Key Takeaways
- Approximately 100 industry professionals attended the second Leafy Hydroponics Summit by Cultivators, gathering from across continents.
- Presentations and panels emphasized advancements in breeding, greenhouse design, automation, LED lighting, and climate strategy.
- Sormac, meteor systems, Maan bio products, Hoogendoorn, JASA, Enza Zaden, Ammerlaan, Green Production Systems, TTA ISO and Oreon were this years’ partners.
- Topics ranged from modular cultivation systems and market-driven breeding to automation, data strategies, and investment outlooks.
- The event included technical deep dives and a global growers’ panel offering cross-border perspectives on leafy greens production.
A Global Meeting Point for the Leafy Hydroponics Industry
Held in its second edition in Hoorn, the Leafy Hydroponic Summit by Cultivators welcomed close to 100 participants from around the globe, representing key players in controlled environment agriculture. With professionals flying in from Europe, North America, and Asia, the summit offered a full day of in-depth presentations, panel discussions, and technical sessions focused on leafy green production. On the second day, Cultivators, organized a field trip day for all participants to see Dutch cultivation techniques, exchange knowledge on growing- and best practices and network.
Industry Insights from Across the Value Chain
From Supermarket Shelves to the Greenhouse – Hessing SuperVers
Frank Hessing opened the day with a keynote outlining how processors view leafy greens, emphasizing the need for consistent quality and collaboration between upstream and downstream partners.
Breeding for Tomorrow – Enza Zaden
Andres Cervantes Garzon and John Gray shared Enza Zaden’s market-driven breeding approach, focusing on traits like disease resistance, yield, and shelf appeal. The duo emphasized that success in leafy greens, especially in hydroponics and CEA, depends heavily on close cooperation with growers and processors.
Starting with the Cultivar – Ammerlaan Construction
Ronald Thijssen presented a session on greenhouse construction for leafy greens, reinforcing that everything—from facility design to climate systems—starts with cultivar selection and its unique requirements.
System Innovations and Global Expansion Highlighted During Leafy Hydroponics Summit
Interview Summary – Olivier Deforche, Green Production Systems
Deforche highlighted the evolution of their mobile gutter systems for leafy greens and baby leaf crops, now operational in Japan, Canada, and Europe. High yields, modularity, and hygiene were emphasized, especially for baby leaf systems in the U.S. where market conditions are favorable. Deforche sees automation and energy efficiency as essential to future viability.
Lighting Advancements – Oreon
Arnold de Kievit reviewed 15 years of LED deployment in leafy greens. Since 2009, lighting efficiency has improved while costs have declined significantly—from €0.60 to €0.15 per mmol. Future targets include reducing costs to €0.12 and increasing yields to 160kg/m²/year by 2026.
Floating Raft Cultivation Systems – Meteor Systems
Meteor Systems (Bas de Bekker) delivered a presentation showcasing the company’s latest developments in floating raft cultivation systems and HVAC technology tailored for controlled environments.
Market & Investment Outlook Given During Leafy Hydroponics Summit
From Leafy to Leverage – YEALD
Jerry van Leent addressed the investment landscape post-bankruptcies, noting that hydroponics remains attractive to investors. Success hinges on lowering CAPEX, maintaining operational excellence, and using proven technologies.
Climate Control Strategies – Cultivators
Vincent Kickert explored practical approaches to climate strategy using data. Emphasis was placed on actionable metrics rather than data volume, helping growers make decisions aligned with their energy and crop goals.
Global Growers Panel: Leafy Greens Across Borders
Moderated by Sonny Moerenhout, the panel featured:
- Paul Ruser (Gebr. Meier Gemüsekulturen AG)
- Tristan Fischer (Fischer Farms)
- Tim van Hissenhoven (Cultivators)
Key Themes Discussed:
- Air Management & Facility Design: Uniform airflow remains a challenge, especially in vertical structures.
- Data & Sensors: Actionable insights are more valuable than raw data; human oversight is critical.
- Automation: From basic tools to AMRs, automation addresses labor shortages and cost pressures.
- Consumer Demand: Sustainability drives crop selection and growing methods.
- Pest & Hygiene Management: Fast crop cycles and controlled systems reduce pressure from pests.
- Water & Nutrients: Irrigation design, filtration, and substrate impact plant health and nutrient uptake.
- Adaptability: Local market conditions and resource availability are central to system design and crop planning.
Technical Deep Dives & Innovations
The technical program featured a range of expert-led sessions, along with a separate presentation:
- Hoogendoorn (René Beerkens) led a technical session focused on practical applications of data-driven growing strategies in greenhouse settings.
- TTA ISO joined the technical deep dive to address automation, transplanting, and integration challenges in modern horticulture.
- Maan Biobased Products (Habtamu Giday Gebraegziabher) presented Nygaia, a biodegradable and sustainable substrate with potential to redefine cultivation media choices for growers.
Concluding Notes Of Leafy Hydroponics Summit 2025
The Leafy Hydroponic Summit 2025 brought together a remarkable diversity of growers, experts, and industry partners, offering a comprehensive exchange of knowledge across genetics, system design, market strategy, and sustainability. As the sector grapples with rising energy costs, shifting consumer demands, and external pressures from political and environmental change, the event highlighted a clear imperative: collaborative innovation—grounded in practicality and adapted to regional realities—is essential for driving progress in leafy greens production.
The outstanding organization led by Nicole Kuleshova Shalumov and the Cultivators team once again demonstrated the value of fostering cross-continental dialogue and sharing best practices. Gathering such a wide range of industry professionals under one roof not only enriched the discussion on future outlooks but also set the stage for continued improvement in cultivation techniques.
“We did it again! What a fantastic experience to help bring together so many passionate, curious, and forward-thinking minds from across the international leafy green sector. Organizing and hosting this event together with my colleagues was, once again, a rewarding experience! From thought-provoking discussions to hands-on greenhouse tours, it was clear: our sector wants and needs this platform, and at Cultivators we are happy to provide.” Comments Nicole Kuleshova Shalumov, Project Manager & Marketing at Cultivators.
We look forward to the next edition (in June 15-16, 2026), confident that the momentum generated at this summit will inspire meaningful advancements throughout the leafy greens industry.
