WILLOUGHBY, OH – CEAg WorldTM, a Meister Media Worldwide brand and a leading media and events brand in the controlled environment agriculture space (CEA), announced today the finalists for the CEAg World Impact Awards, recognizing individuals driving real progress in Advancing Food Under Cover.TM
“This fantastic group of finalists is so inspiring, and they’re all worthy of recognition,” said Kristin D. Zeit, Content Lead for CEAg World. “When you read the profiles of each of them on the CEAg World website, it paints an incredible portrait of the breadth and depth of work being done for this industry.”
These annual awards, launched on July 7, 2025, recognize CEA trailblazers who are moving the future of protected agriculture forward. Finalists and their corresponding categories are as follows:
Visionary Grower Award finalists:
- Bill Ferguson, Riley Creek Farms
- Nona Yehia, Vertical Harvest Farms
- Renato Zardo, Great Lakes Growers
Innovator Award finalists:
- Corey Ellis, Growcer
- Moein Moosavi-Nezhad, North Carolina State University
- Sam Bertram, OnePointOne
Emerging Leader Award finalists:
- Danielle Rose, Ceragen
- Gretchen Schimelpfenig, GLASE
- Trevor Terry, Kentucky Horticulture Council
Educator/Researcher Award finalists:
- Chieri Kubota, The Ohio State University
- Ricardo Hernandez, North Carolina State University
- Roberto Lopez, Michigan State University
The CEAg World Impact Award winners will be announced on Nov. 20 during the opening ceremony of the CEAg World Conference and Expo held on Nov. 19-21 in Durham, N.C.
Winners in each category will receive the following recognition:
- Free registration to attend the CEAg World Conference and Expo.
- A two-night hotel stay covered by CEAg World.
- Live, on-stage award and recognition during the event’s opening ceremony.
- A spotlight interview on CEAg Talks, CEAg World’s video series on food production under cover.
- Exclusive editorial coverage across CEAg World media including digital coverage, newsletters and social media spotlights.
To learn more about the CEAg World Impact Awards, please visit CEAgWorld.com/impact.
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About Meister Media Worldwide
Meister Media Worldwide is a leading global agriculture media and events company, committed to cultivating a sustainable world through nearly 100 years of expertise. The company and its brands advance agricultural markets by providing print and digital media, events, data intelligence products, and custom business solutions. Meister Media Worldwide is based in Willoughby, OH, U.S., with locations in Beijing, China, and Mumbai, India. Learn more at meistermedia.com.
About CEAg World
CEAg WorldTM, a Meister Media Worldwide brand, serves as the hub for the global controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry, fostering connection, innovation and growth through diverse media platforms and in-person education and collaboration. Learn more at ceagworld.com.
Media Contact
Meredith Painter
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