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Controlled Environment Agriculture – The Industry is Growing Up
Thursday 25th February 2021 @ 9:50 am - 4:20 pm

Agri-TechE has seen the Controlled Environment Agriculture sector grow rapidly in maturity and the dialogue has changed considerably in just a couple of years.
Significant investment in vertical farming and controlled environment operations has seen the industry develop commercial-scale operations. The challenge now is around developing the business models for deployment and investment.
Innovations aimed at reducing the cost of production, optimising the growing environment and the breeding of plants best suited to these conditions are attracting significant interest from both conventional growers and newcomers, stimulating further research developments.
The social and economic disruptions of recent months and growing recognition of the benefits of transparent and responsive supply chains is also creating a new dynamic.
The 2021 CEA conference draws on speakers from across the agri-tech ecosystem, each with different perspectives. It provides an opportunity to review progress, look at the recent developments and gain informed glimpses of the future.
Charge:
£50 + VAT members
£85 + VAT non members
Programme
09.30 – 10.00 Event platform opens
A chance to explore the exhibition and to network with other attendees
09.50 – 10.00 Welcome and introduction
Dr Lydia Smith, Director, NIAB Innovation Farm & Eastern Agri-Tech Innovation Hub
10.00 – 11.00 Keynote Address – “Will vertical farms feed the cities of the future? Let’s talk numbers!”
Luuk Graamans, Wageningen University and Research
From domestic conservatories to major commercial high-care controlled environments, vertical farming and CEA is expanding to fill many different niches. Luuk will outline his recent research and explore how farming in controlled environments can play a role in the evolution of the food system, and the mechanisms by which it could move food production from broadacre production to an urban setting.
11.00 – 11.30 Break
An opportunity to use the Speed Networking to ‘bump’ into other attendees to network as well as schedule 1:1 meetings
11.30 – 12.30 Technology innovations for CEA
Innovations in CEA and vertical farming continue at pace globally, and the need and potential for fundamental science to add greater value is significant. In this session we explore technologies, ranging from lighting to breeding which are poised to help derived even greater value from the ability to grow food crops under highly controlled conditions.
Featuring a showcase of some of the UKs most innovative vertical farming SMEs.
12.30 – 14.00 Lunch
A chance to browse the exhibition and network. Don’t miss your chance to listen to an exclusive podcast with Max MacGillivray (Redfox Executive) and Barry Robterson (Airponix) discussing recruitment and skills in Controlled Environment Agriculture.
14.00 – 15.00 Entrepreneurship in Controlled Environment Agriculture: Is it too late to start up and scale?
Chaired by Niall Mottram, Head of Industrial and Energy, Cambridge Consultants
The scale of global capital flow into CEA and vertical farming companies has been described as “eye-watering” and analysts are keenly awaiting the major exits and return on investment. This session focusses on the potential for new innovations for CEA and explores the existing investor appetite, possible routes to market and the potential to go “beyond Babyleaf” as a start-up.
In this session we’ll also discuss the business models and investor appetites around vertical farming – are investors seeing what they want and expect in terms of the pace of development and novelty of innovation? Has the narrative moved on to the point where it is such a crowded space that creating a niche is going to be difficult – and the business models will be around selling either food product or technology platform? Is both possible? And what is the opportunity to scale?
Ande Gregson, Founder and Director, Green lab
Kate Hofman, CEO, GrowUp Farms
Mike Davies, Executive Chairman, Eider Investments
Jack Farmer, Co-founder and Operational Lead, LettUs Grow
15.00 – 15.15 Break
15.15 – 16.15 Connecting with Citizens: Vertical Farming and Social Innovation
Chaired by Anthony Gardiner, Marketing Director, G’s Fresh
Changes to the global agri-food system are urgent and inevitable. The shift in mindset from “consumers” to “citizens” is seen by some as a way of providing more effective insights into the food system, as well as an appreciation of how to help people engage with the methods of food production. This session will explore the potential role of vertical farming and CEA as an agent for social innovation in the food system of the future, as well as considering the central role of food production and its supply chains.
Andrew Johnson, CEO, Living Salads
Jamie Burrows, CEO, Vertical Future
John Oswald, CEO, Method Europe
16.15 – 16.20 Closing Comments
16.20 – 17.00 Networking
Final opportunity to visit exhibition stands as well as network with other attendees and speakers.
17.00 Event platform closes
Speakers include
Exhibition
Exhibition spaces are available for member organisations wishing to showcase new innovations, technologies or equipment in the area of Vertical Farming and Controlled Environment Agriculture. These exhibition spaces are free for our members with the purchase of a ticket to attend (£50+VAT).
The audience will include: farmers and growers, agronomists, retailers, estate managers, property managers, investors, and technical providers to this exciting industry.
For more details about how to exhibit please get in contact.