“We’re focused on winning in this sector” 

– Gov. Youngkin addresses Great Indoors agricultural symposium

By Sophia Clifton

On Tuesday, Sept. 26, Governor Glenn Youngkin addressed the first ever “Great Indoors” Symposium at Lansdowne Resort, speaking to leaders from across the state about Virginia’s growing Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) industry. 

In the leaflet handed out to symposium attendees, Youngkin stated, “Innovation will be critical in farming as it is in all industries and we can lay the groundwork today for a vibrant future in this industry. We must create a resilient and reliable food supply, all while responding to consumer demand for healthier and more sustainable food options.”  

“Agriculture is the largest private industry in Virginia,” Youngkin said, beginning his speech with some statistics. “Forestry is our third largest and collectively, they contribute $100 billion of annual economic activity to the Commonwealth,” employing approximately 500,000 Virginians between the two industries. 

“Population growth around the world continues at a rapid pace, with nearly 10 billion inhabitants expected by 2050,” Youngkin said. This explosive worldwide growth means “we have to feed people more efficiently. We have to feed people with much higher nutrient concentration than we currently do.”

When such rapid population growth is combined with the statistic that “moderate or severe insecurity affects 30% of the global population,” approximately 2.4 billion people are dealing with issues surrounding food security. Youngkin explained that this is one of the key reasons he is such a strong supporter of “creating an ecosystem at the intersection of food and technology,” as the leaflet also stated.  

With the latest technological advancements, farmers can now “predict and control plant responses,” Youngkin said. “They can improve production efficiencies; you can optimize plant yield; you can reduce foodborne illnesses and maximize efficiencies. You can do all of this in the great indoors, producing more food with less land, less resources, in a more sustainable way.”

“Virginia should and will be the destination for the world of this new generation of high-tech agriculture.” From the largest growers to the smallest, Youngkin said, raising everything from lettuce to strawberries, tomatoes to microgreens, Virginia’s farmers are growing produce that’s just a single day’s drive from 50% of the US population, and a two days’ drive from 75% of the population. 

Virginia farmers also have access to “the East Coast’s deepest and widest port, recently named the most efficient operating port in North America,” Youngkin said. “We’re focused on winning in this sector.” 

The governor took the rest of his speech to expand on the three-pronged approach Virginia policymakers are using to stimulate rapid CEA industry growth in the state. Youngkin described the approach as “a three-legged stool with each one of the legs playing an equal and very important role.”

The first of these three prongs “centers around economic incentives and the critical supporting that we can provide at the state level and the local level in Virginia for the CEA industry,” Youngkin said. He went on to explain how the Virginia Economic Development Partnership is a key component in this, as well as the collaboration between the offices of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade and the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. 

Youngkin added that he was pleased to have recently signed a bill sponsoring the creation of “a sales and use tax exemption to support the use and development of critical components used inside indoor farming.”

The second prong of the state’s approach is research, Youngkin said, especially with regards to Virginia’s top schools and universities. He highlighted the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville, where “academia, research, government support and industry” are coming together to do specific work in the world of indoor agriculture.  

“To see the work that is both being sponsored and undertaken is just mind blowing – analytical chemistry, biostimulants, bio control development and applications, complex science and robotics,” Youngkin said, recalling his past visits to the institute and talking about some of the research he witnessed. “It was so fun to watch them determine that we can rotate lighting. You can make plants dance, just like humans.”

The final prong of the approach is workforce training development, said Youngkin. “At the heart of what we do is having a great workforce – well trained people who are available and can go to work, participate as this sector grows. Who in fact will grow with the growing industry, setting the exceptional example.” The governor spoke about the role Virginia’s community colleges play in this, as well as a program called GO TEC, a talent pathway initiative for middle schoolers to discover industry sectors such as indoor agriculture. 

Youngkin concluded his address by reiterating his desire to see Virginia as number one in the sector for indoor agriculture. 

“When you combine our incredible talent pipeline and our business-friendly environment, we win every single poll when it comes to best place to do business,” Youngkin said. “We offer logical advantages. We have a continued investment in our leading infrastructure and unparalleled access to markets.”

“Here we have a chance to do something most unique together. Not just build good business, not just invest in the right workforce, but to do it in an industry that will change the world. We need indoor agriculture. We need to be successful. And when you unleash free enterprise and human spirit, amazing things can happen.”

Youngkin challenged the industry leaders at the symposium to use their discussions on infrastructure and energy needs, technology advancements, research programs and business models to “unlock the future.”

“I encourage you to challenge each other to get better when you have great competition,” said Youngkin.