Virginia Controlled Environment Agriculture Month

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

WHEREAS, Controlled Environment Agriculture embraces innovations in technology by utilizing a variety of growing methods including hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics, and fogponics for indoor growing, vertical farming, greenhouse, and protected cropping environments; and

WHEREAS, Controlled Environment Agriculture controls certain aspects of the environment to boost yields, improve sustainability, and reduce pests and disease, while increasing efficiencies and providing for year-round growth of crops; and

WHEREAS, Controlled Environment Agriculture, as compared to traditional agriculture, produces more food per acre, uses less water and fertilizer per pound of food produced, and reduces dependency on arable land; and

WHEREAS, Controlled Environment Agriculture has been shown by recent economic development announcements to be a catalyst for capital investment and a source of jobs in urban, suburban, and rural communities across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Controlled Environment Agriculture helps to bolster agriculture as Virginia’s largest private industry and positions the Commonwealth as a leader in next generation agriculture; and

WHEREAS, Virginia is the destination of choice for Controlled Environment Agriculture businesses to locate and expand with strategic access to domestic consumer markets, access to plentiful natural resources and competitively priced electricity, a skilled talent pipeline, and exceptional public and private partners;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize March 2023, as VIRGINIA CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations