Finalists Announced for CEAg World Impact Awards
September 18, 2025 
CEAg World has selected the finalists for its inaugural CEAg World Impact Awards.
The awards represent a new benchmark for innovation in 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 are thrilled to announce the following finalists in the four categories:
Innovator
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 finalists:
- Sam Bertram, CEO and co-founder, OnePointOne, Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Corey Ellis, CEO and co-founder, Growcer, Ottawa, Ontario
- Moein Moosavi-Nezhad, Ph.D. student, North Carolina State University.
Visionary Grower
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 finalists:
- Bill Ferguson, co-owner, Riley Creek Farms, Echo, Ala.
- Nona Yehia, CEO and co-founder, Vertical Harvest, Jackson, Wyo.
- Renato Zardo, director of growing, Great Lakes Growers, Burton, Ohio.
Emerging Leader
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 finalists:
- Danielle Rose, founder, Ceragen, Kitchener, Ontario
- Gretchen Schimelpfenig, executive director, GLASE, and senior energy engineer, ERI, Burlington, Vt.
- Trevor Terry, executive director, Kentucky Horticulture Council, Lexington, Ky.
Educator/Researcher
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. Nominee must be employed with a college, university, or research facility.
The finalists:
- Ricardo Hernandez, associate professor, North Carolina State University
- Chieri Kubota, professor and director of the OHCEAC, The Ohio State University
- Roberto Lopez, associate professor, 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 Nov. 20, 2025, in Durham, N.C. 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.
For more information about the CEAg World Conference and Expo or to subscribe to our newsletters and industry reports, go to CEAgWorld.com.