Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center
A joint project with Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center working to advance the CEA industry.
About Us
The CEA Innovation Center is primarily housed in Danville, VA on the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) campus and in Blacksburg, VA on the Virginia Tech main campus. It is a joint project between Virginia Tech and IALR to serve the growing controlled environment agriculture industry. The core team and its collaborators are made up of scientists, industry members, educators, graduate students, extension personnel, and government officials.
Mission
To advance the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector in Virginia, the U.S., and internationally through leveraging our collective resources, skills, and expertise by addressing the needs of the industry with our research, education, and extension programs.
Events
Held at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research Conference Center in Danville, Virginia, the CEA Summit East focuses on bringing business and academia together, including greenhouse growers, vertical farm and container farm operators, educators, scientists, other indoor growers, field growers, extension specialists, suppliers, and others interested in the promise and new business opportunities offered by controlled environment agriculture (CEA).
Press Release: Get Ready to Grow Smarter: CEA Summit East 2025 Returns to Virginia This September
The CEA Summit East is back for the fourth year in 2025. Join us in Danville, VA, Sept 9th – 10th. Read the full press
CEA Innovation Center Team Travels to Indoor Ag-Con 2025 (Las Vegas)
Team members from the CEA Innovation Center traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada to attend the 13th annual Indoor Ag-Con. The event was held at the
Third Annual CEA Summit East Sparks Innovation and Collaboration in Virginia
The CEA Innovation Center co-hosted with Indoor Ag-Con a successful third-annual event. See the full news story here: https://www.ialr.org/third-annual-cea-summit-east-sparks-innovation-and-collaboration-in-virginia/
Governor Glenn Youngkin to Speak at the 2024 CEA Summit East.
Exciting news! The VA Governor is headed to the CEA Summit East. Check it out here: https://www.ialr.org/virginia-governor-glenn-youngkin-to-deliver-opening-keynote-address-at-cea-summit-east/
Educational Materials
Partners
Blogs and News Stories
Press Release: Get Ready to Grow Smarter: CEA Summit East 2025 Returns to Virginia This September
The CEA Summit East is back for the fourth year in 2025. Join us in Danville, VA, Sept 9th – 10th. Read the full press
VA CEA Industry and the CEA Innovation Center highlighted by Cardinal News
Check out this article published in June 2025, written by Tad Dickens at Cardinal News, highlighting some of the research and education taking place at
Meet the Graduate Students: Colin Fite
Colin Fite completed dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry (with a minor in Mathematics) and Biochemistry (with a concentration in Biology) during his undergraduate
Video Alert: Check out new VT video showcasing PhD student Brandan Shur
Brandan Shur, PhD Student studying under Dr. Michael Evan’s supervision in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, was featured in a VT News video
Meet the Graduate Students: Praveen Gajula
I’m Praveen Gajula, a PhD student in Horticulture at Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, working in the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation
Ferrum Professor hosted in the CEA Innovation Center
Dr. Tim Durham, Associate Professor of Crop Science at Ferrum College, worked in the CEA Innovation Center with Dr. Kaylee South during an IALR Fellowship.
