Hydrofarm, CEA Advisors Form Alliance to Meet Demand for CEA Equipment

Posted by Brian Sparks|June 27, 2023

Hydrofarm, a manufacturer and distributor of equipment and supplies for controlled environment agriculture (CEA), has entered into an exclusive strategic alliance with CEA Advisors, a global design/build consultancy to the vertical farming industry and manufacturer of Growtainers and Growracks, to accelerate expansion into the growing and evolving CEA space for both food and non-food production.

Hydrofarm’s Innovative Growers Equipment (IGE) commercial division will serve as the North American manufacturing and marketing hub for Growtainers and Growracks. IGE’s Sycamore, IL, facility combines manufacturing, research and development, and warehouse space serving the global market.

“We are excited about our relationship with Glenn Behrman and CEA Advisors. It will bring great enhancements to the creative solutions and support we provide to the CEA market,” says Chris Mayer, Senior Vice President and Head of Hydrofarm Commercial. “Our priority is to be one of the most important global providers of CEA products and services. We believe that the CEA industry has tremendous potential, and we are very excited to have a 50-year veteran of the global horticulture industry on our team.”

“Working with the Hydrofarm team, IGE, and Chris Mayer is a dream come true for a company like CEA Advisors,” Behrman says. “I’m convinced that collaboration is the key to success in today’s challenging economic environment. We strongly believe that in CEA, there is great opportunity for new farmers globally, and that is why our first initiative will be the design and distribution of an affordable entry level Growtainer. The beginning CEA farmer can learn and experience this type of production with minimal investment and then move on to other more sophisticated systems that are available.”