Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) facilities are continuing to rise in Virginia just as quickly as the food products they produce. On May 16, 2023, Governor Glenn Youngkin, signed new legislation that expands the agricultural sales tax exemption. This expansion will include some items used to produce agricultural products and materials used to create new facilities.

Governor Glenn Youngkin
Official Photo by Christian Martinez, Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Dr. Gabriel Pent, Superintendent of the Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center hosted the Governor and his representatives. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences had a presence during the signing, including Dr. Mike Gutter, Director of Virginia Cooperative Extension, and Dr. Kang Xia, Interim Associate Director of Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station and Director of the Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture. Members of Virginia 4-H and Virginia FFA also shared this experience with the Governor. 

You can read more about the signing here: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/.../name-1003075-en.html

Governor Glenn Youngkin, Kang Xia, and Gabe Pent
Official Photo by Christian Martinez, Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin
group photo of Governor Glenn Youngkin with Virginia 4H and Virginia FFA members
Official Photo by Christian Martinez, Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin.