The Dutch Diamond Approach is a collaborative, four-pillar model connecting the public sector, companies, education and knowledge institutions  to foster sustainable, market-oriented solutions, primarily in food security, agriculture, and international development. In this session we show you some succesfull examples

Moderator: Anneke van de Kamp, Richard Harrison, Ton van Dalen, Simkje Kruiderink

The Dutch Diamond as basis of success

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

Team Coördinator International Relations

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

Hydroponic specialist lettuce

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

Cultivation Engineer Soft Fruit

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

Senior Researcher Plant Health

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

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

VP of Asset Development

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

Trainer/coach

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

Director

VP of Business Development

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

Business Development manager

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

Chief Product Officer

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

Managing Director

Founder & CEO

Product Manager Water & Hygiene and Senior Fertilisation Specialist

Technical Specialist Crop Protection

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

Development of Sustainable Materials in Agriculture & Aquaculture Group

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

Indoor Crop Production Consultant (Cucumber & Melon Specialist)

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

Co-Founder and President Gremon Systems

Founder

Scientific Researcher

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

Head of Global Disruptive Innovation Portfolio

Establishment Director of the Global Alliance of Horticulture Regions

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

Managing Partner

Manager Delphy Digital

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

Market Segment Manager CEA

Dominick Dimucci is Director of Cultivation at Haven Greens, specializing in fully automated mobile gulley systems for baby leaf lettuce. With experience across Colorado, Texas, and Ontario, he holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in horticulture and is focused on driving operational excellence and crop first outcomes in controlled environment agriculture.

Director of Cultivation

General Manager Mexico

As a crop advisor, I act as a sparring partner for the grower. I assess the crop, describe its condition, and advise the grower on how to respond using climate control, irrigation, and nutrition strategies.
I have always had a strong interest in new developments. Topics such as new (green) crop protection products, Plant Empowerment, autonomous growing, and LED lighting are examples of this.
Through Delphy, I now regularly work abroad. It is both enjoyable and interesting to combine business with pleasure.

Advisor Glasshouse Vegetables: Tomato, Pepper, new crops, Water Coach

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.

Head of Crop Science & Agronomy

The core is focused on an affinity with technology and desiring to find optimal and new solutions. These can translate to incorporating new designs on existing systems as well as presenting new innovations to optimize processes. Designing new projects where complex and multi-layered iterative processes form obstacles have proven to hold my interest and are considered a welcome challenge.
As a research and development engineer I’ve been focused on climate and energy and improving the supporting systems in horticulture. With the vision that a stronger market benefits all, the market for horticultural projects is far from saturated. In this, optimizing our ecological footprint, the sustainability of projects on both the resource and finance sides and ensuring fresh and healthy products leave the site, are an on-going and long-term challenge for us all.

Director/Owner

www.cresultant.nl  www,plantscout.eu

Owner

Founder Gracious AI - AI ethics researcher, designer and advisor

Alexander van Tuyll has been working on greenhouse horticulture at Wageningen University & Research for nearly five years, with a background in biosystems engineering. His research explores circularity. This is also the topic of his ongoing PhD. Fertilisers, CO₂ and renewable growing media are the focus of his current projects.

Researcher in Circular Greenhouse Horticulture

Software Development Leader

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

Head of Research and Innovation

Independent professional at Greenport West-Holland, raised among the greenhouses of South Holland. With a background in Business Administration and ICT, I combine practical experience in energy, digitalization, and greenhouse horticulture. Currently among other topics involved the RE-GREENHOUSE project, driving innovation at the intersection of sustainability and technology.

Independent professional at Greenport West-Holland

Researcher

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

Director LetsGrow.com

Director Sustainability & Partnerships, Oxin Growers, The Netherlands
Ton van Dalen graduated in 1987 at the Wageningen University & Research. He worked for different companies in the Horticulture. In 2012 he was appointed as CEO of Best of Four, a producer organization of fruits and vegetables in Barendrecht. In 2020 Best of Four merged with Van Nature, another producer organization, to Oxin Growers. Oxin Growers is one of the largest cooperatives of the Netherlands with 230 active growers  of fruit and vegetables and a turnover of 1 billion euro’s.
In addition to the work for Oxin Growers Ton is also boardmember at FVO( Federation of Fruit Vegetable Organisations). FVO is a collaboration of five producer organisations Harvest House, Growers United, ZON, the Greenery and Oxin Growers on a non-competitive basis. Within the FVO Ton is responsible for the project ‘100% Green Growing’,  the Green Growing Expert Centre and the implementation of the Fresh Produce PEFCR. The purpose of this is to grow vegetables without synthetic pesticides in a profitable way with the lowest possible impact on the environment in collaboration with all partners in the high tech ecosystem.

Directory Board

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

Senior Researcher Cultivation

Katia has been involved in the soilless cultivation space for the past 10 years, spanning from glasshouse operations to TCEA (aka vertical farming), with a focus on both technical and business aspects. Her primary area of expertise is in strawberry cultivation, gained through a combination of roles at start-ups and research organisations. Katia holds an MSc in Agricultural Engineering and an MBA in Agribusiness, and she is currently pursuing a part-time PhD at Harper Adams University, specialising in LED lighting and TCEA strawberry cultivation.
Katia is the founder of InnoPhyte Consulting, a specialist consultancy offering “Science-as-a-Service” to AgriTech companies. InnoPhyte supports businesses with experimental design, data interpretation, grant writing, and technical strategy, translating research into real-world outcomes. Katia’s professional path includes a part-time role as TCEA Soft Fruit Specialist at Niab, one of the UK’s leading crop science organisations. Additionally, she volunteers as the Communications Director for UKUAT (UK Urban Agricultural Technologies), a membership organisation that brings together key players in modern urban agricultural technologies.

Plant Scientist

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

Innovation Manager

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

Consulting Sales Engineer

Founder & Head of Content and Policy

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

Manager Smart Growing

Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of LettUs Grow.
LettUs Grow is a specialist supplier delivering Aeroponics in a rolling bench format that boosts crop health and yield across hectare-scale glasshouse horticulture.
Our Aeroponic Rolling Benches are designed for simple integration into automation systems, enabling growers with hydroponic bench systems to easily upgrade (in full or part) to a higher performance irrigation system - always in partnership with the best manufacturers and installers in the business.
We continue to innovate via our talented R&D team - validating Aeroponics' very competitive performance across novel glasshouse crops such as Spinach.

Chief Scientific Officer & Co Founder

Security Specialist

Experienced cannabis industry professional with a strong background in operations, business development, and regulated cultivation environments.
Proven expertise in mother plant management, propagation scaling, GMP-oriented processes, and cross-border project coordination.
Adept at working with government bodies, universities, civil associations, and multidisciplinary teams across Europe and Latin America.

Founder / CEO

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

PhD student

Green architect, inspirator and strategist.

Minister for Food Security, Fisheries and Horticulture

Process & 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

Comparability is becoming increasingly important for environmental information - but it can only be achieved if data, methodology and processes fit together.
As project manager of the DIN EPD program, I deal with the question of how environmental information for products can be made comparable, comprehensible and internationally compatible.
In the DIN group, I support the development of the DIN EPD program as well as topics relating to environmental product declarations (EPDs), product carbon footprints (PCF) and product category rules (PCR).   My focus:  ✔ Creating comparability  ✔ Developing structured processes  ✔ Enabling credible environmental information

Project Lead DIN EPD Programme

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

Professor of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) specializing in vertical farming, indoor agriculture, and climate-smart food systems. His work advances food security by integrating plant physiology, environmental sustainability, and agri-tech innovation. With over 15 years of experience across academia and industry, Prof Gauthier advises corporations, investors, universities, and growers on vertical farming strategies, indoor production systems, and AgTech development, translating plant science into scalable, real-world solutions. He serves on boards of Asia-Pacific agribusiness and AgTech organizations and have held leadership roles across academia, startups, and large research initiatives, collaborating with industry and public partners to design high-efficiency, resilient agricultural systems. A Professor, keynote speaker, consultant, and published researcher, Prof Gauthier holds a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology and Horticulture, with additional training in Business Management and Marketing, and have served as faculty at Princeton University, UC Davis, and Penn State. His mission is to accelerate innovation in climate-smart agriculture and global food security by connecting science, education, and industry.

Associate Professor

Adrian is the Co founder and President of Roelands Plant Farms a vegetable plant propagation greenhouse located in Lambton Shores, Ontario, Canada.

President

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

Director of Engineering

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

Chairman Board

Business Development Manager

Medeoprichter

As Project Leader at WUR Greenhouse Horticulture, I facilitate collaboration between the Netherlands and North America to accelerate innovation in greenhouse horticulture and controlled environment agriculture. By connecting researchers, technology providers, growers, and policymakers, we promote the exchange of knowledge, technologies, and best practices that improve productivity, sustainability, and resilience of food production systems.

Regional Lead North America

Director Horti Division

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

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

Integration & Automation expert

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

Senior Business developer Horticulture

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

General Manager/Head Grower

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

Advisor for Dutch municipalities

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

Director Innovation

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

Senior Plant Physiologist

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

Client Manager Horticultural Projects

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

Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

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

Project Manager

Manager Operations

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

Co-founder Bionomic

Bernard van Loon holds both a BSc and MSc in Plant Sciences, with a strong focus on statistical and mathematical crop modelling. He previously worked as a data scientist, where he developed forecasting models for insect population dynamics in greenhouses. Currently, he is focused on expanding Delphy Digital in the North American market, combining technical expertise in crop growth, greenhouse systems, modelling, and data-driven cultivation with commercial market development.

Accountmanager Digitalization

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

Lead R&D engineer

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

Operations & Marketing Manager

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

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

Specialist data-driven growing

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