monitoring.
Several years later, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his planned yearlong sabbatical at the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center. This academic year, however, Durham is leveraging an internal fellowship as plan B. A course release allows him to work one day a week at the CEA Innovation Center, where he assists with research projects and general operations.
Dr. Tim Durham, an Associate Professor of Crop Science at Ferrum College, is completing an internal fellowship that allows him to work in the CEA Innovation Center one day a week.
“I greatly value the opportunity to work with esteemed experts in this up-and-coming field. The CEA Innovation Center is laying the groundwork for the future; I want to be inspired, to try and mirror that body and ethic of work at Ferrum College. So many stakeholders benefit – firstly my students, but also the community at-large, including teachers seeking a year-round plant curriculum, and farmers eyeing a CEA pivot.” — Dr. Tim Durham, Associate Professor of Crop Science, Ferrum College
At the CEA Innovation Center, Durham is assisting staff with a variety of projects, processes and research, and outreach.
A jack of all trades who grew up on a vegetable farm in New York – with extensive experience in agronomy (crop science) and horticulture, Durham isn’t entirely a stranger to the CEA industry. Through a grant from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, Durham constructed a small greenhouse hydroponic lettuce system for Ferrum College students to complete practicums and learn the basics of CEA. With student help, he also sells lettuce to the campus cafeteria.
“I basically went into the hydroponic endeavor blind,” he said. “I had always been a decidedly field guy. But I found that many of the varieties and practices used in CEA were actually translatable to growing in the field. There’s a lot of surprising similarities.”
Meant to bring together academia with producers and industry, the CEA Innovation Center is a demonstration site and agricultural technology training center jointly operated by IALR and the Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences in partnership with the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center of Virginia Tech. With multiple greenhouses, an indoor vertical farm and hydroponics growing systems, the goal of the center is to conduct research and develop educational and extension programs to advance and promote the CEA industry.
“A couple major focus areas of the CEA Innovation Center are to advance the industry, serve as a hub for research and education and promote workforce development within the CEA sector. Using the center to provide an educator and collaborator with hands-on experience that will influence future classroom content certainly ties into those goals.” — Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research at IALR
At the CEA Innovation Center, Durham is assisting staff with a variety of projects, processes and research, including preparing, maintaining, and reporting on experiments in the vertical farm and greenhouse hydroponic systems. He is also active on the outreach front. For example, Durham participated in the second annual CEA Summit East in several capacities, including: moderating a CEA in the classroom panel and serving as a graduate poster competition judge, among other duties.
Durham has also served as a co-author on a research paper published by the CEA Innovation Center team.
Dr. Kaylee South, Assistant Professor of CEA at Virginia Tech, works with Dr. Tim Durham in the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center.
“The Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center is working to identify and address the needs of the CEA industry in VA and beyond by serving as a hub for building collaborations in research, extension work, and education. Part of the Innovation Center’s outreach and education programming is to serve as a demonstration site and training center for students and professionals. Dr. Tim Durham has helped us in moving forward with our mission in all areas.” — Dr. Kaylee South, Assistant Professor of CEA at Virginia Tech
So far during his fellowship, which will continue through May 2024, Durham has already learned a lot about the “broad-based applicability of CEA.” And the knowledge he’s gathering will not only help prepare the students studying horticulture and plant sciences at Ferrum, but could be helpful for his family’s vegetable farm in New York. He makes a pilgrimage every summer to return to his roots and work in the fields. Durham’s family is exploring the addition of a small hydroponics lettuce system to diversify and provide supplementary off-season income.
Building alliances, sharing information and forging new connections were key themes that drove the September 19-20, 2023, edition of the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East held at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, Virginia.
Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con and the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center (a partnership between the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech, the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, and IALR), the 2nd annual edition attracted 240 attendees from 33 U.S. states, Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden, including growers, educators, scientists, Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists, suppliers, engineers, tech specialists, architect/developers and other industry members.
Pictured (L-R) : Michael Schwarz, Ph.D., Associate Director, CEA Innovation Center, Director, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research & Extension Center, Virginia Tech; Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con; John H. Hughes, IV, ED.D., Executive Vice President of Operations, IALR; Matthew Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry; Scott Lowman, Ph.D., Co-Director, CEA Innovation Center & Vice President, Applied Research, IALR.
During the day and one-half event, attendees enjoyed quality time to meet, network and learn during keynotes, panels, and breakout conference sessions; explored 21 tabletop exhibits presenting the latest innovations and services; and enjoyed a host of networking opportunities.
“It’s exciting to see this event grow in both attendance and vendor/sponsor support. Together with the CEA Innovation Center, we’re building a strong event where business and academia unite to drive our industry forward.” – Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con
“The CEA Summit exemplifies the collaborative spirit that defines our mission. It’s rewarding to see industry leaders from all sectors of CEA convene here to share lessons learned, best practices, research findings and ways to help accelerate our collective growth.” – Scott Lowman, Co-Director, Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center and Vice President, Applied Research, IALR.
Event highlights included:
Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr kicked off the opening morning with his keynote address, “Virginia’s Commitment to Next Generation Agriculture: Leading the Indoor Farming Revolution.” On the 2nd day, AeroFarms President and CFO opened the event with a keynote that came on the heels of the company’s announcement that it had emerged fully funded from Chapter 11.
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Virginia Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry Matthew Lohr kicks off CEA Summit East with Day One Keynote. |
 AeroFarms President and CFO Guy Blanchard leads CEA Summit East Day Two keynote. |
The CEA Summit featured four educational tracks – Grower, Business & Marketing, Up & Coming Technology and Education, Outreach & Workforce Development – that brought academics, growers and business experts together to cover a wide range of topics ranging from scaling up and negotiating energy costs to the future of CEA crops, getting started in aquaponics, and lessons learned from recent college graduates entering the CEA sector. 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.
In addition to conference sessions, attendees had ample opportunities to visit with the Summit’s 21 tabletop exhibitors during coffee breaks, luncheon roundtables and an afternoon cocktail reception.
This year’s summit kicked off a new CEA Poster Competition to provide an opportunity for graduate students to share high quality CEA-related research; to expose commercial companies to qualified candidates; to foster collaboration between individuals in academia and in private industry. Six finalists competed and Nelda Hernandez, Auburn University, took first prize for her poster, “Hydroponics as an Alternative Production System for Strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) in Alabama.”
The event wrapped up with group tours of the CEA Innovation Center. 90+ 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 some of the Center’s exciting research projects.
 Participants in the CEA Summit East had the opportunity to tour the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center. |
 Participants in the CEA Summit East had the opportunity to tour IALR’s chemistry and biotechnology labs. |
 An attendee of the CEA Summit East takes a picture during a tour of the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center. |
Look for more information coming soon on dates and details for the 2024 edition. In the meantime, industry members can make plans to attend Indoor Ag-Con, March 11-12, 2024, as it returns to Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, to once again co-locate with the National Grocers Association (NGA) Show.
Indoor Ag-Con is the premier global event series focused on the future of indoor farming. Since 2013, the trade show and conference, the industry’s largest, has been at the forefront of the rapidly expanding vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture sector, providing a platform for industry leaders, innovators, and researchers to connect, share knowledge, and drive the industry forward.
The Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is a joint project between IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center. By developing strategic partnerships with both industry and academia, the goal of the Innovation Center is to conduct research and educational programming to develop, promote and advance the CEA sector in the U.S. and internationally.
AeroFarms President and Chief Financial Officer Guy Blanchard will lead a keynote address at the 2nd annual edition of the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East, Sept. 19-20, 2023, at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) Institute Conference Center in Danville, Va. Blanchard’s keynote will shed light on AeroFarms’ journey towards resiliency, emphasizing the conference’s core mission to unite the CEA business and academic sectors, fostering learning, networking, and collective growth in the face of industry challenges.
Guy Blanchard’s keynote is scheduled for Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 9 a.m.
The CEA Summit East is co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con, the largest vertical farming | CEA gathering, and the CEA Innovation Center – a partnership between IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
During his keynote, Blanchard will share how AeroFarms is emerging stronger in the months following a Chapter 11 filing, touching on growing retail partnerships with leaders like Walmart, H-E-B, The Fresh Market, Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, and other initiatives. He will also provide updates on AeroFarms’ newest farm in Danville, which continues to scale according to plan.
Blanchard brings extensive project finance and corporate development experience for AeroFarms, a leading clean-technology company that builds and operates commercial state-of-the-art indoor vertical farms around the world, helping transform agriculture. A Certified B Corporation, AeroFarms has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the Most Innovative Companies in the World and by Inc. as one of the Top 25 Disruptive Companies. Guy last served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, at Amonix, Inc., a concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar power systems equipment manufacturer and developer.
Guy has also served as a Managing Director for Fortress Investment Group’s Drawbridge family of funds, where he was a principal investor with a focus on structured investments in long-lived assets. Prior to that, Guy was Vice President of Corporate Finance at GATX Capital Corporation and CFO for JTP Manufacturing. Guy holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA, both from the University of California, Davis.
“We are excited to welcome Guy Blanchard to our CEA Summit keynote stage. AeroFarms has been a trailblazer in the indoor farming industry, and his address will undoubtedly provide invaluable insights into the path forward for the indoor farming sector as it confronts new challenges, and new opportunities, head-on,” said Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con.
“Having Guy Blanchard share his perspective on AeroFarms’ journey through recent challenges aligns perfectly with our mission to foster collaboration and innovation within the CEA community,” adds Dr. Scott Lowman, Co-Director of the CEA Innovation Center, and Vice President of Applied Research at IALR.
The CEA Summit East is custom-tailored for new and well-seasoned CEA industry members from throughout the Eastern U.S., including indoor and greenhouse growers, facility owners and operators, educators, government officials, real estate developers, architects, construction specialists, sales and marketing teams and others.
During the two-day event, industry members will have the opportunity to hear from CEOs, researchers, and experts leading keynotes, panels, and breakout sessions; explore tabletop exhibits presenting the latest CEA innovations and services; and enjoy a host of networking opportunities ranging from meals and coffee breaks to an evening social event.
WHEN: Tuesday, September 19 – Wednesday, September 20, 2023
WHERE: IALR Institute Conference Center, 150 Slayton Ave, Danville, VA 24540
INFO: For information on exhibiting or attending visit www.ceasummit.com
Since 2004, AeroFarms has been leading the way for indoor vertical farming and championing transformational innovation for agriculture. AeroFarms is a Certified B Corporation. Named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company two years in a row and one of TIME’s Best Inventions in Food, AeroFarms patented, award-winning indoor vertical farming technology provides the optimal conditions for healthy plants to thrive, taking agriculture to a new level of precision, food safety, and productivity while using up to 95% less water and no pesticides versus traditional field farming. Its products can be found at major selling partners like Ahold Delhaize, Amazon Fresh, Baldor Specialty Food, Compass Group, Harris Teeter, H-E-B, Marcus BP, Momofuku Noodle Bars, ShopRite, The Fresh Market, Walmart, and Whole Foods Market. For additional information, visit https://aerofarms.com/.
Indoor Ag-Con is the premier global event series focused on the future of indoor farming. Since 2013, the trade show and conference, the industry’s largest, has been at the forefront of the rapidly expanding vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture sector, providing a platform for industry leaders, innovators, and researchers to connect, share knowledge, and drive the industry forward. More information- www.indoor.ag
The Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is a joint project between IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center. By developing strategic partnerships with both industry and academia, the goal of the Innovation Center is to conduct research and educational programming to develop, promote and advance the CEA sector in the U.S. and internationally. More information–www.ialr.org/cea.
Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr will lead the opening morning keynote address for the 2nd annual edition of the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East, September 19-20, 2023 at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) Institute Conference Center in Danville, VA. Secretary Lohr’s presentation sets the stage for two days of education and networking built around the summit’s goal of bringing CEA business and academic community members together to boost growth opportunities for the entire sector.
The CEA Summit East is co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con, the largest vertical farming | CEA gathering, and the CEA Innovation Center – a partnership between the IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
During his keynote address, “Virginia’s Commitment to Next Generation Agriculture: Leading the Indoor Farming Revolution,” Secretary Lohr will discuss the state’s leadership role in the CEA sector, including its investment in research and development, workforce training, and infrastructure to support CEA industry growth. The session will give attendees valuable insights into Virginia’s strategic CEA plans, initiatives, support mechanisms and opportunities that exist for collaboration and innovation.
Matthew Lohr was raised on a Virginia century family farm in the Shenandoah Valley. As a fifth-generation farmer, he has spent his entire life working for the betterment of the agricultural industry and rural America.
He developed his passion for public service and agricultural policy while serving as both a state and national FFA officer before graduating from Virginia Tech with a B.S. degree in Agricultural Education. He has more than 30 years of experience as a professional leader and communicator.
In early 2022, he was appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin to serve as Virginia’s Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. In this role, he serves in the governor’s cabinet and oversees three state agencies – the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Department of Forestry, and the Virginia Racing Commission.
“We are honored to have Secretary Lohr join us for the 2nd annual CEA Summit East. Virginia’s unique advantages make it an ideal hub for CEA companies and Secretary Lohr’s participation in our event further underscores the state’s commitment to fostering CEA industry innovation and growth. His keynote is the perfect kick-off to the insightful discussions, networking and growth opportunities that will all be part of this year’s event,” said Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con.
“At the CEA Innovation Center, our mission revolves around moving the CEA industry forward through research, educational programming and industry support,” adds Dr. Scott Lowman, Co-Director of the CEA Innovation Center, and Vice President of Applied Research at IALR. “We are especially excited to have Secretary Lohr lead our keynote and highlight the pivotal role that public-private partnerships play in driving the growth of this sector. With his keynote, we look forward to showcasing how Virginia’s collaborative efforts are driving advancements that resonate far beyond our state borders.”
The CEA Summit East is custom-tailored for new and well-seasoned CEA industry members from throughout the Eastern US, including indoor and greenhouse growers, facility owners and operators, educators, government officials, real estate developers, architects, construction specialists, sales and marketing teams and others.
During the two-day event, industry members will have the opportunity to hear from CEOs, researchers, and experts leading keynotes, panels, and breakout sessions; explore tabletop exhibits presenting the latest CEA innovations and services; and enjoy a host of networking opportunities ranging from meals and coffee breaks to an evening social event.
QUICK FACTS:
Indoor Ag-Con is the premier global event series focused on the future of indoor farming. Since 2013, the trade show and conference, the industry’s largest, has been at the forefront of the rapidly expanding vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture sector, providing a platform for industry leaders, innovators, and researchers to connect, share knowledge, and drive the industry forward.
The Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is a joint project between IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center. By developing strategic partnerships with both industry and academia, the goal of the Innovation Center is to conduct research and educational programming to develop, promote and advance the CEA sector in the U.S. and internationally.
Some of the world’s most unique and innovative plant imaging technology has been developed here at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR).
The Spatially and Mechanically Accurate Robotic Table (SMART) Platform, allows researchers to automatically take thousands of photographs over a plant’s life cycle, collecting data from beginning to end. With a mix of computer and human analysis of these photos, researchers can examine plant growth at every stage of development, allowing for a better understanding of the impact of different variables on plants.
The SMART Platforms consist of an aluminum frame with a tray holding up to 86 individually potted plants. A color-sensitive webcam mounted to a mechanical arm, called a gantry, then takes a picture of each plant, providing a measurement of plant canopy size as well as other morphological traits of the plant, including leaf shape, discoloration and more. These functions are all controlled using Python code, which tells the gantry and camera when to move across the table and take photos.
IALR Vice President of Applied Research Scott Lowman (left) and Virginia Tech Research Specialist Mitchell Doss (right) look at the potted plants inside the SMART Platform.
“It’s like having a fixed camera above every plant on the table.” – Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research, IALR
In most cases, the gantry and camera are programmed to photograph each plant every 15-30 minutes. By capturing images of plants during their life cycle, researchers can visually fill in the blanks that traditional measurement techniques leave behind.
Initially conceptualized by Jerzy Nowak and Alfred Wicks of Virginia Tech, and based on off-the-shelf equipment used in traditional manufacturing, the SMART Platform concept was later picked up by IALR’s Vice President of Applied Research, Dr. Scott Lowman, during his post-doctoral research in imaging. Dr. Lowman revitalized the idea, custom designing and building new functional tables, control systems and software that are now fully operational. Five SMART Platforms are currently in use, four hosted on IALR’s campus and another at Hargrave Military Academy.
These tables are accurate to within a thousandth of an inch. This means that wherever the camera is programmed to go, it will return to that exact spot every single time. This accuracy allows researchers to capture timelapse photography of plant life, visualizing plant growth and death as if a stationary camera had been placed above each plant.
Researchers can utilize this technology to analyze the growth curves of plants during an experiment. Using the fully automatic system to take measurements every 15 minutes, they can see the impact of different variables over time.
“I can start an experiment, and as long as I can take care of the plants, it can run continuously until it’s completed or the plants die.” – Mitchell Doss, Virginia Tech Research Specialist
A color-sensitive webcam mounted to a mechanical arm, called a gantry, takes a picture of each plant, providing a measurement of plant canopy size as well as other morphological traits of the plant, including leaf shape, discoloration and more. These functions are all controlled using Python code, which tells the gantry and camera when to move across the table and take photos.
These tables are unique because they turn each plant into its own experimental unit. In traditional plant research, scientists take the fresh and dry weight of the harvested plant as a data point. However, this method leaves a gap within the plant’s early development and growth stages. Researchers can gain hyper-detailed data on plant growth by taking measurements of a plant throughout its life cycle.
Analyzing the data gathered from the SMART Platform is a complicated process. After conducting an experiment, researchers have folders on the computer containing thousands of images of each plant. From here, complex lines of code conduct image analysis that detects the amount of greenness (which equals the size of the plant) within an image. By calculating the difference between the number of green pixels from one image to another, researchers gain data on how much and how quickly a plant has grown.
Summer interns Kendall Moore (left) and Hunter Pruitt (right) both spent time improving niche aspects of the SMART Platform. Moore designed a hydroponics system to implement into the tables while Pruitt developed a program that automates the tables’ coordinate-finding system.
To continue the development of the SMART Platform, the Applied Research division utilizes IALR’s Summer Internship program to provide young researchers with the opportunity to work with – and improve – this technology. This summer, the team of interns helped build two brand-new SMART Platforms.
“We need people with diverse skills and backgrounds to move these tables forward.” – Dr. Scott Lowman
The interns also carry out individual projects to improve niche aspects of the SMART Platforms. Hunter Pruitt, a rising senior at North Carolina State University, spent his summer working to automate the tables’ coordinate-finding system. Eliminating the need to manually input the coordinates for a plant on the table makes the technology more efficient and easier to use.
Another intern this summer, Kendall Moore, a rising senior at the University of Virginia, designed a hydroponics system to implement into the tables. This will allow for new research on hydroponic growth techniques in addition to potted plants.
The current coding system and graphic user interface used to run the tables was developed by Samuel Hedrick, an intern during the summer of 2021. This allows the table to be user-friendly to those who don’t have a specific background in computer science.
Mitchell Doss, a Virginia Tech Research Specialist currently earning a master’s degree in horticulture, has worked with the SMART Platforms since 2014, when he was a part of the original team of interns who helped with image analysis. Now, the roles have reversed, as Doss has taken on supervising the Coding and Robotics interns.
“IALR is the place for opportunities.” – Mitchell Doss
A jack of all trades in terms of research, Doss has been a part of IALR’s Applied Research Division since 2021. He has conducted various experiments via the SMART Platforms and is carrying out research for his master’s program on potassium levels in fertilizers.
Lowman, Doss and Virginia Tech faculty member Dr. Kaylee South are drafting a research paper introducing the SMART Platform into the present literature. Once this is published, it will allow future research done via the tables to reference it, as opposed to including tedious details within the methods and materials sections of the paper.
Plants shake as they grow. That fact is common knowledge in the scientific community, but it is unclear why they shake or what that movement says about a plant’s overall health. The meaning of plant movement is one area IALR researchers are beginning to explore using the SMART Platform’s complete imaging capabilities.
“We’ll be practically the only people in the world that can look at plant movement as an indicator of plant health scientifically.” – Dr. Scott Lowman
One inconvenience in developing code to detect plant movement is determining the difference between movement and growth. As it stands, plant growth is categorized as the total amount of green pixels in an image, whereas plant movement is the amount of change in green pixels found in an image. In short, if green pixels are found where there were none before, or there are no green pixels where there were before, that is considered plant movement.
Recently, IALR obtained a 3D-scanning device that allows the user to create a three-dimensional model of any object. Implementing this technology within the SMART Platform could allow for further exploration into plant growth and movement.
The capability to accurately measure plant movement could offer a new dependent variable for experiments. This possibility can also be paired with IALR’s extensive endophyte library to provide early detections of bacterial impact.
“It’s not what you expect to find; it’s what you don’t expect to find that makes it interesting.” – Dr. Scott Lowman
Moving forward, the objective is to integrate new types of cameras onto the table, such as multispectral, hyperspectral and lidar cameras that could detect changes in wavelength reflection that human vision cannot detect. Different aspects of plant movement could also be studied, such as leaf tip curling and other changes in the structure of plants.
Another development is the use of a hydroponics system to further automate the process of experimentation via the SMART Platform. In the future, this technology could be merged with the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center at IALR.
The eventual goal is to share the SMART Platform technology and research capabilities with companies and institutions commercially. After many alterations and tweaks throughout the years, an efficient and user-friendly product is nearly ready for market.
The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East Conference will host a graduate student poster competition during its 2nd annual edition, September 19-20, 2023, at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research (IALR) Conference Center in Danville, Virginia. Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con, the largest gathering of the vertical farming | CEA sector, and the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center, a joint project between IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, CEA Summit East offers an ideal platform for aspiring graduate students to showcase their research in the field of CEA-related research.
By encouraging students to showcase their work through poster presentations, the competition seeks to foster collaboration opportunities between individuals in academia and private industry, while also connecting commercial companies with qualified candidates.
“We are proud to co-host the graduate student poster competition at the CEA Summit East Conference,” said Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con. “This competition not only provides a great platform for students to share their research, but also enables commercial companies to discover talented individuals who can contribute to the future growth and innovation of the CEA sector.”
The Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is dedicated to advancing research and development in CEA. The center’s Co-Director and IALR Vice President, Scott Lowman, Ph.D., adds, “The graduate student poster competition is one more way we’re bridging the gap between academia and industry, promoting knowledge exchange, and opening doors to new collaboration in the CEA field.”
Graduate students interested in participating in the competition are invited to learn more and submit abstracts detailing their research by August 1, 2023, via www.ceasummit.com/#poster-competition. A panel of experts will review the abstracts and select ten finalists to present their work through poster presentations at the conference. Selected candidates will receive a complimentary full access graduate student conference pass ($395 value) to attend the conference/competition. Judging will be held during the event and the winner will be announced at the day two keynote breakfast session on September 20, 2023.
Following its successful debut edition in October 2022, which brought together more than 200 attendees from 28 states, CEA Summit East 2023 will continue to foster connections and collaboration among growers, educators, scientists, extension specialists, suppliers, engineers, tech specialists, architect/developers and other industry members. Throughout the two-day event attendees will have the opportunity to explore the latest innovations from tabletop exhibitors, enjoy networking opportunities, and attend a full roster of keynote, panel presentations and research/industry showcases.
For more information about the graduate student poster competition and the September 19-20, 2023, edition of CEA Summit East, visit the conference website at www.ceasummit.com
ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON
Indoor Ag-Con is the premier global event series focused on the future of indoor farming. Since 2013, the trade show and conference, the industry’s largest, has been at the forefront of the rapidly expanding vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture sector, providing a platform for industry leaders, innovators, and researchers to connect, share knowledge, and drive the industry forward. More information – www.indoor.ag
ABOUT THE VIRGINIA TECH-IALR CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE INNOVATION CENTER
The Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is a joint project between IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center. By developing strategic partnerships with both industry and academia, the goal of the Innovation Center is to conduct research and educational programming to develop, promote and advance the CEA sector in the U.S. and internationally. More information: www.ialr.org/cea
The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East is proud to announce its return on September 19-20, 2023, at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, VA. Focused on convening the CEA industry and academia, the annual event is co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con, the premier global gathering of the vertical farming/CEA sector, and the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center, a joint project between IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
Following the success of its debut edition in October 2022, which brought together more than 200 attendees from 28 states, the CEA Summit East will continue to foster connections and collaboration among growers, educators, scientists, extension specialists, suppliers, engineers, tech specialists, architect/developers and other industry members.
“The enthusiasm and engagement we saw at our inaugural event were truly inspiring and we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the CEA Innovation Center to bring the CEA Summit East back in 2023,” said Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con. “Both organizations see tremendous value in growing an event like this that brings business and academia audiences together at an incredible research facility setting that really fosters an environment for sharing ideas and new business opportunities.”
The 2022 CEA Summit East brought 200+ attendees from 28 states to IALR. People from various industries networked, learned from experts, and toured and explored ongoing research.
The two-day event will feature keynotes, panels and breakout conference sessions, as well as tabletop exhibits from industry-leading companies and research facility tours. Attendees can expect to learn about the latest advances in CEA and explore opportunities for collaboration and growth.
“We are excited to build on the momentum of our first event and continue to bring together leaders in the CEA industry,” said Dr. Scott Lowman, Co-Director of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center and Vice President of Applied Research at IALR. “We look forward to showcasing the innovative research and education programs we are developing to support the growth of the CEA industry.”
For more information and to register to attend, exhibit and to learn more about speaking opportunities for the CEA Summit East 2023, please visit the event website.
Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con has emerged as the largest trade event for vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture, the practice of growing crops in indoor systems, using hydroponic, aquaponic and aeroponic techniques. Its events are crop-agnostic and touch all sectors of the business, covering produce, legal cannabis and hemp, alternate protein and non-food crops. 404.991.5186
The School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech trains the next generation of professionals in the fields of plant breeding and genetics, agronomic and horticultural crop production, plant protection, soil and water systems management, agricultural technologies, environmental restoration and agro-environmental stewardship. It conducts research to improve agricultural productivity, reduce negative impacts on the environment and improve soil and water health. Through extension programs, it provides science-based information to stakeholders to help them feed the world while protecting the environment.
The Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Virginia Tech works to support the future of the historic seafood industry — in Virginia and beyond. Its extension specialists work with industry and research partners to identify and respond to emerging needs and provide technical guidance to stakeholders in every level of the seafood supply chain. Through technical assistance, training, process validation, value-added product development, and more, it helps stakeholders ensure product quality, safety, and viability.
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) serves as a regional catalyst for economic transformation. Core focus areas include research that provides a clear path to commercialization, advanced learning opportunities where education meets experience, training and rapid-launch space for advanced manufacturers, and economic development through conferencing and a partnership with the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance. It is located in scenic and historic Danville-Pittsylvania County on the VA/NC state line, within a short drive of Roanoke, Greensboro and Raleigh.
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has a library of more than 2,000 endophytes, which are bacteria that occur naturally inside plants. While IALR researchers have generally characterized each of them, they are now conducting endophyte research and tests to evaluate potential uses.
In collaboration with other scientists from IALR, Virginia Tech and Appalachian State University, Dr. Chuansheng Mei published a research article about the positive impacts an endophyte – scientifically known as Pseudomonas psychrotolerans IALR632 – made on lettuce yield and root size. Based on three years of experimentation and testing, the research team found that lettuce plants in several hydroponic systems exposed to the endophyte experienced a significant increase in lateral root development and an average of 15-20% increase in yield.
Dr. Chuansheng Mei, Chief Scientist of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), works with endophytes, or beneficial plant bacteria.
The full article is titled “A Potential Application of Pseudomonas psychrotolerans IALR632 for Lettuce Growth Promotion in Hydroponics and was featured in Special Issue “Interaction of Plants and Endophytic Microorganisms: Community, Functions and Applications by the scientific, peer-reviewed journal Microorganisms.
On a high level, endophytes are naturally occurring microorganisms that can promote plant growth, enhance nutrient uptake, increase stress tolerance and inhibit diseases. These functions can be classified into two main categories: plant growth promotion (biostimulants) and plant disease control (biocontrol agents).
With public-private partnerships and funding, talented scientists, and exclusive equipment, the Plant Endophyte Research Center has established IALR as a national leader in the exploration of the impact endophytes can have. Particularly, our team looks at the ways that these bacteria influence plant growth when introduced in different environments and stages of the development cycle.
The endophyte IALR632 used in this research was isolated from leaves of Sorghum halepense grown in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Central Virginia. Most of the endophytes at IALR are from plants native to the Appalachian region.
This project began with the research team testing the effects of five different endophytes. Among them, Dr. Mei and the research team found that IALR632 had a positive effect on lettuce growth.
This led the team to run additional tests and experiments on six different cultivars of seed-coated lettuce.
Most of the tests were conducted in controlled environment hydroponic systems – which are soilless growing environments that introduce nutrients through a water-based mineral nutrient solution – in the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center.
IALR researchers found that IALR632 can increase lateral root development by 164% when added during the germination phase, which could translate to higher yields. When seedlings were inoculated with the endophytes and transplanted, the yield (amount of lettuce produced) consistently increased by an average of 20% or higher.
Several trays of lettuce are grown under LED lights in the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. Ray Meese | Virginia Tech
The goal of IALR, as well as the Plant Endophyte Research Center as a whole, is not knowledge for the sake of knowledge. All these experiments and tests are focused on finding ways to simultaneously improve environmental sustainability while increasing food production – two directives that have historically been mutually exclusive.
This particular research demonstrated that this endophyte has the potential to promote lettuce growth in different hydroponic environments. While the use of biostimulants, including endophytes, is becoming commonplace in traditional agricultural production, research into their use in controlled environment hydroponic systems is limited and holds great promise in boosting productivity in this rapidly growing sector.
Now that this article has been published, Dr. Mei says that the next step is to continue running tests with IALR 632 in concert with other biostimulants and biocontrol agents (the two general categories of endophytes) on different kinds of lettuce and spinach.
The full list of authors includes:
The work happening at the CEA Innovation Center and the Plant Endophyte Research Center often overlaps. For this project, most of the plants were grown in both the greenhouse and indoor portions of the CEA Innovation Center, as different variations were run in the NFT systems and the indoor vertical systems.
The Plant Endophyte Research Center has received more than $1 million in research grants, including a $750,000 Department of Energy Plant Feedstock Genomics Grant and a $258,000 Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission Grant. This research project was funded through a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant.
Tables of lettuce grow in one of the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center greenhouses. These plants are part of the endophyte research project completed by Dr. Mei and several colleagues over the past three years.
Lettuce inoculated with an endophyte grows under LED lights in the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center.
IALR’s summer 2022 interns gain valuable work-based learning experience in a professional environment during the eight-week program.
Earlier this month, 15 interns joined the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) to begin the 2022 summer internship program. While receiving meaningful on-the-job training, the interns develop real-world leadership skills and experience a professional work environment to prepare them for future careers. Students hail from across Southern Virginia.
The interns were assigned to work on projects unique to their mentors’ respective departments.
Megan Pollok and Seraiye Johnson are assisting the Applied Research division with AgTech research. Pollok is examining the use of beneficial bacterial endophytes in the treatment of Fusarium Head Blight, a fungal disease commonly occurring in small-grain crops. She is experimenting with eight varieties of winter wheat and hopes to continue this research in her undergraduate studies. Johnson is experimenting with agricultural technology to see its effects on plant nutrient uptake and growth.
Intern Parker Burke works with the Research team to harvest microgreens in the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center.
Parker Burke and Benjamin Boles are working with the Research team to help further develop new components of IALR’s SMART Table robotic plant imaging system. Burke and Boles also use python coding and data analytics for 3D printing.
Graydon Smith and Elizabeth Burrell are conducting biotechnological research. The interns experiment with hydroponically grown plants, testing the effects of beneficial bacteria in controlling and fighting plant diseases.
Grayson Haskins, Rachel Martin and Kaden Knight are interning within the Advanced Learning department. Haskins and Martin help to promote and establish a variety of efforts and programs, engage with students in summer STEM camps, and are developing a scavenger hunt/ escape room experience for the GO TEC mobile lab. Knight works as the Data Analytics Intern, assisting with data analysis for the GO TEC and Work Ready Community initiatives.
Rachel Davis assists the Public Relations and Communications department with building positive public awareness and brand identity through the website, social media, newsletter and other communications strategies.
Jackson Boles is interning in the Institute Conference Center, where he identifies methods to extend the database for Megabytes café. Additionally, Boles supports his department by assisting in event set-up, guest engagement and marketing techniques.
Clark Givens assists the Facilities Maintenance team by updating inventory, prioritizing safety throughout IALR’s growing campus, and performing various tasks such as light repair, motor replacement and landscaping.
Interning with the Economic Development department, Vanessa Argueta and Emily Ebalo work with the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance. Both interns are researching different aspects of the region to then promote the benefits through social media and other public relations platforms.
Glenda Argueta works in the Information Technology department, assisting with software installation and updates, responding to user requests, and aiding in system and equipment set-up for IALR’s events.
Each intern is making significant contributions and will present their summer work to IALR staff when their experience ends in August.
Interns Jackson Boles, Emily Ebalo and Vanessa Argueta meet to discuss the growing role of IALR’s Institute Conference Center in supporting Southern Virginia’s economic development activities.
Hydroponic lettuce is one of the plants undergoing research at the CEA Center, which combines engineering, plant science and computer-managed greenhouse control technologies.
IALR and the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement received a grant to help grow the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) sector in GO Virginia Region 3. The $77,053 grant will fund development of a strategy and roadmap for supporting industry growth and workforce development for CEA throughout the region. The effort will include an analysis of this emerging and dynamic agribusiness sector, including its industry and economic growth potential, while identifying needed facilities and infrastructure, workforce development issues, opportunities and applied research assets.
“A key outcome of the study will be to identify future needs and opportunities to support controlled agricultural production facilities and the underlying business investment for use by local and regional economic development and workforce development organizations and professionals,” said IALR Director of Applied Research Dr. Scott Lowman.
Controlled Environment Agriculture is an opportunity to attract and expand agribusiness investments. For instance, AeroFarms recently broke ground on a $53 million investment to build one of the largest aeroponic vertical farms in Danville. Nearby on IALR’s campus resides the focal point of the grant initiative, the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center, which is a partnership with Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences.
IALR held our second plant endophyte webinar featuring Dr. Sajeewa Amaradasa joined by Dr. Scott Lowman, Director of IALR’s Applied Research department. Dr. Amaradasa presented on “Exploring the Potential of Beneficial Bacterial Endophytes for Disease Control,” which explained how plant endophytes can serve as biological control agents. Participants gained knowledge of this fascinating topic during the webinar, which concluded with a live question-and-answer segment. Watch the full presentation at endophyteresearch.com.
Dr. Amaradasa (left) and Dr. Lowman (right) discuss IALR’s plant endophyte research during a webinar; IT, Communications, conferencing staff and the Research team contributed to this webinar, which is one of a series.
Within the presentation, participants learned how endophytic bacteria isolated from natural habitats are screened for biocontrol of plant diseases. IALR houses a library of more than 2,000 endophytes that are rapidly assayed in vitro and tested for commercial value in the greenhouse and field. These endophytes, which have been identified by members at the Plant Endophyte Research Center of IALR, provide new business opportunities. They also offer chances for further collaboration with universities for setting agricultural technology trends. The members of this research center include Lowman, Director; Dr. Chuansheng Mei, Chief Scientist; Robert Chretien, Laboratory Research Associate; Amy Turner, Laboratory Research Associate; and Amaradasa, Scientist.
One of the newest collaborative opportunities for this research center has been presented by the Virginia Tech (VT)-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center. This new indoor farming partnership with VT’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences allows endophytes’ biocontrol properties to be tested for their ability to prevent plant disease in a controlled environment. To learn more about this initiative and research efforts, visit ialr.org/cea.
The presenter, Dr. Amaradasa, has extensive experience in studying fungal plant pathogens and has played an instrumental role in screening IALR’s in-house collection of endophytes for disease control in economically important crops. He obtained his Ph. D. from Virginia Tech and brings research experience as a former post-doctoral researcher for the University of Nebraska and Florida.
