New Science Transforming Cannabis Cultivation

Industrial PhD candidate since 2023, specializing in greenhouse cultivation of Cannabis using supplemental LED lighting. Focused on developing new strategies to improve crop efficiency, product quality, and energy sustainability through precise resource control.

Born and raised in a Dutch greenhouse, Sonny developed a passion for plant cultivation from an early age. Growing up surrounded by horticulture laid the foundation for his deep understanding of plant science and commercial growing operations. Sonny has been consulting growers for years on cannabis cultivation in countries where medicinal cannabis is legalized. His cultivation experience and expertise is strengthened as result of his involvement in trials at Wageningen University.

Sonny holds a master’s degree in plant science from Wageningen University & Research, specializing in greenhouse horticulture. He understands the importance of collaboration between the pharmaceutical, horticultural and hobby industries within the cannabis sector. Through his extensive international network and hands-on experience, he has learned that cultivation expertise is a critical factor in the success of professional growing facilities.

The core is focused on an affinity with technology and desiring to find optimal and new solutions. These can translate to incorporating new designs on existing systems as well as presenting new innovations to optimize processes. Designing new projects where complex and multi-layered iterative processes form obstacles have proven to hold my interest and are considered a welcome challenge.

As a research and development engineer I’ve been focused on climate and energy and improving the supporting systems in horticulture. With the vision that a stronger market benefits all, the market for horticultural projects is far from saturated. In this, optimizing our ecological footprint, the sustainability of projects on both the resource and finance sides and ensuring fresh and healthy products leave the site, are an on-going and long-term challenge for us all.