Day 1: Wednesday, October 7
Speakers from across Canada and around the world bring expertise to our forum.
Note: sessions and speakers are subject to change.
Download the detailed program overview for both days
Ballrooms are located on the main level.
Meeting rooms are located on the second floor.
Please refer to the floor map for room location.
Click "read more" for speakers and their presentation time
IPM Bits and Bites: Spores & Equipment
9:30am - 11am | Room TBD
Overview:
Practical IPM session for greenhouse vegetable and floriculture growers covering fogging equipment, microbial insecticide and fungicide applications, and spore trapper use. Topics include equipment selection, troubleshooting, application best practices, and real-world tips to improve pest and disease management success.
Using Foggers for Crop Protection Greenhouse
Louis Damm | Dramm Corporation
This topic session discusses the differences between Cold Fogging and Thermal Fogging and the maintenance required for each. Learn about many considerations including the application of available chemistries & bio control products. This session will certainly help you be successful with your fogging equipment.
Best Application Practices for Microbial Products
Mathew Krause | Lallemand Plant Care
Microbial biopesticide and biostimulant products can be excellent tools for growers. This presentation will focus on considerations when selecting microbial products and best practices for using them effectively in your operation.
Do Spore Traps Fit in Greenhouse IPM?
Katie Goldenhar | Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness
Spore trapping is a simple idea to detect spores in air samples before disease is present in your crop. There are multiple Canadian companies that sell this technology to growers, we’ll review the pros and cons to spore trapping and the potential fit for your operation.
Sponsored by:
Little Plants, Big Profits - Fruit & Vegetable Propagation
9:30am - 11am | Room TBD
Overview:
This session will focus on strawberry propagation and the use of lighting technologies to improve both fruit and vegetable propagation success under certain lighting systems. Designed for propagators and greenhouse growers, the discussion will cover practical insights and experience with lighting strategies, environmental management, and production techniques that support healthy, efficient propagation.
Environmental Optimization for Strawberry Propagation
Ricardo Hernandez | North Carolina State University
This presentation will summarize plant physiology research on strawberry propagation in controlled environments, focusing on how photoperiod, light intensity, CO₂ enrichment, and light spectrum influence runner development, daughter plant quality, and propagation efficiency. The session will highlight key findings and practical implications for improving commercial strawberry plant production systems.
The Right Tool: Reimagining Indoor Tech for Elite Seedling Propagation
Alvaro Fernandes | Planteva Farms
Propagation is a logical, high-impact application of indoor cultivation technology. We explore how combining agronomic knowledge with sole-source dynamic lighting and fully automated precision cultivation systems enables next-generation nurseries to de-risk final production across greenhouses, indoor farms, and field farms. Tailored protocols maximize seedling vigour, accelerating transitions and boosting results.
Dynamic LED lighting in vegetables propagation
Sam Soltaninejad | Mechatronix Inc.
Tailoring light conditions throughout the dynamic LED lighting system
Sponsored by:
Effective Mechanization: Not Every Shoe Fits Every Foot
9:30am - 11am | Room TBD
Overview:
Get ready for an unplugged session—no scripted presentations, no slides, just a panel of growers sharing what works, what doesn’t, and the lessons they've learned along the way. The best part? Audience participation is encouraged. Discover why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach and why what works for one operation may not work for another.
Speakers:
Aron Hoff
Meyers Fruit Farms
Benjamin Alkema
Linwell Gardens
Thomas Alkema
Linwell Gardens
Paul Vos
Foxwood Greenhouses
Organic Vegetable Production
9:30am - 11am | Room TBD
Overview:
This session covers organic greenhouse production in Canada, including Canadian Organic Regime (COR) requirements, what qualifies as organic, and recent standard updates for greenhouse growers. It also explores reducing peat use, improving growing media and soil health, and managing fertility with approved organic inputs, along with practical insights into the challenges and opportunities of commercial organic production.
Keeping organic rooted in the soil
Nicole Boudreau | Organic Federation of Canada
Under the last review of the Canadian Organic Standards, the greenhouse clauses have been passionately discussed. Soil volume, artificial lighting, hydroponics, vertical agriculture, fertilization, and use of liquid nutrients were back for discussion. Nicole Boudreau presents the behind-the-scenes of the review process and the main modifications to the greenhouse production.
Organic Growing: Challenges & Benefits
Marco de Leonardi | Freeman Herbs Inc.
Organic Growing is a commitment to establish and respect the natural processes of Mother Nature, where pest and diseases are kept under control by their natural antagonists, enduring the bumps on the road.
Organic Greenhouse Production: Linking Media, Fertilizers, Soil & Plant Health
Martine Dorais | Laval University
Optimizing nutrient availability in synchrony with crop demand remains a major challenge in organic greenhouse production. Research conducted through the Université Laval Research Chair in Organic Greenhouses and Controlled Environment Horticulture has investigated sustainable growing media, irrigation management, fertilization strategies, and biostimulants. The impacts of these practices on soil health, plant resilience, productivity, and soil microbiome dynamics will be presented.
Aphid Antidotes
9:30am - 11am | Room TBD
Overview:
This session explores how environmental conditions and management practices affect aphid populations and their control in controlled-environment agriculture. Presentations will examine the impacts of LED lighting and low temperatures on aphid predators, the role of control strategies in shaping aphid resistance and population dynamics, and the compatibility of insecticides with beneficial insects. Together, the research highlights the importance of integrating environmental management, biological control, and selective insecticide use to support
Aphid IPM in CEA Spinach: Thresholds and UV-Induced Plant Defenses
Samantha Willden | Cornell University
This talk will feature recent research in the ongoing attempt to build better IPM programs for aphid management in CEA spinach production. The topic will span threshold-based decision-making regarding management intervention and the prospects of using ultraviolet radiation to prime plant defenses against aphids.
Aphid Predators in CEA Strawberries: Effects of LEDs and Low Temperatures
Karli Barton| University of Guelph
This presentation explores how LED lighting strategies and low nighttime temperature regimes influence the performance of aphid biological control agents in controlled-environment strawberry production. Predator feeding and development were evaluated to better understand how environmental conditions affect biocontrol efficacy in greenhouse systems.
Aphids out of control
Mariska Beekman
Control of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, can be very difficult. This presentation shares findings from Dutch sweet pepper greenhouses, showing how various pest control strategies can influence which aphid clones become dominant over time. The results provide insights into resistance management under commercial greenhouse conditions.
Balancing Insecticide Efficacy and Biological Control in Greenhouse Peppers
Azimove Sulthana | Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada/ University of Windsor
This presentation highlights laboratory and greenhouse research evaluating insecticide efficacy against aphids and their non-target effects on beneficial insects used in greenhouse biological control programs. Laboratory bioassays assessed 16 insecticide products against aphids and 8 products for compatibility with beneficial insects, including Aphidius colemani and Chrysoperla carnea. Greenhouse trials further examined product performance and integration with biological control agents in pepper production systems. Results will provide insight into selecting effective aphid management tools while preserving beneficial insect populations for sustainable integrated pest management (IPM).
Research Updates
9:30am - 11am | Room TBD
Overview:
Discover the latest advances in greenhouse research, from optimizing light environments to improving crop resilience and production. This session will explore how light quality and UV monitoring can support strawberry health, share new developments in biocontrol strategies for Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus, and highlight innovations driving the future of Canadian greenhouse strawberry production.
Exploring light quality as a management tool for strawberry tipburn
Jonah Schaller | University of Guelph
Strawberry tipburn, a calcium deficiency disorder caused by inadequate transpiration to developing tissue within the canopy, is a persistent challenge in controlled environment production. This presentation explores how LED light spectra can influence canopy morphology and plant physiology to enhance transpiration and calcium transport, highlighting potential strategies for tipburn management.
Beyond PAR: The Importance of Monitoring Natural UV Light in your Greenhouse
Fadi Al-Daoud | Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness
Most Ontario greenhouse producers monitor light levels outside and inside their greenhouses to optimize their growing conditions and maximum yield. This presentation discusses how natural ultraviolet (UV) light levels inside greenhouses are affected by greenhouse coverings, and how this may impact bumblebees used for pollination of many greenhouse fruit and vegetable crops. It demonstrates how monitoring natural UV light levels inside greenhouses can benefit producers and allow them to make more informed decisions about their production practices.
Research Update on Biocontrol of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus
Aiming Wang | Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
ToBRFV, a plant version of COVID-19, is a highly contagious virus that infects tomato and pepper, causing more than 30% yield losses. Its co-infection with pepino mosaic virus induces more severe symptoms/losses, often leading to crop termination. Here, we update research progress in developing attenuated strains for cross-protection against ToBRFV.
Built for the Greenhouse: The Next Wave of Canadian Strawberries
Jason Lanoue | Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
This presentation highlights AAFC’s greenhouse strawberry breeding project, focused on developing high-yielding, flavourful cultivars tailored to Canadian greenhouse production. It will present trial results identifying promising selections and provide growers with practical insights into emerging varieties and strategies to support consistent, year-round strawberry production.
Update on the native ornamental breeding program
Dr. Al Sullivan | University of Guelph
The presentation will show case the advanced selections of native ornamental species that have been the focus of the University of Guelph breeding program.
Investigating Wood Fiber as a sustainable substrate option for use in greenhouse berry production
Carly Lacy | Walker Industries
Peat, coir, and mineral wool are the most commonly used substrates for greenhouse strawberry production, but each has environmental and sustainability concerns. Walker Ind (Gro-Bark) parterned with Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) to investigate the efficacy of sustainable substrate options for greenhouse berry production. This presentation will review the results and implications of that trial as well as to-date results on ongoing trialing of this material in raspberry production by Vineland.
New Variety Session
9:30am - 11am | Room TBD
Overview:
Discover the latest innovations in greenhouse crop breeding as leading vegetable and ornamental breeders showcase new varieties and share insights into emerging breeding trends. Learn how advances in performance, quality, resilience, and market appeal are shaping the future of commercial greenhouse production and creating new opportunities for growers.
Berry Innovation
9:30am - 11am | Room TBD
Overview:
In this session, the CGC welcomes the four winning teams from the Weston Family Foundation Homegrown Innovation Challenge to share the insights, outcomes, and lessons from their projects. Attendees will gain firsthand perspectives on the innovative approaches these teams have developed, the partnerships that have enabled their success, and the potential impact of their work on the future of Canadian agriculture.
Autonomous, net-zero greenhouse strawberry production
Youbin Zheng | University of Guelph
Supported by the Weston Family Foundation’s Homegrown Innovation Challenge Program, the University of Guelph, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and industry partners are developing technologies for sustainable greenhouse strawberry production. Research focuses on energy-efficient lighting, net-zero vertical production systems, and autonomous fertigation to enable year-round local production while reducing costs and environmental impacts.
From Bees to Breezes: Transforming Pollination in Vertical Farming
Habiba Bougherara | Toronto Metropolitan University
This presentation introduces Bee-Free Pollination, an autonomous airflow-based system that replaces insect pollinators using guided nozzles to move pollen across crop canopies. The technology enables consistent cross-pollination throughout the growing area while simultaneously regulating the microclimate, improving crop health, reliability, and scalability for vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture.
Year-Round Blueberry, Raspberry, and Blackberry Production in Canada
Eric Gerbrandt | BeriTech Inc.
Off-season production of Canadian berries from October to June is possible using controlled environments. Based in Chilliwack, BC, we are currently validating an economically viable system for producing blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries in greenhouses using the best CEA-adapted berry genetics, developing advanced horticultural methods, and adapting cost-effective technologies.
Producing Disease-Free Strawberry Transplants
Vincent Hall | Pépinière Cultivar Inc.