The Future of Controlled Environment Agriculture: Science‑Driven Visions for a Changing World
Greenhouse horticulture is entering a decade of profound transformation. Around the world, growers, investors, and suppliers face shared challenges: climate pressure, rising energy costs, labour scarcity, water constraints, and the demand for sustainable, local food production. In this forward‑looking session, experts from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and TNO will present an integrated vision for the future of protected cultivation, drawing on a broad set of international roadmaps, technology outlooks, and innovation strategies.
From autonomous growing and digital twins to circular resource cycles, energy‑neutral greenhouse concepts, and resilient cropping systems, this session explores the global developments shaping next‑generation Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). A dynamic panel discussion with industry leaders will highlight how technological breakthroughs, system innovation, and cross‑sector collaboration can ensure greenhouses remain future‑proof, profitable, and globally competitive.
Join us to understand where the sector is heading, and how you can strategically position your business for the greenhouse of 2035 and beyond.
Speakers
Henry Gordon-Smith is the Founder and CEO of Agritecture, a global consulting, planning, and software firm specializing in climate-smart agriculture and controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Since founding Agritecture in 2014, Henry has led 350+ projects across six continents, helping developers, entrepreneurs, and governments design resilient, profitable agricultural systems. His expertise spans CEA, regenerative farming, ag-tech integration, and food systems strategy.
Known professionally as "The Agritect," Henry writes The Agritect Chronicles on LinkedIn and produces the annual Global CEA Census, the industry's leading longitudinal study of farm technology and economics. Through Agritecture Designer — his AI-enabled farm planning platform launched in 2020 — he supports 5,000+ practitioners across 75 countries.
A recognized thought leader, Henry frequently speaks at global events, including the UN Food Systems Summit, World Green Economy Summit, and GreenTech Americas. He serves as Adjunct Lecturer at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies, where he teaches Climate-Smart Agriculture, and is co-developing a new graduate elective on AI & Sustainability. His work has been featured in The New York Times, AgFunder, and more.
Henry holds a Master's in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia. A Czech, British, and Canadian citizen living as a digital nomad, he brings a multicultural, forward-thinking lens to agriculture.
Through Agritecture, Henry is building the world's most accessible and data-driven platform for farm planning, with a mission to make agriculture more resilient, transparent, and equitable through smart design, innovative policy, and responsible technology.
