David Rosenberg

David Rosenberg’s mission is simple: Grow the best plants possible for the world to enjoy. In founding AeroFarms, however, the way in which he is achieving this vision is anything but simple. 

An award-winning vertical farming company, AeroFarms uses a mix of commercial farming, cutting-edge innovation and data science in a proprietary technology platform to grow and sell great tasting leafy green produce. Their aeroponic system reduces water consumption, utilizes post-consumer recycled plastics and because the produce is grown in a controlled indoor environment, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are not necessary. This innovation has earned them multi-year strategic partnerships with government and Fortune 500 companies to help solve agriculture supply chain needs. 

In 2016, the AeroFarms Global Headquarters opened a 70,000 square-foot facility in Newark, New Jersey, USA, the largest indoor vertical farm in the world based on annual growing capacity. In 2021, they expanded to the United Arab Emirates, establishing a state-of-the art research center focused on the latest developments for indoor vertical farming, innovation, and AgTech, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. As recently as 2022, AeroFarms opened its next generation farm, the largest aeroponic smart farm in the world, in Danville, Virginia, from which AeroFarms distributes its products nationwide in the US. 

AeroFarms also brings custom indoor vertical farms into communities. They have a working farm in ten schools, including in Philip’s Academy Charter School, Riverdale Country School, a New York City public school, and throughout the Newark Public School District. Students harvest their own greens, gaining access to healthy produce when it can be hard to find in parts of their city, and learning about how food is produced and why methods matter. AeroFarms has also partnered with the World Economic Forum to bring community farms to Jersey City through the country’s first municipal vertical farming initiative. 

As a member of the World Economic Forum, Rosenberg co-founded and co-chaired the Young Global Leaders Circular Economy Taskforce. He was a member of the World Economic Forum Global IoT Council and a member of the U.S. delegation to the B20 Sustainable Food System Taskforce, which advises the G20. He is a former Adjunct Professor at the NYU Stern School of Business and was recognized as Responsible CEO of the Year for a Public Benefit Corporation by 3BL Media and one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs at Goldman Sachs’ 2019 Annual Builders and Innovators Summit. David also serves as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of The EVERY Company, a leader in non-animal based egg proteins, is on the Board of Directors of 

Aspire, a leader in insect proteins, and is a Managing Trustee of New Jersey’s Liberty Science Center.