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.

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