Farmers are tasked with creating perfect produce, tending to peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers until they have reached their peak ripeness. At BMG, our job is to make packaging your perfect produce simple. We create the technology that puts these delectable bits of palate-pleasing greatness into a sustainable paper-based packaging solution that is automated, environmentally friendly, and retail-ready.
We’re constantly engineering environmentally friendly packaging and processes that lessen our and our customer’s carbon footprint. We deliver end-to-end solutions that place products in sustainable trays and overwrap them for safety and viewability — lessening your impact on the environment and providing the lowest cost to operate.
In an ever-changing and unpredictable global marketplace, BMG continues to create category-leading sustainable solutions, providing best-in-class engineering and manufacturing enhanced by unparalleled support, all provided to a global market from our/your backyard!
Pretty in pink
Breeders look ahead to 2025 at some of the new and improved perennial selections that Canadian growers won’t want to miss out on. Page 14.
As greenhouses are increasingly operated using AI-powered technologies, are growers doing enough to protect themselves? Read more on Page 26.
A look at what breeders are excited about for the 2025 season.
BY GABRIELA AGUILERA
Exploring the possible threats that come with modern technology.
BY J LYNN FRASER
Alberta growers come together again to celebrate and innovate.
BY MICHIEL VERHEUL
The possibilities and pitfalls of tech
Earlier this year, the City of Hamilton (Ontario), was the victim of a cyber-attack. The impact of which we in the community felt acutely in the immediate aftermath of the attack as the day-to-day municipal operations came to a virtual standstill for a week. It has taken months and has cost millions (upwards of $6 million and climbing) to restore many of the affected systems and programs. The city, which determined early on it had been a victim of a ransomware attack, says it will be recovering from the incident for years to come.
It was a shocking example of just how debilitating an attack of this nature can be on an organization. If a city of close to 600,000 people, with all of its resources, can be brought to its knees in such short turn, I can only imagine the havoc such an attack would have on a single business.
Meanwhile, we have a piece from one of our all-time favourite guest columnists, Rita Sterne, PhD, from the Greenhouse Technology Network. On page 24, she offers her take on what business experts describe as ‘open innovation,’ and challenges readers to look beyond boundaries for information and resources.
This month, we also get a look and some insights on some of the new and improved perennial varieties for 2025. Breeding companies weigh in on what they are excited about for the coming year and why they think Canadian growers should be too on Page 14.
Additionally, we offer a recap of an annual grower event in Alberta in this issue. In September, the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association hosted its annual meet-and-greet event in Medicine Hat and Redcliffe, Alta., and growers came together to tour some of the operations in the area and learn some of the local history that explains why growers have settled in the area. Read up on the event and check out some of the photos on page 32.
“Cyber security will be key to keeping operations up and running.”
As greenhouses increasingly adopt smart technologies for their operations and the business of growing becomes more dependent on these systems, cyber security will be key to keeping operations up and running. Keeping yourself in the know about cyber threats will ultimately save a lot of time, energy, money and, let’s face it, heartache.
In this issue of Greenhouse Canada, we take a closer look at some of these threats and discuss ways in which growers can keep ahead of them and protect their business.
Our esteemed columnist, Gary Jones also takes a dive into the world of A.I and smart technology and explores some of its opportunities as well as its threats. As he writes: ‘it’s not all a bed of high-tech roses.’
Later this month, Greenhouse Canada will be attending the Green Industry Show and Conference (GISC) in Red Deer, Alta. The event is features a full roster of highly relevant and engaging education sessions geared towards various members of the green industry. It’s also a chance for growers and green professionals to connect and celebrate the sector and its successes. We won’t have a booth there, but we’ll be around and would like to make your acquaintance so don’t hesitate to come up, say hi and have a chat. See you at the show!
OGVG board appoints Steve Peters as new chair
Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) has announced the appointment of Steve Peters to the role of chair of the not-for-profit organization.
In a September press release, the OGVG’s Board of Directors announced that Peters would be taking over for George Gilvesy, who will be stepping down as chair at the conclusion of his current term at the end of October.
Peters, a lifelong resident of St. Thomas, has
served several terms as councillor and mayor for the community, and as Member of Provincial Parliament for Elgin Middlesex London, including the portfolio of Minister of Agriculture and Food and Minister of Labour. In 2007, he was elected by his members to serve as the nonpartisan Speaker of the Ontario Legislature until 2011. Peters takes over his new role as OGVG chair on November 1, 2024.
(Source: OGVG)
UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH LAUNCHES NEW AGRICULTURE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The University of Guelph is offering a new master’s level internship that will help graduate students connect with a range of organizations in the agriculture, environment, food and community sectors.
In a recent press
release, the university announced the new course at the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), titled Internship in Agriculture, Environment, Food, and Communities, where students will experience hands-on opportunities
Retired Syngenta breeder
honoured for ‘pivotal role’ in flower innovation
All-America Selections (AAS) has named Mitch Hanes, retired flower breeder from Syngenta Flowers, as the recipient of the 2024 AAS Breeders’ Cup Award.
The AAS Breeders’ Cup Award was established in 2004 to honor breeders whose groundbreaking work has led to the development of new cultivars that have had a profound impact on the industry. Hanes spent over four decades at Syngenta Flowers, formerly Goldsmith Seeds, where he played a pivotal role in breeding a variety of innovative flower cultivars. His contributions to the field of horticulture include the development of interspecific geraniums, such as the Calliope, Caliente, and Mojo series. Notably, Calliope Medium Dark Red is a 2017 All-America Selections Winner.
The AAS Judges, a group of experienced horticulturists, honored Mitch with the Breeders’ Cup Award at a special meeting held earlier this year. (Source: All-America Selections)
in the industry.
The internship will last 12 to 16 weeks from May to August 2025. As the course takes place during the students’ last or second-to-last semester, employers may consider extending job offers upon completion.
Organizations interested in participating are encouraged to submit their project opportunities by November 2024 or contact OAC for more information. (Source: University of Guelph)
The percentage of Canadian organizations that have significantly increased their investments in sustainability has surged from
56% the percentage of Canadian companies who report increased insurance costs or lack of insurance availability as a top climate issue currently impacting them
13% in 2023 to 36% in 2024.
54% of Canadian executives reported being personally impacted by severe flooding and rising sea levels
Gaillardia SpinTop™ Yellow Touch
Phlox Early® White
MATURATION POINT
AI in Canadian greenhouses: current developments and what’s ahead
When an effective new technology is introduced into a sector – for example biocontrol agents entering Canadian greenhouses – a predictable outcome ensues. At first, early adopters with deeper pockets take the plunge, while other, typically smaller operations, watch and learn. Adoption climbs as the technology is refined, made more powerful and incorporates new capabilities at the same time the industry-wide knowledge and experience base expands.
This is what’s now occurring with the use of automated artificial intelligence (AI) environmental control systems. “There’s been a shift from ‘What is this technology all about?’ to ‘How do I use it to reap the benefits?’” explains Dr. Fadi Al-Daoud, greenhouse vegetable specialist at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness (OMAFA). “The technology is steadily maturing.”
BY TREENA HEIN
Hoogendoorn’s IIVO system enables growers to monitor and control the greenhouse climate from anywhere at any time and with a wide variety of devices (phone, tablet, etc).
The value of AI control systems of course, lies in automated and better control not only of the macro-environment but also the microenvironment within the canopy. AI’s power lies in math, so data is needed from many sensors. Temperature, humidity and light spectrum readings are fed into the system, and now, data on light intensity, growing medium conditions and even water quality are literally entering the equation. Using this data, the AI provides growers with recommendations and/or automatically makes continual adjustments to vents, curtains, lighting and more to produce better yields. And through
RIGHT
Ronald Hoek, CEO of AI system maker Blue Radix, reports that growers who have used his Crop Controller system reduce natural gas usage between 13 and 18 per cent in Canada and globally.
modelling, AI systems can also forecast the needs of a crop using large amounts of historic data from greenhouse operation and crop performance.
At this point, Al-Daoud is comfortable saying that growers with AI systems are generally seeing yield increases of 10 to 20 per cent, and in some trials, up to 30 per cent. Growers are also seeing the same or higher yields using fewer inputs, he says. Upfront costs of AI area also recouped with small daily savings in energy use over time. Ronald Hoek, CEO of AI system maker Blue Radix, reports that growers that use his Crop Controller system reduce natural gas usage between 13 and 18 per cent in Canada and globally.
There’s been a shift from ‘What is this technology all about?’ to ‘How do I use it to reap the benefits?’
NOT QUITE READY
For all these benefits however, there is still some hesitancy across the Canadian greenhouse sector about the value of AI.
“Some growers are still not convinced that these systems are worthwhile investing in, even though the technology is relatively well-established and we’re at the stage where there’s optimization happening,” Al-Daoud explains. “The bigger producers with greater investment capacity have been able to adopt, but for the smaller-sized growers, it’s a bigger investment and they need to be sure. Some are still researching.”
Koidra Marketing Manager Andrew Kerber shares similar observations.
“Growers are naturally cautious, preferring to see consistent, proven results before embracing new and emerging technology,” he says. “Additionally, there is an
inherent fear among some growers that AI technology could replace jobs. We’ve been working diligently to address these concerns by making it clear that our technology should be viewed as a support tool.”
At the same time, however, no one can deny that the greenhouse industry is experiencing a serious labour shortage and effective solutions are needed. Kerber points out that AI addresses labour issues
by automating many of the repetitive and time-consuming tasks involved in managing temperature, irrigation and light, freeing up growers to put more time into strategic priorities that drive value for their businesses.
Hoek reports that the Blue Radix Crop Controller AI system reduces computer tasks related to climate control by 80 per cent. “Greenhouse CEOs are also mentioning that they have improved the
ABOVE
As greenhouse operators continue to struggle with labour shortages, AI systems can help by automating many of the repetitive, time-consuming tasks involved in managing temperature and humidity, irrigation and lighting, in order to free up growers.
RIGHT
Tech providers, like Koidra, have worked to offer seamless integration of their products with existing greenhouse systems, while also making AI systems more user-friendly and transparent. This, the company’s Marketing Manager Andrew Kerber says, is to help build trust and confidence in these systems.
work-life balance and general satisfaction of their employees,” he adds.
At Twin Creeks Greenhouse in Watford, Ontario, owner Mike Cornelissen has reported to Hoogendoorn that the main advantage of using its IIVO system “is forecasting our full day temperatures and different climate settings, making those adjustments every five minutes. We know that we can step away from the computer and still see what’s forecasting for the next
hour, two hours, even a couple days out.”
Aside from crop oversight, Kerber explains that in future, AI will be able to assist with many other aspects of greenhouse business operation. “We anticipate that AI will increasingly be used to not just optimize growing conditions,” he says, “but also to manage labour schedules, automate crop registration and perform real-time yield forecasting for future months.”
DATA SECURITY, SYSTEM TRUST
Along with more and better capabilities, Kerber says greenhouse AI tech providers are also addressing concerns surrounding data management. That is, many greenhouse operators have struggled with integrating AI systems in relation to solving compatibility issues with existing software systems, ensuring data loss does not occur and so on. Tech providers have therefore worked to offer seamless integration while also making AI systems more user-friendly.
Some growers are still not convinced that these systems are worthwhile investing in, even though the technology is relatively wellestablished and we’re at the stage where there’s optimization happening.
more comfortable.
On the subject of trust, after trying out the Blue Radix Crop Controller last year, JPI Farms in Leamington is now using it on almost 22 hectares of bell peppers. Owner John Giesbrecht has explained to Blue Radix that after the platform was installed, “I noticed that it gradually became easier for me to let things go and that I gained more and more confidence in the system…For me, Crop Controller has mainly proven
to be a stress reliever. Knowing that you are not alone, that the crop is monitored and that you can trust everything goes as planned, that is the most valuable thing about all of this for me.”
NEW ADVANCES
As mentioned, at this point in greenhouse AI development, oversight is moving beyond the ambient growing environment and into the root zone environment and irrigation. “It’s now
In that vein, “we’ve also improved the transparency of our AI decisionmaking processes,” says Kerber, “which helps build trust among users who may be wary of the ‘black box’ nature of AI.” This means that instead of the AI simply making automatic adjustments and producing recommendations from sensor data, leaving the grower in the dark so to speak, Koidra’s AI demonstrates how and why it’s making specific decisions. This enabling of growers to have insight into system functioning makes handing over control over crop performance (which is obviously directly related to the very survival of a greenhouse business) much
ABOVE
As tech providers continue to optimize their systems for greenhouse production, especially for crops like tomatoes, growers are encouraged to consider trialling the technology to see the benefits for themselves.
more of a complete system,” Al-Daoud explains. “In the past, sensors were placed in the aerial part of greenhouses but now we have moisture sensors being placed in the root zone sending data that the AI can also analyze and model.”
At the same time, he reports that with a “very high level” of experience and knowledge among tech providers, they’ve optimized the technology for the main traditional Canadian crops and it’s now being trialed with newer crops. With others at OMAFA are currently working with scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Harrow Research & Development Centre, the University of Guelph and Koidra, Al-Daoud is testing AI in autonomous berry production as part of the Weston Family Foundation’s Homegrown Innovation Challenge.
Growing environment factors will be examined alongside pH balance and other aspects of irrigation.
TRY IT AND SEE
Al-Daoud urges everyone in the greenhouse sector who has not yet used AI to do a project. “Tech providers really want to work with growers right now, so it’s a great time to trial it and see the benefits for yourself,” he says. “You can read about these systems, but there is nothing like seeing the results firsthand.”
Great Lakes Greenhouses in Leamington, Ont. started trialling Koidra technology several years ago, getting to know how the system works in organic eggplant. The sensor network included infrared sensors to determine plant temperature as research shows
that the ambient air temperature and plant temperature can be very different, and plant temperature is a much better predictor of plant response. Those measurements were combined with net radiometer readings and hundreds of other elements to get a very accurate determination of transpiration and photosynthesis rates. To boost yield, there was a focus on dimming lights with more accuracy on sunny days and making changes to light spectrum, among other crop performance aspects.
More recently, Great Lakes has been focusing on using the system to optimize inputs in mini-cucumbers, explains Mark Reimer, the firm’s R&D development manager. Data is being analyzed right now with expected completion before the end of the year.
‘Blue by You’ May Night
PEAK PERFORMERS: New and notable perennials for 2025
Breeders share their top picks for the Canadian marketplace
BY GABRIELA AGUILERA
As we say goodbye to the warm sunny days and feel the winter blues creeping in, Greenhouse Canada thought it would be the perfect time to reach out to perennial breeders and suppliers to start daydreaming about what will be blooming in the 2025 Canadian marketplace.
Consumers and growers can look forward to more hardy and long-lasting plant materials that will survive Canada’s harsh winters and hot summers making them more convenient and easier to grow.
This year, pink is a popular colour as many breeders and suppliers are having one, if not many, varieties in various shades of the colour in their selections for 2025.
When it comes to perennials in 2025, bigger really is better. They will have larger leaves and flowers, will be taller and wider and will have excellent branching. Look forward to seeing more bulky varieties that will help fill up and cover more surface area in your garden bed.
With more flexibility and easy-to-grow varieties, some of these perennials will require minimal pinching and more care-free when it comes to
keeping an eye on them as they are more disease resistant and tolerant.
Here’s a look at some of the top perennial picks for 2025 you may want to consider making room on your bench for.
Please note: varieties are not presented in any particular order.
PROVEN WINNERS
1. Heliopsis ‘Touch of Blush’ is a compact, long blooming selection with excellent mildew resistance. ‘Touch of Blush’ is well branched leading to a long period of bloom without deadheading. Flowers have multiple rows of petals extending the life of each individual flower, as the flower waits for the bloom to fully open before declining. Each bloom also opens with an orange halo that fades as the flower matures. Variegated foliage is tinged with pink under cool conditions, leading to its namesake ‘Touch of Blush’. This is an easy-to-grow perennial, tolerant of clay soils, heat, benefits pollinators, and has application as a cut or dried flower. Zones 4-9.
2. Heuchera DRESSED UP ‘Prom Dress’ is a
long-lasting foliage perennial with semievergreen characteristics. Large leaves are ruffled and hold their silvery colour the entire season, lending to application in fall or winter containers. Newest leaves have a rosy-purple blush that matches the colour of the leaf undersides and stems. ‘Prom Dress’ has good sun tolerance and can be grown from full sun to full shade, making it highly useful in spaces with tricky light conditions. Zones 4-9.
3. Hibiscus SUMMERIFIC ‘Cookies and Cream’ is Proven Winners’ most compact Hardy Hibiscus to date, presenting with a near-perfect spherical habit at one metre tall and wide. This also represents a breeding breakthrough – ‘Cookies and Cream’ is the first of its kind to match solid white flowers with dark, near black foliage. In the landscape this variety’s compact size grants it the ability to fit into a wider variety of spaces. The small stature also allows growers to turn it in a smaller container. Zones 4-9.
4. Salvia LIVING LARGE ‘Big Sky’ is one of the largest hardy perennial Salvia to enter the market in years at 80cm tall and wide. ‘Big Sky’ supersizes not only the plant, but individual flower and leaf size as well. Good basal branching ensures a long period of bloom. ‘Big Sky’ blooms slightly
after Salvia pratensis hybrids, but before Salvia nemorosa begin their rebloom. Zones 3-8.
5. Schizachyrium PRAIRIE WINDS
‘Brush Strokes’ is a variety that puts the “blue” in Little Bluestem with deep powdery blue foliage. It is an incredibly vigorous selection with a wide skirt of basal foliage. In fall, this plant turns a deep wine-red colour. Use this native perennial grass for its fine texture in summer then leave it standing in fall for winter interest. Zones 3-9.
JELITTO PERENNIAL SEED
6. Allium schoenoprasm ‘Mixed One’ Jelitto’s introduction of their popular ‘Ornamental One’ Chive Series, gardeners added beauty to their herb gardens and mixed containers in sturdy clumps with single colour seed strains. First-year flowering and deliciously edible, this highly ornamental series now includes the ‘Mixed One’, a nice assortment of pink, purple and white flowering plants with consistent medium sized foliage. At 30 cm (12 in) tall in flower and hardy in Zones 3-9, the humble chive is a versatile addition to any garden.
7. Lobelia cardinalis f. albiflora ‘White Cardinal’ like the rare bird, White
Cardinal is a unique form with pure white flowers accented by a touch of pinky-red on the flower tubes. Native to much of North America, the common names Indian Pink, asthma weed and Indian Tobacco reflect the importance of cardinal flower to Native Americans. This perennial grows like its red brother, preferring moist to wet soil. Its flowers, with their deeply hidden nectaries, are an excellent food source for hummingbirds. Jelitto claims that they have taken care of the natural germination inhibition this species uses in its reproductive strategy with their patented Gold Nugget Seed process, designed to make it possible for cold germinators to germinate uniformly within two or four weeks without cold treatment.
8. Oenothera pilosella ‘Yella Fella’ is orange in bud and boasts bright, golden cup-shaped blossoms opening during the day that are lightly scented. Foliage is intensive green with red fall colour, and the stem and leaf undersides are covered with distinct whitish hair. More tolerant of dry conditions than its relatives, ‘Yella Fella’ is first-year flowering from seed. 40 cm/16 in tall. Zone 4-8.
9. Solidago canadensis ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ this is a very dwarf first-year flowering, drought tolerant Solidago.
Meet SELECTOR RZ , the first ever winter type long English cucumber with High Resistance to Powdery Mildew from Rijk Zwaan. It is also has high resistance to CGMMV. The medium length fruits have great shape and are well filled. All of this without being sensitive to low light necrosis. Best planting period is late November through January with no lights. Contact us learn how Selector RZ can add to your cucumber assortment! For more information, contact: Rijk Zwaan Canada | John Devries, Cucumber Crop Specialist | j.devries@rijkzwaan.com RZH Canada Ltd. | Max Saad, Director of Sales | max@rzhcanada.ca www.rijkzwaanusa.com
Bloom time is July-October. 30 cm (12 inches) tall and ideal for Zones 2-9. Great for containers or front of the border.
10. Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Little Red Tanna.’ Beautiful finely scalloped leaves and dark burgundy red pompom flowers characterize Sanguisorba officinalis (Great Burnet). Jelitto’s new dwarf strain reduces the size of the plants from 60 cm (24 in) to 30 cm (12 in), making it perfect for front of the border positioning or container habitat. Known as ‘Di-Yu’ in traditional Chinese medicine, burnet roots have hemostatic properties and are cooling in nature. The attractive young leaves can be eaten raw in salads or added to soups and stews. Together with its attractive blooms, ‘Little Red Tanna’ will be a great addition to your herb garden. Zone 3-8.
11. Heliopsis heliathoides var scabra ‘Bleeding Hearts’ the foliage of Heliopsis ‘Bleeding Hearts’ emerges almost entirely black before settling down to a dark purple. The sturdy stems are black. Excellent for cut flowers. Flowers start out scarlet before maturing to a bright orange-red, and then to lingering washed tones of bronze. Blooms July-October; height with flowers 120 cm (48 inches). Zone 3-9.
TERRA NOVA NURSERIES
12. Echinacea ‘French Tips’ is a neatly groomed variety with smooth, pink petals and white tips, adding a pop of colour to mixed beds and border edges. This variety displays a dense, bushy habit and produces an abundance of flowers, blooming from June through October. ‘French Tips’ thrives
in full sun and is an effective hummingbird and pollinator attractor. This perennial also can perform well in high heat and humidity, making it suitable for warm Canadian summers.
13. Pulmonaria NOVA ‘Cobalt’ makes a dramatic statement in the garden with its vibrant blue flowers. Its thick, leathery foliage is pine-green and repels slugs and snails. ‘Cobalt’ is a very sturdy and hardy plant, performing exceptionally well in shade gardens, mixed beds and woodlands as well as under high-branding shrubs. This variety is quite deer-resistant; many Canadian gardeners have deer pressure, and this is one plant they do not like.
14. Sedum ‘Mocha Magic’ features blue-grey foliage that turns milk chocolate in summer, complemented with dark
chocolate stems and mocha foam flower clusters. ‘Mocha Magic’ has a fast and upright growth habit, presenting robust landscape value in mixed beds, borders, mass plantings, edging and dry gardens. Its high flower count makes it a powerful pollinator attractor. ‘Mocha Magic’ performs well in the Canadian marketplace due to its drought and cold tolerance.
DÜMMEN ORANGE
15. Gaillardia SpinTop Yellow Touch is part of Dümmen Orange’s leading Gaillardia series on the market. It gives you early colour for early sales and keeps flowering all season long so there’s always a draw for consumers. Growers will appreciate the quick crop times and its second season for the fall market. Consumers will love
SpinTop for its exceptional flower colour and tolerance of hot and humid conditions. Plus, its Zone 3 hardy!
16. Leucanthemum Sweet Daisy Birdy is part of Dümmen Orange’s collection of first-year flowering Shasta Daisies that contains an array of distinctive flower forms for any spot in the garden. An All-American Selection winner and standout in the garden, Birdy blooms from spring until frost. Their 12 to 18-week bloom window means a long season of sales and with new blooms emerging at the top, always ensuring a fresh, vibrant landscape and it boasts extreme hardiness through Zone 3.
17. Salvia Noche is late-flowering and will be your go-to season-extending salvias. This first-year flowering variety has
excellent branching from just one pinch, creating a plant covered in medium-blue blooms from spring onward. Its tall, dark spikes are covered with self-cleaning flowers, which leave attractive purple calyxes that event the consumers will admire.
18. Achillea Skysail Yellow features a mass of moderate-sized umbels that cover the entire plant with a bold colour on a strong upright habit. This medium height plant has a very long flowering period in containers and on landscape. It also exhibits very good heat and humidity tolerance for all markets.
19. La Diva Spirit White brings a little something extra in the form of Zone 3 hardiness but is also tolerant of high heat and humidity making it the toughest
lavender variety around. Large brilliant white flowers stand over a mound of greenish blue foliage that really makes this variety shine in any planting. Have colour all summer long in flower beds or containers, use in outdoor spaces that are frequently used to enjoy the wafting scent of lavender on the summer breeze.
THINKPLANTS
20. Helleborus HGC Ice N’ Roses what better to brighten up our winter gardens than a Snow Rose? The HGC Ice N’ Roses Hellebores are an excellent upgrade for your Hellebores program. A more resilient series that is easier to grow and holds up better while bulking through the summer months. Ice N’ Roses have large flowers that face outwards, rather than down,
for increased interest as they bloom from winter to early spring. Sturdy stems and dark, glossy green foliage contrast well with the white, pink, and red blooms and holds year-round for extended garden interest. Very floriferous, Ice N’ Roses have a long bloom time and are available in 27 colours. Increased disease tolerance, disease resistant, low maintenance, and even deer resistant! The perfect addition to any winter program.
21. Echinacea SunMagic Vintage is the perfect series for any premium perennial program. SunMagic have a compact habit and high flower count without any need for pinching or PGRs. They uniquely branch from the base of the plant instead of from the main stem, creating a full, even, and compact finished plant with no extra
work for the grower. The SunMagic series includes 15 vibrant colours to suit any perennial program ranging from traditional colours such as Vintage Lavender, to shockingly bright hues such as Electric Orange or Hot Red. Flowers appear in June and continue to bloom until Autumn. Cold hardy, these eye-catching blooms hold their centers well after frost for increased garden interest all winter long.
22. Coreopsis NOVA Sunstone is the first cold-hardy coreopsis selection from Terra Nova Nurseries with bright pink blooms. Coreopsis are essential to any summer perennial program and nowhere else will you find such vibrant pink Coreopsis blooms on a controlled, compact habit. This pollinator magnet is covered in unusual, pink-toned flowers
Heat Stress
Problem?
with bronze centers from summer into the fall. A vigorous grower, Sunstone quickly fills gallon pots for retail sales but maintains a nice, mounded habit. Deer resistant, powdery mildew resistant and low water requirements make it an excellent addition to any zone 5 garden.
23. Iberis sempervirens Snow Dome is a beautiful new zone 3 hardy Iberis with large, bright white flowers on a sturdy and well-branched habit. Snow Dome lives up to its name by creating a perfect dome of blooms for a high-quality finished appearance. Snow Dome is an excellent upgrade for a premium Iberis, blooming later than Snowsurfer Forte and holding flowers for longer into the season. Snow Dome has the same timing as Snowdrift, but much larger flowers and improved
branching. Iberis is a must have item for any early spring perennial program and can be partnered with other zone 3-4 hardy Syngenta Flowers items.
24. Heliopsis hybrid Punto Rosso / Sole d’Arancia / Sole Giatto a truly compact collection of zone 3 hardy Heliopsis that are perfect for any summer or fall program in Canada. Where most Heliopsis on the market grow up to twometres tall (6 feet), Kientzler’s Heliopsis mature to a compact garden height of only 60cm (two feet)! Dark green foliage contrasts well with their long-lasting, bright blooms and they are even deer resistant! Punto Rosso has beautiful yellow-orange flowers with red centers, and Sole d’Arancia has large, golden yellow blooms perfect for autumn retail. Bred for improved shelf
appeal, these are excellent additions to any fall program. If you are looking for something ultra-compact, try out Sole Giatto. Highly floriferous with semi-double golden-yellow blooms on a compact habit make it perfect for finishing in smaller containers.
SYNGENTA FLOWERS
25. NEW Hunky Dory Delphinium (Delphinium grandiflorum) F1 vigour provides excellent germ and young plant performance, eliminating the need to multi-sow. Its plant habit is ultra branched, filling a wide array of formats with ease and speed. Large blooms create an abundance of colour, flowering uniformly within each variety and across the series, for a speedy and efficient crop.
26. GUATEMALA Papaya Echinacea is the newest member of the Guatemala series, which is all about captivating colour. Guatemala Papaya is turning heads at trials with bright orange blooms that standout in the garden. Guatemala is a high performing, URC series that flowers in weeks 22 to 24, then provides long-lasting bloom power for the home gardener. This first-year flowering perennial requires no vernalization or bulking and is recommended for Zones 4-9.
27. SANDGEM Delosperma Series is an outstanding perennial performer, bringing bright colour to the landscape, hanging baskets and patio pots. Sandgem features a semi-trailing habit with large blooms in six colours including fuchsia, white, yellow, dark orange, ember and gold. The series is first-year flowering with no vernalization required. Zones 4-9.
28. SOLANNA Sunset
Bright Coreopsis SOL are a wellbranched, long-blooming perennial series that is first-year flowering without the need for vernalization or bulking. New for 2025, Solanna Sunset Bright features sunny golden flowers with a large, red ring and enhanced tolerance to powdery mildew. This stunning coreopsis remains upright in the garden and is a favorite of pollinators. Zones 5-10.
29. FIRST FLUSH GRACE Iberis is an early flowering series that brings an abundance of dainty, light lavender blooms to the spring garden. It’s low mounding habit means First Flush is a must-have for front borders, it is also a wonderful ground cover. This series does not require
vernalization, offering flexibility for the grower. Zones 4-9.
30. Pink Nebula Salvia provides outof-this-world performance in the garden, with colourful blooms that cover the plant all summer long. These early and uniform salvia nemorosa are first year flowering and don’t require vernalization or bulking. The collection features excellent rebloom for season-long colour, with sturdy stems and strong radial branching. Pink Nebula brings striking, rosy-pink colour that will turn heads at retail. This new selection is similar in habit and performance to Danziger’s popular Dark Matter salvia. Zones 4-9.
DARWIN PERENNIALS/BALL
31. Echinacea Sombrero Mandarin
Mambo the Sombrero series of Echinacea offers bold colour and hardy garden performance. New Mandarin Mambo is a bright orange hue that matures to a lovely peach. Plants are well-branched on sturdy stems and highly floriferous for next-level flower coverage. Sombrero is frost-to-frost colour with years of enjoyment in zone 5 perennial gardens. They are also drought resistant when established in the landscape. An added bonus: The spent blooms’ seed heads feed foraging songbirds bringing more activity to your garden designs.
32. Phlox Spring Splash is a woodland phlox that grows in a nice, low, mounded habit. It makes an ideal border plant in perennial gardens (hardy to zone 4a). The colours are high impact for early-season enjoyment: lilac, pink, or violet. Plants are tidy and the foliage offers soft texture to mixed landscapes.
33. Veronica Skyward Lilac offers a high flower count on a dense, upright
habit and boasts continuous blooming. Its durability ensures plants grow without breakage on sturdy stems that resist falling open. This variety is available in pink and blue, is pollinator friendly and powdery mildew resistant for landscape success with a hardiness to zone 4b.
34. Agastache Summerlong is an ideal pollinator plant for the landscape because it flowers early and lasts all summer long. The foliage has a soft mint fragrance that is resistant to deer and the plants are heat and drought-tolerant as well. It is an easycare choice from last frost to first frost. Summerlong grows in a dense mound in bright colours: Magenta, Coral, Lemon, Peach, and Lilac. When planted together they’re like a sorbet rainbow in your garden design.
35. Buddleia Chrysalis Steel Blue is a compact butterfly bush series was bred and selected for its profusion of flowers that attract butterflies. Gardeners will enjoy continuous blooming from spring through late summer. Plants are root hardy to zone 5 and stem hardy in warmer locations. Its smaller habit makes it perfect for smaller spaces or as low-growing borders. Steel Blue has a silver-blue tone to its blooms, capturing the light and giving the plants a shimmering glow.
36. Saxifraga Marto with its long bloom window, this Saxifraga x arendsii will give you masses of flowers from March through June. Its higher cold tolerance means plants are more forgiving with unpredictable spring frosts. The Marto series is hardy to zone 4a and is available in Red, Rose, Hot Rose, and Red Picotee.
All photos are courtesy the variety’s respective breeder or supplier.
Beyond our sandbox
Every day in my role at the Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN), I connect to a vast space I will call the “greenhouse-related technology sandbox”. The breadth of new greenhouse-related technologies under development is staggering! I have become aware of amazing technologies being discussed and developed at every level of the greenhouse value chain, as well as technologies (like digital) that will (one day) provide solutions for multiple levels.
As Project Manager of the GTN, I routinely get inquiries about funding and how our members can support development, testing, and validation of greenhouse-related technologies for Ontario small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). I also get a number of requests for information not directly related to the market I know best. “Can you connect with me with a grower in [province other than Ontario]?” “Do you know a researcher or centre working on a solution for [industry challenge]?” “What funding agency in [X province] can help me invest in a greenhouse retrofit/expansion/upgrade?” “Who has greenhouse space and is willing to help me run a greenhouse trial for my technology?”
Helping someone find the appropriate resources for their innovation challenge takes an investment of time, of course, but it’s part of what we do at GTN to support innovation in the industry—and I learn something from every discussion. If I did not choose to make an introduction, a new connection would be delayed, and an important conversation might never occur. Would that impede innovation for our
Niagara region will require parties to focus on “emergent fusions of industries that transcend sectors”. Niagara region is already known for bringing industries together. Who among us has not been on a Niagara wine tour where tourism and agriculture blend seamlessly? Windsor-Essex is also capitalizing on the idea, building capacity and creating synergies with events that create and support connections between agriculture and manufacturing. While boundaries are sometimes useful, we tend to grow and generate new alliances if we go past traditional boundaries and out of our sandbox.
Second, “The 360 Newsletter” by David Arkell, an energy industry thought leader and expert in carbon and energy solutions (including greenhouse industry solutions), suggests we must work across supplychain levels. In his Sept. 13, 2024, issue, David argues that the big changes we need for the future will not be addressed by one level of a supply chain or by one organization alone. Instead, solutions that work will require the involvement of consumers and require that utility firms work collaboratively with manufacturing firms and government organizations to create solutions. Out of the sandbox again!
I never dreamed that we might grow insulation for buildings inside a greenhouse, use greenhouses as “spas” for disease-threatened crops, or produce indoor crops without the use of plastic. What’s next in our greenhouse-related technology future?
“There are opportunities to work beyond traditional boundaries.”
industry? From where I sit, the answer is yes.
Business researchers describe “open innovation” as occurring when organizations look beyond their boundaries for information, resources, and solutions. Based on my experience, there are opportunities to increasingly work beyond traditional boundaries, for example, beyond the agriculture and agrifood sector.
Two items captured my attention recently. Each reminded me of the importance of sharing knowledge and connections with each other and why we should reach out beyond our own greenhouse industry sandbox for ideas, for connections, and for technology solutions.
First, Charles Conteh, PhD, at Brock University (St Catharines Standard, Aug. 21, 2024) suggests continued growth of agribusiness sector in the
Limiting connections and knowledge will not support the complex technology solutions we need for a sustainable, profitable, and resilient greenhouse industry. In fact, we stall the open innovation process if we do not hold space to engage with other industries, regions, or ecosystems. We limit our solution set if we do not connect and share beyond our sandbox.
Researcher Rita McGrath has said great ideas can be found where snow melts, at the edges. Let’s continue to invest time and effort and go beyond our sandbox, to where the snow is melting, and recognize that tomorrow’s technology solutions will involve increased collaboration from open innovation.
If your business would like to develop, test, or implement greenhouse applicable technologies by accessing state-of-the-art equipment, tools, services and expertise, the GTN is here to help. Contact Rita at rsterne@niagaracollege.ca or visit the GTN website at greenhousetechnetwork.ca.
Ghosts in the machines
Cybersecurity for greenhouse growers
BY J. LYNN FRASER
What you can’t see can hurt your business. The Canadian government defines cybercrime as “criminal activity that targets a computer, a computer network, or a networked device for profit” 4. It is considered “the number one cyber threat activity affecting Canadians.” Of concern are “the state-sponsored cyber programs of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea,” a report from Canadian Centre for Cyber Security in 2022, maintains. It is important for growers to remember that critical infrastructure in Canada is “a prime target for both cybercriminals and state-sponsored actors alike” and this includes agriculture 1 Agriculture is adopting autonomous agriculture (AA). AA’s technologies could make agriculture vulnerable to “espionage, fraud, extortion and sabotage.” 1 Threats specific to agriculture include ransomware, phishing, data manipulation, supply chain disruption, food prices, and theft of confidential information 6. Examples of food and agriculture-related companies affected by cybercrime include JFC International (2021), Loaves and Fishes (2020), and Homechef (2020).6
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The FBI has reported that the agricultural sector is vulnerable because of the importance of the seasons to farmers and growers, i.e., the time pressure around “key seasons” gives cyberthreats as an additional threat.2
Vendors’ and clients’ networks are susceptible to cybercrime as are smart cities, precision agriculture, sensors, automation, and databases in all sectors. 1 Confidence in food security, social stability, policing systems and government both domestic and international are questioned if business and citizens do not feel protected 6. Consequently, proper cybersecurity benefits everyone.
HERE THERE BE MONSTERS
Ancient maps marked off areas dangerous for mariners with the warning: ‘Here there be monsters’. In cybercrime, unseen monsters lurk in business networks and the Internet behind seemingly ordinary emails, files waiting to be opened, and in the naive handling of devices like laptops and cell phones. Predators are submerged
According to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, critical agricultural infrastructure is considered a ‘prime target’ for cybercriminals and ‘state-sponsored’ actors.
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As greenhouses become reliant on autonomous systems, operations may become more vulnerable to ransomware, phishing, and data theft, amongst other threats.
total cost suffered that includes “Lost value associated with downtime or unrecoverable data, costs of repairing systems, and reputational damage”1 in addition to paying for consultants, time taken to inform partners and clients with possible compensation for their losses, insurance costs, dealing with police or RCMP, and stress.
A BUSINESS IS NOT AN ISLAND
“Growers don’t know the questions to ask to be cybersecure,” observes Gary Jones, MSc., PAg., FCIHort., Program Manager, Industry Development, BC Greenhouse Growers Association. “In the greenhouse industry it is easy to get carried away with razzmatazz and technology.”
‘Growers don’t know the questions to ask to be cybersecure.’
in the invitations to open links in emails as well as in requests to share business and personal information. Ransomware is one of “the most disruptive form[s] of cybercrime facing Canada” with the ability to have a “serious impact” on businesses. 4 It has “both financial and physical impacts” on businesses and their supply chains. Cybercriminals can exfiltrate files with the threat to leak data to the public if the ransom is not paid. A business’s partners or clients may also be threatened by a distributed denial of service. Paying a ransom does not mean the organization will receive their files or access back as the files could be deleted and at a later date an organization could be re-targeted through a ‘back door’ into its system.4
Malware can be spread through a vendor’s updates and services, and cyber threat actors can introduce vulnerabilities into the vendor’s clients’ networks. Research has found that “only 42% of organizations who paid the ransom had their data completely restored.” The money returned does not compensate for the
The human element in a business is a security vulnerability. Research findings indicate that “cyber threat actors will very likely continue to exploit hybrid work infrastructure and target employees’ home networks and personal devices to gain access to Canadian organizations.”1 Growers should be wary of suspicious emails and other communications that might use phishing, i.e., “Personal data is used to customize messages to better fool recipients.”4 A tailored version is spear-phishing that is customized by cyber threat agents to “Personally tailor messages to more precisely selected sets of recipients to improve their chance of success.”4
Today, according to Shane Morganstein, Cybersecurity Associate with Borden Ladner Gervais, phishing emails are sophisticated in their language and presentation. They are no longer characterized by broken English, bad spelling and grammar. They use “large language models” applied using AI. The cyber threat actors sending phishing emails may pretend to be an individual within the organization targeted.
Whaling is refined phishing: “a highly customized spear-
PHOTO
BIG BASIL TASTE…
IF YOU ARE SHIPWRECKED
A grower’s lifeboat is a disaster recovery plan. It is a map to guide “what systems to restore in what order and is an offline list of key vendors to contact.”5 It is wise to have an “air gapped” secondary back-up system, i.e., a backup system physically separate from the business’s network. 5 Even a tertiary system is warranted. Security should be “multilayered” with “firewalls, antivirus, anti-malware, intrusion detection, multifactored authentication, and security training.”5. Accompanying this should be a list, not online, of data and software (production and sales) as well as a copy of all “historical financial data.” It is also important to have business interruption as well as cyber insurance.
“The challenge is to keep up with the pace of change. A leader has to recognize their limitations and build a team that recognizes the challenges,” Jones says. Thus, a business’s cyber navigator should be advising before, during, and after a cyberattack. Morganstein is one such expert who understands the “mental models” used by cyber threat actors. The experts he brings to deal with a cybersecurity incident,
as a breach coach, include forensic investigators, communication support, cyber threat actor negotiators, and data discovery analysts.
Morganstein notes that businesses are expected “to have reasonable security safeguards” protecting their data. What is considered reasonable is “context specific and depends on the organization and the sensitivity of the data in question.” What the remediation measures may be for a company affected by another’s cyber incursion will be affected by an agreement among the involved companies.
Morganstein comments that threat actors have two motivations: (i) For the vast majority it is financial; (ii) For a small number it is social or political. Morganstein believes that due to instability this will increase. Thus, incursions on the food supply chain, such as through commercial greenhouses, will likely increase.
In Canada the visible annual costs of cybercrime reached an estimated US$3.82 billion (CAD $5.3 billion) as of 2023.8. Morganstein notes “Organizations are prepared for cybercrime—but not enough.”
SOURCES
1. CCCS (Canadian Centre for Cyber Security) (2022), National cyber threat assessment 2023-2024, https://www.cyber.gc.ca/sites/ default/files/ncta-2023-24-web.pdf
2. Cox, J. (2022), ‘Agriculture industry on alert after string of cyber attacks,’ The Bakersfield Californian reprinted in Government Technology , https://www.govtech. com/security/agriculture-industryon-alert-after-string-of-cyberattacks
3. Doyle, A. (2018), 16 ways to keep attendee data safe, Northstar Meetings Group, https://www. northstarmeetingsgroup.com/ Planning-Tips-and-Trends/EventPlanning/Event-Technology/KeepAttendee-Data-Safe-CybercrimeMeetings
5. Sparks, B.D. (2024), ‘Why your greenhouse might be at risk of a cyberattack,’ Greenhouse Grower, https://www.greenhousegrower. com/management/why-yourgreenhouse-might-be-at-risk-of-acyberattack/
6. Tripwire (2024), The need for cybersecurity in agriculture, https://www.tripwire.com/stateof-security/need-cybersecurityagriculture#:~:text=Global%20 cyberattacks%20pose%20a%20 severe,from%20local%20to%20 international%20levels.
7. UC Davis Health (2024), Cyber security, accessed on Oct. 2, 2024, https://health.ucdavis.edu/ cybersecurity/learning-center/ conference-cybersafety-tip
8. Petrosyan, A. (2024), Annual cost of cybercrime in Canada 2017-2028, https://www. statista.com/forecasts/1457244/ canada-cybercrime-costannual#:~:text=Cybercrime%20 costs%20in%20Canada%20 reached,U.S.%20dollars%20as%20 of%202023.
Celebrating four decades of advocacy and fellowship
Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association gathers to mark milestone at annual meet-and-greet
BY MICHIEL VERHEUL
Earlier this fall, the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association (AGGA) celebrated more than 40 years of educating and representing greenhouse growers from across the western province.
The association’s annual meet-and-greet event was held in mid-September in Medicine Hat and Redcliff, located in the southeast portion of the province. The group, made up of 37 growers from across Alberta, travelled to the area to tour a number of local operations and learn about the history of the industry. Stops included the Red Hat Co-op, Big Marble Farms, Bevo Farms and Chinook Greenhouses.
This area was developed in the early 1900s when natural gas was discovered. The city of
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From left:
Medicine Hat owns the gas and distributed it to consumers at a low rate. This drew, and continues to draw industry, including greenhouses. This is an area of the province that is ‘desert-like’ with some of the best light quality in the world, making it very attractive for growing vegetables and ornamentals. The weather is also much milder than the rest of the province due to a phenomenon called “chinooks.” This warm jetstream can turn freezing cold into above-seasonal temperatures in a short amount of time. Summers are much longer and more intense here.
In the early 1960s, a cooperative was started where growers could ship vegetables (mostly cucumbers and tomatoes) to a packing house
Nadine Stielow (Thiels Greenhouses), Christie Pollack (Christie’s Garden) and Debbie Foisy (Deb’ s Greenhouse) proudly pose with some of Bug Marble Farms’ new sparkling cucumber drink.
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Marble Farms in Medicine Hat is one of the largest greenhouse vegetable producers in Alberta.
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Growers from across Alberta gathered recently in Medicine Hat to tour a number of local greenhouse facilities.
where they would be graded and sold. It’s called Red Hat Coop. Jump forward 60 years and the concept still works, It now includes eggplant, okra lettuce and many types of cucumbers and tomatoes and more. More recently, a large grower has absorbed the Red Hat Co-op into their product line called Big Marble Farms and completed the Alberta wide marketing brand with a partnership with Pik and Pak, a packing co-op in the Lacombe (central Alberta) area.
Next year’s meet-and-greet is expected to travel to the Calgary area.
GET TO KNOW THE AGGA
As the 4th largest greenhouse growers’ association in the country, the AGGA proudly counts ornamental and vegetable growers, grower/retailers, as well as tree seedling and cannabis growers amongst its membership. This group encompasses approximately 565 acres of greenhouse space with yearly farm gate sales upwards of $400 million (CAD). The Alberta sector supports
Big
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Every year, members of the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association (AGGA) gather to touch base and tour operations across the province.
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The ‘desert-like’ conditions in and around Medicine Hat boasts some of the best light quality in the world, making it very attractive for growers.
3,500 full-time and 1,500 part-time employees.
The AGGA board consists of a wonderful group of volunteers that are able to give their time freely because there are great people at the home front making sure that things continue to roll smoothly.
The group meets five times per year including their AGM. These happen virtually and one time a year they meet in person. We have an active hand in research projects across the province and long-time board member, Dr Mohyuddin Mirza, keeps the group up-to-date on any project.
During each AGGA board meeting, the group discusses the challenges and tribulations of our industry, and also takes time to celebrate its successes.
Topics of concern are labour. Just like any group in the world we find
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Abundance and affordability of natural gas in Medicine Hat, Alta. is a boon for local business.
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Seedlings at one of the stops during AGGA’s annual meet-and-greet event in Medicine Hat.
ourselves in a labour crunch. We are greatly dependent on foreign labour. The Canadian government currently has a good foreign worker program that most of us use in all sectors of Canadian horticulture. Most are from countries, like Mexico, Jamaica, Philippines, Thailand, Trinidad and others. This program is under continued pressure and as an industry, we find ourselves fighting to maintain this essential program.
Another concern is the pricing and availability of energy and the constant pressure to reduce electricity and natural gas, switching to alternative sources. In a province with a lot of natural resources, it’s a struggle to find common ground.
GISC
These meetings also provide an opportunity to discuss our annual
convention. The Green Industry Show and Conference (GISC) is organized and hosted in co-operation with the landscape industry: a relationship that works well and represents the Alberta green industry. In addition to a bustling tradeshow floor and a full schedule of education sessions, the AGGA also hosts an awards night and dinner. This year, the event will be held in Red Deer, Alta., on November 19, 20 and 21, 2024.
There are other current issues at each AGGA meeting, but this gives you a bit more of an inside the Alberta greenhouse industry. Check out our website www. agga.ca
Michiel Verheul is the head grower at High Q Greenhouses in Sturgeon County, Alta. He is also the president of the Alberta Greenhouse Growers’ Association. He can be reached at mverheul@highqgreenhouses.com
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COVER PHOTO C NTEST
November
International Floriculture Trade Fair (IFTF)
Nov. 5 – 7
Vijfhuizen, the Netherlands
Hort East
Nov. 12 - 14
Moncton, New Brunswick
Fall Harvest 2024
Nov. 18 – 20
Parliament Hill, Ottawa
Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit
Nov. 19 – 21
Singapore
Sawaya Gardens Poinsettia Open House
Nov. 19
Waterford, Ontario
GrowTech
Nov. 20 - 23
Antalya,Turkey
Green Industry Show & Conference Nov. 20 - 21
Red Deer, Alberta
Annual FCO AGM
Nov. 27
St. Catharines, Ontario
December
MJBizCon
Dec. 3 – 6
Las Vegas, Nevada
Great Lakes Expo Dec. 10-12
Grand Rapids, Michigan
January 2025
IPM Essen
Jan. 28 – 31
Essen, Germany
INSIDE VIEW
Green tech: Opportunity or threat?
In June, just after this year’s ‘GreenTech’ exhibition and conference in Amsterdam, Mariska Dreschler, (Director of Horticulture, GreenTech Global) said that: ”The horticulture industry is experiencing a mix of challenges and opportunities. The positive energy on the show floor was visible, with numerous new products launched.” … “Key discussion topics included AI, data, labor solutions, LED technology, and water/energy efficiency.” Among the new tech, there was “a wealth of machinery, robots, drones, and more.”1
Elsewhere, HortiDaily reported their “10 Takeaways from GreenTech 2024” including:
“Sensors and AI Computer vision recognition and artificial intelligence are increasingly being integrated into various technologies, improving crop condition monitoring, using light, CO2, energy, harvest predictions, and data management.”
“Automating with autonomous robots, or reducing labor? Greenhouse “robots are not only available, but also offer an acceptable return on investment (ROI). Human labor remains necessary to achieve 100% task completion.”
“LEDs
“It’s not all a bed of high-tech roses. Or peppers.”
“Dynamic, dimmable, steerable. … new introductions also include sensors, steering, and control applications.”… “Think not only of far-red light but also of dynamic spectra, UV, and lights that activate white light when an employee walks down a path.”
“Investing in CEA?
“… starting from Q4 and continuing into the next year, the North American market for new [CEA] construction is expected to pick up again, according to various suppliers.”2
But it’s not all a bed of high-tech roses. Or peppers. Some companies investing in new tech for the greenhouse sector are struggling and giving up. “… several AI players have already backed out, as it remains difficult to make AI applicable in horticulture and big investments do not guarantee big successes. Data collection is not the problem; standardizing and collecting useful data is one of the key challenges.”2 So, making the technology work in our sector is seemingly not that easy. Then there are bigger questions…
I’ve been wondering about the data side of it. It has been asked before: ‘who owns the data that these A.I. and robotic systems collect?’ Robots and
autonomous systems need to learn. Which means someone has to teach them. Or at least provide them the means to learn. Which means providing their staple diet: data. It is therefore apparent that greenhouse data – your data – is a valuable commodity to the AI companies. But who owns it? How secure is it? Is the technology making our businesses more vulnerable? And there is another aspect to this. I was chatting with a grower recently who said that insurance companies are pondering where the liability lies if your autonomous growing system goes wrong. Is it yours as the user or client, or does it lie with the tech company who provided the robot? And I wonder, with sentient robots seemingly guaranteed in the near future, will it then just be the robot which/who is at fault and liable? If so, how will it pay, assuming it won’t have a bank account?
Which brings me back to the “mix of challenges and opportunities” mentioned earlier. I think we’ll all probably just grow to accept this new technology as opportunity. Just like the majority of people now embrace smart phones, and it’s simply ‘expected’ that you’ll use it in so many facets of everyday life. One of my local family-owned coffee shops recently introduced robot ‘servers’ in two of its locations. One of them is known (affectionately?) as ‘Beany’. Place your order, find a table, and the (human) server preps your goodies behind the counter, sets them on Beany’s ‘arms’, ‘who’(?) then trundles around the tables and obstacles in the café to where you’re sitting, and patiently grins until you take your treats and tap its screen ‘face’ to say ‘Thank you’.
My first experience a few weeks ago was quite unnerving. I found it just weird, and uncomfortable. But after less than a handful of times of being served this way, it’s now kind of ‘normal’. Well, as normal as it gets having a relationship with a benevolent Dalek bringing me my coffee. But now I’m reflecting about the challenges, and whose fault it is if the robot spills the drinks. Oh. Gotta go – here comes Beany.
1. Arlette Sijmonsma, HortiDaily.com 20 June 2024
2. “10 Takeaways from GreenTech 2024”, HortiDaily, 14 Jun 2024
Gary Jones sits on several greenhouse industry committees in BC and welcomes comments at greenhousewolf@gmail.com.
