CEA Advisors LLC

Vertical farming is not just plant the seed and take the money to the bank. It’s a complicated process which requires attention to every detail.

Every successful Seed to Sale Vertical Farming venture requires an understanding of business, technology, engineering, sustainability, computer systems, climate, environment, growing techniques and more.

We’ve spent quality time with Dr Kozai and Dr Despommier.  Two of the pioneers.

We’ve designed, built and operated successful vertical farming projects and consulted and advised on projects all over the world ! Call on CEA for systems integration and the facilitation of your successful Vertical Farming project.

The CEA Advisors team has spent years visiting trade shows worldwide, touring hundreds of nurseries and greenhouses, visiting numerous vertical farms, attending seminars and speaking on panels. We know what we’re doing !

Over the years we’ve developed a number of strategic alliances within the industry. We’re in constant contact with Vertical Farming innovators all over the world including the leading LED suppliers, experts in climate and environment, seed breeders, automation, control systems, artificial intelligence, sensors and monitoring, indoor growers and much more.

If we don’t know, we know who to ask.

Vertical Farming Systems

Let us help you to identify and define the requirements for success. Every system has its own strengths and we do not believe in a “One Size Fits All” approach. Not only do we build our own proprietary systems, we also collaborate with other manufacturers and service providers around the world. We can help you to choose which system is right for you. Vertical Farming is always evolving and CEA Advisors is your direct route to the innovation introduced by some of the world’s finest teams.

Components

We provide Advising, Consulting and Turnkey installations but the LED lighting, Automation, Climate and Environmental Controls, Irrigation, Water Treatment, Control Systems and Racking Systems are all important in the design of your optimized system. Once we’ve been retained, we deal directly with the manufacturers on your behalf. We do not receive any payments or commissions from them so you’re always assured of the best product at the best price.

Business Development

A Vertical Farm is a business and must be treated as such. It requires a substantial capital investment and CEA Advisors can assist you in all facets of business development. Finding the right location and choosing the right system is just the beginning. We’ve learned that a “deep dive” market analysis and an honest evaluation of your objectives is extremely important.  From Seed to Sale, we’re with our clients, all the way

Consulting and Support

CEA Advisors is there to support our clients through every step of the process. Business Planning, Site Selection, Crop Selection, Packaging, Economics, Marketing, Human Resources and much more. We share 50 years of Industry Experience, Insight and Wisdom with our clients. We stay invested in your success.

CEA Advisors: Who We Are
Glenn Behrman, Founder & President

CEA Advisors provides Advisory and Consulting services for the development of innovative indoor farming projects for a wide variety of local and international clients including Supermarket chains, Government Agencies, Investors, Universities, Commercial Growers, Researchers, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Food Processors.  In Horticulture since 1971 and laser focused on CEA for the past ten ten years, we provide a holistic approach in all facets of Controlled Environment Agriculture.

Glenn Behrman, CEA’s founder and President is a native of New York City and has been involved in the horticulture industry for almost 50 years.  From a small retail plant store in New Haven over the next 20 + years Glenn built his foliage business into an industry disruptive regional success, a high-volume chain of retail stores, garden centers and wholesale foliage distribution centers from New York City to Philadelphia, including a national lawn and garden import division.  He has designed and built greenhouses, foliage nurseries in Florida, orchid nurseries in Thailand and tree farms and nurseries in Vietnam.

In 1994 he sold his U.S. based business interests to devote more time to his Asian ventures and relocated to Bangkok, Thailand  where he established a landscape project management firm specializing in 5 star resorts and hotels and acted as a grower, broker and exporter of young plants and orchids and introduced new ornamental plant varieties from Asia to growers worldwide.  After being introduced to indoor farming in Holland in 2010 Glenn returned to the United States to devote his full time and energy to Vertical Farming as co-founder and President of GreenTech Agro LLC and CEA Advisors LLC.  His understanding of the industry, and his holistic approach and insight has been developed through many years of senior level day to day horticulture business management and operations.  Based in Dallas, Texas Glenn manages the day to day operations of CEA Advisors LLC. He is laser focused and works full time on the design, development and operations of investment grade Indoor farms and manufactures custom Growtainers® and Growracks® for commercial clients.

Why We Are Different

Experience

Involved with Horticulture since 1971 and Indoor Vertical Farming for the past 10 + years. Over the years I’ve visited numerous trade shows worldwide, toured hundreds of nurseries, worked with hundreds of growers and designed and built greenhouses, shade-houses, tree farms, nurseries and Indoor Farms. I’ve made mistakes but I learned from every one of them. We pay attention, we listen and together, we can make your project a success.

Integrity

We’re sincere, dedicated, we take pride in what we do and we love being part of this industry. We’re not “thought leaders, keynote speakers or social media influencers”, we’re Vertical Farming experts, experienced business people and members of a global strategic network and we want to help you to achieve success and enjoy the process. And when all is said and done, we want to sleep well at night.

Innovation

It’s not about technology, it’s about the appropriate technology. The CEA industry is constantly evolving and new innovative breakthroughs are being made everyday. We’re laser focused on collaborating with the global Vertical Farming developers, inventors and suppliers that are leading the pack. Millions of dollars are spent by our vendors every year on research and innovation and we’re your conduit to those resources.

Collaboration

Our philosophy is very simple. We believe that every component that we provide must come from a best in class reputable manufacturer that commits significant time and energy to research and the development of the best product in their sector. It’s not always about the cheapest price, but it’s always about choosing the appropriate technology. We maintain very close relationships with all of our suppliers.

More about Vertical Farming

Vertical Farms to supply Greenhouses

With agriculture being challenged to produce locally and with more respect for the environment, now is the time to become agnostic on how we grow and consider the integration of technologies to grow more sustainably and economically.

Integrating greenhouses with vertical farms will play a vital role in the way we grow plants for food, ornamentals and biological products for other industries.

Choose the system that’s right for you

There are some very capable designers and developers of Vertical Farming systems throughout the world today. Some systems require buildings with very high ceilings 30’+ to achieve the maximum economic benefit, some offer individual climate cells, others provide Rack based systems with automation, some are modular. All make sense, but only one is right for you. CEA Advisors can assist you in making the right decision.

Contact Us

CEA Advisors has successfully completed projects in the USA, Germany, Spain, England, Turkey and Switzerland. Whether you’re a Food Processor or a Food Manufacturer, a Grower or an Investor, a University or a Research Center or a Government Agency, CEA Advisors can assist you with your Indoor Farming Project.

Contact CEA Advisors first !