Indoor Ag-Con Announces Day Two 2026 Keynote - Urban Ag News
| Source | urbanagnews.com |
| Published | Dec 11, 2025 |
| Curated by | @stevek |
| Curated on | Apr 25, 2026 |
| Tags | greenhouse-agriculture, greenhouse-farming, indoor-ag, smart-agriculture |
Dec 11, 2025 … LAS VEGAS –Indoor Ag-Con, the largest trade show and conference for the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector, has announced the Day Two keynote …
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Indoor Ag-Con Announces Day Two 2026 Keynote: ‘The State of CEA Finance: Capital Flows, Discipline, and Lessons Learned’
By urbanagnewsDecember 11, 2025
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LAS VEGAS –Indoor Ag-Con, the largest trade show and conference for the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector, has announced the Day Two keynote for its February 11-12, 2026 event in Las Vegas. Titled “The State of CEA Finance: Capital Flows, Discipline, and Lessons Learned,” the keynote will take place on Thursday, February 12 from 8:00–8:50 AM PST and will feature a fireside chat with two of the most influential voices shaping CEA and agri-food finance: Dave Chen , Co-Founder & CEO of Equilibrium, and David Verbitsky , President & Managing Director of Verbitsky Capital.
As the industry continues to mature following a decade marked by rapid expansion, shifting capital dynamics, and heightened scrutiny on operational performance, this keynote will offer attendees a candid look at the financial landscape influencing CEA today. The conversation will explore:
- How and where capital is moving across the CEA value chain
- How financing discipline has evolved since the sector’s early boom years
- The risks associated with scaling too quickly
- The lessons investors, operators, and suppliers must carry forward to build resilient, profitable businesses
“Finance continues to be one of the most important and closely watched aspects of controlled environment agriculture,” said Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con. “Dave and David bring valuable perspective shaped by years of working across the broader food and agriculture investment landscape. We’re pleased to offer attendees a grounded, practical conversation that will help operators and partners navigate the changing financial environment.”
This keynote is part of Indoor Ag-Con’s most comprehensive educational program yet , featuring 11 specialized educational tracks covering vine crops, mushrooms, berries, lettuce & herbs, conventional agriculture, food safety, cannabis, unique approaches, general applications, and more. Attendees will also experience an expo hall showcasing hundreds of CEA technologies and solutions , along with numerous networking opportunities designed to foster meaningful connections and industry-wide collaboration.
Speaker Profiles
Dave Chen, Co-Founder & CEO, Equilibrium
Dave is co-founder and CEO of Equilibrium Capital Group which was founded nearly 18 years ago with the mission to build an institutional asset manager focused on sustainable infrastructure investment strategies that could make a positive impact on our climate challenges. Equilibrium invests in sustainable food & agriculture and carbon transition infrastructure. With offices in San Francisco, Portland, and London, the firm serves a global group of institutional investors.
Dave started his career at Solectron and at McKinsey. He served as Chairman of the Portland Oregon Branch of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank 2005-2012. He was a general partner of OVP Venture Partners and a co-founder of GeoTrust (acquired by VeriSign). He was a board member of HNCS (NASDAQ) 1999-2002, the pioneer in applying neural net technology to deliver application software for real time credit card fraud detection for the banking sector and in healthcare insurance fraud detection, later merged with FICO (NASDAQ:HNCS, now NYSE:FIC). For the past 15 years, he has also been an Adjunct Professor of Finance at the Kellogg School Management at Northwestern University and Director of the Kellogg Impact Investing Program.
David Verbitsky, President & Managing Director, Verbitsky Capital
With more than 15 years of investment banking and entrepreneurial experience, David Verbitsky has advised on over $200B in M&A and financing transactions across the Agriculture & Food industry. His background includes serving as Global Head of Agriculture & Nutrition Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs; Global Head of AgTech & Sustainable Food Investment Banking at Nomura Greentech; and prior roles within Barclays’ Chemicals & Agriculture investment banking team.
David Verbitsky’s experience spans early-stage innovators, family-owned operators, private equity, and large multinationals across the entire Agri-Food value chain. His career also includes venture capital roles, strategic advisory work in agri-food innovation, and operational leadership as CFO of Invaio, an AgTech start-up. He holds an MBA from Rice University and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University.
Indoor Ag-Con will announce details of its Opening Morning Keynote—The State of the CEA Industry from the CEA Alliance —in the coming weeks.
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 (CEA). The event brings together industry professionals from across the globe to explore the latest trends, technologies, and innovations in the CEA sector. 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
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Education
University of Arizona’s CEAC Tomato Intensive Workshop, January 9-11, 2026
By urbanagnewsDecember 6, 2025Updated:December 6, 2025
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Join the University of Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (UA-CEAC) for the annual Greenhouse Hydroponic Tomato Workshop (online and in-person). This three-day professional workshop focuses on tomato production using greenhouse hydroponic methods for small, medium, and large growers at all skill levels! Discount codes available for groups, Arizona residents, UofA affiliates, students, and returning customers.
Course webpage: 2026 Greenhouse Hydroponic Tomato Workshop | Controlled Environment Agriculture Center
Contact: Aaron Tevik at atevik@arizona.edu
Register now
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Indoor Ag-Con and Sollum Technologies Announce 2026 Scholarship for Doctoral Students in Controlled Environment Agriculture
By urbanagnewsNovember 20, 2025
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Graduate Student Will Receive Full Conference Experience, Travel, Lodging – Plus Exclusive Mentorship and Media Opportunities
LAS VEGAS (November 19, 2025) — Indoor Ag-Con is once again teaming up with Sollum Technologies, a pioneer in advanced dynamic LED lighting solution for controlled environment agriculture (CEA), to launch the 2026 edition of the Sollum Student Scholarship to Indoor Ag-Con. Designed to support the next generation of CEA researchers and innovators, this scholarship will provide a graduate-level student pursuing doctoral work in a CEA-related field with an all-expenses-paid trip to attend Indoor Ag-Con, February 11-12, 2026, in Las Vegas, NV.
Scholarship recipient will receive:
- A full-access conference pass to the February 11-12, 2026 event
- Round-trip airfare (coach)
- A two-night hotel stay (room and tax)
- A daily per diem allowance
- Scheduled one-on-one meeting time with the Sollum Technologies team in their expo booth
- An opportunity to film a short video interview recapping their experience and learnings from the show — to be featured by both Indoor Ag-Con and Sollum Technologies across digital channels.
“We’re proud to once again partner with Sollum Technologies on this exciting initiative,” said Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con. “Through this scholarship, we’re helping the next generation of agriculture professionals get a front-row seat to the technologies and conversations that are shaping the future of farming.”
Jenny Zammit, Vice President of Marketing and Customer Success, Sollum Technologies added, “The Sollum team is passionate about supporting young professionals who are motivated to make a meaningful impact in agriculture. By sponsoring this scholarship, we’re building relationships and sharing insights that can help launch a student’s career.”
Applications Now Open
Applications are now open with a deadline of December 19, 2025. Graduate students based in the United States or Canada and currently enrolled in a doctoral program with a research focus related to controlled environment agriculture—including plant science, lighting, environmental controls, or other relevant disciplines—are encouraged to apply.
For full eligibility requirements and to access the application, visithttps://indoor.ag/sollum-student-scholarship/
About Indoor Ag-Con
Indoor Ag-Con is the premier trade show and conference for the indoor and vertical farming industry. Held annually in Las Vegas, the event attracts CEA growers, suppliers, researchers, and technology providers from across the globe for two days of educational sessions, networking, and innovation showcases. Learn more at www.indoor.ag.
About Sollum Technologies
Sollum Technologies designed the only advanced 100% dynamic LED lighting solution that modulates the full spectrum of the Sun’s natural light to illuminate greenhouses and indoor farms. Sollum’s award-winning, turnkey solution consists of internet of things, AI-powered light fixtures that are controlled by Sollum’s proprietary SUN as a Service® cloud platform. For more information, www.sollum.tech
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- Orthochamber on November 20, 2025 9:44 am
Indoor Ag‑Con and Sollum Technologies have launched a 2026 scholarship for PhD students in controlled‑environment agriculture. The winner will receive a full conference pass, travel, lodging, mentorship, and a media spotlight at the February Indoor Ag‑Con in Las Vegas.
RII Releases Four Comprehensive Guides to AdvanceControlled Environment Agriculture Industry
By urbanagnewsNovember 14, 2025Updated:November 14, 2025
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PORTLAND, OR – (November 12, 2025) – Resource Innovation Institute (RII), a leading non-profit organization advancing resource efficiency in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), today announced the simultaneous release of four major industry guides developed through collaborative working groups with industry representatives, university researchers, policymakers, and technology providers. The publications represent the culmination of a federally funded, two-year project aimed at addressing critical challenges facing the CEA industry at multiple scales and stages of development.
The four guides offer practical, evidence-based guidance on topics ranging from emerging technologies to operational efficiency strategies, resource-sharing models, and international knowledge transfer. Each publication was developed through RII’s proven working group model, which brings together diverse stakeholders to translate complex technical concepts into actionable industry guidance.
“These guides represent a significant milestone in our mission to accelerate the CEA industry while improving resource efficiency,” said Rob Eddy, Horticulturist at RII and lead author on all four publications. “We’ve worked with some of the best minds in academia and industry to create resources that address real challenges facing operations of all sizes–from small family growers to large commercial facilities. Whether you’re evaluating new technologies, seeking efficiency improvements, or exploring collaborative opportunities, these guides provide the non-biased guidance needed to make informed decisions.”
The Publications
AI & Advanced Robotics: A Primer for Controlled Environment Agriculture Operations
This comprehensive primer helps greenhouse and indoor farm operators understand, prepare for, and strategically adopt artificial intelligence and robotics technologies. The guide examines current and emerging applications, workforce implications, and provides a realistic vision of CEA in 2035, without the hype. Co-authors are robotics expert Shreyas Kousik, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, and Bryce Carleton (RII).
Accelerating the Adoption of High-Tech Production in U.S. Greenhouses
Co-authored by esteemed CEA researcher Arend-Jan (A.J.) Both, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University, this guide examines the primary barriers preventing widespread adoption of technologies that have become standard practice internationally. Based on findings that identify the United States as having the most untapped potential for high-tech greenhouse development globally, the publication addresses regulatory inconsistencies, workforce development needs, and infrastructure challenges while offering strategies for accelerating technology adoption.
Connected Agriculture: Best Practices for Greenhouse Colocation and Resource Sharing
This guide explores strategic colocation models that enable greenhouse operations to share resources, infrastructure, and utilities with complementary facilities. Through examination of one-to-one partnerships, district utility systems, and comprehensive Farm Park developments, the publication identifies pathways to reduce energy costs and achieve economies of scale. Authors include Carmen Azzaretti and Derek Smith of RII.
Low-Tech to High-Efficiency: Practical Pathways for Greenhouse Operations
Recognizing that small and mid-sized greenhouse operations represent the backbone of U.S. CEA, this guide provides practical technology adoption strategies that build upon existing knowledge while addressing operational challenges. The publication includes technology solutions under $2,000, equipment selection guidance, and workforce development approaches tailored to operations with limited budgets. The guide is expertly co-authored by Qinglu Ying, Ph.D., Assistant Extension Professor of Horticulture (CEA) at the University of Kentucky. Recommendations are based on finding the right fit for technology to match each operation.
All four guides are now available as free downloads at https://resourceinnovation.org/resources/
For more information, to schedule interviews with the authors, or to learn about upcoming working groups, please contact Derek Smith at derek@resourceinnovation.org.
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ADVANCEA Academy Opens Registration for 2026 Online Course: “Introduction to Greenhouse Environmental Control for Crop Production”
By urbanagnewsNovember 11, 2025
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Registration is now open for ADVANCEA Academy’s 2026 online course, “ Introduction to Greenhouse Environmental Control for Crop Production.”
The 13-week certificate course runs from January 8 to April 2, 2026, and is ideal for individuals working in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry or enrolled in academic programs who want to deepen their understanding of environmental controls in greenhouse systems.
What You Will Learn
In this course, learners will:
- Review various greenhouse crop production systems
- Be able to describe why and how important environmental parameters are controlled using sensors and control systems
- Gain sufficient insight in the basics of energy and mass transfer to understand the key plant-environment interactions in greenhouses
- Learn the basics of sensors and control logic to optimize greenhouse conditions
- Become familiar with recent developments in greenhouse control strategies
Course Delivery
This course is delivered virtually using Zoom for live sessions with all course content hosted on The Ohio State University’s Canvas platform. It includes six live lectures with interactive Q&A and discussion sessions scheduled throughout the 13-week course.
Participants are encouraged to join the live sessions in real time; however, live attendance is not required. All lectures, including the live sessions, are recorded and will be made available in Canvas, allowing flexible, self-paced learning while still providing opportunities to ask questions and interact directly with instructors during the live sessions.
Registration Details
- Academy Dates: January 8 – April 2, 2026 (13 Weeks)
- Format: Online – Live and Asynchronous (Recorded) Access
- Course Fee: $499
- Course Website: Link
- Direct Registration: Link
- Course Schedule: Link
Questions about the course? Please email Dr. Chieri Kubota: kubota.10@osu.edu
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