Former Ag Secretary joins vertical farm board

Vertical farming company Kalera has announced that Sonny Perdue, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Georgia Governor, will join its Board of Directors and has also personally invested in the company in the latest financing round.

Perdue’s appointment to the Board follows the addition of Maria Sastre to the Board of Directors, as well as Kalera’s acquisition of Vindara Inc., the first company to develop seeds specifically for use in vertical farming environments.

Sonny Perdue served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 2017 to 2021, where he initiated USDA’s Ag Innovation Agenda. Prior to his time as Secretary of Agriculture, Perdue served as governor of Georgia from 2003 to 2011 and a Georgia state senator from 1991-2002.

As a state senator, he was often praised for tackling issues when no one else had the courage to do so and for his ability to grasp the nuances of complex problems. Perdue was recognized as a leading authority on numerous issues including agriculture, transportation, education, emerging technologies and economic development.