Jan 30, 2023
Editor’s Note: Get to know the amazing team at Agritecture! This interview features David Light, Business Development Consultant at Agritecture Consulting.
Written by: Sarah Jordan
January 30, 2023
Meet Agritecture’s newest team member: David Light!
David Light joined the Agritecture team in late 2022 as a Business Development Consultant. As such, he will actively pursue new opportunities within the industry and expand Agritecture’s core business by strategizing for future growth.
David began his career as an Urban Planner in Los Angeles, CA. Credit: Brittanica.
David comes to Agritecture with a diverse professional background. Having began his career in Los Angeles as an urban planner, he has experience in community planning, economic development, transit and transportation planning, environmental planning and affordable housing analysis. David shares that one of the highlights of his career was leading an international consulting team in Beijing, China where his team created a 1,500 acre wholesale produce market and village masterplan.
More recently, David worked as an innovative real estate developer combining his experience in architecture, real estate finance and general contracting. It is through this work that he first learned of CEA, as one of his proposed projects involved redeveloping a warehouse into an indoor vertical farm with adjacent affordable housing for refugee families.
David hopes to see more innovation in urban agriculture in coming years. Credit: Arch Daily.
David’s varied experience means he has a unique network, which he hopes to use to advance more collaborative efforts in the industry. He states “I see a lot of potential in the collective mission that we have yet to achieve,” and he thinks that collaboration between industry leaders is important to achieve meaningful growth in the sector.
“Perhaps similar to the evolution of the solar industry, I hope to see our industry receive major public policy and funding support,” David says of his goals for the future. He thinks CEA should gain “greater public sector responsibility while maintaining a foundation of private sector innovation.” He hopes to see a future where cities embrace CEA as part of their urban infrastructure, considering it as necessary as clean energy programs or brownfield remediation.
David enjoys connecting with anyone interested in CEA or urban agriculture. He deeply believes in the power of collaboration, especially in the industry. In his own words: “I’m thrilled to be part of the Agritecture team and share our purpose and passion to be part of the change. I’ve lived and worked all over the world and truly enjoy getting to know folks from everywhere.” Reach out to discuss opportunities in the industry or just to say hello.