The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center, a partnership of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) and Virginia Tech, is a research hub agricultural technology training center for the CEA industry. 

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 in the U.S. and internationally.

The CEA Innovation Center brings together industry, academia and producers. The overall goal centers on diversifying agribusiness in Southern Virginia as well as increasing net farm income and profitability for both existing and new farmers.

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“IALR is a reliable and effective ally in our efforts to support and grow the CEA sector in Virginia.” – Matthew Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry 

Benefits of Controlled Environment Agriculture

Controlled environmental agriculture helps protect plants from disease and stress while providing ideal growing conditions for high-quality, quick-to-harvest food products – sometimes in as fast as two weeks, depending on the crop.

In addition to hydroponic and soilless systems/production systems, the Innovation Center utilizes data management, sensors and vertical structures to ensure the ideal distribution of water, energy, capital and labor. Strict entry protocols also prevent pests. Together, these factors result in a high-quality, consistent product with significantly more harvests than outdoor conventional production methods.

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Other advantages of controlled environmental agriculture include

  • Uniform, year-round production
  • Pesticide-free agriculture
  • Reduced land and water requirements.

CEA Summit East

The annual CEA Summit East, co-hosted by the CEA Innovation Center and Indoor Ag-Con, promotes innovation and collaboration among all sectors of the CEA industry. 

The third CEA Summit East 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.

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“We are focused on moving the CEA industry forward through research, educational programs and industry support,” said Scott Lowman, Vice President, Applied Research at IALR. “We take pride in being able to bridge academia and business.”

 

Partners 

The CEA Innovation Center is a partnership of IALR’s Applied Research division and Virginia Tech. 

The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission has also invested in the center, providing grants that helped with the launch and supported ongoing research. 

Want to learn more about our CEA research efforts? Whether you operate a large corporation connected to the CEA industry or are just curious to learn more, we would love to connect with you.