This panel will discuss innovative technologies that have emerged in the UK, and how collaboration accelerate the emergence of solutions to helps the CEA sector face the double challenge posed by economic viability and the need to increase sustainability to reduce the impact on this sector.

Innovative solutions and collaborations for CEA: a UK perspective

Marcus Comaschi is the founder and CEO of GyroPlant, a UK-based company advancing next-generation plant cultivation in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), smart at-home hydroponics, and space-based plant research by eliminating traditional single-use substrates. Under Marcus’s leadership, GyroPlant develops clean, reusable, and waste-free substrate technology that enables resilient, future-ready food production systems. Over the past three years, GyroPlant’s novel silicone rubber seed cups have been integrated into more than 125 international R&D projects, supporting a wide range of crops-from peas and strawberries to eucalyptus saplings. Trusted by hydroponic growers and research institutions worldwide, Marcus has also forged collaborations with leading companies such as Dole UK to accelerate sustainable, substrate-free cultivation in both hybrid and indoor plant cultivation systems.

Founder and CEO

René Beerkens is a seasoned horticultural expert with over two decades of experience at Hoogendoorn Growth Management, a global leader in sustainable automation solutions for greenhouse horticulture. As a Data-Driven Growing Consultant, he supports growers worldwide by explaining  and implementing the principles of Plant Empowerment—a holistic approach to optimizing plant growth through data, climate control, and collaboration.
With a strong focus on innovation, Beerkens has witnessed and contributed to the rapid evolution of horticultural technology, from advanced climate computers to precision sensors. 
Beerkens was also a key member of Team AuTomatoes, the winning team of the prestigious Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge organized by Wageningen University. He helped to design the algorithms that led the team to victory by optimizing crop yield, quality and Nett-profit using data-driven algorithms
 His collaborative 'down to earth' -mindset and dedication to continuous learning have made him a respected figure in the international horticultural community.

Senior Data Driven Growing Specialist

Passionate in nature and agriculture. MSc in greenhouse horticulture at Wageningen University. Expert in CEA, soilless systems, hydroponic, plant nutrition, fertigation, and closed irrigation systems.   Currently a researcher in plant nutrition at Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture. Developing technology for the horticultural sector and furthering the knowledge of greenhouse crop nutrition.

Researcher

Piet Hein is specialized in tomato crops grown with supplemental (led)lighting. Working at the GreenQ Improvement Center, Piet Hein was involved in the first trials done with LED lighting in tomato crops. After the first steps were taken with hybrid lighting solutions (LED+ HPS lighting), he was also involved in the first trials with 100% LED in tomato crops.
In 2015 Piet Hein started as Plant Specialist high wire crops for Signify (formerly Philips Lighting) and in this role he advised growers over the whole globe in the implementation of LED lighting in their crops. During the period he worked for Signify, he was also involved in the first trials with the implementation of LED in pepper crops.
Before he started at the GreenQ Improvement Center, Piet Hein has worked as crop specialist at Beekenkamp propagation, 8 years as a bell pepper grower at a 8 ha greenhouse and for 2,5 years as grower for Willcox Greenhouse in the USA.
In 2020 Piet Hein started his own company, named Led’s Consult, with the focus on (lighted) tomato and bell pepper crops. Active in Western Europe, USA and Canada.
Contact Mail: info@ledsconsult.com Phone: +31 6157946263

Crop expert and vegetables

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

Morgan Timme is a Master’s student in Agroecology at Wageningen University & Research, with a background in global agricultural development and food security. Before returning to graduate school, she spent seven years designing high-impact programs for NGOs and nonprofits across five continents, with a focus on sustainable food systems and climate resilience.
Morgan is the co-founder of The HAB, a startup launched as part of the 2025 Rethink Food Challenge. After winning the competition, The HAB is now moving forward with the development of AstroGel—a seaweed-based, reusable growing substrate designed to replace peat in indoor farming and home gardening. Drawing inspiration from space farming technology, AstroGel offers a sustainable, circular alternative that reduces emissions, conserves water, and improves access to fresh food.
Morgan brings her expertise in international development and systems thinking to her role at The HAB, helping shape the company’s mission as a triple-bottom-line enterprise that delivers environmental, economic, and social value.
She also runs Verdant Solutions, a consulting business that provides business development services and technical advising for impact-driven companies and organizations.

Co-Founder

Gabriele completed his B.Sc. at Politecnico di Milano where he also obtained his M.Sc. degree in Architecture and Urban Design with honors in 2022. He developed his thesis in Toronto with the title: “Downtown to Waterfront through Intermodality; How the hyperloop system can revitalize the public realm in Toronto”, with a research program at the Toronto Metropolitan University. He matured interest in mobility, technology, and innovation, studying how architecture and urban design can deal with them by looking at sustainability. 
Gabriele joined CRA in 2012. He currently acts as a Deputy and Architect, working in research and planning projects in the urban environment. He has been involved in CRA projects such as Water Batteires and the Franch Pavilion in EXPO Osaka.

Deputy/ Architect

Director of Business Development & Sustainability

Mariska Dreschler has more than 25 years of experience in entrepreneurship, business strategy, business development and event management. As Director of Horticulture, GreenTech Global at the RAI Amsterdam, she supports the global food- and flower production industry by organizing trade fairs for these communities to connect, both face-2-face and digital. The GreenTech portfolio consists of GreenTech Amsterdam as the worldwide leading trade show on horticulture technologies and GreenTech Americas as the regional trade show in Mexico.

Director Horticulture - GreenTech Global

Willem is an experienced Co-Founder with a demonstrated history of working in the cleantech and agritech as a purpose and passion driven entrepreneur. As CEO and founder of FOTONIQ he is driven to make CEA more sustainable, efficient, and profitable.

Henry Gordon-Smith is the Founder and CEO of Agritecture, a global consulting firm specializing in climate-smart agriculture and urban farming. Since founding Agritecture in 2014, Henry has led over 300 projects in 50+ countries, helping developers, entrepreneurs, and governments design resilient, profitable agricultural systems. His expertise spans controlled environment agriculture (CEA), regenerative farming, ag-tech integration, and food systems strategy.
A recognized thought leader, Henry frequently speaks at global events, including the UN Food Systems Summit and World Green Economy Summit. He also teaches at Columbia University on climate-smart agriculture and consults on food policy and sustainable land use planning. His work has been featured in The New York Times, AgFunder, and more. 
Henry holds a Master’s in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia. A digital nomad and global citizen, he brings a multicultural, forward-thinking lens to agriculture.
Through Agritecture, Henry is building the world’s most accessible and data-driven platform for farm planning, with a vision to help global agriculture adapt to climate change. His mission is to make agriculture more resilient, transparent, and equitable through smart design, innovative policy, and responsible technology.

A native of Santa Cruz Ca, James Cunningham has pursued his career in cannabis cultivation his entire professional life. He is the founder of Vertical Air Solutions and Fog City Farms, a leading-edge vertical cannabis farm located in Watsonville, CA. When not tending to Fog City Farms and Vertical Air Solutions, James enjoys surfing and snowboarding, and farming his family vineyard. James is married with three children, and lives in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Director Of Cultivation

Business Development manager

Selwin is a researcher in the Greenhouse Horticulture Business Unit of Wageningen Research, where he is part of the Greenhouse Automation & Robotics team. His research focuses on the use of computer vision and spectral imaging for the detection of pests and diseases, plant phenotyping and the non-invasive measurement of chemical compounds.

Researcher Sensors & Data Science

Dr. Hsin-Cheng Chen serves as the R&D Department Manager at Taiwan HiPoint. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering from National Cheng Kung University and is currently a PhD candidate in Biomechatronics Engineering at National Taiwan University.
His research interests include servo control, image system integration, and biological system simulation. Dr. Chen has developed HiPoint's phenotype equipment and smart agriculture cloud system, and leads the phenotype system for Taiwan's National Plant Phenomics System construction team.
With expertise in automation system design and image analysis, Dr. Chen has led several innovative projects, including the development of the PDS intelligent pest identification system—recipient of the 2022 Taiwan Excellence Award. This system enhances Integrated Pest Management by significantly reducing pesticide usage through precise pest identification, preventing crop yield losses while minimizing environmental impact.
Dr. Chen's work focuses on advancing agricultural sustainability through technology integration, particularly through applications of the HiPoint PDS system in modern IPM practices.

R&D Manager

Directory Board

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

Manager Smart Growing

Mr. Quade Digweed, P.Eng is a greenhouse engineer employed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). Since 2018, he has worked at AAFC on varied projects, covering greenhouse microclimate monitoring systems, smart LED lighting, implementation of autonomous greenhouse controls, and development of renewable energy controlled environment production systems in Canada’s Arctic.

Greenhouse Engineer

Dr.ir.ing. Sander Mertens holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering, specializing in "Wind Energy in the Built Environment." He earned a Master's degree in Applied Physics from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Inholland University of Applied Sciences. During his PhD, he led the Wind Energy/Building Physics department at the engineering firm DHV. He later co-founded Ingreenious, an international consultancy firm, and also co-founded Windchallenge, where he spent nine years working on wind energy projects.
In 2018, he was appointed Professor of "Energy in Transition" at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. He is an expert in the integrated approach of the energy transition, with a focus on system integration of hydrogen, direct current, and low-temperature heat. In June 2020, he became the Director of the Centre of Expertise "Mission Zero" at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, where he developed a multidisciplinary approach to sustainability transitions and a large partner network.
Sander Mertens serves on the advisory boards of several companies and has contributed to numerous projects focused on the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Director Center of Expertice Mission Zero (THUAS)

My name is Max van den Hemel. I am working as a Cultivation Engineer within Team Delphy Digital. My focus is on high-tech greenhouse vegetables and I bridge the three domains in digitalisation: green knowledge, data science and software development.

Specialist data-driven growing

Founder & Key Connector

My background in computer science has led me to see plant biology as the next big challenge.
At hexafarms, we've built an AI-powered, sensor-driven platform tailored for greenhouses and indoor farms. By blending computer vision with real-time sensor data, our system can forecast yields weeks in advance– and at impressive accuracy levels. This allows growers to optimize everything– from climate control to harvest planning– right from a single intuitive dashboard. 
I'm excited to connect with growers, partners, and fellow innovators to explore how we can further unlock efficiency, reduce waste, and build resilient food systems together.

Alberto is an experienced plant scientist. His Ph.D. (Durham University) investigated molecular responses underpinning plant immune responses. Prior to Zayndu, he held post-doctoral research roles at Durham, investigating the molecular interactions regulating the growth-immunity balance in plants in collaboration with Agritech leaders such as KWS, ADAS, BASF; his role is to co-ordinate the plant science team and lead the development of the seed treatment protocols.

Head of Plant Science

I have been leading R&D efforts in light recipes and client support programs for the global Cannabis Segment for the past 6 years. I have expertise in plant biology and ecology, plant secondary compounds, spectroscopy and light. The last 10 years, I accumulated expertise in precision agriculture and indoor horticulture, specialized on Cannabis cultivation (optimizing yield and compounds for medicine) under LED lighting.

Cannabis Research & Plant Specialist

Kees Pruis is a passionate technologist and strategic innovator with a deep-rooted drive to make things better. With a career spanning the intersection of strategy, technology, and people, Kees brings a unique perspective to the evolving world of artificial intelligence. His ability to think outside the box and challenge conventional approaches has made him a trusted advisor and thought leader in digital transformation.
Kees thrives in environments where innovation is key and where human-centric design meets cutting-edge technology. He believes that the true power of AI lies not just in its algorithms, but in how it empowers people and organizations to grow, adapt, and lead in a rapidly changing world.
With a strong background in organizational development and a keen eye for emerging trends, Kees helps businesses navigate complexity and unlock new opportunities through smart, sustainable innovation. Whether he's shaping strategic roadmaps or facilitating cross-functional collaboration, his intrinsic motivation to improve and inspire is always at the forefront.
At this conference, Kees will share insights on how AI can be harnessed not just as a tool, but as a transformative force that aligns with human values and strategic goals.

Lead data science for robotics

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!

Roel Janssen is the head of Business Development  at Planet Farms, a technology company that builds and operates fully autonomous vertical farms at scale. Before devoting his work full-time to Planet Farms Roel spent 13 years at Signify (previously known as Philips Lighting), where he was the Global Director for City Farming. In his years at Signify Roel became an industry expert in the field of vertical farming and has been invited to speak and share his views all around the globe. He was also a guest lecturer at the HAS University of Applied Science in the Netherlands. Roel graduated Business Administration in Eindhoven, where he still lives with his wife and 2 kids. Next to growing plants in a sustainable way Roel has a great passion for wine, which resulted in a WSET 3 certification.

Head of Business Development

General Director of the Agriculture and Food Industries Sector at the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA)

My main interest is finding sustainable solutions to tackle today’s challenges in plant health. For this, after a journey through Latin America, USA, Asia and Europe I joined Wageningen University & Research as part of the Plant Health Group. Here,  we focus on developing production strategies that enhance plant resilience, including optimizing greenhouse conditions, improving hygiene, strengthening the standing army of beneficial organisms, and promoting positive plant-plant interactions.

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

Peter Hendriks has studied Commercial Economics and Strategy & Organization and followed additional training in Artificial Intelligence. From 2021 onwards, he is the CEO of Hoogendoorn Growth Management. Peter has an excellent track record at several software development companies in the horticulture industry.   Before Hoogendoorn, Peter spent five years as the Managing Director of the fast-growing software company “LetsGrow.com”. Now, with Hoogendoorn, he aims to contribute to ‘feeding & greening the world’ by creating synergies between the latest tech developments, new plant physiology findings, and world-renowned growing expertise. All in his pursuit to sustainably increase customers’ ROI while leaving the planet in a better place. He considers Hoogendoorn the best place to actualize his ambitions: a flourishing company where personal responsibility and personal development are strongly valued.

Frans-Peter loves commercial agribusiness especially marketing&technology. Huge start-up experience, allmost serial entrepreneur. Co-founded Corvus Drones in 2019. Customer driven and getting things done together is his attitude. Curious about new markets and people. Making impact is my drive. Give me a call: +31 624 431639

CCO | Founder

Luuk Graamans is a researcher from Wageningen Research, where he researches high-tech greenhouses and vertical farms in the business unit Greenhouse Horticulture. Our recent research focuses on the effects of the Energy Transition on the technical design of greenhouses. We will present the KasEnergieWijzer, an intuitive tool to design and calculate the performance of the greenhouses of the future.

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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikclymans/

Research coordinator greenhouse vegetables

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

Advisor at MEWA/SAFTA

Mariana Larrea A.   Regulatory and Cannabis Attorney.
Mariana Larrea is a distinguished Mexican attorney with a specialization in Cultivation, Life Sciences, Cannabis, Pharmaceutical, Corporate/Contracts, and Consumer Protection. With a decade of professional experience, she has honed her skills at some of Mexico City's most influential law firms. Mariana earned her law degree and a diploma in business law from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (“UNAM”), solidifying her expertise in efficiently delivering results to her clients across various legal domains. As the founder of MLA Legal and Consulting Boutique, Mariana operates independently, running her own legal office and spearheading business development initiatives for the industries mentioned above. Her boutique firm offers personalized legal services tailored to the unique needs of each client, providing comprehensive support and strategic guidance throughout all stages of their ventures in México and LATAM. Due to her exceptional knowledge in the Cannabis Industry, Mariana has been a featured speaker at numerous national and international conferences. Speaking in past 2024, and 2023 Greentech events. Furthermore, she has contributed her insights to legislators in various international jurisdictions, aiding in the formulation of cannabis public policies and regulations, including Mexico's ongoing evolution of the Federal Adult Use Cannabis Law. Beyond her legal acumen, Mariana has played pivotal roles as an executive director in real estate development projects in Mexico. Currently, she leads a group of investors developing sustainable real estate projects, developing in Mérida, México. Additionally, she shares her expertise as a professor of life sciences, government regulations, consumer protection, and cannabis matters at esteemed institutions such as the Tecnológico de Monterrey University, Escuela Libre de Derecho, Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas de la UNAM, and in the sanitary law diploma program at UNAM's law school. Mariana is deeply committed to facilitating business ventures between Europe and Mexico in the dynamic fields of life sciences and cannabis, leveraging her legal expertise to navigate the intricacies of international commerce and regulatory frameworks.

Founding Partner

I graduated in law in Florence (2009), and since 2018, I am (also) a research fellow in industrial engineering at the University of Florence: with the role of IP Promoter, I deal with the valorisation of IP rights of the University of Florence and technology transfer. In 2021 I founded my own law firm. I hold a PhD in Intellectual Property and Competition at the University of Pavia, discussing a dissertation on the commercial exploitation of the right to image. Since 2017, I have been a member of AIPPI (International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property), and during the years 2021-2022, I founded and co-chaired the Italian Group of Young Associates of AIPPI.
I speak Italian and English.

IP Promoter

Yvonne Geurten is Commercial Director at Harvest House, a Dutch cooperative of innovative, sustainable tomato, pepper, and cucumber growers. With deep expertise in strategy and go-to-market execution, she drives commercial alignment between growers and retailers, championing innovation and sustainable growth throughout the fresh produce supply chain.

Commercial Director

Research-driven art and design collective working in the realm of social dreaming and world-making. Our projects engage with the nonhuman: animals, objects, ecology, technology, and the spectres between and beyond categories.
We see nonsense as an antidote to “common sense” – embracing paradoxical stories to explore the ethical and metaphysical layers of our relationship with the (nonhuman) world. We create contradictory scenarios & propositions in which we appropriate ideas from fields such as science, computing, law and mythology. Our projects take various forms - interactive installations, workshops, short films, public sculptures, campaigns, chatbots and books. 
We enjoy curiosity, cherish compassion, and recognize that separating the human from the nonhuman is nonsense.

Artist

Manager Delphy Digital

Erik is an entrepreneur at heart and one of the founders of Ljusgårda. He started his first business at 19 and has since led several ventures before initiating what is now Ljusgårda. Innovation and development have always been at the core of his work—today, he leads research and future-driven initiatives aimed at building a new innovative, regenerative and climate-resilient food system. As Head of Research, Erik is deeply engaged in exploring new technologies, biological breakthroughs, and scalable models to unlock the full potential of plants for both human health and planetary balance. His work spans national innovation platforms and global networks, bridging science with ancestral knowledge and plant wisdom. Beyond his professional work, Erik holds the traditional role of a chief in his village in Samoa—an honor that deeply shapes his perspective on leadership, responsibility, and the long-term stewardship of natural systems. He is a natural speaker and always keen to challenge the broken systems of today—accelerating the change needed to build a truly sustainable tomorrow. He finds his energy in doing what he believes in and is actively involved in charitable initiatives around the world.

Co-founder & Chief Research & Development Officer

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

With a background in mechanical engineering, I am an experienced project and program manager with over 20 years of international experience in leading large-scale, multidisciplinary projects across the heavy-, light-, and ag-tech industries. Throughout my career, I have successfully managed complex industrial developments, often involving diverse teams and displinces, global stakeholders and cutting-edge new technologies.
For the past six years, I have been with Infinite Acres, where I am responsible for (i) managing and executing the company’s larger vertical farming projects, (ii) driving key internal developments as well as (iii) business development for the company. At Infinite Acres I have contributed by delivering and managing several strategic projects and developments, aligned with the company’s future direction.
I am particularly passionate about food security and the resilience of global food systems. And I am committed to making a meaningful contribution to sustainable food production around the globe, by applying my expertise and expierence impacting in ag-tech and beyond.

Director of Program Management and Business Development

Teeltmanager Greenbase + Greenside

Grower Success Manager and Business Developer at Growficient, helping licensed cannabis cultivators worldwide enhance their irrigation strategies with wireless substrate sensors, an innovative online platform and tailored consultancy. - By optimizing irrigation and fostering a deeper understanding of holistic growing practices, I empower growers to achieve better yields, improved product quality, cost-efficiency, and sustainable water use.  - I drive business development efforts, focusing on expanding Growficient' presence in the US and EU cannabis markets. - My passion lies in leveraging technological innovation and product integration to elevate the cannabis industry, and advocate for the recognition this incredible plant deserves.

Grower Success Manager / BD

Laleh Hosseini is leading Green Gas & Liquids, focusing on carbon capture systems and Biogas treatment tailored for the non-petrochemical sectors like horticulture. With an engineering background from TU Delft and a business degree from Rotterdam School of Management, she combines technical insight with strategic vision. Having held leadership roles across the international energy industry, Laleh is passionate about delivering practical decarbonization solutions and accelerating the transition to renewable energy.

Managing Director

I work for Boerenbond, the biggest farmers association in Belgium. My function is research coördinator and teamcoach of Team Climate and Technology. My team consists of 15 employees who support farmers in making their agricultural and horticultural businesses more sustainable. We work on themes such as soil, circular economy, digital innovation, emissions, energy, innovation processes, climate, alternative crops and water. We achieve this by stimulating innovation in agriculture and horticulture; we represent the interests of agriculture and horticulture; we support our members through training and networking activities; we take action to improve social acceptance for the agricultural sector and we provide high-quality advice​ to members.

Research Coördinator and teamcoach of team climate & technology

Directeur Landbouw, Voeding & Milieu

Diana Gibson was first elected as the MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, British Columbia, Canada in 2024.
Diana was appointed the Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation in November 2024.
Diana is an award winning community leader and entrepreneur. Diana was the Executive Director of the Greater Victoria Community Social Planning Council, where she founded multiple regional services and programs including the Greater Victoria Rent Bank. She is also a successful entrepreneur and CEO who co-founded multiple businesses including one which is Canada’s largest Indigenous-owned consulting firm. Prior to that, she directed a University research institute.
Diana and her husband live in Oak Bay Gordon Head where they are raising their three children and where Diana has been an active volunteer in school, community and parent associations.

B.C. Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation

At the helm of Skytree as CEO, Rob is steering the ship, driving the strategy to ready Skytree to be introduced to the world. With a distinguished history of leading high-growth companies, from scale-ups to enterprises, Rob’s leadership is marked by a relentless pursuit of growth and impact. His profound commitment to effecting positive societal change ensures that Skytree's journey is navigated with skill and foresight. With Rob at the wheel, Skytree is in safe hands.

Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Universitat de València, currently working as an R&D Technician in the Sustainable Materials Development Department within the Agriculture and Aquatic Environment Group.
Multiple years of experience in the formulation, processing, and transformation of thermoplastics, with a strong focus on bioplastics. My expertise lies particularly in extrusion technologies, including cast film, blown film, and foam extrusion.
My research is driven to commitment to advancing sustainability in the agricultural sector through the valorization and recycling of industrial by-products, the improvement of conventional agricultural plastic products, and thedevelopment of innovative, eco-friendly solutions for agricultural applications.

R&D in Sustainable Materials for Agriculture & Aquaculture

Managing Director of Plantanova and Horticonnect.
 Plantanova is a young vegetable plant Nursery where technology and talent meet to raise high performance plants.
Horticonnect NL is a consortium of Dutch companies providing technology, services and knowledge, linking the Dutch possibilities with the Mexican vibrant horticultural sector.

Johanna Bac-Molenaar became biologist, because she is fascinated by the living world around here in which each creature has its own role and place due to adaptations and interactions. During her studies in biology and in her PhD research, she specialized in the study of plants and their interaction with the environment. She currently works as a 'Plant Health' researcher at the Greenhouse Horticulture business unit of Wageningen University and Research, on the design and testing of resilient and sustainable cultivation systems. Her research aims to minimize pesticide use and to work more and more circular. As a specialist in strawberry cultivation, she likes to see the cultivation cycle (propagation, nursery and production) as one interconnected system for which integral solution work best.

Researcher Plant Health

Karma Genetics is a respected name in the cannabis industry, recognized for its deep expertise in cannabis breeding and genetic development. Founded in the Netherlands in the early 2000s, the company has built a strong reputation for preserving classic genetics and applying natural, stable breeding methods. Karma Genetics focuses on creating resilient, high-quality cultivars known for their unique terpene profiles and consistent performance. In addition to breeding, Edward is also active as a genetic consultant, offering expert advice to licensed producers, breeders, and cannabis companies worldwide. His consultancy work includes genetic stabilization, selection strategies, and the development of custom cultivars tailored to specific market needs. With over two decades of hands-on experience, Karma Genetics plays a key role in advancing the standards of cannabis genetics. Through collaborations and knowledge sharing, Karma continues to shape the future of the cannabis industry with integrity and innovation.

Iddo is currently the co-founder and CEO of Arugga since 2017. Previously, Iddo was VP of Research and Development at Dune Medical Devices. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University.

Steven Grundy is a plant scientist specializing in sustainable agriculture and precision farming. At Gardin Ltd, he develops and tests novel applications of plant biofeedback sensors, working closely with growers to integrate physiological data into day-to-day decision-making—advancing more efficient, productive, and resilient farming systems.

Senior Plant Scientist

Researcher in high tech cultivation systems and vertical farming at the Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower Bulbs (WUR).

Franck Golbach is a member of the ‘Vision + Robotics’ team at Wageningen Research (WR), specializing a.o. in the development of computer vision applications for sorting and grading. He utilizes sensors in both the visual and infrared spectrum and has extensive experience with 3D vision technology.
At WR, he is responsible for developing the Plantalyzer, an autonomous robot designed for use in tomato greenhouses. This innovative robot measures various quality aspects of tomatoes and provides accurate crop estimations (yield predictions). The Plantalyzer and its predictive models, now in their final development stage, have been evaluated for more than two years in multiple commercial greenhouses. This technology promises to revolutionize crop management by enhancing yield predictions and improving quality control.

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

Exhibition Manager

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.

Soil scientist and grower turned technology developer with a passion for agriculture, food, and food production.
Experience working across controlled environment agriculture firstly as a user of innovation and technology and now a leader in digitising and innovating in agriculture.
Takes great enjoyment working across multi-disciplinary teams amongst software, hardware bringing what the user needs to the forefront

Jelte van Kammen is de algemeen directeur van Harvest House, een toonaangevende coöperatie van Nederlandse telers van tomaten, paprika’s en komkommers. De bevlogen telers produceren op een innovatieve en duurzame manier vruchtgroenten van hoge kwaliteit. Op elk punt in de keten maken we duurzame keuzes.
Jelte is daarnaast bestuurslid van FVO en staat bekend als een verbinder en aanjager binnen de sector om de uitdagingen in de glastuinbouw aan te gaan. Samenwerking en innovatie zijn sleutelwoorden. Hij is betrokken bij initiatieven als Stop the Foodfight, Coalition of the Willing en trekker van projecten zoals 100% Groen Geteeld en True Value. Deze zijn allemaal gericht op duurzame teeltmethoden en het bredere verhaal van de glastuinbouw.

Jelmer, VP Product and co-founder of Digital Energy, leads a development platform that transforms data centers into energy producers, providing greenhouses with sustainable, carbon-free heat through high-performance computing.

Lija Groenewoud van Vliet is the co-founder and creative director of In4Art. As an independent institute for art-driven responsible technological innovations, In4Art is interested in making connections between science, technology and the arts. The organisation’s work focuses on creating space for experiments that enable responsible innovations to be envisioned and brought into being.

Creative Director

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

Co-founder and CEO of UK and US based crop genetics platform, Phytoform. A passionate crop geneticist with an unshakeabe belief that improving the genetics of the crops we eat and use can make a more sustainable food system.

Ruud Schulte, as the Manager of Innovation, Sales & Technology for the Filtration Division at Van der Ende Group, brings extensive expertise to his role. He leads the development and implementation of innovative filtration solutions while driving sales growth and technological advancements. Ruud's leadership ensures the division remains at the forefront of industry innovation and market competitiveness.

Manager Innovation, Sales & Technology

For the past 20 years Jorik Bremer MSc, has been on the forefront of industry disruptions and operated in the centre of new technological advances. Having worked at large companies (e.g Microsoft) and founding several technology startups his focus has been on the agricultural industry for many years. Backed by Google R&D Jorik launched the world's first purpose-built industry cloud for agriculture in the EMEA region for India based Cropin. As a director he currently oversees international growth at Hudson River Biotechnology, a CRISPR gene editing company based out of Wageningen the Netherlands.

Director Sales

Jason Killing is the founder of Canaru and a seasoned professional with deep roots in the cannabis industry, beginning at the age of 16. His passion for cannabis cultivation led him to train as an electrician, a skill set he honed specifically for cannabis facilities. Due to the legal landscape in Germany at the time, Jason gained significant experience working in the Netherlands and later in Spain.
To establish a stable foundation in Germany, Jason entered the construction industry early in his career. In 2018, he founded his own construction company specializing in electrical systems. As a certified expert for electrical installations, Jason began channeling his expertise into the upcoming cannabis market in 2020. He has since consulted on and built facilities or parts of it for the CBD and medical cannabis sectors across numerous European countries.
With the renewed discussions around cannabis legalization in Germany in 2023, Jason and his team fully committed to the industry. Canaru now boasts 10 full-time employees dedicated to the cannabis sector, complemented by twice that number in their construction division, which is progressively transitioning its focus entirely to cannabis projects.
Canaru's impact is already significant, having contributed to or fully supported nearly a quarter of the approved cultivation associations in Germany. They have secured the first cultivation permits in Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and Bavaria, and are leaders in navigating change-of-use permits for cultivation associations. Currently, two of Canaru's cultivation association facilities are actively producing cannabis, with several more under construction and in advanced planning stages.

Owner

Alexander Wilm is a Principal Engineer for Light and Life at ams OSRAM, working in the System Solution Engineering Department in Regensburg. He joined OSRAM in 2004 after graduating from the University of Applied Sciences in Regensburg with a diploma in Mechatronic Engineering.
Alexander began his career focusing on optics and system design for LED headlamps, flashlights, and projectors. His expertise broadened during a two-year assignment in Singapore, where he served as an Application Engineer and Key Expert for solid-state lighting products, covering light quality properties and the non-visual effects of light related to life sciences.
He is actively involved in several expert associations for lighting, driving innovation in solid-state lighting. Alexander also played a key role in transitioning from conventional light sources to LEDs in horticulture lighting applications, establishing himself as a recognized expert in this field. In his current position, he focuses on the application of upcoming UV-C LEDs for disinfection and treatment across various applications, driving the replacement of conventional mercury lamps.

Senior Principal Engineer

Been working for Wageningen University and Research for 3 years now as a practical researcher in planthealth for Dutch greenhouse crops.

Technisch Onderzoeker Gewasgezondheid

Connecting people and organisations, address sustainability challenges, facilitate cross-disciplinary collaborations and find innovative solutions is my passion.  Connect business partners with the well-known knowledge institute Wageningen Plant Research in order to enforece collaboration and making it possible that knowledge and innovative ideas finds its way to the market and vice versa

Program Manager

Janneke Grit, MSc earned her MSc degree in Greenhouse Horticulture in 2015 at Wageningen University. Thereafter she was a lecturer at HAS Green Academy teaching in the Horticulture & Business Management program. She instructed students plant physiology courses, provided courses to professionals and conducted applied research mainly in the field of greenhouse horticulture and vertical farming. Since 2023, she has been working as scientist at the Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture of Wageningen University and Research. Her main area of expertise is greenhouse crop physiology, with a current focus on the safe application of new CO2 sources for horticulture and transitions to new cultivation systems. Her research is carried out in close collaboration with growers, the supply industry and the government.

Scientist Greenhouse Crop Physiology

Marketing Manager

Elise Wieringa, Sustainability Manager, inspired by nature 
I work as Sustainability Manager by Intratuin large Garden centre Retail chain in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. 
Being a source of inspiration, information and support to colleagues and partners in the supply chain to achieve a better and greener world with trees, plants and flowers.  
I apply my (cultural) knowledge and experience specifically to find solutions to a chemical free plant assortment with an ambition of 70% in 2030.

Sustainability Manager

Aurélie Bovi is the Innovation Lead for the Controlled Environment Agriculture sector at the UK Agri-Tech Centre. A molecular biologist and geneticist by training, with 10 years’ experience in laboratories and a specialist technical knowledge in plant sciences, Aurélie has worked in business innovation facilitating roles for over 15 years, engaging and collaborating with UK and international organisations in cross-cutting industry sectors and disciplines to deliver solutions to the agri-food sector. She has built an enviable network of contacts across research, industry, policymakers and government bodies. Through her roles she has gained broad view on the innovation landscape (including funding) and cross-cutting R&D knowledge across an array of industry sectors and technologies relevant to the agrifood and broader bio (circular) economy - including agri-tech; biotechnologies (industrial; synthetic biology); (bio)renewables; big data/AI; indoor farming (horticulture; CEA). Over the past few years, Aurélie has expanded her knowledge and expertise of the horticulture and indoor farming, working closely with stakeholders on the development, delivery and adoption of novel/disruptive technologies, processes, and approaches in those sectors.

Innovation Lead, Control Environment Agriculture

Tenair

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