Back to business in a big way

Indoor Ag-Con, the premier trade show and conference for indoor |vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture, welcomed growers, suppliers, tech companies, startups and others back for its in-person edition held October 4-5, 2021 at the Hilton Orlando. Delighted by the chance to return to a face-to-face gathering, 398 industry members came to the 2-day event to explore the newest innovations in 52 booths on the expo floor; attend 17 panel presentations, keynotes and fireside chats with 60 speakers; and enjoy a variety of networking events.

"As our first in-person event since the Covid pandemic, we're thrilled with so many aspects of this edition -- including a larger expo floor and notable upticks in our grower, supplier, start-up, tech, construction and other attendee sector numbers ," said Brian Sullivan, owner|partner, Indoor Ag-Con. "The feedback we've gotten from our exhibitors around the meaningful contacts, connections and new business they generated here has been incredible."

"The energy on the show floor, in the educational sessions, and networking events, exceeded all our expectations," adds Nancy Hallberg, owner|partner, Indoor Ag-Con. "Everyone was so happy to have the chance to step away from the computer screen, onto the expo floor , and into meeting rooms to see old friends and make new ones. There's just nothing like a live event for fostering those chance meetings and encounters, quality networking opportunities, and invaluable information exchanges. It's good to be back!"

Among the many highlights of the 2021 Show in Orlando show included:

Indoor Ag-Con | Signify Welcome Party | October 3
Indoor Ag-Con and Signify lit up the October 2021 edition of Indoor Ag-Con on Sunday, October 3, with a Welcome Party at the Orlando World Marriott Center | Kalera Hycube Harvest Terrace. Attendees had the chance to network with industry friends, enjoy cocktails & hors d'oeuvres, see and learn more about Kalera at the place where it all began.

Three CEO Keynote Sessions:

David Rosenberg, CEO, AeroFarms kicked off Indoor Ag-Con with the opening morning keynote with his session, "Indoor Agriculture and the Power Of Partnership." Later that day, Austin Webb, CEO, Fifth Season, led the keynote session, "A New Category of Freshness." Mike Zelkind, CEO, 80 Acres Farms, led the day two keynote session, "Maturing the Industry," on Tuesday, October 5.

Panel Discussions & Fireside Chats

Attendees were able to choose from an array of panel discussions featured within Business & Marketing, Science & Technology and Alternative Crops tracks. Fireside chats included discussions with Ralph Fritsche, Space Crop Production Project Manager, NASA; Greg Ferrara, President, National Grocers Association; and Don Taylor, CEO, AmplifiedAg, Inc. In addition, other sessions included a Women in Ag panel, Hydroponics panel, a cannabis program moderated by Chris Walsh, CEO, MJBiz, and much more.

Sold Out Show Floor

The 2021 edition's sold out show floor brought together some of the top brands in the business, as well as a number of emerging companies, representing everything from lighting and control systems to irrigation, substrates, pest management and more.

Networking
From lunch and cocktail parties on the show floor to "After Parties" hosted by Native each evening at the nearby Pub Orlando, attendees and exhibitors had countless opportunities to mix, mingle and connect with each other during the 2-day event.

Source: Goedemorgen