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For decades, Michael has exemplified visionary leadership, transformative innovation, and a commitment to excellence in the consumer products industry. As the President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of Village Farms International, he has spearheaded a journey of growth that has set a gold standard in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) worldwide.
Before founding Village Farms in 1989, Michael served on duty in the US Navy as an Officer and tactical carrier jet Aviator from 1976 to 1983. He continued his service in the Naval Air Reserves from 1983 to 2001, retiring at the rank of Captain. Throughout his Naval career, he held various department head positions, completed a tour as Commanding Officer of a jet aviation squadron, performed tours overseas, and completed senior advanced management courses, logging over 5,000 hours of jet flight time. This military service instilled in Michael a disciplined, mission-driven leadership style.
In 1984, Michael founded Agro Dynamics, Inc. (ADI), where he served as CEO. ADI was the first to introduce several new greenhouse technologies to the North American market, including the innovative hydroponic growing medium, Grodan Rockwool, which was revolutionary for its time and today remains a leader among substrates technologies. Upon the acquisition of ADI by EcoScience, a NASDAQ-listed agricultural biotechnology company, he became CEO in 1992, until the company was acquired privately by Village Farms in 2001. This work experience allowed Michael to hone his skills in driving innovation, navigate emerging markets, and foster technological advancements in CEA.
In 1989, Michael recognized the untapped potential of large-scale greenhouse farming and founded Village Farms International. He envisioned a future where CEA could revolutionize food production by delivering high-quality, sustainable produce to consumers year-round. The legacy brand Village Farms Greenhouse Grown® of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers has been a mainstay in kitchens across USA and Canada for over 30 years. Under his leadership, Village Farms is the first and longest-tenured operator of hydroponic vegetable greenhouses in the United States with a current footprint of 260 acres under glass.
Recognizing the potential of the global cannabis industry, he led Village Farms’ pivot into the Canadian cannabis sector, establishing Pure Sunfarms in 2018. By converting Village Farms’ Delta, British Columbia, 2.2 million square foot greenhouse space from produce to cannabis, this strategic move exemplifies Michael’s ability to anticipate market trends and navigate new regulatory landscapes. Within months of launch, Pure Sunfarms quickly established itself as a top-performing producer of cannabis and brand, a position it maintains today as one of the only profitable producers in Canada. The company proudly produces some of the highest quality, most widely distributed and consumed legal cannabis strains globally, including its #1 Pink Kush cultivar. Building on its Canadian success, Pure Sunfarms strategically expanded into international markets, including Germany, Australia, and the UK. The company is also one of just ten licensed producers in the Dutch market—positioning Village Farms for continued leadership in one of Europe’s most progressive cannabis markets.
In November 2024, Village Farms was selected as one of 25 participants—and notably, the only cannabis industry operator—to testify as a witness in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Administrative Law Judge hearing. This hearing will address the proposed reclassification of marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act in the U.S.
Beyond his business accomplishments, Michael is an advocate for environmental stewardship. Under his leadership, Village Farms has prioritized reducing its environmental footprint by embracing renewable energy and sustainable farming methods. Notably, the company established Village Farms Clean Energy, a clean energy subsidiary and Renewable Natural Gas facility in Canada. This project reduces emissions by 12,500 tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to taking about 2,600 cars off the road every year.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the consumer products industry, and diverse and dynamic journey, we proudly submit Michael A. DeGiglio as a deserving candidate for this honor.
Nomination Title: Michael A. DeGiglio: A View From the Flight Deck
