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Inside IALR Podcast: Growing Talent at the CEA Innovation Center

Inside IALR Podcast: Growing Talent at the CEA Innovation Center

What happens when Ph.D. candidates, master’s students, undergrads and interns all share the same greenhouse? You get a powerful, layered research environment that grows more than just plants.

In this episode of Inside IALR, we explore how the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center is not only advancing sustainable agriculture but also training the next generation of researchers and industry leaders. A partnership between IALR and Virginia Tech, the CEA Innovation Center blends hands-on research, mentorship and workforce development.

You’ll hear how students at four different educational levels are conducting applied research on plant disease management, beneficial microbes and nutrient optimization. From mentoring interns to designing dissertation-level experiments, these students are learning and growing.

🎙 Guests:

  • Dr. Kaylee South – Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Virginia Tech (stationed full-time at IALR)
  • Colin Fite – M.S. Student, Virginia Tech
  • Praveen Gajula – Ph.D. Student, Virginia Tech

🔍 Topics Covered:

  • What Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is and why it matters
  • How beneficial microbes are being tested in vertical farms and greenhouses
  • The role of students in maintaining IALR’s demonstration farm
  • Mentorship across education levels—from intern to Ph.D.
  • Career goals of students entering the CEA industry
  • Opportunities for students to join the CEA Innovation Center

Whether you’re an educator, student, grower or just curious about the future of agtech, this episode offers a glimpse into how research, education and industry come together under one greenhouse roof.

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Third Annual CEA Summit East Sparks Innovation and Collaboration in Virginia

Third Annual CEA Summit East Sparks Innovation and Collaboration in Virginia

Building on the success of previous years, the third annual Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East returned to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) Conference Center in Danville, VA, from October 1-2, 2024. Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con and the CEA Innovation Center—a joint project with Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, IALR and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center —the event attracted 230+ attendees from 35 US states, Canada, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong. The diverse audience of growers, educators, scientists, Extension personnel, suppliers, tech specialists, and government leaders gathered to explore the latest advancements in CEA technology and build valuable partnerships.

The two-day event featured a packed agenda of keynote presentations, panels, breakout sessions, and tours of the CEA Innovation Center facilities. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with 21 tabletop exhibits showcasing cutting-edge innovations and services shaping the future of CEA. Alongside these sessions, a range of networking opportunities fostered new connections and strengthened existing partnerships.

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

“It’s inspiring to see leaders across the CEA spectrum come together to exchange ideas and strategies that drive our industry forward. This event underscores the importance of partnerships and shared knowledge in achieving the growth and success we envision for CEA.” – Dr. Scott Lowman, Co-Director of the CEA Innovation Center, Vice President of Applied Research, IALR

Morning Kick-Off Keynotes 

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, a steadfast supporter of the indoor agriculture sector, kicked off the event with the opening morning keynote address. His session was immediately followed by the session, “What Is CEA: It’s Mission, Definition and Purpose,” with Paul Brentlinger, CEO, CropKing, Inc.; Jessica Soare, Senior Director of Marketing, BrightFarms; Mike Ross, Co-Founder & CEO, Beanstalk; and Dr. Michael Evans, Virginia Tech and Co-Director of the CEA Innovation Center. On the second day, the Leadership Insights Panel welcomed Carl Gupton, CEO, Greenswell Growers; John McMahon, Co-Founder & COO, Better Future Farms; Molly Montgomery, Acting CEO Executive Chair, AeroFarms and moderator Emily Gee, CEA Alliance Board Member and Marketing Director, AeroFarms, to the stage,

Educational Tracks

The CEA Summit featured three educational tracks – Production, Business and Education, Workforce and Training– that brought academics, growers and business experts together covering a wide range of topics ranging from food safety, economics of CEA, crop selection and aquaponics to strategies for energy management, onboarding training programs for new employees, and building international partnerships. Other panel discussions and 15-minute CEA Industry & Research Showcase sessions gave attendees the chance to hear about some of the latest research findings and other industry success stories.

Tabletop Exhibits & Networking

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.

Graduate Student Poster Competition

This year’s summit hosted the 2nd CEA Graduate Student Poster Competition to provide an opportunity for graduate students to share high-quality CEA-related research; to expose commercial companies to qualified candidates; and to foster collaboration between individuals in academia and in private industry. Eight finalists competed, and Liam Reynolds, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, took first prize for his poster, “Evaluation of Radish, Broccoli, and Lettuce Microgreens Irrigated with Hydrothermal Liquefaction Aqueous Phase.” Nathaniel King-Smith, The Ohio State University, was awarded second place for his poster, “Exploring Sustainable Alternatives for Critical Materials: Hydroponic Cultivation of Rubber Dandelion (T.kok-saghyz) for Rubber Production.”

The next edition of CEA Summit East will be held September 9-10, 2025. Look for more information coming soon to the event website – www.ceasummit.com. In addition, save the dates for the next edition of Indoor Ag-Con, March 11-12, 2025 at the Westgate Las Vegas.

CEA Summit East 2024

ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON

Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con has emerged as the largest trade show and conference for vertical farming | greenhouse | controlled environment agriculture. Its events are crop-agnostic and touch all sectors of the business, covering produce, legal cannabis | hemp, alternate protein and non-food crops. 

About Indoor Ag-Con

ABOUT THE CEA INNOVATION CENTER

The Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is a joint project with Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, IALR’s Applied Research division 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. 

About the CEA Innovation Center

Enhancing Spinach Yields with Beneficial Bacteria

Enhancing Spinach Yields with Beneficial Bacteria

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is proud to announce a new study that explores the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria to significantly boost spinach yields in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). The article was published in Technology in Horticulture on July 2, 2024.

This research is another example of how bacterial endophytes – naturally occurring biostimulants found in plants – can enhance plant growth, improve nutrient uptake and increase stress tolerance, particularly in CEA.

The Study

IALR’s Plant Endophyte Research Center has a library of more than 2,000 characterized bacterial endophytes. The researchers in this study tested two of those strains – officially known as Pseudomonas psychrotolerans IALR632 and Enterobacter asburiae IALR1379 – on two spinach cultivars, ‘Red Snapper’ and ‘Seaside.’

These experiments were conducted in indoor vertical nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic systems in the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center, a partnership of IALR and Virginia Tech.

The study revealed that inoculations of these bacteria significantly increased the shoot fresh weight, root growth and leaf greenness of the spinach plants.

Read the Full Study

Key Findings

  • Increased Yields: Inoculations of IALR632 and IALR1379 significantly increased the shoot fresh weight of ‘Red Snapper’ by 19.3% and 13.3%, and ‘Seaside’ by 17.8% and 14.1%, respectively, compared to control treatments.
  • Enhanced Root Growth: Both bacterial inoculations improved root growth in ‘Red Snapper’, although ‘Seaside’ did not show similar results.
  • Improved Leaf Greenness: IALR632 significantly increased leaf greenness in both spinach cultivars while IALR1379 did not.
  • Effective Colonization: Both bacterial strains successfully colonized the roots and shoots of the spinach plants, confirming their endophytic property.

Overall, IALR632 proved more effective in enhancing spinach yields, root growth and leaf greenness compared to IALR1379 in indoor vertical hydroponic systems.

Significance

The Plant Endophyte Research Center and the CEA Innovation Center are focused on optimizing crop production while minimizing environmental impact. And this is not the first research publication from IALR showing the efficacy of bacterial endophytes in improving plant growth and yields.

The research team has consistently shown that endophytes – which function as natural biostimulants and biocontrol agents – can dramatically and positively affect plants in indoor hydroponic environments.

Other recent findings include:

The Research Team

This research was conducted by a joint team from IALR’s Plant Endophyte Research Center and the CEA Innovation Center:

  • Dr. Chuansheng Mei, Chief Scientist, IALR
  • Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President, Applied Research, IALR
  • Dr. Michael Evans, Professor at the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech and Co-Director of the CEA Innovation Center
  • Robert Chretien, Laboratory Research Associate, IALR
  • Dr. Dongfang Zhou, a former Research Associate with Virginia Tech at the CEA Innovation Center
  • Dr. Kaylee South, Virginia Tech Assistant Professor of Controlled Environment Agriculture
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East 2024

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East 2024

The Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center, a partnership between the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) and Virginia Tech, and Indoor Ag-Con invite you to join us for the 3rd annual CEA Summit East in Danville, Virginia.

Join us for a day-and-a-half, CEA-focused event custom tailored to greenhouse growers, vertical farmer, urban agriculture businesses, other types of indoor growing operations and those interested in CEA, with a full roster of keynotes, research and industry updates, breakout sessions, and networking. You will hear from speakers including key industry players, CEA researchers and educators, and government officials. There will be great opportunities to interact with exhibitors from different sectors of the CEA industry and find products/services to expand your business. Take advantage of this great opportunity to network with new and old CEA colleagues and find ways to continue to grow the industry.

To learn more about the event and to view the agenda, visit the event website ceasummit.com.

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CEA Summit East to return to IALR October 1-2

CEA Summit East to return to IALR October 1-2

CEA Summit Brings Academia and Greenhouse, Vertical Farm, Urban Ag, Other CEA Business Sectors Together To Spur Industry Collaboration, Innovation

The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East returns to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) Conference Center in Danville, Virginia from October 1-2, 2024. Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con, the leading trade show and conference for the vertical farming | greenhouse | CEA sector, and the Virginia Tech (VT)-IALR CEA Innovation Center, a joint project of the IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, the summit continues to serve as a premier platform for industry collaboration and innovation.

Building on the success of its 2023 edition, which attracted attendees from 33 US states, Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden, the 3rd Annual CEA Summit East is set to unite professionals once again from academia, business, and technology within the CEA industry. Attendees include greenhouse growers, urban agriculture operations, vertical farms, outdoor growers seeking hybrid growing opportunities, educators, scientists, Virginia Cooperative Extension personnel, suppliers, engineers, tech specialists, architects/developers, government officials, and other industry members.

“Our partnership with the VT-IALR CEA Innovation Center underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where industry leaders and academia come together to drive innovation and explore new opportunities within the CEA sector.” – Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con

CEA Summit East 2023

With a focus on facilitating meaningful connections and knowledge exchange, the summit will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, networking/breakout sessions, and tabletop exhibits highlighting the latest advancements in CEA technology and practices. Attendees can also look forward to research facility tours, providing firsthand insights into cutting-edge research and development initiatives.

“The CEA Summit serves as a platform for showcasing the collaborative efforts between industry and academia in advancing CEA research and education,” adds Dr. Scott Lowman, Co-Director of the VT-IALR CEA Innovation Center and Vice President of Applied Research at IALR. “We are eager to continue driving the momentum of the CEA industry and providing attendees with valuable opportunities for learning, networking, and growth.”

For more information on the 3rd Annual CEA Summit East, including registration, speaking and exhibit opportunities, visit the event website at www.ceasummit.com.

ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON

Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con has emerged as the largest trade show and conference for vertical farming | greenhouse |controlled environment agriculture. Its events are crop-agnostic and touch all sectors of the business, covering produce, legal cannabis | hemp, alternate protein and non-food crops. More information, visit www.indoor.ag.

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA TECH – CEA 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

College Students Working in the CEA Innovation Center

College Students Working in the CEA Innovation Center

“My favorite part has been seeing the progress of the plants daily. Watching them start as little seeds and then grow into some pretty big plants is very cool.” – Jacob Haymore, Undergraduate Research Technician with the CEA Innovation Center

Working part-time as Undergraduate Research Technicians in the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center, Jacob Haymore and Cameron Dallas have gained valuable experience and supported vital research projects.

A joint project between Virginia Tech and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), the CEA Innovation Center is an agricultural technology training center, research hub and demonstration site that connects academia, industry and producers to move the CEA industry forward. The Innovation Center is housed primarily within a modern greenhouse complex on IALR’s campus.

“Bringing students into this ecosystem for impactful employment opportunities fits the mission of the CEA Innovation Center and will contribute to the growth of the CEA workforce.” – Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President, Applied Research at IALR and Co-Director of the CEA Innovation Center

Haymore’s position is funded through an internal Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences grant focused on hydroponic herb production. A 2022 Chatham High School graduate on the verge of completing his associate degree in liberal arts from Danville Community College, Haymore did not have much experience working with plants. A family friend told him about the position, and he applied. He started in December 2023 and plans to continue working in the CEA Innovation Center through the summer.

Jacob Haymore, a Danville Community College student working as an Undergraduate Research Technician in the CEA Innovation Center.

“The idea of working in a greenhouse was interesting to me,” Haymore said. “I like that I’m not stuck in an office. I get to be hands-on and active.”

As a kid, Dallas learned about agriculture while helping on his grandmother’s farm. A current accounting student at Averett University hoping to pursue a real estate career, Dallas found the CEA position through Averett’s Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness. Dallas started working in the CEA Innovation Center in September and will conclude his term upon graduation. Dallas’s position is funded through the Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and focuses on vertical farm and greenhouse projects and greenhouse management tasks.

“I felt like something was missing,” Dallas said. “I was doing the typical senior stuff. This turned out to be a great opportunity for me.”

Cameron Dallas, an Averett University student working as an Undergraduate Research Technician in the CEA Innovation Center.

Dallas and Haymore are supporting research experiments on irrigation rates in microgreens, fertilizer rates for dill and fennel, and several projects on the SMART Tables. Some of their daily tasks include data collection, seed sowing, irrigation, treatment application, data entry and monitoring and adjusting electrical conductivity and pH levels in the hydroponic systems.

“I definitely think this experience will help me in my career, whatever direction I take,” Dallas said.

The students have worked with the entire research team at IALR but primarily report to Dr. Kaylee South, Virginia Tech Assistant Professor of Controlled Environment Agriculture, based at IALR.

“My goal with having undergraduate students working with the CEA Innovation Center is to provide the opportunity to learn about horticulture, controlled environment agriculture, and research. This provides students at this stage in their education the opportunity to explore these areas as potential graduate school majors and career paths, build skills that will be applicable in other industries and learn about the food production/agriculture industry.” – Dr. Kaylee South, Virginia Tech Assistant Professor of Controlled Environment Agriculture

The CEA Innovation Center will continue to recruit and develop undergraduate researchers. Those opportunities are sent directly to colleges and universities in the region when available.

Beneficial Bacterial Research Shows Potential for Summer Lettuce Growth

Beneficial Bacterial Research Shows Potential for Summer Lettuce Growth

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.

Key Findings

The title: ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) deaminase-producing endophytic bacteria improve hydroponically grown lettuce in the greenhouse during the summer season.

View the Article 

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.

Effective Bacteria

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.

Implications for Agriculture

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 Research Team

Inside IALR Podcast: CEA Roadmap

Inside IALR Podcast: CEA Roadmap

“GO Virginia Region 3 and IALR are well poised to be the leader in the Commonwealth for Controlled Environment Agriculture.” — Elli Travis, Senior Economic Development Specialist, Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement

This episode of “Inside IALR” features a roundtable conversation with several leaders involved in the recent creation of a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) Roadmap Strategy for GO Virginia Region 3:

  • Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research at IALR
  • Bryan David, GO Virginia Region 3 Program Manager
  • Ellie Travis, Senior Economic Development Specialist, Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement

They discuss the current state of the CEA industry as a whole, but specifically in GO Virginia Region 3. While discussing the roadmap, they explain how CEA represents tremendous economic opportunity and growth potential for Virginia.

Some of the directives outlined in the CEA roadmap include establishing a CEA hub that will focus on awareness and informational campaigns, new venture and new enterprise development assistance, expanding CEA technical assistance, accelerating Region 3 site development and continuing and enhancing CEA-relevant workforce development and talent.

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IALR to Bolster Agribusiness Support, Research with Recent Grants

IALR to Bolster Agribusiness Support, Research with Recent Grants

Grants come from the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

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

CEA Testing and Outreach

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.

Value Chain Coordination

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.

Specialty Crop Block Grants

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.

About IALR

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. 

About IALR’s Mission

About the Tobacco Commission Revitalization Commission

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.

About the TRRC

IALR, Virginia Tech, GO Virginia Region 3 Adopt CEA Roadmap to Guide Industry Growth

IALR, Virginia Tech, GO Virginia Region 3 Adopt CEA Roadmap to Guide Industry Growth

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:

  • Conduct CEA awareness and informational campaign
  • Enhance CEA-specific new venture and new enterprise development assistance
  • Continue and expand CEA technical assistance offerings to firms and to policymakers and economic developers
  • Accelerate GO Virginia Region 3 site development with CEA targets in mind
  • Continue and enhance GO Virginia Region 3 CEA-relevant workforce development and talent attraction activities

“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

About GO Virginia Region 3

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.

About IALR

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.  

About the Center for Economic & Community Engagement

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.

CEA Summit East Recap

CEA Summit East Recap

Alliances and Innovation Headline 2nd Annual CEA Summit East In Virginia

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. 

CEA Summit East Photo Gallery 

Event highlights included:

Morning Kick-Off Keynotes

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.

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.

Educational Tracks

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.

Tabletop Exhibits and Networking

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.

Graduate Student Poster Competition

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.”

CEA Innovation Center Tour

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.

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.

About Indoor Ag-Con

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA TECH-IALR CEA 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. 

About the CEA Innovation Center

AeroFarms President and CFO Guy Blanchard to Lead Keynote at CEA Summit East

AeroFarms President and CFO Guy Blanchard to Lead Keynote at CEA Summit East

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.

QUICK FACTS:

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

ABOUT AEROFARMS

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/.

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 CEA 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. 

SMART Platforms: Automation and Accuracy in Plant Imaging

SMART Platforms: Automation and Accuracy in Plant Imaging

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.

What is a SMART Platform?

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.

Accuracy and Analysis

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.

Continued Improvement

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.

What’s next?

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.

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East 2023

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East 2023

Indoor Ag-Con and the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center — a joint project of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) —are excited to present the second CEA Summit East hosted at IALR in Danville, Virginia.

New connections and collaboration were clear themes that emerged from the successful 2022 debut edition, which attracted 200 + attendees from 28 states, including growers, educators, scientists, extension specialists, suppliers, and other industry members. Join us for a day-and-a-half, CEA-focused event with keynotes, research and industry updates, breakout sessions, and networking. You will hear from speakers including key industry players, CEA researchers and educators, and government officials. There will be great opportunities to interact with exhibitors from different sectors of the CEA industry and find products/services to expand your business. Take advantage of this great opportunity to network with new and old CEA colleagues and find ways to continue to grow the industry. 

To learn more about the event and to view the agenda, visit the event website ceasummit.com.

Get Tickets

Controlled Environment Agriculture Summit East to Return in September 2023

Controlled Environment Agriculture Summit East to Return in September 2023

Indoor Ag-Con, Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center to Co-Host 2nd Annual Edition September 19-20, 2023, in Danville, VA

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.

CEA Summit Website 

ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON

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

Indoor Ag-Con Website

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF PLANT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AT VIRGINIA TECH

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. 

School of Plant and Environmental Sciences Website

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA SEAFOOD AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER AT VIRGINIA TECH

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. 

Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center 

ABOUT IALR

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. 

Academia, Business Sectors Forge New Connections at 2022 Debut Edition of CEA Summit East in Danville

Academia, Business Sectors Forge New Connections at 2022 Debut Edition of CEA Summit East in Danville

New connections and collaboration were clear themes that emerged from the October 25-26, 2022, debut edition of the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East held at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, Va. Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con and the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center (a joint project between the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Virginia Tech and IALR), the new event attracted 200+ attendees from 28 states plus Puerto Rico and Canada, including growers, educators, scientists, extension specialists, suppliers, engineers, tech specialists, architect/developers and other industry members.

During the day and one-half event, attendees enjoyed quality time to meet, network and learn during keynotes, panels and breakout conference sessions; explore 17 tabletop exhibits presenting the latest innovations and services; and enjoy a host of networking opportunities.

“We are so pleased with the results of this first edition and our partnership with the CEA Innovation Center,” says Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con. “Both organizations saw a tremendous opportunity to create a different kind of event for this industry –bringing a concentrated sector of business and academic audiences together in an incredible research facility setting that fostered an environment for sharing ideas and opportunities. From the feedback we’ve heard from our attendees and exhibitors alike, we delivered.”

“This event really crystalized our vision of bringing our research and education program together to help move the CEA industry forward,” added Dr. Scott Lowman, Co-Director, Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center and Vice President, Applied Research, IALR.

“An exciting thing about this conference is that it brought people from all over the United States together to share ideas and goals, which always feeds your own ideas,” said Dr. Michael Evans, Co-Director, Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center and Director, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.”

The CEA Summit is co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con and the VT-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center. Event partners pictured with Virginia Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry — (L-R) Telly Tucker, President, IALR; Kaylee South, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Controlled Environment Agriculture, Virginia Tech; Matthew Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; Michael Evans, Ph.D., Co-Director, Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center and Director, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con; Scott Lowman, Ph.D., Co-Director, Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center and Vice President, Applied Research, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

Among the many highlights of the new event included:

Morning Kick-Off Keynotes

AeroFarms CTO Roger Buelow kicked off opening morning with a keynote sharing more about the newly opened AeroFarms Danville, the world’s largest aeroponic smart farm, capable of growing more than 3 million pounds of fresh leafy greens annually. On day two, Matthew Lohr, Virginia’s Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, got the day started sharing the state’s focus and goals for growth of the CEA industry. “It comes down to collaboration – with the whole Commonwealth working together. We’ve made progress, and I’m even more excited about what the future of farming looks like,” he said, echoing the core theme of the conference.

AeroFarms CTO Roger Buelow kicked off the conference with the opening morning keynote address sharing details about AeroFarms Danville.

Day two opened with a keynote address from Virginia Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry Matthew Lohr.

Educational Tracks

The CEA Summit featured 3 educational tracks – CEA Skills, Business Tips & Regulation, and Teaching, Extension, Workforce Development – that brought academics, growers and business experts together covering a wide range of topics from finding funding and selecting technologies for CEA operations to food safety, sustainability aquaponics and ways to work with the land grant university extension system. A special panel discussion titled “Building the Future of CEA” 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.

“We worked to create a conference program that offered something for everyone,” explains Dr. Kaylee South, Assistant Professor of Controlled Environment Agriculture, Virginia Tech. “It was rewarding to see how engaged our audience members were in the question and answer segments of all of our sessions.”

Tabletop Exhibits & Networking

In addition to conference sessions, attendees had ample opportunities to visit with the Summit’s 17 tabletop exhibitors during coffee breaks, luncheon roundtables and an afternoon cocktail reception.

CEA Innovation Center Tour

The event wrapped up with group tours of the CEA Innovation Center. 60+ conference attendees took advantage of the unique opportunity to get an inside look at the CEA Innovation Center’s hydroponic and soilless systems/production systems and facilities, including indoor growth rooms, greenhouse, growth chambers and vertical growing racks. They also got to hear more about some of the Center’s exciting research projects.

The event wrapped up with group tours of the CEA Innovation Center. 60+ conference attendees took advantage of the unique opportunity to get an inside look at the CEA Innovation Center’s hydroponic and soilless systems/production systems and facilities, including indoor growth rooms, greenhouse, growth chambers and vertical growing racks. They also got to hear more about some of the Center’s exciting research projects.

Look for more information coming soon on dates and details for the 2023 edition.

CEA Summit is co-hosted by:

Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr to Lead Keynote at CEA Summit East 2022

Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr to Lead Keynote at CEA Summit East 2022

Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr will lead the CEA Summit East Day Two Keynote, “Reorienting Our Fresh Produce Supply Chain: Behind Virginia’s Push to Become A National Indoor Farming Industry Leader,” on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 9 am.  Indoor Ag-Con and the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center — a joint project of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Virginia Tech, and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) – have partnered to co-host the new event from October 25-26, 2022 at the IALR Institute Conference Center in Danville, VA.

Secretary Lohr joins the CEA Summit East headliner keynote line-up, which also includes the opening morning kick-off session with AeroFarms CTO Roger Buelow on Tuesday, October 25.

During his keynote, Secretary Lohr will share insights into Virginia’s vision for the future of fresh produce and how he and his team are working with industry partners to achieve it.

 “Rising transportation costs and droughts in the western United States will mean East Coast states like Virginia must reorient our supply chain for fresh produce to more local suppliers,” said Lohr during the recent  Grand Opening  of AeroFarms Danville,  the world’s largest aeroponic smart farm.

“While painful, this situation also creates an important opportunity for the Commonwealth to become a national leader in the fast-growing indoor farming industry. Continued success in recruiting and supporting the growth of these companies can bring economic opportunity to all corners of the Commonwealth, while also supplying fresh, safe, and sustainable food to our citizens and neighbors,” he added.

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.

Over the past two years, he has served as the Chief of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, an agency with more than 10,000 employees across 3,000 field offices and an operating budget of over $4.5 billion.

“We are honored to have Secretary Lohr join us for the inaugural edition of the CEA Summit East,” says Dr. Michael Evans, Director of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech and Associate Director of the CEA Innovation Center.  “Virginia is deeply committed to  promoting and advancing the CEA sector and the work we’re doing offers ideas, examples and  exciting growth opportunities that extend far beyond our state borders. This promises to be an inspiring session for all our attendees.”    

The new 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 one and one-half day event, industry members will have the opportunity to attend the conference featuring CEA thought leaders, 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.

Registration is now open for the event and attendees can save with discounted Early Bird rates when they register before October 7, 2022.  Learn more at www.ceasummit.com

 

QUICK FACTS:
WHEN:             Tuesday, October 25 – Wednesday, October 26, 2022 
WHERE:            IALR Institute Conference Center, 150 Slayton Ave, Danville, VA 24540
INFO:                For information on exhibiting or attending visit www.ceasummit.com 

ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON
Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con has emerged as the premier trade event for indoor | vertical farming | 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 |hemp, alternate protein and non-food crops. More information – www.indoor.ag | 404.991.5186

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF PLANT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AT VIRGINIA TECH
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.  More information —www.spes.vt.edu  

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA SEAFOOD AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER AT VIRGINIA TECH
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. More information — www.arec.vaes.vt.edu

ABOUT IALR
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.  More information –  www.ialr.org 

AeroFarms CTO Roger Buelow to Kick Off CEA Summit East with Opening Morning Keynote Address

AeroFarms CTO Roger Buelow to Kick Off CEA Summit East with Opening Morning Keynote Address

AeroFarms Chief Technology Officer Roger Buelow will lead the opening morning keynote address for the inaugural edition of the CEA Summit East, October 25-26, 2022.  Indoor Ag-Con and the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center — a joint project of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Virginia Tech, and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) – have partnered to co-host the new event at the IALR Institute Conference Center in Danville, VA.

This announcement follows on the heels of the grand opening of AeroFarms Danville, the world’s largest aeroponic smart farm, capable of growing more than 3 million pounds of fresh leafy greens annually to meet increased consumer demand. 

During his address on Tuesday morning, October 25, 2022 at 8:45 am, Buelow will share more about the new Danville farm and how it utilizes AeroFarms proprietary indoor vertical farming technology to grow more plants at the highest productivity per square foot with the least amount of natural resources – continuing AeroFarms legacy of continuous improvement and innovation.  In addition to the environmental benefits, Buelow will discuss benefits the farm brings to the Southern Virginia region ranging from job creation and year-round access to safe, fresh greens to hands-free farming with end-to-end automation from seeding to growing to harvest to packing.   

In addition, he will also share updates on some of the exciting plant research and workforce development projects he and his team are working on with Virginia Tech, the IALR and the CEA Innovation Center.

As CTO, Roger Buelow leads the innovation and capabilities team for AeroFarms and works closely with R&D and Business Development. He is an LED innovator and engineering technologist with over 20 years of experience in government and the private sector. Roger previously served as CTO of Energy Focus (a publicly traded company) for ten years leading their R&D, Engineering, and Operations to refit the U.S. Navy with LEDs, develop lights that leverage blue light to help regulate sleep cycles, and to set the world’s record for most efficient solar cell.

Roger worked with AeroFarms in 2009 to help with lamp and fixture design, and he brings his extensive network and industry expertise with LEDs. He has been the principal investigator on over a dozen federally funded research contracts spanning military and civilian technologies and holds over 20 patents covering a wide array of technologies. Roger has brought over 50 products from concept, through R&D, into engineering, and then onto the open market. Roger has a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.S. in Systems and Control Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

Learn more about this exciting keynote session and the full conference program here.

“Roger Buelow’s extensive experience and keen industry insights, coupled with the AeroFarms Danville-Pittsylvania story, come together to create the perfect program to kick off the new CEA Summit,” says Dr. Michael Evans, Director of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech and Associate Director of the CEA Innovation Center. “We are thrilled to have Roger join the keynote stage and know our audience will be eager to hear from him.”

The new 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 one and one-half day event, industry members will have the opportunity to attend the conference featuring CEA thought leaders, 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.

Registration is now open for the event and attendees can save with discounted Early Bird rates when they register before October 7, 2022.  Learn more at www.ceasummit.com

QUICK FACTS:
WHEN:             Tuesday, October 25 – Wednesday, October 26, 2022 
WHERE:            IALR Institute Conference Center, 150 Slayton Ave, Danville, VA 24540
INFO:                For information on exhibiting or attending visit www.ceasummit.com 

ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON
Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con has emerged as the premier trade event for indoor | vertical farming | 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 |hemp, alternate protein and non-food crops. More information – www.indoor.ag | 404.991.5186

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF PLANT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AT VIRGINIA TECH
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.  More information —www.spes.vt.edu  

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA SEAFOOD AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER AT VIRGINIA TECH
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. More information — www.arec.vaes.vt.edu

ABOUT IALR
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.  More information –  www.ialr.org 

ABOUT AEROFARMS
Since 2004, AeroFarms has been leading the way for indoor vertical farming and championing transformational innovation for agriculture. On a mission to grow the best plants possible for the betterment of humanity, AeroFarms is a Certified B Corporation with global headquarters in Newark, New Jersey. 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 perfect 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 ever versus traditional field farming. AeroFarms enables local production to safely grow all year round, using vertical farming for elevated flavor.™ Its products can be found at major selling partners like Ahold Delhaize, Amazon Fresh, Baldor Specialty Food, Compass Group, Harris Teeter, Marcus BP, Momofuku

Noodle Bars, ShopRite, The Fresh Market, Walmart, and Whole Foods Market. In addition, through its proprietary growing technology platform, AeroFarms has grown over 550 varieties of plants and has developed multi-year strategic partnerships ranging from government to major Fortune 500 companies to help uniquely solve agriculture supply chain needs. More information – www.aerofarms.com

Canon Virginia, Inc. Collaboration with Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and Virginia Tech

Canon Virginia, Inc. Collaboration with Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and Virginia Tech

Canon Virginia, Inc. (CVI) is pleased to announce a collaboration with the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), a local research facility and political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia located in Danville, Virginia, who has engaged a representative from Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences to assist in an agricultural project to monitor plant health. CVI is using their patent-pending imaging technology to monitor plant anomalies and external factors that can inhibit plant life such as pests, disease and temperature.

“Canon Virginia, Inc. has long been a pioneer in imaging technology, so to add their expertise and first-rate technology to our research efforts is not only an honor but will further enhance our innovation and leadership in controlled environment agriculture studies,” said Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President, Applied Research. “We look forward to working alongside Canon along with our other exceptional partner on the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center, the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech.“

The collaboration began in March 2022 and the project is set to continue for two years.  The purpose of the research is to help discover symptoms of diseases at an early state and identify plant health to growers. The protocol involves introducing anomalies to healthy plants that will ultimately affect the health of the plant. Canon imaging technologies will then capture images of the plant’s progression and the effects of the anomalies on plant health. Over time, these images will provide insight on diseases, their symptoms and assist growers with identification and remedial possibilities.

“The collaboration between Canon Virginia, IALR, and Virginia Tech is important to CVI to advance the development of a plant monitoring system to be used by the growers in all areas of agriculture. Our development team will gain insight into controlled environmental agriculture (CEA) from the IALR and Virginia Tech team. The goal is to use the images acquired by these imaging techniques to detect plant diseases, pest, and nutrient deficiencies” said Benjamin Welch, Principal Engineer, Business Development Division, CVI.

“With Canon’s corporate philosophy, Kyosei, “living and working together for the common good,” the collaboration with IALR and Virginia Tech could allow for future solutions for monitoring plant health.  This is one example of how CVI is combining advanced manufacturing expertise with the resources and technologies from across the entire Canon Group”, explains Masato Mori, Vice President and GM, Planning Group at CVI.  “Understanding challenges and examining how to engage with clients, customers and research institutions then offer a rare and comprehensive blend of services and knowledge”, he continues. 

“Collaborations like this one are vital to help us develop new technologies to feed a growing global population,” said Michael Evans, Director of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and a co-PI on the research project.  “Controlled environmental agriculture is not only a great way to grow food closer to growing population centers but it is also a good economic development tool for Virginia.”

Staff from Canon Virginia, Inc. (CVI), the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), and the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech (VT) celebrate a recent collaboration. CVI’s imaging technology will help IALR and VT monitor plant health in their joint Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center.

About Canon Virginia, Inc.

Located in Newport News, Virginia, Canon Virginia, Inc. serves as Canon’s only manufacturing, engineering, recycling and technical support center in the Americas region. CVI produces new products using advanced manufacturing methodologies while also serving as a factory service center providing expert customer service in the repair and refurbishment of Canon products. Canon Virginia’s manufacturing services extend to injection mold making and contract manufacturing services. For more information, call 1-866-99-CANON or visit www.cvi.canon.com.

About the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

Located in Danville, Virginia, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia that serves as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, economic development, manufacturing advancement and conference services. 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.

About Virginia Tech

Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, Virginia Tech is a public university in which encourages students to dive deep to solve complex problems across disciplines. In their School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, the college aims to train the next generation of professionals in the fields of plant and agricultural science and technologies. In their mission to innovate, the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences provides science-based information to stakeholders to assist them in feeding the world while protecting the environment.

Canon Virginia website:                                                         

http://www.cvi.canon.com/

Indoor Ag-Con, Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center Partner to Launch CEA Summit East

Indoor Ag-Con, Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center Partner to Launch CEA Summit East

NEW CEA TRADE EVENT TO BRING INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA TOGETHER
OCTOBER 25-26, 2022 IN DANVILLE, VA

Indoor Ag-Con and the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center — a joint project of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) — have partnered to launch the CEA Summit East, October 25-26, 2022. Designed to bring the CEA industry and academia together to share research, business strategies and build partnerships to drive future growth for the sector and its stakeholders, the event will debut at the IALR Conference Center in Danville, VA.

During the one and one-half day event, industry members will have the opportunity to attend the conference featuring CEA thought leaders, 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.

THE TEAM
The event hosts are especially qualified to bring the CEA industry and academia together for an event focused on business, educational and networking growth opportunities.

the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

The Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is a joint project between the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR). Housed primarily within a modern indoor agricultural complex on the campus of IALR in Danville, the center features various hydroponic and soilless systems/production systems and facilities, including indoor growth rooms, greenhouses, growth chambers and vertical growing racks.  The center’s scientists and technology teams are currently working closely with the industry’s top growers and suppliers on a number of key projects. Learn more at www.ialr.org/cea.

The Indoor Ag-Con team of seasoned event professionals produces the premier trade show & conference for indoor |vertical farming | controlled environment agriculture.  Experiencing record year-on-year growth, its events touch all sectors of the business — covering produce, legal cannabis |hemp, alternate protein and non-food crops – and attract decision-making growers, investors, real estate developers, agtech leaders, produce buyers, academics, policymakers, industry suppliers and advocates from across the US and 20+ other countries.

THE AUDIENCE
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.

The event will include tabletop displays from manufacturers and suppliers of AI and automation, control systems, sensors, equipment/accessories, greenhouse structures/supplies, lighting, irrigation, HVAC and more.

THE VENUE
Part of the IALR campus, the Institute Conference Center is a full service, state-of-the-art meeting facility – just steps away from Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center’s modern indoor agricultural complex.   What’s more, the Danville, VA venue is easily accessible — located in south-central Virginia along the North Carolina border, within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the nation’s population.

“From the incredible work researchers are doing at its Innovation Center to its state-of-the-art meeting venue, IALR is such a rich resource for the CEA industry,” says Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con. “We’re excited to bring our event experience and industry resources together with the expertise of IALR and Virginia Tech to create a showplace of innovation and educational opportunities for growers and other CEA industry members throughout the Eastern US.”

“This partnership between IALR and Virginia Tech has brought together diverse professionals from industry and academia including many people not traditionally working directly in controlled environment agriculture,” states Dr. Michael Evans, Director of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech.

“This conference offers an exciting opportunity to bring people together for exchanging new and diverse ideas to help move the industry forward and into exciting directions,” says Dr. Kaylee South, Assistant Professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech.

“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 controlled environment agriculture sector,” adds Dr. Scott Lowman, Director, Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center.  “The new partnership with Indoor Ag-Con perfectly aligns with our goal and promises to deliver a top-notch event experience for CEA industry stakeholders.”

For more information on the CEA Summit East, including conference programming, exhibit/sponsorship opportunities and to register, visit www.ceasummit.com.

ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON
Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con has emerged as the premier trade event for indoor | vertical farming | 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 |hemp, alternate protein and non-food crops. More information – www.indoor.ag | 404.991.5186

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF PLANT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AT VIRGINIA TECH
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.  More information — https://spes.vt.edu/

ABOUT IALR
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.  More information –  www.ialr.org | 413.766.6700

IALR & VT Receive GO VA Indoor Farming Grant

IALR & VT Receive GO VA Indoor Farming Grant

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.

Dr. South Joins CEA Innovation Center Team

Dr. South Joins CEA Innovation Center Team

Dr. Kaylee South has joined the research team at IALR as she fills the tenure-track faculty member position of Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. She will serve as an Assistant Professor and conduct research at the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center on IALR’s campus. She will bring with her funding for two graduate students and a post-doc to support CEA research efforts.

Dr. South holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Horticultural Science from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. in Horticulture and Crop Science from The Ohio State University. She is passionate about controlled environment plant production and specializes in investigating the use of beneficial microbes to improve greenhouse floriculture crop production and plant quality, which is beneficial as similar research is ongoing at the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center.

VT-IALR CEA Innovation Center Story Goes International

VT-IALR CEA Innovation Center Story Goes International

Virginia Tech recently published an in-depth article on how the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center at IALR promotes research and advancements in indoor farming to help feed an exponentially growing population in an ecofriendly manner. The article was published in international media outlets such as VerticalFarmDaily.com and HortiDaily.com.

The Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is a joint project between Virginia Tech and IALR. By developing strategic partnerships with both industry and academia, the goal of the Center is to conduct research and educational programming to develop, promote and advance the controlled environment agriculture sector in the U.S. and internationally as well as drive economic development in the Southern Virginia region.

Emily Zhou, a post-doctoral research associate with Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences , pollinates micro tomato flowers at the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center on IALR’s campus in Danville.