AGROWN recently sponsored a one- day conference at the Vermont Agricultural Business Education Center (VABEC) to review the facility as a possible location to site the first US R&D/Training center for controlled environment agriculture (CEA), water and energy.

There were 24 guests on site, a dozen joined in online and nearly 100 participating on Twitter.  Attendees from the U.S., Holland, Canada, U.K., and Italy shared ideas about creating commercial research in North America for CEA.

Global financial firm William Blair & Company identified three major drivers for US industry growth:

• Consumer requirement for local, accountable, safe food
• Climate change dramatically affecting the US food basket in California
• The need to redistribute food production across the US for food security as the country adjusts to water issues and potential extremist actions.

William Blair & Co. believes “it will take a $1.75T investment for the US to become self-sufficient in its fresh vegetable and fruit requirements, which would expand high-paying jobs and related support sectors.”

The day included presentations on worldwide governmental trends relating to climate issues and the opportunity to test and innovate in the high-growth industry.  To learn more about the next event, check out AGROWN’s AgTech Investing Conference, October 21-23.