Microsoft’s Vision for Empowering the Next Generation of Growers
As technology becomes increasingly central to the future of agriculture, Microsoft is working to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation—starting early in the classroom. Through its TechSpark initiative, Microsoft is investing in rural communities like Southern Virginia to spark economic opportunity, digital skills training, and workforce development. As sponsor of CEA Summit East Welcome Reception on September 9, 2025 at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville, Virginia, Microsoft is also helping to shape the conversation around the role of technology in controlled environment agriculture. We caught up with Jeremy Satterfield, Manager of Microsoft TechSpark Virginia, to learn more about the initiative, Microsoft’s work with K-12 ag education programs like FarmBeats, and how they hope to support growers, researchers, and communities in the CEA space.
Can you give us an overview of Microsoft’s TechSpark initiative and your role in supporting communities across Southern Virginia?
The TechSpark initiative is a civic program that aims to foster job creation and economic growth in rural communities, like Southern Virginia. I have been fortunate to lead the TechSpark initiative for the last eight years, continuing to build on our relationships with our amazing partners to help bring programming opportunities to the region for all residents.
One of the upcoming CEA Summit East sessions will highlight how Mecklenburg County Public Schools is using Microsoft’s FarmBeats kits as part of their agriculture curriculum. How did that partnership come about, and what impact are you seeing from it so far?
Microsoft has been a partner with FFA and 4H for a number of years, with hopes of bringing technology applications to the agriculture industry. FFA educators from Mecklenburg County High School, and other high schools across Virginia, have received training on how to integrate technology into their agricultural classes at the K-12 level to help entice students into such a pivotal field.
Microsoft has talked about the importance of bringing technology and agriculture together earlier in K–12 education. How are you approaching that, and what kinds of curriculum or program partnerships are you hoping to grow?
Microsoft understands the importance of bringing technology into the agriculture industry to help with efficiency, sustainability, and yields. The agriculture industry has been positively impacted by new technology over the last decade, and we don’t see that trend changing course anytime soon. Our hope is that we can partner with the farmers to deploy transformational technology to help them meet the growing demands of the industry.
As the indoor and controlled environment agriculture sectors evolve, data and digital tools will play an increasingly important role. How does Microsoft hope to support growers, researchers, and communities in developing or using these technologies?
Microsoft understands that as technology continues to evolve throughout the industry, there will become a growing need for data collection and storage. An additional component to that sustained growth will also be the analysis of the increased data set. Microsoft will look to become that trusted partner working alongside farmers.
Looking ahead, what kinds of partnerships or initiatives would you like to explore further in the agriculture and CEA space — both in Virginia and nationally?
Microsoft is working to build on their existing partnerships with FFA and 4H but that demand will grow to include new programming opportunities in K-12 and higher education to help merge the world of agriculture and technology.
It’s an exciting time and Microsoft is honored to have a seat at the table.
Kentucky is my home state and I do love it. But, it also makes sense strategically to build an AgTech hub in Central Appalachia for a few reasons:
Change begins with education. We recognized the need for a consumer movement to encourage folks to learn where their food comes from and understand that their purchases matter. The Fight the Food Fight campaign is a call to action that asks consumers to join us in creating a more resilient food system designed for the long-term wellbeing of people and planet by supporting products that promote sustainable farm operations and good, living-wage jobs in agriculture.
As we work to build a hub of sustainable agriculture in Central Appalachia, we know we need to create an AgTech ecosystem with good education at all levels. That’s why we are investing in the next generation of farmers and futurists by supporting high school AgTech education. We have launched seven container farms since the start of our program, with a goal to have 20 across Central Appalachia to serve as a model across the U.S.
These free-standing training facilities are made from shipping containers retrofitted with the latest sustainable agriculture technology, including energy-efficient LED grow lights and a closed-loop irrigation system that teaches students how to use up to 90% less water and grow up to 30 times more food in the same amount of space compared to traditional open-field agriculture. One container farm classroom can produce the equivalent of three to five acres of traditional agriculture, and the technology in each unit is a good example of what AppHarvest employees use every day on a larger scale.