In this workshop, you will receive a powerful and practical update on how smart humidity control, air circulation, and dynamic LED lighting can lead to healthier crops, better fruit quality, and more energy-efficient cultivation. The results from recent greenhouse trials offer directly applicable tools for vegetable cultivation in high-tech greenhouses.

Moderator: Britt Boogmans, Anja Dieleman, Jesse Verbeke, Dániel Pál, Eric Poot

Effects of (dynamic) LED lighting on growth and quality of vegetable crops

In this workshop, we explore the development of digital and data-driven crop management in greenhouses in general and in tomato cultivation in particular. We will discuss the roadmap towards autonomous greenhouse systems, the role of digital crop support, and the application of advanced data-driven lighting and crop strategies in modern horticulture. We will use concrete insights from the ‘Remote Precision Growing’ project as a case study.

Paolo de Heer, Eric Poot, Niels van der Geest, Brigit den Bakker, Robert Vollebregt

Optimised autonomous steering of greenhouses on both global and local level

Ir. Eric Poot has been manager of Delphy Improvement Centre in Bleiswijk since April 2024, where he leads applied research in greenhouse horticulture. With his team he focuses on the development and application of knowledge and technological innovations within cultivation systems, with the aim of making the sector more sustainable and future-proof. The Improvement Centre is also a leader in testing and demonstrating new varieties and technologies for high-tech greenhouse cultivation. Before his position at Delphy, Poot worked for years at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). Poot is an advocate of knowledge sharing and cooperation between research, business and education. He emphasizes the importance of integral approaches, in which factors such as light, climate and energy consumption are jointly optimized, and in which digitalization plays an essential enabling role. His vision is that horticulture makes an essential contribution to a healthy diet and the well-being of people worldwide, and that knowledge and technology play key roles in achieving sustainable food production.

Manager Improvement Centre

Within Delphy I am responsible fot the managment of th soft fruit research location in: Delphy ISFC. This includes setting up trials, spreading and transferring knowledge at meetings, events, etc. Working at Delphy and the Delphy ISFC offers me the opportunities to contribute to innovating and improving strawberry and soft fruit cultivation. By doing this, we not only contribute knowledge for growers, but also to the entire food chain. With the Delphy ISFC team we contribute to sustainable cultivation of strawberries and soft fruit for the future, with regard to people, planet & profit.

Manager ISFC

Paolo de Heer is working as data science consultant at the Digital Built Environment department of TNO. His research interests are artificial intelligence and optimisation, and he is currently the lead of the ‘computational models & tooling’ technology line of the department. In the High-Tech Greenhouses team of TNO, he advises on algorithms and modelling. Further more, he is also leading the AI team of the unit Mobility & Built Environment. He has a strong operational & long-term view, connecting people and knowledge through his extensive network and knack for effective and inspiring communication.

Data Science Consultant

Ben Nikaj is a highly accomplished Senior Crop Advisor at Grodan, leading provider of root zone management solutions for professional horticulture. With an impressive career spanning over 22 years, Ben supports vegetable and medicinal crop growers worldwide in optimizing their irrigation strategies and cultivation methods. Ben’s focus is on sustainable and efficient solutions to enhance plant performance and product quality. Ben’s unparalleled expertise plays a pivotal role in advancing innovative substrates and cultivation techniques.

Senior Crop Advisor Medicinal Plants

Christopher Leavitt is a cannabis breeder and tissue culture scientist who founded Voyager Genetics, a clone-only B2B genetics business specializing in servicing commercial medical cultivations. He is based out of Portugal, but works internationally with clients in Thailand, Portugal, South Africa, and the UK. He is the former CSO/COO of Compound Genetics and co-founder at Node Labs in San Francisco, California. His approach to cannabis clone development is unique- combining the use of plant tissue culture techniques and traditional clone selection techniques within the compliant medical framework, while balancing the art and science of breeding exceptional flavors into plants that perform agronomically.

Managing Partner

Country Director Morocco

Hassan Halawy is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Elite Agro Holding, a leading integrated agrifood platform headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates with a growing footprint across the GCC, Africa, and Europe. With over two decades of experience spanning agriculture, infrastructure, and digital systems, Hassan has built a career at the intersection of large-scale farming, engineering, and food systems development. He began his career in Africa, gaining hands-on experience in complex agricultural operations, before bringing this expertise to the UAE, where he has played a pivotal role in advancing modern, climate-resilient agriculture and contributing to national food security objectives. Prior to his current role, Hassan led and delivered large-scale agricultural projects across multiple geographies, combining open-field and controlled-environment agriculture to optimize productivity, resource efficiency, and year-round production. His work integrates engineering discipline, agronomic expertise, and digital innovation to address the structural challenges of farming in arid and water-stressed environments. At Elite Agro, Hassan leads the company’s strategic transformation into a fully integrated, technology-enabled food production platform. Under his leadership, the group operates across the full agricultural value chain, from engineering, procurement, and construction of farming assets to farm management, production, and distribution; delivering resilient and commercially viable food systems. In addition, Hassan has been actively involved in government-to-government (G2G) initiatives, leading and supporting strategic agricultural projects in collaboration with governments, international organizations, and development partners. These engagements focus on advancing food security, enabling knowledge transfer, and developing sustainable agricultural ecosystems in emerging markets. Beyond operations, Hassan contributes to global dialogue on food security and climate-smart agriculture. He has participated in high-level forums including COP16 Riyadh, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, and other international platforms, where he engages on topics such as supply chain resilience, Agri-tech innovation, and sustainable food production. Hassan is recognized for his execution-driven leadership style and his ability to bridge public and private sector collaboration, positioning agriculture as a scalable and investment-ready sector. He holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the American University of Beirut.

Chief Executive Officer

Since 2000, Anja Dieleman works as a (senior) scientist at the business unit Greenhouse Horticulture of Wageningen University &amp; Research. With greenhouse crop physiology as her main application field, her research interests are the effects of greenhouse climate factors (light, CO2, temperature) and cropping systems on crop growth and development, including underlying processes like photosynthesis and transpiration. Recently, she has been working on the design of energy efficient LED based production systems, plant monitoring systems and effects of spectral composition of the light on plant growth, development and morphology. Since 2020, she is also working on the development of autonomous greenhouse cultivation systems. This research is done in close collaboration with greenhouse growers, (international) horticultural supply companies and national government.

Researcher plant physiology

Laura van de Kreeke is a founding farmer at Growy, a vertical farming company based in Amsterdam. Driven by a strong belief that food systems must change, she is committed to making tasty, healthy, and affordable food accessible to everyone.
With over seven years of experience in controlled environment agriculture, Laura combines hands-on farming knowledge with a focus on the commercial side of the business. Her work spans sales, marketing, and communications, translating complex growing technology into clear value for chefs, retailers, and consumers.
At Growy, she is involved in connecting plant science, technology, and market demand, contributing to scalable, data-driven farming systems that improve consistency and efficiency. Alongside her work, she regularly gives talks and guest lectures on the future of food production and the role of vertical farming in building more resilient, local food systems.

Farmer

I am a senior lecturer and researcher at the HAS green academy University of Applied Sciences ('s Hertogenbosch, NL), department of Agri and Business, Team Horticulture and Arable Farming. Within the research I do, I am associated with the Professorships "Green Health (Groene Gezondheid)" and "Horticulture Technologies". This entails doing research, using modern and innovative technological advances within horticulture, to ensure quality (internal, phytonutrients, product health) of produce, allowing consumers to have an informed choice about the quality of their produce and the health benefits this may provide them upon prolonged consumption. Within the UAS system, the main focus of our research is to closely together with companies, Universities and governement to ensure the research we do is relevant and applicable in the sector. 
My previous experiences include:
PhD (University of East Anglia; John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK) 2002 (cereal starch metabolism);
PostDoc on Pollen-pistil interactions (Radboud University Nijmegen, NL)
Agricultural consultancy ( Sustainable Crop Management; ADAS, Cambridge, UK)
Seed Production Researcher (Nunhems / BASF Vegetable Seeds, NL)
Cereal breeding (Sorghum; DSV, NL)

Senior Lecturer and Researcher

Tom Coen is a Belgian entrepreneur specializing in agricultural robotics. He holds a PhD in engineering sciences from KU Leuven. Coen co-founded Octinion in 2009, where he led R&D projects in mechatronics for the agriculture and food sector. In 2021, he became CEO of Octiva, a merger of Octinion’s agricultural robotics division and Priva’s robotic solutions. With his innovative, solution-driven approach, he can bridge technical expertise with practical applications in the agri-tech industry.

Ronald Hoek is CEO and co-founder of Blue Radix, a pioneering company revolutionizing horticulture through AI-driven solutions. With a profound commitment to sustainable greenhouse production, Ronald spearheads innovations that optimize crop yields while minimizing resource usage. With the Blue Radix team he unlocks the value of Autonomous Growing for greenhouse companies worldwide.

Founder & Director

Friso Klok is Chain Manager South & East Asia at Rijk Zwaan, where he focuses on strengthening strategic partnerships and value chain development across the rapidly evolving horticultural markets of South and East Asia. In his role, he works closely with growers, retailers, processors and supply chain partners to align market demand with innovative vegetable concepts and genetics.
With a strong focus on collaboration throughout the fresh produce chain, Friso supports the introduction and expansion of high-value vegetable categories, helping connect consumer trends, retail strategies and production opportunities across diverse international markets. His work contributes to the development of sustainable, market-driven horticultural solutions that create long-term value for both growers and commercial partners.

Global Chain Manager South & East Asia

Roel Janssen is Chief Business Development Manager at Eternal.ag. Before joining Eternal.ag, Roel served as Chief Business Officer at Planet Farms, a technology company that builds and operates fully autonomous vertical farms at scale. Prior to that, he spent 13 years at Signify (previously known as Philips Lighting), where in his latest role he was the Global Director for City Farming. Through his years at Signify and Planet Farms, Roel established himself as an industry expert in high tech horticulture and vertical farming and has been invited to speak and share his views around the globe. He has also served as a guest lecturer at the HAS University of Applied Science in the Netherlands. Roel holds a degree in Business Administration from Eindhoven, where he still lives with his wife and two children. Alongside his passion for sustainable agriculture, Roel is an avid wine enthusiast and holds a WSET Level 3 certification.

Chief Business Development Officer

Prof Harrison is the Managing Director of the Plant Sciences Group, which comprises approximately 1400 staff across 20 chair groups in Wageningen University and the insitute Wageningen Plant Research. In the Netherlands he is a member of the Top Team “Tuinbouw en Uitgangsmaterialen/ Horticulture and Starting Materials”, representing all Dutch Knowledge Insitutes . He provides strategic oversight of several programme boards for large regional and national initiatives on behalf of Wageningen U&R.  He is an honorary  professor at the University of Birmingham,UK. 
Previously he was an executive Director at NIAB (UK) with overall responsibility for NIAB’s portfolio of arable genetics, pathology, biotechnology, data science and crop characterisation. Alongside that he led NIAB’s contribution to the Crop Science Centre, the alliance between the University of Cambridge and NIAB, designed to bridge the gap between discovery science and societal impact. This alliance has received significant philanthropic support and rapidly established its position in the national innovation landscape. Prior to his role in Cambridge, he worked at East Malling as head of genetics, where he specialised in horticultural genetics and genomics of fruit crops.  
Prof Harrison has a PhD in evolutionary systems biology. His research group has worked to understand the evolution and genetic basis of complex traits, such as interactions between plants and microbes, particularly in horticultural crops. Outputs have included scientific knowledge, tools, techniques and products to underpin the sustainable development of the agricultural, horticultural and food industries, using both breeding and biotechnology solutions. His group was among the first to implement gene editing techniques in key horticultural crops and in fungi used for alternative protein production. Through collaborative work with industrial partners, he and his team have delivered disease resistance traits into multiple commercial breeding programmes, as well as having initiated new public-private breeding programmes funded by global partners.

Managing Director Plant Science Group

Jouke Campen became an engineer in Applied Physics at the Technical University of Delft, specialized in heat and mass transfer. He started working at Wageningen UR in 1997. His main field of research is energy and climate control in protected horticulture. He finished his PhD on dehumidification of greenhouses October 2009. Currently he is the coordinator of the energy program of the ministry of Agriculture in The Netherlands involving annually 7 million EURO of projects on reducing energy use in the Dutch protected horticultural sector. Aside of this task he is international project manager for the last 20 years working on numerous projects all around the world.

International Project Manager

Project Manager, Business Development

Dr. Zhen Liu is a Program Manager of Artificial Intelligent at the Wageningen Academy and Business Development Manager at Wageningen Food & Biobased Research of  WUR, the Netherlands.
She holds a PhD in Innovation Management from WUR and has extensive experience in agrifood innovation, executive education, and international collaboration. Dr. Liu specializes in connecting science, industry, and entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on sustainable agriculture, food systems, digital agriculture, and agrifood business development. She has designed and led numerous international executive programs, summer schools, and industry-academia partnerships involving participants from Europe, China, and other regions.
In addition to her work at WUR, she is co-founder of DeCi AgriTech, an AI-driven startup developing autonomous greenhouse growing solutions for sustainable food production.

Program Manager AI of Wageningen Academy

Business Lead

Greenhouse Consultant

Marc Celis is an internationally experienced hydroponic leafy greens specialist at Rijk Zwaan, with more than 30 years of expertise in hydroponic lettuce production and controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Originally from Belgium, he supports growers, investors and horticultural partners worldwide in the development of hydroponic and high-tech leafy green projects.
 
His work focuses on integrating genetics, cultivation strategies and production systems to optimize yield, quality, shelf life and operational efficiency in greenhouse and indoor farming environments. Marc Celis is widely recognized for his practical and market-oriented approach to hydroponic production and regularly shares his expertise through international industry events and project collaborations.

Hydroponic specialist lettuce

Joost holds a Master's degree in Biosystems Engineering from Wageningen University. With a strong technical background, he specializes in developing strawberry cultivation planning and management software at Delphy. Joost leverages his expertise to create data-driven solutions that enable growers to improve their cultivation practices.

Cultivation Engineer Soft Fruit

As Senior Researcher Plant Health I work at Wageningen University and Research Horticulture leading a research team with focus on hostplant resistance/resilience to pests and diseases in greenhouse crops.  I am an Agricultural Engineer specialized in Plant Production (Agricultural Ing. University of Bonn, Germany) and have obtained an MSc in Pest Management (Imperial College London, UK) sustained by a grant from the German Academic Exchange Service. Thereafter, I obtained a PhD in biological control of weeds with fungi (University of Fribourg, Switzerland). My research continued in the Netherlands on diagnosis and control of pests and diseases in indoor horticulture at the University of Leiden  specializing in identifying chemical plant compounds related to host plant resistance/resilience to pests and diseases. Identified compounds are subsequently used for resistance breeding, inducing resistance in susceptible varieties and development of biopesticides. Currently, I pursue the practical application of this approach at Wageningen University and Research leading research projects in: design and implementation  of sustainable and resilient cultivation systems in ornamentals, vegetables and bulbs; use of LED lights for induction of plant resilience; reduction of nitrate fertilization to increase plant resilience and most recently early detection methods of pests and diseases via (hyperspectral) imaging, volatile detection, airborne spore monitoring and use of electrophysiological sensors. As such I closely co-operate with government institutions, growers and companies in the horticultural sector.

Senior Researcher Plant Health

Wesley Petzer is a South African-born cultivation and international market development specialist based in the Netherlands. He is Global Brand Representative and Growing Consultant for Atami Nutrients and Founder of Petzer Consulting BV, a consultancy focused on cultivation strategy, nutrient programmes, brand development and commercial growth within cannabis and controlled-environment horticulture.
With more than ten years of hands-on cultivation experience, Wesley has worked across legacy, regulated and emerging cannabis markets. His background combines farming, agricultural economics, compliance, software, product education and business development, allowing him to connect technical cultivation realities with broader commercial and market opportunities.
Before founding Petzer Consulting BV, Wesley worked as Business Development Manager Africa at Cannavigia, supporting the expansion of cannabis compliance technology in developing and regulated markets. Today, he works with growers, brands, distributors and industry partners across Europe, Africa, North America and emerging markets, helping translate cultivation knowledge into stronger positioning, trusted partnerships and scalable market strategies.
Wesley’s work is driven by a belief that the future of high-value horticulture depends not only on better products and better cultivation, but also on education, transparency, credible branding and meaningful international collaboration.

Global Brand Representative & Growing Consultant, Atami Nutrients | Founder, Petzer Consulting BV

VP of Asset Development

The workplace is the best learning environment. Beanstalk assumes that all knowledge is already available.
As coach and trainer I am concerned with the individual people in the organization and I facilitate coaching processes to realize human growth.
Beanstalk helps to build future-proof companies in the agricultural sector by developing the people in the organization.
We approach learning and development of people as a growth process. We are continuously learning and developing! You can accelerate this process by working consciously and purposefully on development.  Together with Peter Klapwijk and Sjoerd Nieboer (family business 😊), we also organize away days for directors, management and entrepreneurs to reflect on leadership, trends, day to day activity and the future. 
I am also involved with Peter Klapwijk in the content and development of this Power day. Nice to meet you there.

Trainer/coach

Bart van Meurs is Head of Division Q within the Koppert Cress Group, where he focuses on the development and application of innovative technologies for sustainable cultivation. With extensive experience in greenhouse horticulture and innovation-driven projects, he works closely with growers, technology partners and start-ups to support the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient horticultural sector. As moderator of this event, Bart brings together his in-depth sector knowledge, strategic insight and ability to guide constructive dialogue on the future of food, technology and sustainability.

Director

VP of Business Development

Nicola Donato is Business Development Manager at Green Gas & Liquids (GGL), a company specialising in proprietary CO₂ capture and utilisation (CCU), biogas upgrading, and emission control solutions green fuel production processes. Operating globally, GGL builds on a solid technological foundation following a spin-off from an established player in the process technology industry.
Nicola works with a focus on European and North American markets on a full commercial cycle helping greenhouses to recover their CO2 and reutilize it for crop fertilization.

Business Development manager

Reinier Wolterbeek is the Chief Product Officer at ONNA Greens, Norway's largest commercial Indoor Vertical Farm. He is largely accountable for moving trial crops into commercial crops.
Before joining ONNA, Reinier was the co-founder and CTO of Sundrop Farms, developing, building and operating 6 medium & high-tech greenhouses in Australia, the Middle East, Europe and USA, growing tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, strawberries & raspberries. 
Reinier has over &gt;20 years of innovative CEA experience with MSc degree from Wageningen University & Research.

Chief Product Officer

Founder & CEO

Product Manager Water & Hygiene and Senior Fertilisation Specialist

Technical Specialist Crop Protection

Jaime is a chemist specialising in Advanced Materials and works as an R&D researcher at AIMPLAS, a technology centre with over 35 years of experience in the plastics sector based in Valencia, Spain. His work focuses on developing innovative and sustainable plastic solutions that address real grower needs, spanning several research lines: advanced greenhouse covers engineered to optimise crop performance through temperature regulation, light spectrum modulation and water management; biobased and biodegradable materials for plasticulture and aquaculture; the valorisation of agricultural by-products into high-value composite materials; and soil quality improvement through controlled-release systems. With experience across national and European R&D projects, Jaime collaborates closely with industry partners and research institutions to translate cutting-edge materials science into scalable, practical , efficient and sustainable solutions, delivering measurable agronomic and economic value across the agricultural sector.

Development of Sustainable Materials in Agriculture & Aquaculture Group

Mr. Tam is an agronomist with 17 years of experience in soil and indoor crop production. Currently, he works with over 300 indoor growers with total over 150 ha helping them grow cucumber and melon for the best result. He advises and supplies input materials for indoor production (seed, fertilizer, cocopeat substrate). He successfully created an earning model for indoor production and brought mutual benefits to small growers.
In his free time Tam enjoys working and working!

Indoor Crop Production Consultant (Cucumber & Melon Specialist)

János Lóczi is a horticulture-driven entrepreneur and co-founder of Gremon Systems, a leader in data-driven greenhouse technology. With a background in commercial growing and international agribusiness, he combines practical crop knowledge with a strong focus on digital innovation. At Gremon Systems, he plays a key role in developing sensor-based solutions that provide real-time insight into plant behavior. Their technology uses advanced plant and substrate sensors, including precise weight-based measurements, to monitor water uptake, growth dynamics, and plant balance. This allows growers to understand exactly what their crop needs and when to act.
János is passionate about bridging the gap between traditional growing expertise and data-driven decision-making, supporting growers worldwide in moving toward more precise and ultimately more autonomous cultivation.

Co-Founder and President Gremon Systems

Founder

Scientific Researcher

Theodoros Matakiadis is the Head of Global Disruptive Innovation Portfolio at Bayer Crop Science, based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. With a robust background in the seed industry, he leads the development of transformational innovation products that align with business strategies and market needs. Theodoros is passionate about leveraging emerging technologies and insights to shape the future of agricultural innovation through product development. His role involves fostering collaboration across multifunctional teams, including players from the external innovation landscape. He is keen to connect with fellow professionals and stakeholders who share a vision for advancing sustainable practices in the industry.

Head of Global Disruptive Innovation Portfolio

Establishment Director of the Global Alliance of Horticulture Regions

Hans Kristian Westrum is CSO and founder of SoilSteam International, a Scandinavian company developing innovative technologies for substrate reuse and soil remediation. He has worked extensively with researchers and institutions across Europe to document the efficacy of steam-based soil disinfection as a sustainable alternative to excavation and landfill. Westrum has co-authored and supported field trials and third-party studies demonstrating how thermal treatment effectively neutralizes invasive plants, pathogens, and nematodes while preserving soil fertility. He has presented the technology at international conferences and is engaged in bridging applied research with practical deployment in agriculture, landscaping, and environmental restoration. His academic and professional focus is on scalable, science-based solutions that combine environmental impact reduction with circular economy principles in soil and substrate management.

Stef Maree (PhD), is programme manager Autonomous Cultivation at Wageningen Research. He focusses on bringing the latest development from the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into agriculture, helping growers to grow more sustainably and making healthy food available worldwide.

Programme Manager Autonomous Cultivation

Joost Damen is an Integration & Automation expert at Dots & Arrows, a member of Spire, where he helps organizations build scalable digital foundations through API-led integration and intelligent automation. With a strong focus on connecting systems, data, and processes, Joost works with companies to modernize their integration landscapes and enable faster innovation across the enterprise.
Passionate about the practical application of emerging technologies, Joost specializes in designing integration architectures that are secure, governable, and future-ready. His work bridges the gap between enterprise integration strategy and the next generation of AI-driven operations, helping organizations prepare for the shift toward agentic enterprises.
In his sessions, Joost combines hands-on experience with a forward-looking perspective on how APIs, automation, and intelligent agents can work together to create resilient and adaptable digital ecosystems.

Integration & Automation expert

Colinda de Beer is on a mission to connect tech with greenhouse horticulture. With a background as a horticultural researcher, software developer and R&D manager she is a tech translator and intrapreneur with over 35 years of experience. She regularly writes columns about subjects like innovation, robotics and AI. In her current role as a senior business developer for InnovationQuarter, she likes to combine a strategic and hands-on approach. This shows in her coaching and connecting students, startups, scaleups and companies from outside the horticultural and her role as initiator of RoboCrops and co-author of the digitalization vision for greenhouse horticulture.

Senior Business developer Horticulture

Master in Sciences - Greenhouse Production and Agribussiness
Master in Sciences - Renewable Energy
Specialiazation in Climate controls
Specialization in Plant Nutrition
Agrilcutural Engineer

General Manager/Head Grower

Marcel Zethoven is a safety and political expert with extensive experience in various roles with the Dutch National Police and was involved in the enforcement aspects of cannabis policy in the Netherlands.
Nowadays Marcel Zethoven is a senior management- and policy advisor for Dutch municipalities. He advises mayors on cannabis policy. He has extensive experience in municipalities operating under the typical Dutch tolerance structure, as well as administrative experience within the national experiment with closed coffee shop chains.

Advisor for Dutch municipalities

Managing Director

Business Development Manager

Sjoerd van der Ent is Director of Innovation at Koppert, where he leads the development and execution of strategies to advance sustainable, biology-driven solutions in agriculture. In this role, he oversees a broad innovation portfolio, focusing on translating scientific breakthroughs into scalable products that support resilient food systems. 
Sjoerd trained at Utrecht University, where he specialized in plant–microbe interactions. He also completed his PhD in this field, developing a solid scientific foundation in the mechanisms underlying plant health and microbial interactions. He began his professional career at De Ruiter Seeds / Monsanto Vegetable Seeds, where he worked for approximately five years and gained experience in applied research and the commercial seed sector.
He joined Koppert over a decade ago, initially leading R&D Microbiology. He later took responsibility for the Business Unit Microbiology, combining scientific leadership with operational oversight. Since early 2025, he serves as Director Innovation, driving the company’s broader innovation agenda and fostering collaborations with academia and industry.

Director Innovation

Kees Weerheim is a plant physiologist and cultivation consultant specializing in high-tech greenhouse systems. At Ledgnd B.V., he works directly with commercial growers to put plant feedback data at the center of their daily decision-making, from steering crop balance to aligning inputs with production targets.

Senior Plant Physiologist

Damion Schwarzkachel is Global Client Manager Horticultural Projects at Rijk Zwaan, where he focuses on strategic customer engagement and international business development for high-tech horticultural projects and controlled environment agriculture (CEA). With a background in architecture, greenhouse technology and international project development, he works closely with growers, investors and technology partners to develop future-proof greenhouse and hydroponic production concepts worldwide. 
 
Before joining Rijk Zwaan, Damion held international commercial and project development roles within the greenhouse technology industry, supporting the realization of turnkey greenhouse and indoor farming projects across Europe, the Middle East, North America and Asia. His expertise combines genetics, greenhouse technology, market intelligence and value-chain development to help partners build scalable, data-driven and commercially viable horticultural operations.

Client Manager Horticultural Projects

Strategic Entrepreneur Expert in Business Succession and Chain Collaboration With over 30 years of experience in the tropical green plants and vegetable plants industry, I have a proven track record in driving sustainable growth and innovation. My career spans various roles, including owner, executive, supplier, grower, and exporter, both nationally and internationally. I am currently active in the cultivation of vegetable plants at Canada’s largest vegetable plant nursery. I combine strategic insight with operational expertise to guide businesses in growth, transformation, and collaboration within the chain. Developing strategies tailored to the unique DNA of a company is central to my approach. Additionally, I am committed to strengthening relationships and partnerships across the chain as a foundation for success. Core Competencies: Business Succession Strategy Development Chain Collaboration Growth and Innovation Tropical and Vegetable Plant Industry.
Strategische ondernemer Expert in bedrijfsopvolging en ketensamenwerking Met meer dan 30 jaar ervaring in de tropische groene planten- en groenteplantenindustrie, heb ik een bewezen track record in het stimuleren van duurzame groei en innovatie. Mijn carrière omvat diverse rollen, waaronder eigenaar, directielid, leverancier, kweker en exporteur, zowel nationaal als internationaal. Momenteel ben ik actief als COO in de opkweek van groenteplanten bij Canada’s grootste groenteplantenkweker (23Ha) Ik combineer strategisch inzicht met operationele expertise om bedrijven te begeleiden in groei, verandering en samenwerking binnen de keten. Het ontwikkelen van strategieën die afgestemd zijn op het DNA van een onderneming, vormt een belangrijk onderdeel van mijn aanpak. Daarnaast streef ik naar het versterken van relaties en samenwerkingen in de keten als basis voor succes. Kerncompetenties: Bedrijfsopvolging Strategieontwikkeling Samenwerking in de keten Groei en innovatie Tropische planten- en groenteplanten-industrie.

Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

A seasoned investment promotion professional, Seewraj brings more than two decade-plus of experience and exposure in the full spectrum investment promotion, investment facilitation, investment aftercare, trade/export promotion, policy formulation and business development. He has been very active in promoting Mauritius as an attractive investment destination in various markets worldwide including India, China, South Africa, Malaysia, Germany, France. He has successfully contributed in project implementation in different sectors of the Mauritian economy including manufacturing, agriculture / agro-industry, aquaculture, fisheries & seafood processing, energy, financial services, ICT, logistics, film industry, healthcare, etc. 
Seewraj was posted in India as Economic Counsellor at the Mauritius High Commission in Delhi, and at the Consulate of the Republic of Mauritius in Mumbai for 8 years. He had the responsibility of the Indian market for attracting investment from India to Mauritius and Africa.
After returning to Mauritius in February 2024, Seewraj is Director at Economic Development Board Mauritius. He is responsible for the portfolio of Manufacturing, Agriculture, Blue Economy and Circular Economy. In addition, as part of the Senior Management Team at EDB Mauritius, Seewraj actively engages in strategic initiatives like preparation of strategic, marketing and action plans and actions involving high level visits to Mauritius and overseas.
Seewraj holds a BComm from University of Durban Westville, South Africa and an MBA from University of Mauritius.

Project Manager

Manager Operations

Stan Aanhane is co-founder and CTO of Bionomic. Drawing on his background in Biomolecular Sciences and research experience in molecular modification and manufacturing, he combines in-depth scientific knowledge with a keen eye for technological innovation .
As CTO, he drives Bionomic's innovation and technological development. He works on scaling up biotechnological processes, safeguarding research quality, and preparing Bionomic's technology for market application. What sets him apart: translating complex scientific issues into concrete solutions and bringing technology from the laboratory to practice.

Co-founder Bionomic

Leonard continuously improves van der Hoeven's Modulair greenhouse system and helps growers get the most out of it.

Lead R&D engineer

Lise is Project Manager at Grodan for Strawberry and Lettuce, where she leads fundamental research trials to strengthen cultivation insights and support innovation. She holds a Master’s degree in Resilient Farming and Food Systems from Wageningen University, and leverages her academic and practical expertise to contribute to more sustainable and high-performing horticultural production.

I am Niels van der Geest, graduated in Biosystems Engineering from the University of Wageningen and currently working as a cultivation engineer at Delphy, the Netherlands, with the focus on Greenhouse Vegetables. As cultivation engineer, I develop data-driven cultivation management tools that support growers in making data driven decisions!

Specialist data-driven growing

Cannabis Advisor with over a decade of experience establishing and optimizing regulated operations across North America. I live in the crossroads between technical horticultural science and complex regulatory compliance.
Throughout my 12 years in commercial operations, I have guided clients through the requirements of production and commercial best practices across seven U.S. states and Portugal. I specialize in cultivation and post-harvest operations, licensing applications, GMP/GACP standardization, facility design, and the creation of compliance frameworks that reduce risk and ensure ease.

Cannabis Advisor

Dr. Hanneke M.J. Later-Nijland specialises in EU and Dutch regulatory life sciences law and has significant experience in both contentious and non-contentious work. Due to her dual background as a lawyer and a pharmacist, Hanneke is eminently qualified to handle the full range of issues relating to marketing authorisations, clinical trials (and agreements), compliance, issues with ATMPs, compounding, demarcation issues, advertising, administrative fines, reimbursement, financial arrangements, preference policy procedures and inspections - both human and veterinary medicinal products. Next to the aforementioned, she also worked on several large (medicina) cannabis cases.
Due to her background as an Inspector for Healthcare, she is often asked to interact with the various competent authorities in the Netherlands (e.g. CBG, IGJ, Ministry of Health, KNMP, NVWA), and/or the EMA, on behalf of her clients.
Furthermore, due to her scientific background, she works (with patent attorneys) on issues at the interface between genomics, regulatory and IP.
Hanneke’s mission is to advance transactions in the life sciences space by way of securing life sciences regulatory law as a building block in such transactions. Therefore, Hanneke has launched a network of corporate and regulatory lawyers focusing on life sciences transactions (www.thegenotypenetwork.com).
 
Hanneke obtained a MSc and PharmD in pharmacy (Utrecht, 2003 and 2004) as well as a Master of Law (LLM, Utrecht, 2006) and holds a PhD (Nijmegen, 2010) in pharmacy, which makes her the only pharmacist-lawyer holding a PhD in the Netherlands. She is admitted to the Bar of Amsterdam and allowed to practise throughout the Netherlands. Hanneke lectures pharmaceutical law at Leiden University and speaks regularly at (inter-)national conferences.
Hanneke founded Genome Lawyers in 2019, a boutique law firm in Amsterdam serving pharma and biotech clients across the globe, e.g. the US, Canada, Hong Kong, UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.
Who’s Who Legal1 recommends Hanneke for Life Sciences: “Hanneke is singled out by market sources as a “very knowledgeable and pragmatic” practitioner who “really knows what she is talking about” thanks to her strong technical background in the life sciences arena.” Lastly, she is ranked in the upcoming edition of Chambers Europe 2024.

Attorney-at-law

Niko Simos is an Operations Associate at Agritecture Consulting, specializing in vertical farming, project management, and sustainable food systems development. With a background in agricultural sciences from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and an ongoing MSc in Land, Water, Energy Resources, and Rural Environment Management, Niko brings a strong foundation in CEA research and practice. His research includes studying yield optimization for leafy greens under innovative vertical farming systems with artificial lighting.
At Agritecture, Niko manages daily operations across marketing, consulting, and business development, supporting strategic partnerships and delivering CEA workshops globally. His industry publications focus on advancing vertical farming practices, and he is passionate about leveraging technology and collaboration to create resilient food systems for the future.

Operations Associate

I'm a dedicated future-proofing strategist with a passion for driving sustainable growth and innovation across various industries. One of my early career achievements includes pioneering transformative projects in China's green building sector, showcasing my ability to lead large-scale sustainable initiatives. 
With a deep understanding of emerging trends, disruptive technologies, and global perspectives, I have researched and authored strategic industry studies on topics such as green cities, logistics and transport, the brewing industry, horticulture, and the digital transformation of the food industry.
I founded Springtide Strategy in 2016, a consultancy firm dedicated to future-proofing strategies and green transition across various industries. I work with cross-disciplinary experts to deliver tailored solutions.

Future Proofing Strategist

Business Developer

Gonçalo is a Robotics Engineer who started his journey as a researcher at the Institute of Systems and Robotics at the University of Coimbra, Portugal. Afterwards he became the CTO, and later CEO of CoolFarm, a cloud-based, AI software company that developed control systems for indoor farming. He is currently the CEO of Periplo Innovation and Head of Software and Robotics at PlanetFarms.

Head of Software and Robotics

Gerrit Polder is senior researcher Computer Vision & Plant Phenotyping at the department Greenhouse Technology and the Agricultural Biosystems Engineering chair group of Wageningen University & Research. His research interests include photonic based sensing, including imaging spectroscopy and spectral imaging for disease detection and high throughput automated plant phenotyping both in protected cultivation and arable farming.

Computer Vision & Plant Phenotyping

For me - it's all about agriculture.  As business developer for www.festo.com I scout for AgTech topics, startups and business to bring more smart technology into a sector we all heavily depend on. At our family farm, we produce and market organic, regional and seasonal vegetables: www.heidehoefe.de und www.kartoffel-post.de

Business Development Agriculture

Director Construction

Policy Specialist Water & Environment

Simkje Kruiderink is Team coordinator of NL bilateral relations at the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature. Her international career of 20 years includes also being seconded to the University of Wageningen for a year to work on agriculture and water related issues and aa well as, four years, to the European Commission.

Team Coördinator International Relations

Sector Head Agrifood

Dr. Silke Hemming is head of the Greenhouse Technology research team at Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands. She is an expert on the field of novel greenhouse design concepts and modern greenhouse coverings for different climate zones world-wide with focus on resource efficiency. Her research is related to greenhouse covering and screen materials increasing light transmission, changing light spectrum, the effect of diffuse light, and energy saving by coverings, coatings and screens. Silke Hemming initiated research on the field of artificial intelligence and greenhouses control. She was leader of three International challenges on Autonomous Greenhouses and will present intermediate results of the 4th edition during Greentech. Her research group has expertise on the field of energy saving, greenhouse climate, modelling, data science, sensors and AI for greenhouse and indoor farming applications

Head scientific research team Greenhouse Technology

Tom Zoellner is a proven expert for innovative agri-tech initiatives and has 25 years’ experience in agricultural consulting as well as in being in the forefront with innovation and resilience solutions in the agriculture community. Tom helped initiate and develop numerous major international projects for acclaimed agriculture innovation showcases in the US, CH, DE and the Benelux and has a MSc. in environmental policy from the Bard Graduate Center for Sustainablity, New York.
He is the co-founder and the secretary-general of the FarmTech Society based in Brussels with many years being part of the agriculture expert networks and policy development working groups in the US and the EU.

Secretary-General

Thank you for your interest! 
My name is Serge de Reuver, 42 years young, father of 3 children. I have a passion for sports and for raising the bar; On a personal ánd business level.
After completing my university studies, I worked for a large Dutch bank for 15 years. In my last role, as Director of Business Banking within the Midcorporate segment, I was responsible for, among others, the high-tech horticulture sector. After 15 years of analysing business models, helping shareholders to sell and buy (their) companies, arranging complex financing et cetera, I decided three years ago to contribute my part to a leading global sector, and specifically to one of the leading companies active in this sector worldwide: KUBO Group.
Very happy to take you into the world of Ultra Clima. We have recently launched a number of frame-breaking innovations that will make your business model both more profitable, less risky and more future-proof.
I look forward to seeing you there at the Greentech!

Head of Sales

Trainer & Consultant international

Nicole Kuleshova Shalumov is the Operations & Marketing Manager at Cultivators, a Dutch horticultural consultancy specializing in hydroponic leafy greens, licensed cannabis cultivation, and controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Her work combines project management, international business development, consortium coordination, and industry event organization within the global horticultural sector.
Originally from Israel and now based in the Netherlands, Nicole studied Horticulture & Business Management at HAS University of Applied Sciences, specializing in greenhouse cultivation and technology. During her studies, she also completed a minor at Wageningen University & Research (WUR).
At Cultivators, Nicole works on international horticultural projects focused on cultivation strategies, operational planning, and business case development for commercial growing facilities. She also coordinates the Leafy Hydroponic Consortium and leads the organization of the Leafy Hydroponics Summit (LHS), bringing together industry partners, growers, and researchers to support knowledge exchange and innovation within the leafy greens sector.

Operations & Marketing Manager

Researcher

Manager Delphy Digital

Innovation Manager

Ryan brings more than 30 years of hands-on experience in the cannabis and horitculture industry. A second-generation cultivator and two-time Cannabis Cup winner, he has consulted with commercial cultivation operations worldwide. Ryan has held board positions with organizations such as the NCIA, RII, and Grow Up, and is a familiar face on the global speaking circuit with appearances at events like MJBizCon, Grow Up Conference, Cultivate, the Canadian Greenhouse Conference, and Greentech.
Before joining Cultiwool, Ryan worked with a leading LED lighting company, offering technical cultivation support not only for cannabis but also for a range of other crops including tomatoes, leafy greens, and ornamentals. Outside the grow room, Ryan is a passionate home brewer and was recently named the 2024 Front Range Circuit Homebrewer of the Year.

North America Technical Sales Manager

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.

Ms. Karcey is a cannabis industry executive with over twenty years of experience specializing in cultivation, facility design, permitting, and environmental optimization. With extensive hands-on expertise across indoor, greenhouse, and outdoor cultivation environments, she brings practical operational knowledge to complex cultivation and manufacturing projects.
She is the founder of Cultivo, Inc., a Northern California–based cannabis facility design and consulting firm established more than eleven years ago. Under her leadership, Cultivo has supported projects across more than 25 U.S. states and three countries, providing services including site selection, permitting, regulatory strategy, facility design, HVAC integration, and construction management for cultivation and manufacturing operations.
From 2020 to 2026, Ms. Karcey also founded and led Artemis CoPack, a 67,000-square-foot cannabis manufacturing and post-processing operation in Lake County, California, offering vertically integrated co-packing, extraction, packaging, and logistics services while managing multiple sun-grown cultivation sites.
Ms. Karcey has been featured in Forbes, National Geographic, Cannabis Science and Technology Magazine, Marijuana Venture, Marijuana Business Daily, Yahoo Finance, High Times, and other leading publications.

Founder and CEO

Rick Bakker is CEO of Hollandse Hoogtes, one of the Netherlands' leading companies operating within the regulated cannabis supply chain. With a background spanning strategic leadership, commercial operations, and legal and financial oversight, Rick has been building and scaling a professional, compliant cannabis business from the ground up, navigating the complexities of the GKK experiment firsthand.
His work bridges two worlds: the emerging regulated cannabis sector and the broader agri-tech industry, where he is also active in professional vegetableseed production through Bakker Seed Productions. This dual perspective gives him a grounded, operationally informed view on what it takes to build sustainable, quality-driven supply chains in highly regulated markets.
At GreenTech Amsterdam, Rick speaks from direct experience, on what the GKK transition has delivered in practice, where the gaps remain, and what the industry needs to mature into a fully professional sector.

Learn to grow! 
Beanstalk stimulates the growth and development of people and organizations within the horticulture sector. We create an inspiring learning environment for all who work in our beautiful sector. A place to explore and develop talents, where your company is supported to evolve towards a future-proof (self-learning) organization.

Trainer

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