Growing stronger: a Mini Conference for the greenhouse sector
Description
Growing stronger: a Mini Conference for the greenhouse sector
Join us for a day of practical insights, sector updates and discussion with greenhouse vegetable growers, industry specialists and researchers. The programme will include presentations on key crop management challenges, disease and pest control, water and nutrient management, as well as opportunities to connect over lunch, awards and dinner.
Programme overview:
10:30am – Arrival, coffee (sponsored by Enza Zaden) and light morning tea
11:00am-1:00pm – Morning speaker sessions
1:00pm-2:15pm – Lunch and networking (sponsored by MG Group)
2:15pm-5:00pm – Afternoon speaker sessions
5:00pm – Bar opens (sponsored by Zonda) and TomatoesNZ AGM
From 5.30pm – Awards, dinner (sponsored by FruitFed) and recognition of Barry O’Neil’s contribution as outgoing chair
Our topics:
Keynote speaker: Arlet Dechering from Delphy Academy in the Netherlands will present on How plant growth is impacted by humidity control
Ground sourced heat for horticulture: can it add up? Exploring the barriers to uptake - Helen Barnes, Earth Sciences NZ and Yale Carden GeoExchange NZ
Growing with AI – presented by Stefan Vogrincic, Grower2Grower, The NZ Covered Crop website and consultant, exploring how artificial intelligence is developing as a tool for growers, consultants and the wider horticulture industry
Resistance Management in the Protected Crop Paradox: When ideal conditions favour fungal diseases – Francis Ferrada-Hartley, Master of Science student, Massey University - Bioeconomy Science Institute
Making Every Drop Count: Practical land Application of Drain Nutrient Solution – Andrew Barber from AgriLink
Whitefly Control: What’s working, what’s not, what’s the future? – discussion led by cucumber grower Robert Lindsay
Tackling Greenhouse Thrips, what does good control look like? – Daniel Sutton, NZVeg Research and Development Manager
During the extended lunch break, attendees can choose to sit at a table with a topic that interests them. These are informal conversations and Q&A sessions rather than presentations, with two 15-minute rounds so attendees can move between topics. Come prepared with any questions you may have, or simply enjoy lunch and networking.
• JS Ewers – Converting coal boilers to wood
• Rijk Zwaan – Emerging threats (pests and diseases)
• Enza Zaden – Genetic resistance for heated cropping
• Xplora Ventures – Breaking the Heat vs Humidity Trade-off in Greenhouses
• Zonda – IPM biologicals and bumblebees.
Supported by
Also present on the day
Our Speakers
Arlet Dechering
Arlet Dechering is a senior trainer at Delphy Academy, where she specialises in high-tech greenhouse cultivation. She brings extensive experience in protected cropping, including nine years as a consultant for high-tech tomato production. Arlet has also worked at Rijk Zwaan in seed production and spent five years as a lecturer at HAS Green Academy, supporting the development of practical knowledge and skills across the greenhouse sector.
Helen Barnes
Helen Barnes is the Senior Business Development Manager at Earth Sciences New Zealand, previously GNS Science. She works to connect Earth Sciences NZ with government, industry and communities, helping strengthen the impact of the organisation’s research and expertise. Helen supports the “Decarbonising covered crops with low temperature geothermal resources” project, which has developed an online tool to help covered crop growers explore low-temperature geothermal options for decarbonisation. Prior to joining GNS Science, now ESNZ, in 2022, Helen was the General Manager of Tomatoes New Zealand. She also supports international development projects in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Stefan Vogrincic
Stefan Vogrincic has worked in the covered cropping industry since 1993, with extensive experience in tomato and cucumber production and consulting across both low- and high-tech greenhouse operations. He is a co-owner of the online E-Zine Grower2Grower and a co-opted board member of Covered Cropping NZ. Stefan works closely with growers on crop management, agronomy, technology, energy and business development, and is particularly interested in how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence can provide practical tools to support growers and improve decision-making.
Andrew Barber
Andrew Barber is the owner of Agrilink NZ, an agricultural engineering consultancy, specialising in resource use efficiency right across the primary sector. Agrilink supports Horticulture NZ, potatoes NZ, vegetable Product Groups, and NZ GAP with the optimisation of nutrients, agrichemicals, water, and carbon footprinting. Most recently Agrilink updated the suite of industry codes of practice, including the greenhouse CoP - Drain Nutrient Solution Management.
Francis Ferrada-Hartley
Francis Ferrada-Hartley is a horticultural scientist based in Auckland, with applied field and protected cropping research experience across commercial production systems. At T&G Fresh – Covered Crops, his contribution has been pivotal in planning and delivering an evidence-based, data-driven IPM programme. Francis recently completed his MSc in Plant Breeding through Massey University and the Bioeconomy Science Institute, researching resistance breakdown in Tomato Leaf Mould in New Zealand glasshouses. He is passionate about digital technology adoption in agriculture and bridging the gap between science and practical industry application.
Robert Lindsay
Robert Lindsay runs a greenhouse operation with his wife and their team in Kaiapoi, Canterbury, including growing, packing and transport to market. He enjoys working with hydroponics and covered cropping, where changes can often be seen in the plant within 24 hours. He has a strong interest in the key issues facing the covered cropping industry today, including clean energy, integrated pest management, people and succession planning. Rob is a director on the boards of the NZ Veg Council and Covered Cropping NZ, and chairs the Canterbury Growers Association. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family, growing bonsai trees, tramping, hunting and mountain biking.
Daniel Sutton
Daniel Sutton is the Research, Development and Extension Manager at Vegetables New Zealand. Based in Pukekohe, he works closely with growers, researchers and industry partners to support practical innovation across the vegetable sector. He is passionate about sharing new crop developments, research insights and technologies that can improve productivity, sustainability and resilience.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
