A selection of the 80 knowledge sessions:

Vision Stage:

• Tuesday 11 June, 13:45 – 14:30hrs: ‘From hops to cheers: beyond data integration’ moderated by Tiffany Tsui (Springtide Strategy) and speakers Rick Schneiders (Siemens), Dick Veerman (Foodlog), Jacques Gros (AB Inbev) and Ines Sagrario (Ekonoke)
• Wednesday 12 June, 13:45 – 14:30hrs: ‘Pioneering the energy transition with greenhouse technologies from startups’ moderated by Henry Gordon-Smith and speakers Mike Poodt (Rijk Zwaan) and Rob van Straten (Skytree)
• Thursday 13 June, 12:00 – 12:45hrs: ‘T&U: Future vision: A valuable tasty & healthy horticulture’ moderated by Harrij Schmeitz (Impact T&U) and speakers Marco Retel (MiFood) and Anne Elings (Wageningen University & Research)

Technology Stage:

• Tuesday 11 June, 11:00 – 11:45hrs: ‘What is most important when choosing a new LED installation for tomatoes?’ with speakers Peter Klapwijk (2HARVEST), Orchan Koelijev (Orance), Thomas Grebner (ams-OSRAM International GmbH), Rebecca Nordin (Heliospectra) and Octavio Perez Rodriguez (Nature Fresh Farms)
• Tuesday 11 June, 16:15 – 17:00hrs: ‘Crop Health: Nutrient Uptake Driver to a More Resilient Crop’ moderated by Frank van der Helm (Hogeschool Inholland) and speakers Marta Streminska (Wageningen University & Research), Felix Tarrats (Ceickor) and Peter Kamp (Priva)

Medicinal Plants/ Vertical Farming Stage:  

• Wednesday 12 June, 12:15 – 13:00hrs: ‘From Farm to Pharmacy: Global Developments in Medicinal Cannabis’ moderated by Sonny Moerenhout (Cultivators) and speakers Tjalling Erkelens (Bedrocan), Atiyyah Ferouz (ICQSA), Mariana Arias Larrea (MLA Legal and Consulting Boutique)
• Wednesday 12 June, 15:30 – 16:15hrs: ‘The Dutch recreational revolution: Update on GKK experiment’ moderated by Sonny Moerenhout (Cultivators) and speaker Simone van Breda (Chairman of the union of Coffeeshop retailers, European Parliament candidate)

Vertical Farming:

• Tuesday 11 June, 14:15 – 15:00hrs: ‘CEA Unlocks the future of seed breeding?’ moderated by Roel Janssen (Planet Farms) and speakers Stefanie Linzer (Greenlux), Wim Grootscholten (Rijk Zwaan), Wolfgang Fischer (Graines Voltz) and Newton Kalengamalira (80 Acres Farms)
• Wednesday 12 June, 10:30 – 11:15hrs: ‘Retail Outlook CEA for Regional Production’ moderated by Jochem Wolthuis (Die Frische Society) and speakers Claus Ahrens (vGreens), Lee Greene (Foodhub-NRW), Michael Muller (Pflanzentheke) and Bauke vom Lentere (Rijk Zwaan)

More information at: https://www.greentech.nl/amsterdam/.

Registration policy visitors
GreenTech offers a 3-day entrance ticket for €95 excl. VAT per person, up to and including 7 June. Exhibitors can invite their clients for free until 7 June. After 7 June until 13 June a ticket costs €120. For an additional fee, upgrades such as a Premium, Overnight stay and Fun package are offered. More information and registration at https://www.greentech.nl/amsterdam/tickets.

GreenTech Amsterdam
GreenTech Amsterdam will be held from Tuesday 11 – Thursday 13 June 2024. The exhibition is a global meeting place for all horticultural technology professionals with a focus on the early stages of the horticultural chain and the current issues growers face. GreenTech is supported by AVAG, the industry association for the greenhouse technology sector in the Netherlands.More information can be found via the GreenTech website or follow GreenTech on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube and Instagram.

Why people love wasabi

Wasabi has enormous health benefits. It’s good for your heart, and for your liver, it even helps regenerate your hair. Of course, taste and uniqueness come into play as the food service industry’s poster boy for Sushi and Sashimi. Back in the EDO period, Shoguns were scrapping over this beloved Japanese herb. Why? They discovered it prevented food poisoning after they ate raw fish. 

Can it grow outside of Japan? 

Yes that’s right, it can grow outside its homeland of Japan and many of our friends are successful farmers. The horticulture world has been distracted by the perception it could be tricky to grow. But some hydroponic growers are proving it is possible to be commercially successful. Knowledge and experience is the key to the success of this tricky crop that needs a unique controlled environment, whether you grow hydroponically, in soil pots/beds or naturally in streams. But once you upskill, you can grow for both pleasure (it’s a stunning plant in full bloom below, and the smell well that’s indescribable) and local food service. 

Is it economical to grow Wasabi? 

Wasabi may well be a high value crop (up to $250 per kg of rhizome) but long production cycles, circa 2–3 years, make this a niche specialist crop best designated for high-end restaurants. Most growers will supplement yields by selling Japanese accessories or young plants to cover periods between harvests. So you may want to put your marketing hat on and diversify into Japanese culture and food service. 

All that’s left to say is – do you want to start growing? We are here to help. 

Nice cool temps year round, neutral pH, and a high humidity will get you going.

Janet Colston PhD is pharmacologist with an interest in growing ‘functional’ foods that have additional phytonutrients and display medicinal qualities that are beneficial to human health. She grows these using a range of techniques including plant tissue micropropagation and controlled environmental agriculture to ensure the highest quality control.

There will be two days of conference sessions, where industry leaders, innovators, suppliers, advisers and investors will share their insights through a series of presentations, interviews and interactive panel discussions, in addition to industry policy round tables, extensive networking breaks and a gala industry dinner where the Vertical Farming World Awards will be presented.

This year’s theme of Powering Up is designed to focus on future opportunity, with sessions on energy, sustainability, hybrid systems, protein alternatives and space exploration alongside market insights, innovation case studies and leadership views.

Registration for the 2024 Congress is now live, with a €200 booking discount available until 24 May.

Learn more.

CEA Summit East is focused on bringing together the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry and academia. Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con, the leading global gathering of the vertical farming | CEA sector, and the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center, a joint project between IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, the summit aims to foster collaboration and innovation in the field of CEA.

“Returning for its second year as part of the CEA Summit East, the poster competition is designed to provide graduate students with an opportunity to showcase their high-quality CEA-related research. It also aims to facilitate networking between students and industry professionals,” says Kaylee South, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of CEA at Virginia Tech. “The CEA Summit East Partners are excited to invite graduate students to submit their abstracts for consideration.”

Competition Eligibility and Guidelines:

• The competition is open to currently enrolled or recently graduated (Spring 2024 or later) graduate students, including M.S., Ph.D., and professional students.
• Entrants must present posters on original CEA-related research they have conducted.
• Abstract submissions must be received by August 16, 2024, for consideration.
• All posters will be judged and scored at the conference, with winners announced during the breakfast gathering/keynote session on day 2, October 2, 2024.

 For more information on abstract submission and competition guidelines, please visit https://indoor.ag/cea-summit-poster/ or contact Dr. Kaylee South at kasouth@vt.edu or +1.434.766.6628

ABOUT CEA SUMMIT EAST

Building on the success of its 2023 edition, which attracted attendees from 33 US states, Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden, the 3rd Annual CEA Summit East is set to unite professionals once again from academia, business, and technology within the CEA industry. Attendees include greenhouse growers, urban agriculture operations, vertical farms, outdoor growers seeking hybrid growing opportunities, educators, scientists, extension personnel and agents, suppliers, engineers, tech specialists, architects/developers, government officials, and other industry members. With a focus on facilitating meaningful connections and knowledge exchange, the summit will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, networking/ breakout sessions, and tabletop exhibits highlighting the latest advancements in CEA technology and practices. Attendees can also look forward to research facility tours, providing firsthand insights into cutting-edge research and development initiatives. For more information, visit www.ceasummit.com

ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON

Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con has emerged as the largest trade show and conference for vertical farming | greenhouse |controlled environment agriculture. Its events are crop-agnostic and touch all sectors of the business, covering produce, legal cannabis | hemp, alternate protein and non-food crops. For more information, visit www.indoor.ag.

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA TECH – IALR CEA INNOVATION CENTER

The Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is a joint project between IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center. By developing strategic partnerships with both industry and academia, the goal of the Innovation Center is to conduct research and educational programming to develop, promote and advance the CEA sector in the U.S. and internationally. For more information, visit www.ialr.org/cea

Egon Janssen (chairman jury) explains why the jury selected the nominations below: “Due to climate change it becomes more important to secure the fresh food production at the lowest environmental footprint possible. The jury is excited to see the quick uptake of Data Science and AI in the market, resulting in a huge amount of innovations reducing energy, water and nutrient use in greenhouses.”

Nominations per category

Category Innovation

• Blue Radix – Integrated Autonomous Climate & Irrigation Control
• ISO Horti Innovators – ISO High Speed Grafter
• Van Iperen – GreenSwitch® Potassium Sulphate

Category Concept

• Koppert – Koppert’s Digital Assistant
• Maan Biobased Products and Klasmann-Deilmann – Nygaia
• Voltiris – Voltiris solar modules

Check out the 6 nominees on the website.

GreenTech is proud that these will be showcased at the Innovation Zone and at the show floor including the longlist of the 51 novelties of which 47 were submitted for the awards. You can find them here.

Jury
The jury of the GreenTech Innovation & Concept Awards 2024 consists of:

• Chairman: Egon Janssen, TNO (Netherlands)
• Silke Hemming, Wageningen University Research (Germany)
• Perry van Adrichem, HortiTech B.V. (Netherlands)
• Peter Zwinkels, Technokas (Netherlands)
• Roel Vanderbruggen, Proefcentrum Hoogstraten (Belgium)
• Bart van Meurs, Division Q (Netherlands)
• Jolanda Heistek, Royal FloraHolland (Netherlands)
• Tijl Hoefnagels, Rubio (Netherlands)

The jury’s advisory committee consists of:

• Brian Sparks, Greenhouse Grower (USA)
• Leonardo Capitanio, Vivai Capitanio (Italy)
• Enrico Verhoef, Total Greenhouse Service (Mexico)
• Heinrich Dressler, Haymarket (Germany)

More information at: https://www.greentech.nl/amsterdam/.

Registration policy Visitors
GreenTech is offering a 3-day entrance ticket €95 excl. VAT per person, up to and including 7 June. Exhibitors can invite their clients free of charge until 7 June. After 7 June until 13 June the tickets will be €120. For an additional fee, upgrades such as a Premium, Overnight stay and Fun package, are offered. More information and registration at https://www.greentech.nl/amsterdam/tickets.

GreenTech Amsterdam
GreenTech Amsterdam will be held from Tuesday 11 – Thursday 13 June 2024. The exhibition is a global meeting place for all horticultural technology professionals with a focus on the early stages of the horticultural chain and the current issues growers face. GreenTech is supported by AVAG, the industry association for the greenhouse technology sector in the Netherlands.

More information can be found via the GreenTech website or follow GreenTech on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube and Instagram.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Resource Innovation Institute (RII), a not-for-profit, public-private partnership advancing climate resilience, announced today the availability of its Controls and Automation Best Practices Guide for Controlled Environment Agriculture Operations. It can be downloaded from RII’s resource catalog at this link.

“The technologies serving Controlled Environment Agriculture have advanced at an exhilarating pace over the past decade,” said Rob Eddy, Resource Efficiency Horticulturist of RII and author of the completed guide. “One of the biggest challenges for growers and their facility design partners has been understanding how to integrate all of these innovations to achieve optimal efficiency. This comprehensive new guide provides the way forward for both small and large operators, based on the experience of agricultural experts from around the globe.”

The recommendations in the guide are derived from decades of collective experience of the Controls & Automation Working Group, in combination with the most recent plant science research and engineering breakthroughs. Assembled by RII in 2023, the 28-member working group included experts from CEA operators, academics, suppliers and equipment manufacturers across the industry who convened regularly over the past 18 months to share knowledge and experiences. As a whole, the group represented every aspect of indoor cultivation, from HVAC to lighting, greenhouse and facility construction and water treatment concerns.

“The guide particularly emphasizes how necessary it is to integrate as much as possible into an environmental control system. It’s important to get everyone in the room to have these discussions,” Eddy said. “In order to optimize the impact from the available technology, it is essential to manage everything under one system as opposed to having separate controls for lighting, HVAC and other CEA components. The benefits are truly incredible.”

According to Eddy, CEA facilities are “more machine than building” – always reacting to indoor conditions and outdoor influences. Over the years, CEA operations have evolved from manual control to thermostatic control to integrated thermostats and finally microprocessor control. Each technological step has evolved CEA operations toward achieving better crop yields and quality – and most recently toward increasing resource efficiency. The goal of the Controls and Automation Best Practices Guide is to distill the workgroup’s expertise and the latest engineering and plant science breakthroughs into a single handy resource. The guide provides actionable recommendations with a goal to help improve facility resilience while maintaining profitability.

“Most operators currently working in CEA facilities will see the value in these recommendations right away, while others may find some ideas for improvements they did not previously know existed,” Eddy said. “But our broader goal for the guide is that it helps those who are designing new facilities to include these important guidelines as a foundational component of their buildings, rather than an afterthought. The bigger objective is to encourage climate reduction from the beginning of the planning process.”

The free, downloadable guide is available now from RII’s resource catalog and can be downloaded at this link.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Elyse Greenberg at elyse@resourceinnovation.org.   

About Resource Innovation Institute: We Empower Farm Resilience

Resource Innovation Institute (RII) is a not-for-profit, public-private partnership advancing climate resilience. RII provides resource efficiency education, training and verification services, in collaboration with CEA producers, researchers, governments, utilities, and the design & construction sector. Visit our website at ResourceInnovation.org. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

A selection of the 80 knowledge sessions:

Vision Stage:

• Tuesday 11 June, 14.30 – 15.15hrs: ‘The road to zero footprint greenhouse’ moderated by Sandra Uitenbroek – van Schie (Greenhouse Sustainability) and speakers: Sibbe Krol (Bloom & Wild), Athanasios Sapounas (TNO) and Alexander Boedijn (Wageningen, University & Research)
• Wednesday 12 June, 12.00 – 12.45hrs: ‘T&U Future Vision: A Climate Neutral Horticulture’ moderated by Harrij Schmeitz (Impact T&U)

Technology Stage:

• Tuesday 11 June, 12.00 – 12.45hrs: ‘What are the essentials for the ultimate strawberry crop’ moderated by Joost Scholten (Delphy) and speakers Martin Skarp (Mastronardi Produce), Vincent Deenen (Limgroup) and Rose Séguin (Sollum Technologies)
• Wednesday 12 June, 10.15 – 11.00hrs: ‘Robotics: Futuristic dream or your next investment?’ by Jack Verhoosel (TNO), Erik Pekkeriet (Wageningen, University & Research)
• Wednesday 12 June, 12.00 – 12.45hr: ‘The Battle Between Solar Panels and Plants: Yield or Watts?’ by Egon Janssen (TNO), Bas Oudshoorn (Delphy), Gert Jan Swinkels (Wageningen, University & Research) and Nicolas Weber (Voltiris)

Medicinal Plants/ Vertical Farming Stage: 

Medicinal Plants:

• Tuesday 11 June, 12.15 – 13.00hrs: ‘From Farm to Pharmacy: Global Developments in Medicinal Cannabis’ moderated by Sonny Moerenhout (Cultivators) and speakers: Atiyyah Ferouz (ICQSA) and Tjalling Erkelens (Bedrocan)
• Wednesday 12 June, 14.00 – 14.45hrs: ‘Research Innovations: Breakthroughs in Cannabis Cultivation’ moderated by Sonny Moerenhout (Cultivators) and Dominique van Gruisen (Innexo) and Kjell Sneeuw (Cultivation for Compounds)     

Vertical Farming:

• Tuesday 11 June, 14.45 – 15.30hrs: ‘Accelerating LCA Inventories and Rewarding Collaboration’ moderated by Kasey Hooper (Systemiq Ltd.) and speakers Tisha Livingston (Infinite Acres) and Bettina Rotermund (Siemens)More information at: https://www.greentech.nl/amsterdam/.

Registration policy visitors
GreenTech offers a 3-day entrance ticket for €95 excl. VAT per person, up to and including 7 June. Exhibitors can invite their clients for free until 7 June. After 7 June until 13 June a ticket costs €120. For an additional fee, upgrades such as a Premium, Overnight stay and Fun package are offered.

More information and registration at https://www.greentech.nl/amsterdam/tickets.

GreenTech Amsterdam
GreenTech Amsterdam will be held from Tuesday 11 – Thursday 13 June 2024. The exhibition is a global meeting place for all horticultural technology professionals with a focus on the early stages of the horticultural chain and the current issues growers face. GreenTech is supported by AVAG, the industry association for the greenhouse technology sector in the Netherlands.More information can be found via the GreenTech website or follow GreenTech on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube and Instagram.

In the wake of market shifts impacting industry growth, discussions will focus on unit economics, with expert speakers sharing their perspectives on optimizing productivity, diversifying crop varieties, expanding global footprints and increasing the market share of indoor-grown produce.

Alongside high-level keynotes, insightful debates, and small-group breakouts, delegates can unlock extensive networking opportunities and explore innovative ideas in the exhibition and start-up hub. The summit’s powerful 1-1 meeting platform empowers delegates to connect and plan meetings in advance, making it easy to match with key supply chain stakeholders and find new business partners.

Key Themes:

• Meeting Consumer Preferences through Tailored Product Offerings
• Securing Investment to Scale CEA Start-Ups and Finance Farm Expansion
• Tapping into New Markets through New Fruit & Fungi Varieties
• Identifying Successful Strategies for International Expansion
• Assessing the Viability of Robotics to Drive Efficiency and Reduce Costs
• Improving Growing Cycles and Product Quality through Advanced Genetics
• Exploring the Potential of AI and Machine Learning for Operational Control
• Improving CEA’s Environmental Footprint by Reducing Inputs and Emissions
• Building Business Resilience through Energy Efficient Hardware and Facility Design
• Engaging Local, Regional and National Governments to Support CEA
• Navigating Site Selection with Energy Costs, Labor Availability, and Distribution Networks
• Sharing Knowledge and Best Practice to Build Industry-Wide Benchmarks and Standards

Registration

In-Person (Plus Virtual Access):
Super Early Bird Price: $1,495 (ends April 11)
Full Price: $1,995

Virtual:
Super Early Bird Price: $295 (ends April 11)
Full Price: $595

Register here: https://indooragtech.com/register/

What:  Indoor Ag–Con, the largest and leading trade show and conference dedicated to vertical farming | greenhouse | controlled environment agriculture, is moving to the Westgate Las Vegas for 2025. The new location provides additional expo floor and meeting room space to accommodate the event’s steady growth. Indoor Ag-Con unites farmers, growers, chefs, ag tech leaders, suppliers, advocates and enthusiasts under one roof for two days of education, inspiration and networking.  

         Attendees will be able to explore an expanded Expo Hall with 200+ world-class exhibitors featuring the most cutting-edge technologies, products and services in the indoor agriculture industry from lighting and control systems to substrates, equipment, irrigation systems and much more. The robust Conference will feature three inspiring Keynotes and insightful sessions from 80+ industry leaders on the latest trends and business-building ideas. 

Where: Westgate Las Vegas 
            3000 Paradise Rd
             Las Vegas, NV  89101

When: March 11-12, 2025
            Tuesday, March 11: 8am-6:30pm
            Wednesday, March 12: 8am-4:30pm

About
Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con has emerged as the largest trade show and conference for vertical farming | greenhouse |controlled environment agriculture. Its events are crop-agnostic and touch all sectors of the business, covering produce, legal cannabis | hemp, alternate protein and non-food crops. More information, visit www.indoor.ag.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the front runners in the industry, engage in open discussions, and connect with like-minded professionals passionate about shaping the future of horticulture. At various stages, visitors can delve into the latest developments and insights: Meet the Xpert, Vision Stage, Technology Stage, Vertical Farming Stage, Medicinal Plants Stage and Amtrium Stage. Each stage has been carefully curated and provides invaluable perspectives and discussions on topics such as:

• ‘Tools and vision in Data and AI to create a better crop result’
• ‘Greenhouse: The road to a zero footprint?’
• ‘Future vision: A valuable tasty & healthy horticulture’
• ‘Dynamic lighting strategies; nonsense or the ultimate solution?’
• ‘What are the essentials for the ultimate strawberry crop?’
• ‘Dutch knowhow as catalyst for the green revolution in Asia and the Middle East’
• ‘Robotics: Futuristic dream or your next investment?’
• ‘Cultivation for compounds research update’
• ‘Cultivation systems for cannabis’

Side Events

• Tuesday 11 June: ‘GreenTech Innovation & Concept Awards 2024’. The winners in the categories Innovation and Concept will be announced during the official opening of GreenTech Amsterdam.
• Tuesday 11 June: 18.00 – 20.00: ‘GreenTech Party’. Relaxing evening with industry colleagues. Free entrance for exhibitors.
• Wednesday 12 June: 8.00 – 9.00: ‘GreenTech Run’. Sporty start of the day, 5 km run.
• Wednesday 12 June: 8.30 – 11.00: ‘Power Day’. GreenTech invites progressive growers & breeders, engineers, consultants, investors and solution providers to connect and discuss the topic ‘Human skills make the difference’.
• Wednesday 12 June: 14.30 – 18.00: ‘Research meets innovator’. Bringing together research pioneers to exchange knowledge, collaborate, and showcase innovations.
• Thursday 13 June: ‘HortiTalent Day’. In cooperation with AVAG, GreenTech gives students the opportunity to meet the horticulture industry and discuss possible career options.

Pavilions

On the show floor, visitors will find several country pavilions but also pavilions with exhibitors specialized in industry fields such as Vertical Farming, Medicinal Plants (Cannabis) and AI & Robotics. But also a Start-Up Pavilion for newcomers to the horticulture industry. Live demonstrations and the latest innovations will be showcased at the Robot Dome, Renewable Energy Demo and Drone Cage.

Routes

On the exhibition floor, visitors can follow the routes of exhibitors with the following themes: Organic, Vertical Farming, Robotics, Renewable Energy, Medicinal Plants, AI and Mid-tech.More information at: https://www.greentech.nl/amsterdam/.

Registration policy Visitors

GreenTech is offering a 3-day entrance ticket €95 excl. VAT per person, up to and including 7 June. Exhibitors can invite their clients free of charge up to and including 7 June. For an additional fee, upgrades such as a Premium, Overnight stay and Fun package, are offered.
More information and registration at https://www.greentech.nl/amsterdam/tickets.

GreenTech Amsterdam 2024
GreenTech Amsterdam 2024 will take place on Tuesday 11, Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 June at RAI Amsterdam. The exhibition is a global meeting place for all horticultural technology professionals with the focus on the early stages of the horticultural chain and the current issues growers face. GreenTech is supported by AVAG, the industry association for the greenhouse technology sector in the Netherlands.More information via www.greentech.nl or follow Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram or YouTube.

Reflecting the industry’s enthusiasm and confidence, 80% of the exhibitors have already secured their stands for the 2025 edition. GreenTech Americas, organized by RAI Amsterdam in partnership with Informa Markets, serves as a pivotal meeting point for stakeholders from Mexico, the region Americas, and beyond.

Visitors remarks

Visitors said: Niels Peter Klapwijk (Nature Fresh, Canada): “It was a very good experience, I visit Mexico a lot myself, but I was impressed by the quality of the visitors. There are still so many possibilities here and this was yet another confirmation of that! Looking forward to many GreenTech Americas to come.” Jose Bezerra (Expandes Consulting, Brazil): “Very organized and with the best companies in the segment offering information and products.”

Dutch presence

Striking this year was the presence of 32 Dutch breeders and the introduction of the ornamental industry as part of GreenTech Americas. Two flower sculptures, donated by 9 ornamental companies and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, marked the entrances of the Expo floor. In the production of plants and flowers, proper technification provides better quality, thus making GreenTech Americas an interesting place for the ornamental sector to have a Pavilion for the 2025 edition.

Exhibitors

The exhibition floor showcased 220 companies, spread over 2 floors, from diverse corners of the globe such as Canada, the United States, Chile, Colombia, Spain, France, India, Turkey, Germany, Belgium, Italy, New Zealand, Greece, the Netherlands and Mexico, presenting cutting-edge solutions aimed at enhancing crop productivity. Innovations ranged from greenhouse structures and climate control systems to precise irrigation technologies and advanced substrates, demonstrating a collective commitment to sustainable agriculture practices.

Conference

The accompanying conference programme attracted 11% more professionals compared to last year, gathered to explore issues on water scarcity, sustainability, pest control, agriculture 4.0, and human talent development. Part of the programme was a notable keynote session with Stijn Weijns from Agro Care Rilland, who shared insights on strategies for managing ToBRFV, addressing challenges related to virus management.

Power Day

A highlight of the event was also the Power Day with the theme ‘Human skills make the difference’, organized on Wednesday, led by industry experts such as Peter Klapwijk (2Harvest), Stijn Weijns (Agro Care Rilland) and table moderators Felix Tarrats (Ceickor), Hugo Escoto (Alternativa Agrícola Sustentable), Oscar Woltman (Phoenix) and Bernardo Carranza (UTEQ). Carranze stated: “We need a high development of research and innovation in the agricultural sector to benefit from the displacement phenomenon. We have to worry about how we can be more competitive and add value.”
The Power Day focused on the pivotal role of human skills in driving agricultural innovation and sustainability. The discussions emphasized the need for collaboration between academia and industry to reshape education programs and nurture talent within the sector.

About GreenTech Americas

GreenTech Americas is part of the GreenTech portfolio and focuses on Mexico as well as the rest of the Americas. The goal is to meet the specific needs of growers, breeders and suppliers. GreenTech Americas enables a greater exchange of knowledge, experiences, and success stories of the horticultural industry in this region. The show is organized by RAI Amsterdam and Informa Markets and the fifth edition will be held from Tuesday 25 – Thursday 27 March 2025. Please find more information at www.greentech.nl/americas/.

About GreenTech Amsterdam

GreenTech Amsterdam will be held from Tuesday 11 – Thursday 13 June 2024. The exhibition is a global meeting place for all horticultural technology professionals with the focus on the early stages of the horticultural chain and the current issues growers face. GreenTech is supported by AVAG, the industry association for the greenhouse technology sector in the Netherlands. More information via www.greentech.nl or follow Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram or YouTube.

Indoor Ag-Con marked its 11th edition with increases in attendee and exhibitor participation for its March 11-12, 2024 run at Caesars Forum Las Vegas. The exhibiting company roster grew by 54% with a sold-out show floor featuring 207 companies in 287 booths vs. 134 companies in 174 booths for 2023. Attendance saw a 16% increase over 2023 with 1584 attendees from 49 states, the District of Columbia and US territories, as well as 31 other countries. Attendees included C-level execs and other decision-makers involved with every sector of controlled environment agriculture — grower/operators, investors, tech providers, start-ups, academia, government, real estate developers, food service retail, suppliers and more.

For the third year, Indoor Ag-Con once again co-located with the National Grocers Association (NGA) Show, attracting 146 attendees from that event to the Indoor Ag-Con expo floor — taking the total attendance number over the 1700 mark.

“Every year our speakers, exhibitors and attendees from across the country and globe look forward to Indoor Ag-Con as it brings together our industry as a community to hold important discussions on timely topics and show off what’s new in indoor agriculture,” said Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con. “This year we experienced record exhibitor growth and attracted companies and attendees from 35 countries to our global event. Next year, we are moving to a new location providing more expo and meeting space as we continue to grow with this ever-evolving industry.”

Among the 11th Annual Edition highlights:

Keynote Sessions

Each year, Indoor Ag-Con features three inspiring Keynotes and this year’s all-star speakers included Paul Sellew, Founder and CEO of Little Leaf Farms. A mid-morning keynote on day one, “Leader Insights: Charting the Future Landscape of Controlled Environment Agriculture”, was led by industry veterans Moderator, Daniel Malech, Board Chair, SVP CEA Alliance for Plenty, Jim DiMenna, President of Red Sun Farms, Viraj Puri, Co-Founder and CEO of Gotham Greens, and Matt Ryan, CEO of Soli Organic. Adam Bergman, Managing Director, Clean Energy Transition Group, Global Head of AgTech for Citi, delivered the day two morning keynote address.

Educational Tracks & Expo Floor Theater Panel Discussions

The Conference features two jam-packed days of educational and insightful sessions from 90+ speakers in four tracks including Planning & Operations, Grower, Cultivating Possibilities and NEW this year, the Cannabis track.

Sold Out Expo Floor

In 2024, the Expo Hall grew and expanded boasting 207 world-class companies in 287 booths that showcased the most cutting-edge technologies, products and services in the indoor agriculture industry from lighting and control systems to substrates, equipment, irrigation systems.

Networking Opportunities

Daily lunches and an afternoon cocktail reception on the expo floor expanded the show’s networking opportunities.

Indoor Ag-Con |Philips VIP Welcome Party

Back by popular demand, Philips Horticulture LED Solutions teamed up once again with Indoor Ag-Con to tee-up the 2024 edition with a VIP Welcome Par-tee on Sunday evening, March 10 at Topgolf Las Vegas. Indoor Ag-Con conference speakers and other industry VIPs came together for an incredible evening of golf, networking, cocktails, food, music and fun – all compliments of Philips LED Horticultural Lighting.

Looking ahead, Indoor Ag-Con Las Vegas will move to the Westgate Las Vegas for its March 11-12, 2025 edition. The new location provides additional expo floor and meeting room space to accommodate the event’s steady growth.

For more information, please visit www.indoor.ag.

ABOUT:
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Acuity Brands lighting, sensors, components, and controls products are used throughout North America in almost every major lighting segment including commercial indoor, outdoor, industrial, infrastructure and healthcare applications. The company consists of more than 25 individual lighting and controls brands of which several, such as Lithonia Lighting, date back more than 75 years.

Driving innovative LED technology

According to Jacob Palombo, director of product for horticulture, Acuity Brands has been at the forefront of the transition of LEDs from traditional technology including metal halide and fluorescent light fixtures. 

“Acuity Brands has been designing and developing LED fixtures for over 15 years,” Palombo said. “The company is driving innovation in everything from LED fixture design and performance to advancements in quality and reliability as well as lighting controls.

“Sticking LED diodes onto a board and creating a light is not as simple as it seems. There are a lot of ways it can go wrong. That is why we have spent a great deal of time on how to build a robust system that is reliable and is designed to take advantage of the way LEDs produce light, how to dissipate heat, and how to use optics to control the light.”

Acuity Brands designs all of its own products in various innovation centers in the United States and produces almost all of its products in North America.

“This gives the company the ability to support customers with lower lead times, not having to wait for products to be shipped from overseas,” Palombo said. “We source a handful of plain vanilla products, but our spec and flagship products, the products that we design and produce in-house, are manufactured in North America.”

Illuminating the horticulture sector

Acuity Brands entered the horticulture lighting industry in 2022 with the launch of its Verjure Pro series of LED grow lights.

“Leading up to the launch of the Verjure Pro series, Acuity Brands participated in academic plant research in growing plants with LED lights to develop a science-forward approach in product and spectral development,” Palombo said. “The Verjure Pro series is a versatile platform that supports a wide variety of applications in commercial cultivation for indoor farms and greenhouses.”

Unlike other commercial LED grow lights that require wired controls, Acuity Brands introduced its Verjure Pro series with nLight AIR wireless controls. This scalable wireless controls platform eliminates the need to daisy chain the light fixtures with low voltage wiring.

“With the Verjure Pro series growers can order the lights with a wireless radio that allows all the lights to automatically talk to one another,” Palombo said. “This allows growers to group them and zone them to meet their needs and to give them more control in ways they could not before.”

In its efforts to expand its product offerings in the horticulture sector, especially in commercial greenhouse and vertical farming spaces, Acuity Brands recently acquired the Current Arize series of LED grow lights. These will become part of the Verjure brand. These fixtures are available from Hort Americas, a commercial horticultural supply company in Bedford, Texas.

“Acuity will integrate its wireless controls technology into the Arize products,” Palombo said. “Not having to wire each light manually with low voltage wiring will save growers a lot of labor and installation time. It may also make it easier for the lights to integrate with existing control systems. We are also excited to continue to build upon these platforms to deliver incremental functionality and performance.”

Focused on being sustainable, environmentally conscious

Even with its size and scope, Acuity Brands has not lost sight of its role to be a good steward of the environment and to make a positive impact in the communities where it operates its facilities. The company has initiated its EarthLIGHT strategy which reflects its comprehensive approach around environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.

“Acuity Brands declared carbon neutrality in 2021 through a combination of its carbon reduction measures at its operations and offsetting measures,” Palombo said. “The company is focused on minimizing its carbon footprint and helping its customers improve theirs. Part of the company’s strategy is the intersection of technology and sustainability. It’s something we take very seriously and a part of EarthLIGHT is to be good stewards of the environment.

Palombo said EarthLIGHT strongly aligns with controlled environment horticulture.

“Indoor horticulture can be a more effective way of growing plants compared to traditional farming methods by using less water, fertilizer and land while increasing overall yields,” he said. “Indoor horticulture can also provide fresher, cleaner, and healthier food to communities that may not otherwise have access while reducing the carbon footprint for transportation. These are all things that are compatible with EarthLIGHT and are important to us.”

Building partnerships

Even though Acuity Brands is the largest lighting company in North America, Palombo said there are a lot of people in the horticulture sector who aren’t familiar with the company.

“My goal over the next year is to introduce Acuity to the industry and make people aware that it is a well-established company, and one of the true global leaders in lighting,” he said. “Some of the biggest companies in the U.S. from many different industries trust and use Acuity lighting and controls.”

Palombo said Acuity has a track record for performance and delivering a quality product.

“We use quality components and the lights perform in the environments they were designed for,” he said. “We stand behind our products with a warranty backed by a $4 billion publicly-traded company.

“Within the horticulture industry, there are lighting companies that may not be around in five years to stand behind their warranties. Growers in the controlled environment space are looking for products from companies they can trust and partner with. My goal is to make sure growers know Acuity Brands is that company.”

For more: Acuity Brands, https://www.acuitybrands.com/.
Hort Americas, (469) 532-2383; https://hortamericas.com/.

This article is property of Urban Ag News and was written by David Kuack, a freelance technical writer in Fort Worth, Texas.

The collaboration marks a significant step in providing comprehensive financial solutions and incentive opportunities for greenhouse growers and vertical farmers across North America.

Levitt brings over two decades of experience in utilities, incentives and financial solutions to the partnership. As co-founder of Encentiv Energy, Levitt was instrumental 

in introducing new rebate tools and incentive solutions to lighting manufacturers and their sales channel partners (agents and distributors), contractors, ESCOs, and facility stakeholders. This ultimately led to the rebate tool used by leading lighting companies such as Acuity Brands, lighting partner for Hort Americas. 

“This partnership with Lee ensures our clients have access to the most beneficial financial solutions,” said Chris Higgins, president and co-founder of Hort Americas. “Lee’s experience in processing or supporting millions of dollars in awards across all markets [and eligible rebate measures, including lighting and HVAC, etc.] has been invaluable in helping growers maximize their investments.”

The partnership unlocks new opportunities for Hort Americas’ clients, helping them navigate the complex landscape of utility rebates and incentives. By leveraging Levitt’s expertise, Hort Americas aims to help growers enjoy greater sustainability and operational efficiency, while maximizing their financial benefits.

“Joining forces with Hort Americas is an opportunity to bridge the gap between horticultural innovation and financial incentives,” Levitt commented. “I’m thrilled to share my experience in a way that benefits the sustainable efforts of growers in the CEA industry.”

About Hort Americas

Hort Americas is dedicated to playing an integral role in the diverse sectors of commercial horticulture. Working closely with key manufacturers, Hort Americas develops and delivers high-quality, technically advanced, and cost-effective products to greenhouse growers and vertical farmers in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Discover more about our commitment, services, and products at http://www.hortamericas.com.