In this session, Joost Damen, Integration & Automation expert at Dots & Arrows (Member of Spire), shares how API-led integration enables organizations to create a reliable foundation for innovation. From this integration backbone, the session looks ahead to the agentic era, and explains how intelligent agents can collaborate safely and effectively when built on well-governed, scalable architectures.

API-Led Integration as the Foundation for the Agentic Enterprise

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

Kyle Freedman is the global Market Segment Manager CEA and Jiffy Gel Product Manager for Jiffy Group responsible for providing technical guidance and support to Jiffy's global CEA customers and helping to drive market expansion. Kyle holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He earned his MSc. in International Agriculture Development from the University of California at Davis with a concentration in Horticulture and Agronomy where his research focused on climate-smart, small-scale postharvest processing systems of coffee in Honduras. He obtained a PhD in Horticultural Sciences from North Carolina State University where his research focused on the development of a new hydroponic grapevine production system called Precise Indoor Vine Conditioning (PIVC) in which young grapevines are conditioned with supplemental light to produce fruit in their first season of field transplanting. With 15+ years of experience, Kyle was previously a Sr. Project Management Specialist at RTI International prior to graduate school where he was a part of their global food security and agriculture team managing over $150 million in USAID and USDA development projects in East Africa and Southeast Asia.

Market Segment Manager CEA

Co-founder and Director of LettUs Grow. Current operational role as Chief Scientific Officer, focused on strategic partnerships, projects and academic collaborations.
LettUs Grow is an horticultural technology provider based in Bristol, UK. We design & build aeroponic technology & control software for glasshouse and vertical farming facilities; boosting performance across a triple bottom line. We believe careful innovation in agriculture can make the world a better place. 
Our Aeroponic Rolling Benches are designed for simple integration into automation systems, enabling existing glasshouse or vertical growers with hydroponic bench systems to easily upgrade (in full or part) to a higher performance irrigation system.
Our DROP&GROW container farms can be bought to aid trialing aeroponics anywhere, all year round.

Chief Scientific Officer & Co Founder

Executive Director

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

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.

PhD student

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

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.

Erik Pekkeriet (1970) is Program Manager Vision + Robotics. He studied Mechanical Engineering at the NHL-Stenden University of Applied Sciences in Emmen. He specialized himself in Maintenance Technology and Management. After he finished his BSc he started his career at Philips as a project employee in maintenance management. In 1996 he started a new position within innovation management in a Greenhouse Horticulture Association. He started as a single consultant, but built and led a department with 5 innovation consultants. After 7 years he made a change to Wageningen University & Research, building great robots, vision sorting systems and new greenhouse production systems for, and together with farmers and machine manufacturers. Main projects he developed and worked on were: vision sorting systems for pot plants, cut flowers and vegetables in X-ray-, NIR-, Fluorescence- and RGB-technology in 2D and 3D; robot harvesting systems for cutting roses, gerberas, cucumbers, sweet peppers and tomatoes and new moving greenhouse production systems for chrysanthemum, pot plants and vertical farms. Erik coordinated the EU-project PicknPack (flexible robotic packaging systems) and NXTGEN Hightech Agrifood. Erik is also the founding father and network coordinator of the European Digital Innovation Hub network on Robotics named: agROBOfood
The last decade Erik broadened the robotic scope from greenhouse horticulture to open field, livestock, marine, food and other Wageningen agri-food domains. Erik is now leading the agilie team of the Agro Food Robotics Program which consist of 60 experts from Wageningen Reserarch. Erik is also an IPMA-C certified project manager. Other positions are:
<ul>
<li>Boardmember of the topicgroup on Agricultural Robotics at EU Robotics</li>
<li>Chair of topicgroup Greenhouse Horticultuire at the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Techniek in de Landbouw (Dutch Society of Technology in Agriculture)</li>
<li>Network coordinator at the European agROBOfood network</li>
<li>Advisory board member of the European Machine Vision Forum</li>
</ul>

Programme Manager Vision + Robotics

Founder & CEO

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

Researcher Cannabis Cultivation

Managing director

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

Not an armchair expert, but with both feet still in the trenches. As Managing Director of LetsGrow.com, Gabriël van der Kruijk is deeply involved in technological innovation that delivers real impact. He looks beyond the hype and shares down‑to‑earth, practical insights. With his enthusiasm and energy, he consistently connects effortlessly with his audience.
With more than twenty years of experience in the tech sector, Gabriël has a strong track record in developing digital and AI solutions. His in‑depth knowledge of the horticulture sector has been shaped by hands‑on experience; he was a key driver behind the digital transformations of global players such as Rijk Zwaan and Koppert. This experience enables him to truly understand how to successfully apply technology in horticulture.
The common thread throughout his career is translating technological capabilities into tangible business results, always through a customer‑focused and co‑creative approach. In his keynote sessions, Gabriël shares concrete insights and thought‑provoking real‑world examples. In workshops, he dives deep, guiding participants in translating their own challenges into effective digital solutions.

Director LetsGrow.com

Eva Helén operates at the intersection of food, energy, and digital infrastructure, designing platforms and partnerships that enable industries and communities to collaborate in entirely new ways. She is Managing Director at FarmTech Society (FTS), where she leads the development of the CEA Lounge platform. Through the CEA Lounge, FTS connects people with knowledge, experts, and real-world deployment across both digital and in-person experiences. She also serves on the organization’s Creative Board.
Previously, Eva co-founded BRAVE Industries, focused on regenerative, community-centered food and energy systems.  A serial entrepreneur with over 20 years in high tech, she has built and scaled multiple ventures, including Sanbolic. Eva is a frequent speaker and moderator, known for connecting stakeholders across sectors and advancing collaboration.

Managing Director

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

Rien Kamman is CEO and Co-Founder of Source.ag, leading the company’s global mission to empower fruit and vegetable growers with AI. Since 2020, he has driven Source.ag’s expansion and vision to make high-tech, efficient greenhouse farming accessible and scalable worldwide.

CEO & Co-founder

Directory Board

Business Development Manager

Founder & Head of Content and Policy

Accountmanager Digitalization

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

Vice President Business Development

Minister for Food Security, Fisheries and Horticulture

Business Development manager

With 15 years of experience at RAI Amsterdam and over 12 years as an Exhibition Manager, Kim has spent the past five years dedicated to GreenTech and the horticulture sector. Bringing people together has always been her passion, and she finds that this aligns naturally with an industry that is both innovative and highly relevant, especially for someone who mainly follows a plant-based diet.

Exhibition Manager Domain Horticulture

Marketing Manager

Ariane GRISEY, graduate engineer from Polytech’Marseille (2000) in energy engineering mechanics. She has been working in CTIFL for 22 years. She has carried out various projects such as : Interreg NW Re-Greenhouse (2024–2027), 11 partners, aiming to develop a decision-support tool for selecting renewable energy sources for greenhouses. Monitoring of a pilot site in Brittany heated by waste heat. Horizon Europe (2022–2029) ClimateFarmDemo, 80 partners, Thematic Leader for vegetable production, organization of webinars to reduce GHG emissions. Greengo PEREN (2021–2023), 8 partners: improving the environmental performance of apples. Greengo PERTOMCO (2022–2024), 9 partners: improving the environmental performance of tomatoes and cucumbers grown under cover. Contribution to the creation of the carbon tool CarboneF&L (2021), low-carbon diagnostic plan (ADEME, MASA), online deployment of the tool (2024–2026). Project manager for the multi-partner program “Energy-Producing Greenhouse” (2008–2012), aimed at building three 1,000 m² greenhouse units dedicated to energy experimentation (insulation materials and double screens, double heating pipes, thermodynamic dehumidifiers, semi-closed greenhouse, air/water heat exchangers, water/water heat pumps with aquifer storage, 100% electric greenhouse).
Her areas of technical expertise and completed studies include: Since 2006, participation in the ATEE/Agriculture working group on energy savings certificates, preparation or co-preparation of technical sheets each year. Chair of the Agriculture group since 2023 Conducting studies and surveys (update of the heated greenhouse inventory in 2021) on energy topics in greenhouses: biomass, heat pumps, solar thermal (ADEME Solarsorp study, 2022). Private consulting studies for AgriPV project development.Private studies on greenhouse energy consumption calculations Technical assessment of greenhouse investment projects Contribution to the note and calculation tool for greenhouse thermal coefficient (U-value) Agrithermic for ADEME Expert reviewer for project proposals and innovation competitions Numerous articles and presentations in France and abroad Training sessions for professionals and advisory technicians, conducted annually on greenhouse climate management and environmental impacts of the fruit and vegetable sector.

Manager of the Environment and Energy Unit

With years in industrial automation, Rick Schneiders leads Siemens' Future Food team, driving the digitalization of food processing for sustainability. Recognizing the critical need for progress in food production, he takes charge in advocating for industry-wide standardization while guiding companies in scaling up innovative business models. Rick's commitment to innovation and sustainability, combined with his extensive experience, drives his mission to revolutionize the food industry towards a more efficient and sustainable future.

Head of Future Food

Nieves is full time researcher in cultivation of horticultural crops at the Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture of Wageningen University & Research. In this position, she has been leading numerous (applied) research projects and collaborating in many others, both national and international. Research topics cover the entire production chain, from propagation to post-harvest performance through the management of the crop in all its facets: biological soil disinfection, plant rooting, substrate selection, irrigation, fertilization, integrated pest control, the implementation of new materials and technologies and the efficient use of resources, especially energy. With her research she hopes to inspire growers and the horticultural supply industry, in The Netherlands and beyond, to implement cultural practices that contribute to increase the sustainability of the sector. Nieves studied Biology at the “Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona”, and has lived and worked in the Netherlands during nearly her whole profesional career.

Senior Researcher Cultivation

Anneke van de Kamp comes from the Netherlands and holds a Master’s degree in Horticulture & Phytopathology from Wageningen University. She started her professional career in 1990 as a staff member at the Central Office of the Horticultural Auctions.
Over the years, Anneke has built extensive expertise in traceability, sustainability, and food safety through roles at DLV Advisory Group, the Product Board for Arable Crops, and the Product Board for Horticulture.
Since 2012, she has been Group Manager Communication, Public Affairs at the Dutch vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan. 
In her role at Rijk Zwaan, Anneke focuses strongly on strategic communication, public affairs and foresight, with a particular emphasis on stakeholder engagement and anticipating developments that impact the future of horticulture, including sustainability, food security, and innovation.
Anneke is actively involved in international sector organizations. She is Chair of the Public Affairs & Foresight Committee (HC) of Plantum. She also participates in the CPOL of Euroseeds and the ISF Value Chain and ESR coordination Groups.
From 2020 -2025, she was member of the Top Team Horticulture & Starting Materials. Since January 1, she serves as Chair of TKI Horticulture & Starting Materials, where she contributes to strengthening innovation and public-private collaboration in the sector.
I

Chairman Board

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

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

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

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.

Founder & President of Big League Cultivation and Genetics

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

Alexander van Tuyll has been working at Wageningen University & Research’s Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture for nearly four years, with a background in biosystems engineering. His research explores circular greenhouse horticulture. This is also the topic of his ongoing PhD. Nutrients, CO2 and renewable growing media are the focus of his current projects.

Researcher in Circular Greenhouse Horticulture

Joseph began his career in 2012 in instrumentation and controls engineering, using sensors and PLC systems to control auxilary systems in semi-conductor manufacturing. In 2019, he returned to university to study biosystems engineering at Wageningen University and Research. Since graduation he has worked at Wageningen research modelling water flows through soil to reduce emission of water, nutrients, and PPPs into the environment; optimizing fertilization to accomodate dynamic recirculation throughout the crop cycle; and, since 2023, using biochar as a cultivation susbtrate in greenhouse trials at the WR Glastuinbouw research station in Bleiswijk. Joseph brings a fresh perspective into the horticultural industry and has an eye for both what is possible and what is practical.

Researcher - Rootzone Dynamics and Sensing

Researcher Delphy Improvement Centre

Dr. Nils Borchard is Head of Research and Innovation at DLG (the German Agricultural Society) and Visiting Associate Professor at Lisbon School of Economics and Management. He studied geography at Humboldt University Berlin and holds a doctorate from the University of Bonn. His career spans leading research institutions across Europe and Asia, including Forschungszentrum Jülich, the Center for International Forestry Research, and the Natural Resources Institute Finland, where he served as the scientific heads of agriculture and horticulture. At DLG, he builds up and drives R&D&I activities across the entire agri-food value chain, with a particular focus on food systems innovation and knowledge management.

Head of Research and Innovation

Consultant in global controlled environment agriculture space with 8+ years of experience across vertical farming, greenhouse systems, and fresh produce supply chains. Co-founder and editor at VerticalFarmDaily, part of a global family media group with 16+ industry publications, where I built a strong network and in depth market insight. I now support companies and startups with market research, go to market strategy, and business development.

Owner

Els Berckmoes has built a strong track record within horticultural research and innovation. She started her career as a researcher, with a strong focus on sustainable water use in greenhouse horticulture, working on solutions to optimize water efficiency, quality management, and circular water systems in intensive production environments. In addition, she provides hands-on advice to horticultural companies on the implementation of sustainable water management practices. Her work has always been closely linked to practice, supporting growers in making their operations more resilient and sustainable.
Over the years, she progressed to a leadership role and is now serving as director, where she combines strategic vision with a deep understanding of the sector’s practical needs.
Today, she is also actively involved in HORTIVEC, where the focus lies on demonstrating, developing, and accelerating the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies in horticulture. Through HORTIVEC, hands-on activities are organized on the work floor, enabling growers, crop workers, and new entrants such as students from horticultural and higher education programs to learn and experiment with new technologies.
As of 1 July, the merger between the Proefstation voor de Groenteteelt and Proefcentrum Hoogstraten will be completed, resulting in Harvestis, a new, future-oriented organization that strengthens collaboration and innovation capacity in the horticultural sector.

Director

Founder

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

Management Studies degree educated at Birmingham University with nearly 40 years of international commercial experience.  Focussed on the water sector for the last 25 years working globally promoting environmentally sustainable, efficient and effective water resource management with particular emphasis on water collection and storage.

Global Sales Director

Dr. Sebastian Kipp is Director Innovation at Klasmann-Deilmann, where he focuses on driving sustainable growing media solutions for professional horticulture. He leads innovation initiatives related to renewable raw materials, growing media technologies, and climate-friendly cultivation systems. Dr. Kipp studied plant sciences and received his PhD from the Technical University of Munich, specializing in plant phenotyping and sensor-based technologies for crop research. Today, his work focuses on developing next-generation growing media, including innovative biochar solutions as well as peatreduced and peat-free substrates to support more sustainable and climate-resilient horticultural production.

Director Innovation

Customer Success Manager

Researcher

Security Specialist

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

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.

Director/Owner

Green architect, inspirator and strategist.

Job has been commercially responsible for GreenTech Global for the past eight years. During this time, GreenTech Amsterdam evolved from a biannual event into an annual exhibition, and GreenTech Americas and GreenTech North America were successfully launched.
His enthusiasm, positive mindset, and strong passion for the horticulture industry have been instrumental in contributing to GreenTech’s continued success.

Senior Sales Manager

Business Developer

Head of Project Development Manager

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

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

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

Medeoprichter

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

Technical Consultant

Researcher plant physiology

Head Grower

Simone is the chairman of the Union of coffeeshop retailers in the Netherlands, kandidate for the European Parlement and working at the national and international level to advance regulation of cannabis and to professionalize the emerging industry. She is ons of the key figures who advocates on the legalization on a European level.

Voorzitter

www.cresultant.nl  www,plantscout.eu

Jesse Verbeke plays a key role at Phormium Climate Screens, where he supports customers in selecting and using climate screens in the most optimal way. He has extensive knowledge about screen properties and is actively involved in the development of new screen types, helping to innovate and refine solutions that meet the evolving needs of the horticultural industry.

Product manager

Tisha Livingston is the CEO of Infinite Acres, a wholly owned subsidiary of 80 Acres farms.  The company was originally founded as a global joint venture between the Dutch company Priva, a greenhouse technology company, an American indoor farming company, 80 Acres Farms and the British Ocado Group, U.K.’s largest online grocer.
Prior to forming Infinite Acres, Tisha was the co-founder and President of 80 Acres Farms, a pioneer in the field of vertical farming in the United States, where they grow, operate, sell and distribute the freshest vegetables and herbs delivered to supermarkets and restaurants year round. In her prior role, Tisha was Chief Operating Officer of Sager Creek Vegetable Company, a Division of Del Monte Foods. She connected with many American farmers and valued the role of local food in enabling stronger and healthier communities. She brings to 80 Acres Farms her strong track record of growing revenues, reducing costs and enhancing capital efficiencies.
Tisha began her career in the food industry over 25 years ago, encompassing Finance, Manufacturing, Procurement, Warehousing, Logistics, Demand Managing, Planning, S & OP, Quality, R & D, Business Intelligence, IT, and Engineering.

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

Born and raised in the heart of the Dutch Westland, Renko Schuil has been immersed in fresh food production from an early age. His career in the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry spans over two decades, during which he has gained extensive expertise across various facets of the sector. From hardware and growing systems to climate control, lighting, logistics, and automation, Renko has developed a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationships between these key components. His broad experience enables him to take a holistic approach, helping growers and industry leaders optimize their operations with innovative solutions.
Renko is now representing TTA-ISO as Sales Manager Food. At TTA-ISO, ‘Food’ refers to all edible and medicinal crops grown in controlled environments, from high-tech greenhouses to fully enclosed vertical farms. With a strong focus on plant handling and processing, TTA-ISO applies its 25+ years of expertise in robotics and automation to develop turnkey solutions that improve efficiency and consistency in indoor farming.

Sales Manager Food

Hung has R&D background in crop physiology and vegetable seed industry. Currently, Hung works at Rijk Zwaan Viet Nam as a PDS focusing on the North. Hung promotes the choice of Rijk Zwaan varieties and helps growers achieve the best possible results. This includes various activities through vegetable value chain. 
In his free time Hung enjoys running and hanging around with family.

Production Development Specialist

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

Team Coördinator International Relations

Annie van de Riet is the President of AVAG, the association for the Dutch greenhouse technology sector. With a background in economic geography and extensive experience in both horticulture and advocacy, she is committed to driving the industry forward. AVAG represents 80 companies with a combined turnover of €3 billion, 80% of which comes from exports. These companies collaborate to develop quality standards, conduct research, and drive innovation in a pre-competitive environment. This collective effort has made the sector a global leader. A Dutch supplier is synonymous with state-of-the-art technology and top-quality solutions.

President

Tom de Vos is a Consulting Sales Engineer at Sprinkler Energy, a company specialized in sustainable energy solutions for the horticultural industry. Sprinkler Energy helps growers and businesses reduce their dependency on natural gas through innovative heat pump systems, thermal energy storage, and integrated energy solutions. The company focuses on lowering energy costs, reducing CO₂ emissions, and supporting the transition toward future-proof and more sustainable greenhouse operations. During GreenTech Amsterdam 2026, Tom shares his expertise on innovative energy technologies, grid congestion challenges, and the transition toward fossil-free horticulture.

Consulting Sales Engineer

Corporate Communication Manager

Regional Lead North America

Born and raised near the city of Mechelen, in Belgium’s main greenhouse vegetable‑growing area. As the son of a tomato and lettuce grower he literally grew up between the plants in a greenhouse. That’s where his passion for plants and greenhouse growing originates.
 
Specialized in hydroponic growing of leafy vegetables and herbs in open field, greenhouses or closed environments, and plant propagation. Currently consulting and supporting projects all over the world in different climate zones (like Japan, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and North America).

Managing Partner

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

EU Cannabis Consultant

Heidi Whitman is an international strategic advisor specialising in cannabis, plant based therapeutics, and regulated wellness markets. With over a decade of experience across the UK, EU, and global ecosystems, she focuses on governance, compliance, financial architecture, and cross border market entry for companies seeking sustainable, scalable growth.
 She is the Co Founder and Chairwoman of the EmpowHer Cannabis Society, a global network of women driving progress, inclusion, and leadership across the cannabis industry in over 40 countries. Through this platform, she actively champions gender equity, visibility, and measurable business impact.
 Heidi is known for her “high functioning, not high” philosophy, advocating for precision dosing, product diversification, and responsible frameworks that prioritise patient outcomes and everyday functionality. Her work bridges industry, policy, and investment supporting governments, operators, and innovators to build compliant, future ready markets grounded in transparency and trust.

Global Strategic Advisor

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

Tenair

Datalayers

<noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-57PXW9L"
height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>

Google Tag Manager

Preference center

Cookie Bot

Log in to add this article to your reading list

Would you like to read this article again later?

GreenTech Amsterdam 2026

Delete Account

Messages

The table below shows the Banner Name(s) that will appear on your stand(s). This name was provided during registration and may differ from the company name in your Company Profile. Changing your company name in the profile does not affect your Banner Name. 
If you wish to change your Banner Name, please contact Account Support.

We are working on creating more insights regarding the stands at RAI. Please visit the FAQ for more information about this topic.

Joost Damen

Organised by

Partners

GreenTech events

Registration

Visitor information

Travel & stay

Knowledge programme

What to expect?

Activities per day

Find exhibitors

Exhibiting

General

About the event

General

Joost Damen