As scale increases, it becomes more challenging to maintain oversight of performance across multiple production sites. With the growing use of sensors in greenhouses, it is now possible to define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that act as a "check engine light," alerting operators to potential issues before they escalate. This session will explore how these KPIs can drive more efficient and proactive management of greenhouse operations.

Remote precision growing

Energy is a significant cost for growers, but understanding how changes in cultivation strategies impact energy consumption remains a challenge. In this session, TNO and Wageningen University & Research (WUR), in collaboration with Delphy, will present the development of a Digital Twin integration that provides valuable insights into energy use, helping growers make more informed decisions to improve energy efficiency.

Energy efficiency

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

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

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

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

VDE plant is a family owned nursery with several locations, in total we grow over 30 different types of tropical potted plants, in total over 10 milion pots a year.
With a team of 7 people we are responseble for growing on our main location of 8 hectares, partially equipped with dimmable LED growing Lights.
Our energy comes from a gas-fired CHP, supported by a heat pump, E- boiler and gas boiler.
In crop protection we mainly use beneficials for optimal results and a minimum impact on environment and footprint.
We started early with footprint calculation in 2015, which helps us to make sustainable choices to improve our poces.

Grower

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

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

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

The team Rootzone Dynamics from Wageningen University & Research BU Greenhouse Horticulture focuses on investigating processes around the plant roots and in the irrigation system. Research topics: alternative growing media, microbiology, belowground phytopathology, water quality, fertigation and virology. My personal focus has been on the application of water technology to achieve a zero-emission cultivation system with optimal recirculation water quality: prevent distribution of diseases via water, removal of plant protection products from discharge water, optimization of filtration and selective ion removal. Focus is on finding technologies that have specific effects on water quality, without inhibiting plant productivity, for example for prevention of biofilm formation in irrigation lines. The role of water composition and treatment on the rootzone microbiology is another topic that still requires a lot of attention.

Team lead Rootzone Dynamics

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

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

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

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.

Researcher

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

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

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

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

Wendy Walrabenstein is an economist, registered dietitian, and health researcher. After 15 years in the international financial sector as a banker, she made a bold career switch by starting from scratch with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. She went on to earn her PhD with groundbreaking research on the impact of a lifestyle program, focusing on plant-based nutrition, physical activity, relaxation, and sleep, on chronic diseases. She co-founded Plants for Health, where she currently serves as CEO. This organization offers science-based lifestyle programs for individuals with or without chronic conditions, as well as for organizations seeking to boost employee well-being. Wendy is also co-founder of the Physicians Association for Nutrition Netherlands and vice-chair of Physicians Association for Nutrition International.

Strategic Innovation Engineer Viscon Group

Adam Greenberg is the CEO and Founder of IUNU, a company that provides AI and machine vision systems to drive efficiencies and profits for greenhouse growers. 
IUNU & Mr. Greenberg has been recognized with a Medal of Excellence from Greenhouse Grower, best new indoor growing technology from United Fresh Produce Association, and was recently named to GPN's 40 Under 40 Class of 2020. Adam has also been a speaker & panelist at universities, associations, conferences, and recently sponsored an AI symposium for Congressional staffers on US Capitol Hill.
He founded IUNU in 2013 to revolutionize the greenhouse industry by using machine vision technology. His passion for agriculture came from his father who is a botanist and entrepreneur. Mr. Greenberg earned his degrees in Finance and Entrepreneurship from the University of Washington and is former Amazon.com. He is a fifth-generation native of San Francisco and travels 150+ days a year between the Netherlands, Canada, and the US, where he enjoys staying active and the outdoors.
In Mr. Greenberg’s own words, “The credit for our success goes to the team at IUNU. Look at the change we’re making and look how far we’ve already come. At the end of the day, our goal is to add value to our customers.”

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.

Managing Director

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

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<div>My name is Frans Goud. Grower at BASF / Nunhems. I have been working in horticulture since I was 16. Started working and learning at a cucumber nursery. Here I grew into a manager. After more than 20 years, I started working as an assistant cultivation manager at a tomato nursery. And for the last 8 years I have been working at BASF/Nunhems as (senior technician) cultivation manager tomato / cucumber. For the past 6 years, we at Nunhems have been closely involved in data-driven growing and we have been using the new Intelligent Algorithms in the IIVO climate computer.</div>
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Senior Technician

I am George (Qingzhuo) Qi, an incoming PhD candidate at Wageningen University & Research, working with Demeter42. My goal is to bridge the gap between greenhouse modeling in research and the practical challenges of greenhouse cultivation. I leverage the power of AI and digital twins to provide growers with optimized decision-making in greenhouse crop management.

AI Specialist

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 Manager

Founder/CEO of Gardin

As a cannabis cultivation consultant, Kjell is involved in multiple growing and research projects. Kjell oversees the daily operations at the “Cultivation for Compounds” consortium on behalf of Cultivators. Kjell is also one of the main teachers of the “Operational Excellence Training” project, hosting both lectures and practical sessions on the cultivation of medical cannabis. He can also be found advising growers around Europe.
Kjell holds a MSc in Plant sciences with a specialization in Greenhouse Horticulture from Wageningen University. Kjell’s research focused on the effects of light intensity and spectrum on the growth and development of medical cannabis.

Cultivation consultant - Project Manager

Rio Pals coordinates WUR Student Challenges at Wageningen University & Research, creating international, interdisciplinary competitions that encourage students to work on real-world sustainability issues through collaboration and innovation.

Manager WUR Student Challenges

Alberto López is a Systems Engineer at Agritecture Consulting, where he advises on optimizing operations and energy performance for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) facilities. With an MSc in Biosystems Engineering from Wageningen University and previous experience managing operations at GROWx’s vertical farm in Amsterdam, Alberto has extensive hands-on expertise in greenhouse and vertical farm design, climate control, and energy efficiency.
Throughout his career, Alberto has worked on cutting-edge projects including climate adaptation studies in Costa Rica, vertical farming system analyses with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and plant selection methodologies for space missions. His deep technical knowledge, combined with practical industry experience, equips him to help growers innovate and improve sustainability and profitability in CEA ventures.

Systems Engineer

Rick Glumac was first elected as the MLA for Port Moody-Coquitlam (now Port Moody-Burquitlam), British Columbia, Canada in 2017.
Rick was appointed Minister of State for Trade in November 2024. He also serves as B.C.’s representative to the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region where he recently completed his term as President. Rick has previously served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Technology as well as the Premier’s Liaison to Washington State. As an MLA he has served on special committees on Reforming the Police Act, Reviewing Private Members Business, and has chaired the committee to review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
From 2011 to 2017, Rick served as a city councillor for the city of Port Moody where he led efforts to improve funding for Eagle Ridge hospital, expand childcare and preschool space, improve environmental practices and increase park space in the community.
Rick served as Vice President of the Lower Mainland Local Government Association and was elected as Vancouver Metro Area Representative at the Union of BC Municipalities.
Rick graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electronics Engineering. Rick has worked in a variety of hi-tech industries, from animation on major films like Shrek 2 and Madagascar, to video games, to developing mobile apps for Fortune 500 companies. Rick understands first-hand the value of supporting BC’s vibrant tech sector.
Rick lives in Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada.

B.C. Minister of State for Trade

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

Export Manager

With a background in international business, I have many years of experience in lighting & vertical farming. I lead a multi disciplinary team of plant specialists, sales application engineers and business developers to build vertical farms globally, tailored to the specific and local business needs of the customers/entrepreneurs.  Key to my work are my passion for food, people and sustainability. 
Signify is the world leader in lighting for professionals and consumers and lighting for the Internet of Things. Signify agricultural lighting helps growers and farmers to unlock the power of light to sustainably feed a growing population and brighten lives. Within Signify Agriculture, Philips Horticulture LED grow lights help control many aspects of crop growth to get better business results and increase yield, quality and consistency of the crop.

Business manager Philips Vertical Farming

Ramin Ebrahimnejad is a Business Development Manager at the James Hutton Institute (JHI), a leading centre for agricultural, environmental, and food systems research in the UK. He plays a key role in connecting science with industry, enabling the delivery of impactful research and scientific services that support innovation across the agri-food sector.
Ramin leads commercial engagement for the Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC) and the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC)—two major initiatives based at JHI. The APGC is a cutting-edge facility driving innovation in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), crop phenotyping, and vertical farming, supporting the development of resilient and sustainable food production systems. NAPIC acts as a national hub for the alternative protein sector, fostering collaboration between academia, startups, and global food companies to accelerate the transition toward sustainable proteins.
With a background in data science and sustainable agriculture, Ramin is focused on advancing partnerships that combine research excellence with real-world application—delivering solutions that improve productivity, climate resilience, and nutritional outcomes in modern food systems.

Researcher Greenhouse Technology

Ernst van Bruggen is CPO and Co-Founder of Source.ag, where he leads product development and innovation. He focuses on building intuitive AI tools that help growers make smarter decisions every day, bridging the gap between plant science, data, and practical greenhouse operations.

CPO and Co-Founder

Jan-Kees Goet (1962) is Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality i from 15 June 2018. His previous positions include director of Police and director-general of Immigration Policy (Migration), as well as chairman of the board of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA).

Vice minister

With a solid 28-year track record in the financial sector as a bank branch director, I have developed strong strategic capabilities in planning, investment analysis, human resources management, and customer loyalty. Now, as Manager of the INNOVACAL Cluster, I apply this experience to drive innovation and boost competitiveness in the Andalusian agri-food industry, fostering collaboration among companies and promoting sustainable, technology-driven solutions.
I hold a degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Jaén, complemented by additional training in finance, taxation, and regulatory compliance. Recently, I earned SAP Financials certification, further strengthening my ability to optimize financial management and support strategic decision-making in digital environments. I also stay up to date through an Advanced Vocational Program in Web Application Development, expanding my competencies in digital transformation and process automation.
Passionate about continuous learning and the transformation of key sectors, I combine financial insight with technological innovation to create meaningful impact on business growth. With a practical and solution-oriented approach, I enjoy connecting talent, resources, and opportunities to add value to both the agri-food sector and the broader economy.

Cluster Manager

Teaching plant physiology and horticulture in HAS green academy. Next to that I am responsible for maintaining contacts between HAS and the agri-/horticultural sector.

Lecturer/advisor Horticulture

Country Director Morocco

Not an armchair expert, but with both feet in the trenches. As Global Innovation Manager Enabling Technologies at Koppert, Gabriël van der Kruijk applies technology daily to drive innovation for customers and colleagues alike. He cuts through hype, delivering clear, experience-based insights. Known for his energy and enthusiasm, he tells compelling stories and sparks engagement.
With over twenty years in tech, Gabriël has a proven track record of delivering digital and AI solutions. He founded four tech companies and has worn many hats — software development, consultancy, and management in international corporate environments among them. The connecting thread is a focus on customer-centric, co-creative product development. His wide-ranging experience lets him connect deep technical know-how with sharp business sense.
With his side business Gabriel Guides (Gabriel Gidst) he helps companies start and accelerate their transformation journey with inspirational keynotes, workshops and advice. During the talks, Gabriël shares concrete lessons and thought-provoking examples. During workshops he works alongside participants, helping them turn challenges and opportunities into actionable digital solutions.

Global Innovation Manager Enabling Technologies

Mexx Holweg is a researcher specializing in controlled-environment agriculture and plant physiology. Currently he is achieving his PhD in Horticulture and Product Physiology at Wageningen University & Research. His doctoral work focused on the photobiology of medicinal cannabis, with particular emphasis on the effects of light intensity, spectral composition, and air temperature on plant morphology, photosynthesis, and the accumulation of pharmaceutical compounds.
Holweg’s research integrates morphological, physiological, and metabolic analyses to better understand how environmental parameters can optimize crop performance and secondary metabolite production. He has collaborated with both academic and industry partners to advance knowledge in cannabis cultivation under controlled conditions.

PhD Researcher

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

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

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

Business Development manager

Marketing Manager

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

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.

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

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

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

Ned’s 15 years in horticulture have been paved with enormous passion for growing plants. It has been an ongoing journey - from managing tree nursery production in the continental climate of Bosnia to overseeing high-tech vegetable production in the Omani desert. These experiences have been both rewarding and uplifting. Without neglecting his main passion—growing—he has developed into a consultant in the substrate industry, drawing inspiration from the stunning Nordic landscapes. His passion lies in helping fellow growers optimize their crop performance by analysing crop data sets and selecting the ideal growing media solutions. In recent years, he has focused his energy on helping growers transition smoothly into the future and begin learning about the new generation of growing media. From North American leafy greens and ornamental growers to Chinese blueberry growers in Yunnan, he does his best to help them choose the optimal substrate solution and make the most of their crop resources.

Director, Portfolio Management

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.

Rozalin is the CEO and founder of Elenovations, a Norwegian company focused on sustainable agricultural technology. With expertise in engineering and innovation, she leads the development of energy-efficient systems that optimize plant growth while reducing waste. Rozalin is dedicated to revolutionizing agriculture through AI-driven solutions and low-energy techniques to help farmers improve yields and reduce environmental impact.

Founder/CEO

Tom Webster is the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder at award-winning vertical farming business, GrowUp Farms. 
Since 2013, Tom has worked with Co-Founder Kate Hofman to take the concept of vertical farming from a small unit in London to a huge vertical farm in Kent, UK. GrowUp is a certified B Corp, using 100% renewable energy to produce their salads, which are distributed through major UK retailers such as Tesco, Iceland, and SPAR.
As Chief Technology Officer, Tom leads on plant science, data, and optimisation of our state-of-the-art controlled environment production systems that grow tasty, ready-to-eat leafy greens with minimal environmental impact.
In 2017, Tom was featured in the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work addressing some of the fundamental flaws in the agricultural systems in a way that contributes to a more sustainable society.

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