Key Takeaways
- The fourth annual CEA Summit East welcomed 260 participants from 34 U.S. states and 8 countries.
- Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con and Virginia Tech–IALR CEA Innovation Center, the event featured keynotes, breakout sessions, exhibits, and tours.
- Industry leaders, researchers, educators, and policy makers exchanged insights on farm operations, automation, education, and workforce development.
- Networking highlights included a graduate student poster competition and scholarship program for Extension personnel.
- Women in CEA sessions emphasized practical farm-first insights, genetics, and production-focused strategies.
CEA Summit East: Expanding Reach and Participation
The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East returned for its fourth year on September 9-10, 2025, at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, Virginia. Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con and the Virginia Tech–IALR CEA Innovation Center, the event drew 260 attendees from 34 U.S. states and 8 countries, including Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Uganda.
“We’re proud to see how the CEA Summit East continues to grow in the quality and diversity of participants and programming,” said Brian Sullivan, CEO of Indoor Ag-Con. “From growers and educators to technology providers and policy leaders, the connections made here are critical to advancing the industry.”
“Hosting the Summit alongside our partners at Indoor Ag-Con allows us to spotlight the groundbreaking research and collaborations happening right here at IALR and beyond,” added Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research at IALR and Co-Director of the CEA Innovation Center. “The exchange of ideas and experiences at this year’s event was inspiring, and we look forward to building on this momentum.”
Keynotes, Breakouts, and Educational Tracks
The program began with a VIP welcome reception on September 8, hosted by Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr at the Historic Bee Hotel.
Day one’s keynote, “Cultivating Sustainable Growth,” featured Secretary Lohr and Ben Alexander, CEO of Pluck’d, moderated by Inside Grower’s Jennifer Polanz. Day two highlighted “Automation in Action: How Virginia Growers are Putting Tech to Work,” moderated by Paul Brentlinger, CEO of Crop King, Inc., with panelists Carl Gupton, CEO of Greenswell Growers, and John McMahon, CEO of Equinox Growers.
Breakout sessions offered attendees practical insights on farm operations, pathogen identification, food safety, environmental controls, labor management, and financial planning for CEA. Educational tracks also explored degree programs, workforce training, and community outreach.
Exhibits and Showcases
The sold-out tabletop exhibit space featured companies such as Priva, GrowSpan, Dalsem, Koppert, Green Food Solutions, JASA, Jiffy, Berger, SGS, Jack’s Nutrients, and Sollum Technologies. Solutions on display ranged from greenhouse structures and environmental control systems to automation tools, lighting, packaging, and nutrients.
Quick-hit Industry & Research Showcase sessions returned, highlighting grower success stories and new innovations shaping the future of CEA.
Networking, Scholarships, and Student Recognition
Networking opportunities included daily lunches, coffee breaks, and a reception at the close of day one. The Annual Graduate Student Poster Competition showcased research from emerging talent, with:
- First Place: Success Okafor, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
- Second Place: Lauren Lindow, University of Florida
Additionally, the Extension Personnel Scholarship program covered registration for six specialists, recognizing their role in supporting greenhouse and vertical farm producers.
Women in CEA Insights At CEA Summit East
Two members of the core team of the Women in CEA group, Kendra Armstrong and Molly Thoen, participated at this year’s Summit. Their takeaways emphasized the event’s farm-first focus, with practical discussions around profitability and production.
Key insights included:
- The importance of focusing on production fundamentals for consistent results.
- How plant breeding and variety selection, as presented in Armstrong’s session, can align genetics with production goals to improve efficiency and quality.
- The trade show’s educational focus, offering a space for learning and actionable takeaways.
Tours and Looking Ahead For CEA Summit East
The Summit concluded with guided tours of the CEA Innovation Center’s greenhouse and vertical farming facilities, offering a closer look at ongoing research and commercial applications.
Plans for the 2026 edition are already in development, with details to be announced at www.ceasummit.com.
