Announcing the Finalists for the CEAg World Impact Awards
CEAg World Impact Awards logo. | CEAg World
Earlier this year, CEAg World introduced the public to its upcoming Impact Awards. Now, it has selected the finalists for the inaugural CEAg World Impact Awards.
The awards represent a new benchmark for innovation in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), recognizing individuals driving real progress through contributions to the development and growth of food production in protected environments. After gathering nominations from industry professionals and scanning the CEA landscape for worthy candidates across various sectors, the CEAg World editors have announced the following finalists in four categories:
CEAg Impact Awards — Innovator Award
The Innovator Award recognizes an entrepreneur or leader who has pioneered and implemented a new tool, concept, or practice that has significant implications for CEA. This award recipient will be someone who has used their expertise to drive tangible improvements for growers, enhancing productivity, sustainability, and overall farm success.
The Innovator Award finalists:
- Sam Bertram — CEO and co-founder of OnePointOne in Scottsdale, AZ.
- Corey Ellis — CEO and co-founder of Growcer in Ottawa, Ontario.
- Moein Moosavi-Nezhad — Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University.
CEAg Impact Awards — Visionary Grower Award
The Visionary Grower Award honors an individual who has made a transformative impact on their own CEA operation, leading to remarkable gains in yield, resource efficiency, and/or profitability. The individual’s contributions to land stewardship, resource conservation, environmental preservation, and/or food security will also be considered.
The Visionary Grower Award finalists:
- Bill Ferguson — Co-owner of Riley Creek Farms in Echo, AL.
- Nona Yehia — CEO and co-founder of Vertical Harvest in Jackson, WY.
- Renato Zardo — Director of Growing at Great Lakes Growers in Burton, OH.
CEAg Impact Awards — Emerging Leader Award
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes a rising talent in CEA who demonstrates exceptional promise and leadership with new solutions, strategic thinking, or leadership within their community or industry. This award honors an innovator driving change through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and ideas that enhance productivity, sustainability, and efficiency, shaping the future of agriculture.
The Emerging Leader Award finalists:
- Danielle Rose — Founder of Ceragen in Kitchener, Ontario.
- Gretchen Schimelpfenig — Executive Director at GLASE, and Senior Energy Engineer at Energy Resources Integration (ERI), in Burlington, VT.
- Trevor Terry — Executive Director of the Kentucky Horticulture Council in Lexington, KY.
CEAg Impact Awards — Educator/Researcher Award
The Educator/Researcher Award spotlights an individual whose outstanding contributions have advanced CEA methods through research, education, and outreach. This individual demonstrates leadership, fosters collaboration, and shares insights that enhance CEA practices, sustainability, and productivity, while exemplifying innovation, professionalism, stewardship, and a lasting impact on the CEA industry. The nominee must be employed with a college, university, or research facility.
The Educator/Researcher Award finalists:
- Ricardo Hernandez — Associate Professor at North Carolina State University.
- Chieri Kubota — Professor and Director of OHCEAC, The Ohio State University.
- Roberto Lopez — Associate Professor at Michigan State University.
One winner in each category will be announced and honored live on stage during the opening kickoff to the CEAg World Conference and Expo on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Durham, NC. Watch the CEAg World website, weekly newsletters, and social media to learn more about each finalist over the coming weeks. Finalists will also be featured in a special section of the upcoming CEAg World Industry Report: State of the CEA Industry.
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