GH - September 2025

Cuke case study

Exploring causes and solutions for wilted cucumbers | 18

Robot buzz

The future of greenhouse pollination | 26

2025 CGC

Sneak peek at the upcoming Canadian Greennouse Conference | 37

SEPTEMBER 2025

PARVISPINUS UPDATE

greenhousecanada.com

18

CONTENTS

September 2025

Vol.45, Issue 7

26

Case Study

Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza explores possible causes and solutions for greenhouse cucumber wilt.

READ MORE on Page 18 Editorial

4

Industry News

6

Thrips Update

8

New Products

16

Wilted Cukes?

18

Events

61

Inside View

62

48

26 37 Robot buzz

ON THE COVER Thrips Parvispinus on mandevilla. Read an update on managing this pest on Page 8.

Photo by Dr. Sarah Jandricic.

Exploring the possible future of greenhouse pollinators.

BY J LYNN FRASER

48

CGC preview

Grower Day ’25

BY CANADIAN GREENHOUSE CONFERENCE

BY GREENHOUSE CANADA

A glimpse of the speaker program and events planned for CGC ‘25.

Photo report on this milestone anniversary event.

September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 3

GREENHOUSE CANADA is the only national business magazine published exclusively for the commercial greenhouse grower in Canada.

FROM THE EDITOR

AMY KOUNIAKIS | @GreenHouseCan

September 2025 - Volume 45, No. 7

Holding the line against pests and pathogens As someone looking in from the outside, I find the ability to control and steer an indoor environment to produce acres of healthy plants absolutely mind blowing.

It’s hard to imagine how easily that control can slip when an unwanted pest or pathogen enters that space and starts eating into profits.

Getting out ahead of these challenges is the best strategy, but what happens when a new threat arises? Crop losses can be catastrophic. Such was the case when several years ago Thrips parvispinus came on the scene. Since then, researchers and growers have been working to find ways to get out ahead of this pest and making sure and steady headway. One of the researchers working tirelessly to address the challenges T. Parv poses is Dr. Sarah Jandricic, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness’ (OMAFA) greenhouse floriculture pest specialist.

Jandricic’s research and insights into this emerging pest is widely sought and cited and this month, she lends her

a tool that could help address labour shortages and improve crop quality in the greenhouse.

Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza also tackles another issue that can be a profit-killer for growers in this issue: cucumber wilt.

Drawing on a case he investigated on behalf of a grower, he explores possible causes and solutions for this common issue on Page 18.

If it’s solutions and insights into common grower concerns you’re looking for, be sure to check out this year’s Canadian Greenhouse Conference next month in Niagara Falls. Renowned experts from across the globe will be in attendance to discuss all manner of grower issues; from waste management and sustainability to dynamic lighting and vertical farming, check out what is planned in the event preview that starts on Page 37.

The Conference comes on the heels of Greenhouse Canada’s recent 30th annual Grower Day event where more than 250 industry professionals gathered for an intimate

‘Getting out ahead of these challenges is the best strategy.’ expertise to a feature updating us about the status of managing Parvispinus. Find out if we’re ‘there yet’ in terms of control without chemicals on Page 8.

On the opposite end of the insect spectrum, we have our beneficials in the greenhouse like our pest predators and pollinators but as is well known, some aren’t exactly reliable in a closed environment. Canadian researchers, however, are looking in to how robot pollinators might be able to supply a longer-term solution for growers. Read up on Page 26 how researchers at the University of Windsor are developing 4 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

day of fellowship and knowledgesharing. It was a packed house and a lively discussion on pest and disease management strategies, not to mention an unforgettable lunch spread. See some of the highlights from this milestone event on Page 48.

As always, our renowned columnist Gary Jones rounds out this issue with a thought provoking piece on teaching old dogs new tricks (literally!) and how they might be a useful ally in the battle against fusarium and other diseases. Cat lovers may want to consider weighing in afterwards.

Reader Service Print and digital subscription inquiries or changes, please contact Angelita Potal, Customer Service Tel: 416-510-5113 Email: apotal@annexbusinessmedia.com Mail: 111 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 400, Toronto, ON M2H 3R1 Editor AMY KOUNIAKIS akouniakis@annexbusinessmedia.com 519.429.5203 Publisher NASHELLE BARSKY nbarsky@annexbusinessmedia.com 905.431.8892 Account Coordinator KATHRYN NYENHUIS knyenhuis@annexbusinessmedia.com 416.510.6753 Audience Development Manager SHAWN ARUL sarul@annexbusinessmedia.com 416.510.5181 Group Publisher MICHELLE BERTHOLET mbertholet@annexbusinessmedia.com CEO SCOTT JAMIESON sjamieson@annexbusinessmedia.com Media Designer JAIME RATCLIFFE Publication Mail Agreement #40065710 Printed in Canada ISSN 0712-4996 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Canada - 1 Year $39.78; Single $6.00 (plus applicable taxes) U.S.A. - 1 Year $90.78 USD Annex Privacy Officer Privacy@annexbusinessmedia.com Tel: 800-668-2374 GST - #867172652RT0001 Occasionally, Greenhouse Canada will mail information on behalf of industry-related groups whose products and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive this information, please contact our circulation department in any of the four ways listed above.

No part of the editorial content of this publication may be reprinted without the publisher’s written permission. ©2025 Annex Business Media. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher. No liability is assumed for errors or omissions.

All advertising is subject to the publisher’s approval. Such approval does not imply any endorsement of the products or services advertised.

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INDUSTRY NEWS greenhousecanada.com

North American produce leaders call for tariff truce The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) and the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), alongside more than a dozen other industry representatives, have jointly urged the leaders of the United States, Mexico, and Canada to swiftly resolve the ongoing tariff dispute currently disrupting North American supply chains.

According to a recent press release, the group sent a letter addressed to U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Prime Minister Mark Carney underscoring the ‘deeply integrated’ nature of the North American produce supply chain.

“Tariffs on these vital goods disrupt that balance— driving up grocery costs, reducing availability, and placing significant strain on the businesses that grow, ship, and

deliver our food,” said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns.

In early August, the U.S. hit Canada with a 35 per cent tariff on goods not compliant with the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement on trade, known as CUSMA, while Mexico was granted a 90-day reprieve on the tax.

CUSMA is scheduled for review next year.

“Canada’s industry is inextricably linked with our trading partners; any disruption directly impacts our growers, supply chains, and ultimately, consumer access and affordability,” said Ron Lemaire, CPMA president.

“We stand with our domestic and global colleagues in demanding that leaders prioritize swift and collaborative resolution to safeguard the continental supply of fresh produce.”

Source: CPMA, IFPA

Nature Fresh welcomes Josianne Légaré as SVP, North America Sales and Strategic Growth Nature Fresh Farms has announced the appointment of Josianne Légaré as their new Senior Vice President, North American Sales and Strategic Growth.

In a recent press release, Nature Fresh touted the fact that Légaréa brings more than two decades

of commercial leadership experience to her new role, much of it working with leading North American retailers.

“We are deeply committed to being a true partner that delivers on our promises and helps customers achieve their category objectives,” said

Koppert opens first Canadian production facility Koppert Canada has opened its very first Canadian production facility in Leamington, ON. In a recent press release, the company said the operation, which has been up and running for several months, is dedicated to producing Natupol Hives, which are commonly used in greenhouses to support Bombus impatiens populations (bumblebees).

“The facility is designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating energy efficient systems, reduced waste practices and providing close to market accessibility,” the company said in the release.

Source: Koppert Canada 6 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

Patrick Criteser, Nature Fresh CEO in the release.

“This [appointment] builds directly on the strong foundation of trust, performance, and collaboration we’ve established over the years.”

In recent years, Légaréa worked as Chief

Commercial Officer for Baxters North America, and before that, nearly two decades with Quebecbased Lassonde where she served as the food and beverage company’s SVP of U.S. sales, among other senior roles in her time there.

Source: Nature Fresh Farms

BY THE NUMBERS

Labour Force Survey, July 2025; Statistics Canada

Employment fell by 41,000 (-0.2%) in July Unemployment rate as of July:

6.9% Hourly wages among employees increased by 3.3 % year-over-year

IMAGES AND GRAPHS COURTESY SARAH JANDRICIC

Are we there yet?

Navigating the road to Parvispinus control without chemicals

BY SARAH JANDRICIC, GREENHOUSE FLORICULTURE IPM SPECIALIST, OMAFA

Last year around this time, Judy Colley (Plant Products) and I summarized the latest research on controlling Thrips parvipsinus without conventional chemicals. Although we still don’t have biocontrol programs that are ready to be implemented, researchers in Ontario, Florida and Europe are getting closer to some answers. Or, at least, to a place where we can reduce the number of sprays needed.

DO ANY NATURAL ENEMIES LOOK PROMISING? First, the bad news.

Although predatory mites in the family Phytoseiidae form the backbone of biocontrol programs for western flower thrips, they are unlikely to be the main player for Parvispinus control, for a

few reasons. Although some lab studies have shown promise with Amblyseius degenerans, A. swirskii or Amblydromalus limonicus, these have yet to be proven effective in cage and greenhouse trials. Cage trials using whole plants are incredibly important, as tropical plants, with their broad, waxy leaves, represent a different environment than we usually use mites on.

In cage trials in Europe, and in greenhouse trials done by OMAFA, Biobee and Plant Products, investigators were not able to recover mites after repeated releases on mandevilla or anthurium, even when supplementary food was supplied, or the release method was varied (broadcast versus sachets).

The only Phytoseiid product that’s shown results in cage trials is sachets of Transeius montdorensis, a

ABOVE Close-up of an anystis baccarum consuming a Thrips parvsipinus larva.

8 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

may also be economical on less preferred hosts of Parvispinus, where damage is lower.

Similar issues exist for large predators like Orius insidiosus and Anystis bacarrum (pictured on the previous page). These species ate far more than Phytoseiid mites in lab trials by Dr. Alexandra Revynthi’s lab at the University of Florida (U of F), and also showed promise in commercial trials in Ontario. However, cost is still a concern, especially since weekly releases of Orius are needed in ornamental crops without

“Foil mite sachets designed for use in cannabis are cost-effective enough to use for western flower thrips in hanging baskets and other hardto-manage crops.”

species of predatory mite that’s not likely to become available in Canada.

Also consider the high cost of these mites compared to Neoseiulus cucumeris and the large surface area of the main hosts of Parvispinus (i.e. mandevilla, anthurium, schefflera and hibiscus), and Phytoseiid mites don’t look like an economical solution. However, the biocontrol industry does have a history of rising to the occasion if a product looks promising. For example, foil mite sachets designed for use in cannabis are now cost-effective enough to use for western flower thrips in hanging baskets and other hard-to-manage crops.

A product or cost-savings program may yet be developed for use in tropicals, if the mites can prove themselves useful. Mites

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September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 9 2025-08-11 3:08 PM

ABOVE Figure 2. On-farm trials demonstrating how applications of Lalguard M52 and Anystis were able to dramatically reduce an outbreak of Thrips parvispinus. Anystis is considered more compatible with microbial pesticides than other large biocontrol agents.

pollen and during colder months, when Orius go into reproductive diapause.

A solution to this would be to “front-load” predators in

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propagation to reduce costs, since the area is smaller. In 2024, OMAFA and Biobee Canada ran a trial using Orius, green lacewing and Dalotia coriaria for Parvispinus control in mandevilla propagation at a commercial greenhouse. Unfortunately, we didn’t recover a single natural enemy over six weeks. This may have been due to several factors, including high propagation temperatures (often >35°C in tropicals) and the pesticide residues in the cuttings, including DynoMite (pyridiben), Talstar (bifenthrin) and Scimitar (lamda-cyhalothrin) – a pyrethroid insecticide.

Given that a year-long biocontrol program for Parvispinus in Ontario using weekly releases of Orius in anthuriums also failed due to suspected pesticide residues, this is going to be a huge challenge in developing reliable biocontrol programs for this pest.

MICROBIALS TO THE RESCUE? One strategy that is looking promising is the use of microbial biocontrol agents – both nematodes and fungi. Using these in concert with conventional chemicals to reduce pesticide sprays could be a good place to start.

Research from U of F showed a 60 per cent reduction in emerging Parvispinus when nematodes were added to the soil.

This test was done on whole plants in research greenhouse trials, which gives me confidence in the results. Interestingly, the most effective nematode was Steinernema carpocapsae. Steinernema feltiae the species we are used to using in greenhouse ornamentals, faired so poorly in lab trials, they didn’t even bother testing it in the greenhouse.

Similarly, research from Florida shows that products based on Beauveria bassiana, used for western flower thrips, don’t work well against Parvispinus. Lab trials show promise with Isaria fumosoroseus but a product containing this fungus is not currently sold in Canada. Good results have also been seen with Lalguard M52 (Metarhizium brunneum strain F52), both in lab trials, and in commercial trials here in Ontario.

10 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025 GH_Distributions Solida_Sept25_CSA.indd 1

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RIGHT Research suggests cooling cuttings prior to sticking could reduce Parvispinus egg hatch in crops like madevilla.

more expensive) chemicals for clean-up, preventing their overuse and potential development of insecticide resistance.

PREVENTING PARVISPINUS One of our main strategies for managing Thrips parvispinusis likely going to be the “start clean” approach, i.e. trying to reduce the starting population arriving on

cuttings. Vineland and OMAFA have been investigating several strategies.

The first of these is cutting dips, something we know and love here in Ontario. The trick with Parvispinus is that a large amount of the population is coming in as eggs. Thrips eggs are embedded within leaf tissue, making this a challenging target.

Specifically, a 2023 OMAFA trial at a commercial facility had great results using “sprenches” of Lalguard M52 to control a Parvispinus outbreak in mandevilla (see Figure 2). M52 sprays were done in tandem with high release rates of Anystis, which is less susceptible to microbial insecticides than other large natural enemies such as Orius or Dicyphus. Although we still needed to do conventional pesticide applications on the most susceptible variety of mandevilla, we got away with using a softer chemical (Rimon (novaluron)), which was a win in my books. Using this strategy, we were able to save harder (and

MORE RESOURCES on Thrips Parvispinus can be found here

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September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 11 2025-01-23 1:07 PM

IMAGE COURTESY OMAFA

Figure 4

Figure 3

Preliminary screenings of cutting dips at Vineland Research are looking at survival of the whole population, and of eggs, specifically, to see which works best. The other consideration is potential phytotoxicity caused by dip products, given the high value of the plants. The product that seems to be performing the best is Suffoil-X at 0.1 per cent – this can reduce the starting population of T. parvispinus by around 70 per cent. This makes sense, as oils, rather than soaps, are thought

to negatively affect eggs. Stay tuned for updates at the Canadian Greenhouse Conference in October, where Dr. Rose Buitenhuis will be presenting her findings.

As dips can be time consuming, we’ve been exploring other tactics, like cooling cuttings before sticking. Unlike native thrips species (Echinothrips), or species that have been in Ontario for a long time (onion thrips), Parvispinus has not had time to develop tolerance to low temperatures. Ashley Summerfield

ABOVE Figure 3: Percentage of mandevilla cuttings having a rooting score of 0 (no roots), 0.5 (root tips emerging from plug), 1 (successful rooting; roots extending from plug) and 2 (extensive roots extending from plug) 6 weeks post-treatment. Pre-treatment of cuttings with cold temperatures reduced successful rooting by only 3% on average.

Figure 4: A mandevilla cutting with a root score of 1 (successful rooting).

12 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 13

labour solution to Parvispinus, provided a dedicated cooler can be maintained at the right temperature on-farm and monitored closely.

IMAGE COURTESY ASHLEY SUMMERFIELD

(Vineland), first noticed that Parvispinus did not fare well in the lab fridge, unlike western flower thrips. She is currently determining which temperatures and exposure times have the most impact on Parvispinus eggs.

Preliminary data shows that exposure to 4.8°C for 72 hours resulted in a 71 per cent reduction in egg hatch from mandevilla.

Meanwhile, to make sure this technique is safe for tropical plants, trials were run by OMAFA in 2024 in collaboration with a commercial grower to see if cooling cuttings negatively affected rooting or growth of mandevilla.

Figures 3 and 4 show that rooting success was only slightly impacted compared to an untreated control, even when exposed to the coldest temperature (3.2°C on average) over a 48-hour period.

As long as coolers didn’t dip below 1°C for any extended period of time, the cuttings were undamaged. Assessments 17 weeks later did not show significant differences in plant growth between cold-treated and untreated cuttings. Most importantly, all plants from our initial cold treatments were sold. Pre-treating cuttings with cold temperatures before sticking could ultimately provide a low-cost and low-

ABOVE Close-up of Thrips Parvispinus.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Once screening trials with cutting treatments, natural enemies, and microbials are verified by cage trials in Ontario and Florida, the next step will be integrating treatments to find the most effective combinations and application timings.

Just like a successful program for western flower thrips on chrysanthemums uses an entire suite of strategies, such as cutting dips, predatory mites, nematodes, etc., the same will be true for Parvispinus. This IPM “recipe” is likely to vary between plants which are moderately or highly susceptible to Parvispinus. For the latter, I suspect pesticides will remain a large part of their control, but I’m always prepared to be surprised when it comes to this particular pest.

Dr. Sarah Jandricic is the Greenhouse Floriculture IPM Specialist for Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) and can be reached at sarah.jandricic@ontario. ca.

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September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 17 2024-07-11 10:02 AM

SPOT THE SIGNS

Possible causes and solutions for wilted cucumber plants

IMAGES COURTESY GETTY IMAGES

BY MOHYUDDIN MIRZA

The following is a story of wilted cucumbers.

It all started with this email from a concerned grower: Grower: “Hi Dr. Mirza, I have some issues with cucumbers plants, one crop is 2 weeks into picking, the other crop is just starting to pick.

Some plants are starting to droop, roots are very nice and getting enough feed, I’m thinking it’s pythium or something, I’ll send you some pictures to look at.”

Dr. M: Yes, please send pictures. Do they droop

in one section or all plants? Do they recover at night? Please also send pH and EC of leach and feed solution.

Grower: “It is here and there, probably 2-3 plants per row, Feed EC, 2.15 mS and pH 5.6.

Leach pH 5.68 and EC 1.87. Wilted plants don’t recover at night time. The wilt appears to be permanent and wilted leaves shrivel and then dry out.”

A short time later, I then received Images 1, 2 and 3.

ABOVE To prevent blight in greenhouse cucumber crops, growers are urged to start clean, dispose of wilted plants promptly and appropriately and pay constant attention to heat, light and ventilation.

18 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

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1

2

IMAGES COURTESY MOHYUDDIN MIRZA

3

A closer examination, the photos showed very droopy leaves and Image 3 shows some cupping of edges, indicating high humidity and leaf edge exudation. The crop was exposed to day temperatures above 30°C. Dr. M: Please send a few pictures of the base of the plants. Also, cut the stem by giving a vertical slit which shows stem portion in the rockwool.

Images 4 to 7 were then supplied and provided further clues to the problem of wilting.

In Image 4, there are visible signs of canker at the base of the plant and some gummy exudates which indicate the possibility

A major source of air-borne fusarium can be infected debris located near the greenhouse?

of Gummy Stem Blight (GSB). I did not see spots on leaves and fruit ends.

This is a fungal disease and high humidity and warm temperatures are two major causes for the development and spread of this disease.

Image 5 offers a close examination of the stem base. The lower portion inside the rockwool block

THIS PAGE These three images depict cucumber wilt in an Alberta greenhouse producer’s crop. Images 1 and 2 show clear signs of wilting and in Image 3, leaves show signs of cupping, a clear indication of high humidity.

20 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

showed a distinct yellowing and evidence of some root’s deterioration.

The stem, a few inches above the base line looked good and did not exhibit any yellowing of water-conducting strands (xylem), which is typical of fusarium and verticillium wilt fungi.

Image 6 shows a cross section of the stem with xylem bundles clearly visible but not showing any discolouring. This means that the wilt-causing fungus, which is likely fusarium, has not progressed further up the stem but has developed enough to choke the plant.

Image 7 shows that roots were in a reasonably good shape although some roots are decaying.

of fusarium. We found that major source was the infected debris near the greenhouse. In areas where greenhouses are concentrated, then expect higher population of fusarium spores and other fungi. That is why proper disposal of infected plants should be practiced.

CAN FUSARIUM SPORES BE PRESENT IN WATER SUPPLY? Yes, it can be present in your water supply if leach water is collected and reused before proper disinfection.

I recall a situation where biofilters using lava rocks were used and it got contaminated with fusarium from infected plants. The entire crop was destroyed with serious economic losses.

Municipal water supplies are generally safe but still water treatment should be considered. In this case mentioned above, the grower was using a municipal water supply and also treating it with 50 ppm of hydrogen peroxide.

“In areas where greenhouses are concentrated, then expect higher population of fusarium spores and other fungi. That is why proper disposal of infected plants should be practiced.”

SO, WHAT WAS THE DIAGNOSIS? My tentative diagnosis was Fusarium group of fungi. Specific races of fusarium are known to cause wilt in cucumbers. The samples can be sent to a lab for culture and confirmation, however a diagnosis based on symptoms is required to control the disease at an early stage. As mentioned earlier, Gummy Stem Blight was also a possibility.

WHERE DOES FUSARIUM COME FROM? That is one of the most common questions asked. Based on my years of experience with Fusarium, air borne is the most common source. Then the question arises as to how does it get in the air?

I recall a study we did on internal fruit rot of peppers where we used spore traps to monitor air population

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HOW DO FUSARIUM SPORES INFECT THE PLANT FROM AIR? Spores in the air settle down close to the base of the stem and slowly start their infection process. Once few spores start germinating and produce mycelium, they penetrate into the xylem strands and thus plug the waterconducting tissue which causes wilt. It takes several days before wilting appears and generally by that time the plant is producing fruit.

4

CAN FUSARIUM WILT BE DIFFERENTIATED FROM PYTHIUM ROOT ROT? Yes. Pythium fungus causes root rot and first wilt signs will appear in young, top leaves. The top leaves will wilt and recover at nighttime or on cloudy days. This would continue for few days and then the plant collapses.

In the case of fusarium-related wilt, it appears generally in the middle of the plant and wilted leaves don’t recover.

Furthermore, pythium infections can infect cucumber plants at seedling stage and top, wilted leaves appear dark blue which is typical with water stress.

5

TOP TO BOTTOM Image 4, there are visible signs of canker at the base of the plant; Image 5 cross section of the stem base in rockwool.

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7

6

ABOVE Image 6 indicates that the wilt-causing fungus (likely fusarium) has not progressed further up the stem but has developed enough to choke the plant; Image 7 depicts some fairly healthy roots, despite the clear presence of blight.

TIPS IN MANAGING FUSARIUM • Wilted plants would not recover and should be removed and disposed off properly so that the spores don’t get airborne near the greenhouse.

• Use biocontrol products right at the time of seeding. Many products, like Root Shield and others, are

• • •

effective in keeping fusarium and pythium under control.

Sanitize greenhouse space thoroughly.

Water treatment options should be considered.

A final thought is about focusing on greenhouse climate. Stress of temperature, high and low

humidities and improper nutrition can all affect plant health and promote diseases.

Always update your knowledge of diseases and know about new products in the market.

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Intelligent Greenhouse Technologies We’re proud to introduce our renewed brand identity—a fresh new look that reflects our continued focus on innovation, collaboration, and long-term partnerships.

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IMAGES COURTESY GETTY IMAGES

Pollinating new tech Robot bees have potential to address labour shortages, boost crop production

BY J LYNN FRASER In Canada there are more than 800 pollinators of which bees are most common3. Generally, honeybees and bumblebees do not thrive in enclosed commercial greenhouse environments. They need, for example, hive replacements (bees die within 8 to 12 weeks); correct temperatures, light, UV conditions, air flow, CO2 concentrations; and ability to work alongside humans. Growers need to be aware of the plants and plant combinations honeybees and bumblebees prefer.6;7 In the not-too-distant future, greenhouse bees will work alongside robotic human pollinators.

“At the global level, agriculture is undergoing

revolutionary change, driven by confluence of factors including Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and global sustainability goals,” states a 2023 KPMG report on agriculture’s future.5 Research is being done to create robotic bees. They do not have the preferences, needs and fallibilities of natural bees.

They will be needed to help with the projected shortfall of labour in the near future in Canadian agriculture. Artificial pollinators (robotics) represent one of the new technologies along with sensors, data analytics, and artificial intelligence2;4 that we are starting to see in more greenhouses.

ABOVE Some Canadian researchers and greenhouse growers see a near future where Mother Nature’s pollinators work alongside their robotic counterparts.

26 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 27

IMAGES COURTESY GREENHOUSE CANADA

ABOVE Horteca, the research greenhouse at JEM Farms, pictured during the 2024 CGC, is one location where a University of Windsor researcher’s autonomous pollinator is being tested.

ROBOT BEES A pioneer in this area of research is Dr. Shahpour Alirezaee, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering, University of Windsor, who specializes in mechatronics and robotics. Dr. Alirezaee’s focus is on creating autonomous robotic pollinators with the abilities of bee and human pollinators1. With robotics automating pollination, Alirezaee believes crop yield and crop quality can be greatly improved as well as food security.

“The robots can be used in conjunction with live bees to boost pollination performance, as they do not harm the bees,” Alirezaee notes. “Robotic pollinators are designed to address several specific agricultural challenges in greenhouse settings, including labour shortage and pollination efficiency.” He has been pursuing this research for the past two years and expects to have the research completed in another one to two years.

Alirezaee’s robots operate on a platform and are outfitted with customized tools, arms, and vision systems guided by artificial intelligence and a 3D camera to identify flowers. “Our system is specifically engineered for precision in confined spaces,” he notes. According to a recent University of Waterloo (U of W) 28 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025 GH_exacon_Sept23_CSA.indd 1

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IMAGES COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR

feature highlighting his work, the technology, in this combination and application, is used exclusively by Alirezaee’s robots.1 The robotics used by Alirezaee adapt to different greenhouse environments. To ‘see’ that environment, Alirezaee explains, the robot uses an Intel RealSense camera to grab RGB images of flowers and that approximates how far away they are from the vision system. The researchers use what is called You Only Look Once (YOLOv8), a machine learning-based object detector to locate the positions of flowers in the images.

“Once we locate the flowers, the robot’s signal triggers a second robot to reach the location, where a vibration mechanism is used to pollinate the flowers,” Alirezaee said.

“Our robotic pollinator is particularly suitable for fruits and vegetables that do not have separate male and female flowers and have both types growing on the same plant,” Alirezaee notes.

“The robots will move a camera attached to them to collect various data points related to pollination efficiency, crop health, and environmental conditions.”

ABOVE Dr. Shahpour Alirezaee, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering, University of Windsor.

CREATING THE BUZZ “Automatic pollination works best in the winter months when bees aren’t as effective,” observes Jamie Mastronardi. Mastronardi is the general manager of JEM Farms, a third-generation family greenhouse operation with 50 acres of greenhouses in Ruthven, Ontario, specializing in cucumbers and tomatoes, where Alirezaee’s autonomous pollinator is being tested (as well as at the University of Windsor).

“Bees rely on natural sunlight, so automating pollination makes it much easier during the darker months of December,

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IMAGES COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR

January, and February,” Mastronardi points out, in the U of W report.1 Horteca, a branch of JEM Farms, is a new two-acre research facility “dedicated to showcasing the latest green technologies” in addition to that of Dr. Alirezaee’s research. It includes integrated pest management (IPM), robotics and AI and dynamic LED technology.

“We hope to demonstrate technology and conduct research that addresses pressing challenges that growers face today and those they may face in the future,” said Mastronardi in a 2023 report from Greenhouse Grower8.

“The cost of each unit is estimated to be ~$25,000. Small greenhouses require 1 to 2 units, large greenhouses need five or more units,” Alirezaee estimates. “The average lifespan of a robotic pollinator depends on several factors, including its type, usage, maintenance, and operating environment. Since our system consists of a robotic arm with an average lifespan of 5 to 10 years, the overall lifespan of the system is also estimated to be within that range.”

AG 4.0 Agriculture 4.0 could be an opportunity to make changes throughout the system that both commercial greenhouses and agriculture operate within. The view of Bryan Lynch, Ph.D., Director, Horticultural Technology Solutions, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, is that “Not only should we build technology that solves problems for current greenhouse operations, we should be looking at how to adapt production practices, infrastructure, and even the plants themselves (traits)

THIS PAGE The robotics used by Alirezaee can easily adapt to different greenhouse25_007037_Greenhouse_Canada_SEP_CN environments.

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Sources 1. Charlton, 2025, Pioneering agricultural solutions…, https://www.uwindsor.ca/ dailynews/2025-06-10/pioneeringagricultural-solutions-role-uwindsorresearchers-greenhouse-innovation-0 2. Conference Board of Canada, 2024, The next frontier…, https://fsc-ccf.ca/wp-content/ uploads/2024/07/the-next-frontier_2024.pdf

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G R E E N H O U S E FA R M

IMAGES COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR

to better enable technology to work.”

He adds that, “If robotic pollination has value,” Lynch adds, “then that’s all that matters. Overall, it comes down to cost vs. benefit, with quality and reliability likely playing a major role.”

Lynch believes that it is a misconception that greenhouse growers are tech and innovation adverse. “Just about every grower I talk to is ready to adopt tech, they aren’t scared of it but they aren’t just blindly excited about it. They are pragmatic and have little time to invest in making something work if it isn’t ready out of the box. Newer generations are maybe more keen about technology and see more potential but again, just about all of them are ready for it if the value is there.”

ABOVE Dr. Alirezaee’s robots are guided by A.I. and a 3D camera.

3. Government of Canada, 2025, Pollinator protection, https://www.canada.ca/ en/health-canada/services/consumer-productsafety/pesticides-pest-management/growerscommercial-users/pollinator-protection.html 4. Jordan, 2025, Robots in agriculture…, fresh consulting, https://www.freshconsulting. com/insights/blog/robots-in-agriculturetransforming-the-future-of-farming/ 5. KPMG, 2023, Driving innovation and adding value, KPMG, https://assets.kpmg. com/content/dam/kpmg/ie/pdf/2023/11/ ie-driving-innovation-adding-value-throughagritech.pdf 6. Petrovic, 2017, Using bees in the greenhouse…, Greenhouse Grower, https:// www.greenhousegrower.com/production/ using-bees-in-the-greenhouse-for-naturalpollination/ 7. Phillips, Bumble bees in greenhouse…, 2019, https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/ bumble-bees-in-greenhouse-vegetableproduction 8. Sparks, 2023, A closer look at JEM Farms’…, Greenhouse Grower, https://www. greenhousegrower.com/technology/a-closerlook-at-jem-farms-new-greenhouse-techresearch-facility

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September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 35

INDUSTRY NEWS greenhousecanada.com

Canadian growers earn prestigious horticultural recognition at Cultivate ‘25 Recipients of the Horticultural Industries Leadership Awards (HILA) were celebrated recently at an event during Cultivate ’25 and among this year’s honourees are two well-known Canadian growers.

Belal El-Hasan, head grower at Hendriks in Beamsville, ON, and Gary Neels, CEO at Qualitree in Rosedale, B.C., were among seven North American professionals awarded the 2025 HILA, an initiative spearheaded by U.S.-based publications Greenhouse Management and Nursery Management.

The annual honour, now in its ninth year, seeks to highlight the work of individuals across the greenhouse and nursery growing sector. According to the award website, HILA recipients are selected based on their significant contributions to the horticulture industry.

The Class of 2025 is recognized for exemplifying values such as mentorship, risk-taking, and vision, leaving a legacy in the operations they’ve shaped, the people they’ve empowered, and the standards they’ve raised.

In a supplement highlighting this year’s honourees’ contributions, El-Hasan’s foundational approach to training staff in the greenhouse, as well as his successful efforts to foster a positive working environment are touted.

“What sets Belal apart is his willingness to provide thoughtful, constructive feedback on new products and ideas while maintaining an open mind,” wrote Trevor Goulding, of Ottawa’s Gold Leaf Technologies, in support of El-Hasan’s nomination.

Neels is celebrated for his leadership

philosophy, which is focussed on developing the people around him to lead and ‘getting out of people’s way.’

“I’m just constantly telling people, ‘If you need support, I’m here, but I’m not going to tell you how to do anything,’” Neels says.

“And then letting them go make mistakes like I did over all the years and learn from those things. That’s my philosophy now.”

Other HILA 2025 honourees include: Bill Dewar (Dewar Nurseries in Apopka, Florida), Heather Gronek (Plant Development Services, Inc. in Loxley, Alabama), Tom Knezick (Pinelands Nursery in Columbus, New Jersey), Susie Raker (Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants in Litchfield, Michigan), and the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, John Gaydos (Proven Winners).

Source: Greenhouse Management

36 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

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2025-07-10 7:45 AM

HARVESTING

RESILIENCE

O C T O B E R 8 & 9 , 2 0 2 5 • N I AG A R A FA L L S , O N C A N A DA

IPM:

Going back to the basics

Technology, Meet AI & Big Data Harnessing Energy Capture that heat

@CdnGreenhseConf

CanadianGreenhouseConference.com

September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 37

HARVESTING

RESILIENCE On-site Registration Opens: 8:30AM

|

Trade Show Hours: 9:00AM - 4:00PM

2025 Canadian Greenhouse Conference

By Julia vanStaalduinen The Canadian Greenhouse Conference Marketing & Event Coordinator, Canadian Greenhouse Conference

returns in 2025 with another fully booked trade show floor! This year’s theme, “Harvesting Resilience,” focuses on the pressing challenges facing the greenhouse sector—and the innovative strategies to tackle them. Join us for dynamic speaker sessions featuring 50+ leading experts from across Canada and around the globe, delivering forward-thinking insights on everything from big data to energy optimization. Stroll through a vibrant trade show packed with groundbreaking products, services, and trusted exhibitors ready to help you thrive. Discover the latest in technology and equipment designed to elevate your growing operations. This is your chance to connect, learn, and grow with the best in the industry—don’t miss it! With more than 15 sessions on the schedule, there’s too much to cover here—so be sure to visit www.

CanadianGreenhouseConference.com for detailed presentation summaries and start planning your personalized itinerary.

Join us on October 7th, for the CGC bus tour, where you’ll explore Ontario’s premier growing facilities in the Niagara area, and tour a variety of vegetable, berry and flower operations. This is a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Don’t miss out! More details to come, so keep an eye on the CGC website for updates.

Networking is always a highlight of the conference, and this year’s two social events—Happy Hour and The Gathering—offer the perfect chance to connect. Thanks to the generous support of Syngenta Flowers, Havecon, and ICL, Happy Hour features delicious food and lively music, making it the ideal way to relax and recharge after day one of the show. Later, join us for The

38 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

Gathering at the stunning Table Rock House Restaurant, located just steps from the iconic Niagara Falls. These memorable events are not to be missed— come mingle, unwind, and build lasting connections!

The Poster Session is back for 2025, offering a valuable platform for researchers, industry professionals, and extension specialists to share the latest findings relevant to Canada’s greenhouse horticulture sector. The Student Poster Competition will spotlight emerging talent, showcasing student-led research focused on greenhouse horticulture.

Over a dozen projects will be available for viewing on the CGC website, with select posters featured in person at the conference.

Don’t forget to reserve your room at the CGC’s official host hotel, the Marriott on the Falls. Your stay includes a buffet breakfast—perfect for starting the day, and you might even find yourself dining alongside one of our international speakers. Full details and the booking link are available on our website.

A heartfelt thank-you to our CGC sponsors! We encourage you to explore our outstanding group of industry partners who continue to go the extra mile in supporting both this event and the broader community of Canadian growers. Your commitment helps make the Canadian Greenhouse Conference a vital part of our industry calendar—thank you for being an essential part of it!

Online registration is open. Take advantage of discount pricing before September 30. Complete conference information is available at www.

CanadianGreenhouseConference.com See you at the show!

HARVESTING

RESILIENCE On-site Registration Opens: 8:30AM

|

Trade Show Hours: 9:00AM - 4:00PM

Expand your network

and connect with both local and international growers. Discover new opportunities and forge meaningful connections that help enrich your agricultural journey, gain new perspectives, and contribute to the global agricultural community.

Registration!

PRE-REGISTRATION ONLINE

by October 6th and SAVE!

What’s New? Talk to the people you know on the sold-out trade show floor!

200+ exhibitors will be waiting to see you.

Happy Hour Everyone loves a good happy hour! Enjoy music, food and friends from 4-6pm right on the trade show floor. Wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase.

Thank you to event sponsors:

$135 – Wed. & Thurs. Full Registration: 2-day access to speaker program and trade show $95 – Single Day (Wed. OR Thurs.): Speaker program and trade show $50 – Single Day (Wed. OR Thurs.): TRADE SHOW ONLY $135 – The Gathering (Wed.): Off-site social event – PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY

The Gathering

$35 - Students (with ID): Speaker program and trade show $230 – Bus Tour: PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY

REGISTRATION AT THE DOOR $160 – Wed. & Thurs. Full Registration: 2-day access to speaker program and trade show $135 – Single Day (Wed. OR Thurs.): Speaker program and trade show $65 – Single Day (Wed.): TRADE SHOW ONLY $50 – Single Day (Thurs.): TRADE SHOW ONLY $35 – Students (with ID): Speaker program and trade show

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8TH 6:30PM

Table Rock House Restaurant

Enjoy dinner with clients, friends, and colleagues on the brink of the Horseshoe Falls.

$135 per person (Advanced purchase only)

September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 39

HARVESTING

RESILIENCE On-site Registration Opens: 8:30AM

|

Trade Show Hours: 9:00AM - 4:00PM

Schedule | Wednesday, Oct. 8th – Morning Sessions Trade Show Open 9am-4pm

|

Great Food Options On-site

Vegetable Production

UV for You & Me

Winning the microbial race: Ensuring beneficial microorganisms take the lead

“Use the Force, Luke”: Wielding the Jedi lightsaber in controlled environment agriculture

Wed. 9:30 am Rémi Naasz

Premier Tech

A perfect pairing: Enhancing cultivation with integrated led lighting and screening

Paul Arena Svensson Michelle Montgomery Phillips LED

Optimizing airflow & climate control

Genevieve Marchand Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Thrips-Busters: Who you gonna call when cuttings are creepy (with parvi) Rose Buitenhuis Vineland Research & Innovation Centre

Grower Case Study

Floriculture Production (Back to the Basics) Water quality and its influence on growing media Pierre-Marc de Champlain Berger

The Q’s of water Theo Blom Theo Blom Advisory Services

How to use greenhouse climate for better production results

Albert Grimm Jeffery’s Greenhouses

Matt Korpan SEF

Happy Hour 4pm-6pm

Wired to Grow: AI and Big Data Redefining yield forecasting with AI: How technology improves greenhouse profitability and food security Rien Kamman Source.Ag

Innovating safely: data privacy and legal drafting in Smart Agriculture Rozita Dara University of Guelph

Trends in greenhouse technology development

Quade Digweed Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Nadia Sabeh Dr. Greenhouse Inc. Sponsored by:

See you at...

|

Sponsored by:

Niagara Falls Convention Centre

Greenhouse Tools of the Trade Workshop

NEW!

This year we’re providing an opportunity for hands-on learning from industry and research professionals throughout the conference! This workshop will focus on tools and techniques you may not be familiar with.

The workshop will be held both days as a drop-in format.

We’re also including 2 featured speakers you just can’t miss!

Featuring

9:30am-10:15am Speaker: Joe Miller Joe Miller from Zengenti will give a detailed demonstration of Ontario’s Crop Protection Hub. He will walk you through the basics and well as new features we’ve just released.

From 10:15am-11:30am, the format will be drop-in. Come visit the 10 other demonstration tables!

Check the printed program in October for the final list of demonstrators!

Sponsored by:

6815 Stanley Ave. Niagara Falls, ON

FREE PARKING

is available.

Titles & speakers subject to change.

40 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

HARVESTING

RESILIENCE On-site Registration Opens: 8:30AM

|

Trade Show Hours: 9:00AM - 4:00PM

Schedule | Wednesday, Oct. 8th – Afternoon Sessions Trade Show Open 9am-4pm Dynamic Lighting for Dynamic Greenhouses Supplemental lighting and autonomous control of greenhouses

Wed. Ep Heuvelink 2:00 pm Wageningen University, Horticulture & Product Physiology

Pepper Lighting Amos Bassi Signify

The latest Dynamic LED lighting applications in high-wire crops Sam Soltaninejad Sollum Sponsored by:

|

Great Food Options On-site

Smart Sprays & Safe Plays: Managing Pests without Collateral Damage Tweaking your sprayer — a case study for improved sprayer performance in greenhouse peppers Jason Deveau Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness

Pesticides and beneficial insects and mites 2025.

New insights and considerations from the growers’ and biocontrol producers’ perspective

Phillipe Constant National Institute on Scientific Research,

Beyond the landfill: Greenhouse waste disposal options Dave Lubitz University of Guelph

Greenhouse waste diversion: An update on new developments

Happy Hour 4pm-6pm

Cut Flowers Production — Inside and Out

Waste Management

Zero Landfill Waste

|

Blooms for Bucks: A discussion on flower farming Nick Vanderheide Creekside Growers

Increasing cut flower production with field and high tunnel flowers that make money Dave Dowling Ball Seed

Alexandra Grygorczyk Vineland Research & Innovation Centre

Greenhouse Tools of the Trade Workshop Featuring

NEW!

2:00pm-2:45pm Speaker: Suzanne “The Bug Lady” Wainwright -Evans This workshop will demonstrate quality assurance techniques for common natural enemies that growers need to know!

From 2:45pm-4:00pm, the format will be drop in. Come visit the 10 other demonstration tables!

Sponsored by:

Shimon Steinberg Biobee

Reach for the right tools in the IPM toolbox Vava Grbic & Hannah Fraser Western University

Titles & speakers subject to change. Visit CanadianGreenhouseConference.com for up-to-date information.

Conference Accommodation Reserve your room at our conference hotel located across the street from the NFCC. Conference room rates include hot breakfast and complimentary WIFI. Visit our website for complete information.

Visit our website for complete information.

September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 41

HARVESTING

RESILIENCE On-site Registration Opens: 8:30AM

|

Trade Show Hours: 9:00AM - 4:00PM

Schedule | Thursday, Oct. 9th – Morning Sessions Trade Show Open 9am-4pm Harnessing Energy: Capture & Reuse Excess Heat Heat capture and reuse with heat pump

Thurs.

9:30 am

Xiuming Hao/Quade Digweed Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Turning waste heat into a food security solution for Canada: Empowering CEA with sorption-based thermal technology

Majid Bahrami Simon Fraser University

|

Great Food Options On-site

IPM: Back to Basics Proper use of nematodes

Greg Bryant Beneficial Insectary

Quality control of beneficials

Suzanne Wainwright Buglady Consulting

Water management in CEA Micha van Nieuwkerk Van der Ende Group

Colocation of greenhouses with data centers, organic waste management, agri-industrial parks Thomas Bourgeois Pace University

Vertical Gains for Vertical Farms What starting a vertical strawberry farm taught me: 5 lessons you can’t ChatGPT (yet) Ophelia Sarakinis Gush Farms

Optimizing resource use efficiency for vertical farms Ep Heuvelink Wageningen University, Horticulture & Product Physiology

|

Happy Hour 4pm-6pm

Garden Centre

PANEL DISCUSSION Marketing & Trends Jessica DeGraaf Proven Winners

Social media

Paula Reile Niagara College, Research & Innovation

Garden centres & Sustainable futures Art Vanden Enden Art of Gardening

Lighting and aircirculation strategies to manage tip-burn in indoor farm lettuce

Chieri Kubota The Ohio State University

Greenhouse Tools of the Trade Workshop Featuring

NEW!

9:30am-10:15am Speaker: Joe Miller Joe Miller from Zengenti will give a detailed demonstration of Ontario’s Crop Protection Hub. He will walk you through the basics and well as new features we’ve just released.

From 10:15-11:30, the format will be drop in. Come visit the 10 other demonstration tables!

Sponsored by:

Sponsored by:

Heat, hope & heartaches “The real truth of going green, and why we’re still committed to it!”

Greg Devries Truly Green

Titles & speakers subject to change. Visit CanadianGreenhouseConference.com for up-to-date information.

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Tuesday, October 7th the CGC bus tour is offering a unique opportunity to tour some of Niagara’s leading greenhouse operations.

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42 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

Register today!

HARVESTING

RESILIENCE On-site Registration Opens: 8:30AM

|

Trade Show Hours: 9:00AM - 4:00PM

Schedule | Thursday, Oct. 9th – Afternoon Sessions Trade Show Open 9am-4pm Innovation in Action: From Concept to Crop Digital electricity for greenhouse tech Mike Del Ciancio

THURS. DC Farms 2:00 pm Fusarium on Peppers: Early detection, co-infections, & interventions

Michael Lynch Healthy Hydroponics & Patricia Quadros Earth Microbial

Making robotics work for the greenhouse grower Bill VandenOever BOLD Robotics & Rodney Bierhuizen Sunrise Greenhouses Sponsored by:

|

Great Food Options On-site

Berry Smart: Growing Success Benchmarking strawberry productivity – Impact of cultivar, transplant quality, and crop/environmental management

Happy Hour 4pm-6pm

Research Updates

New Variety Session

Spider Mite emergence & pesticide resistance in Southeastern Ontario

This session will feature breeders providing insights into new varieties for greenhouse vegetables and floriculture

Mikaelison da Silva Lima Western University

Past, present & future of ToBRFV in Canada

Cheiri Kubota The Ohio State University

Strawberry everbearer excels in hoistable gutter system

|

Jonathan Griffiths Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Stef Laurijssen Hoogstraten Research Centre, Belgium

NEW!

Top new introductions for Proven Winners 2026 Tim Anderson Proven Winners

Big bios against Thrips parvispinus?

Taro Saito Vineland Research & Innovation Centre

Neopestalotiopsis disease in strawberries: Identification, impact, and Using silicon to reduce management strategies chilling injury symptoms in postharvest sweet basil Melanie Ivey The Ohio State University

Big picture strawberry growing – A case for success Josh Tamminga TamBerry Farms

Vivian Ly University of Guelph

Zinc in GH stormwater — surprises and potential solutions

Jeanine West Flowers Canada Growers Inc.

Canadian consumers’ preferences for lettuce: is local all that matters?

Tongzhe Li University of Guelph

Wetland plants as peat alternatives Poonam Singh Assiniboine College

Poster Session Highlighting current research on greenhouse floriculture, fruit, vegetables, and alternative crops in Canada. This includes regular and student competition posters. More details online.

Sponsored by:

New Variety Showcase Display It’s the best of both worlds; view the outstanding on-site display and then photos and videos on our website.

Sponsored by:

September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 43

HARVESTING

RESILIENCE On-site Registration Opens: 8:30AM

|

Trade Show Hours: 9:00AM - 4:00PM

Here’s a sneak peek at some of this year’s speakers Ep Heuvelink Wageningen University, Horticulture & Product Physiology Ep Heuvelink has over 35 years of experience in scientific research and education in controlled environment agriculture (CEA; greenhouses and vertical farms).

He is associate professor in the Horticulture and Product Physiology group of Wageningen University.

His expertise is greenhouse crop physiology and crop simulation. Ep is frequently invited as a keynote speaker at international scientific symposia and teaches advanced intensive courses on greenhouse production and vertical farming, crop physiology and crop modelling all over the world. He (co-)authored 154 papers in refereed scientific journals, over 200 papers in professional journals and 5 books.

Rien Kamman

Source.Ag Rien Kamman is CEO and CoFounder of Source.ag, leading the company’s global mission to empower fruit and vegetable growers with AI. Since 2020, he has driven Source.ag’s expansion and vision to make high-tech, efficient greenhouse farming accessible and scalable worldwide.

44 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

Chieri Kubota

The Ohio State University Dr. Chieri Kubota is a distinguished professor in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of The Ohio State University. She also serves as the Director of Ohio Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. Dr. Kubota received Ph.D. from Chiba University, Japan. Dr. Kubota is a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS). Her research focus is on science-based technology development for CEA such as lighting technologies, water and nutrient management, and introducing new crops for CEA. Dr. Kubota is very active in training professionals through online courses and hands-on training.

Melanie Lewis Ivey

The Ohio State University Dr. Lewis Ivey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at The Ohio State University, where she serves as the State Fruit Pathologist and Fresh Produce Safety Extension Specialist. Her research focuses on developing sustainable, economically viable strategies to manage diseases in small (soft) and tree fruit crops. She leads studies on emerging diseases like Neopestalotiopsis disease, apple leaf blotch, and chestnut anthracnose, emphasizing host resistance, antimicrobial stewardship, and disease diagnostics. She also addresses food safety risks in controlled environment agriculture. Through her extension work, Dr. Ivey provides sciencebased disease management and food safety recommendations to growers across Ohio.

HARVESTING

RESILIENCE On-site Registration Opens: 8:30AM

|

Trade Show Hours: 9:00AM - 4:00PM

Joe Miller

Zengenti Joe Miller is a Product Manager at Zengenti, specialising in digital transformation and agile delivery. He led the development of the Crop Protection Hub and Crop IPM platforms in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agri Business (OMAFA). Joe’s work connects innovative tech with real-world agricultural needs, creating tools that support sustainable practice. With a focus on user needs and adaptability, he plays a key role in shaping impactful digital solutions at Zengenti.

Ophelia Sarakinis

Gush Farms Ophelia Sarakinis is the founder of GUSH, a vertical strawberry farm in Montreal. She studied Farm Management and Technology at McGill and spent the last few years running high-density hydroponic production year-round. Her work focused on developing clear protocols, maintaining crop quality, and figuring out what actually works in a vertical system. She’s especially interested in sharing realworld lessons between growers. Her perspective is shaped by hands-on experience, trial and error, and the day-to-day challenges of running a fruiting crop indoors.

Shimon Steinberg

BioBee Dr. Steinberg is an Entomologist with a B.Sc. in Biology from Tel Aviv University, an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Agronomy and Plant Protection from the Faculty of Agriculture at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Wageningen Agricultural University in the Netherlands. Dr. Steinberg has dedicated 35 years to leading Research and Development at BioBee Sde Eliyahu Ltd. until May 2024.

Currently, he focuses on special projects for the company. His expertise lies in the development of mass-rearing systems for beneficial arthropods, including insects and mites, for biological pest control and pollination.

Additionally, Dr. Steinberg has extensive experience in practical application of beneficial arthropods within biologically-based Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs across various crops, including protected and open-field vegetables, ornamentals, and fruit trees.

Suzanne Wainwright - Evans

Buglady Consulting Suzanne WainwrightEvans is a horticultural entomologist specializing in integrated pest management. With over 30 years of experience in the Green Industry, she focuses primarily on biological control and the proper use of pesticides. Suzanne holds degrees in Entomology and Environmental Horticulture from the University of Florida. Throughout her career, she has assisted businesses across the United States and internationally in managing plant pests. She is the owner of Buglady Consulting, now in business 25 years.

September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 45

HARVESTING

RESILIENCE On-site Registration Opens: 8:30AM

|

Trade Show Hours: 9:00AM - 4:00PM

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Top Tier

46 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 47

GREENHOUSE CANADA marks 30 years of Grower Day

Photo report: More than 250 greenhouse industry professionals gather for milestone event BY GREENHOUSE CANADA

When it comes to milestones, consider the 30th anniversary of Grower Day well marked.

In mid-June, Greenhouse Canada welcomed more than 250 industry professionals to its 30th annual Grower Day in St. Catharines, ON. Attendees and exhibitors who travelled from across Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick, New York and California – some fresh off their travels to GreenTech in Amsterdam – came together for a busy day of networking, knowledge-sharing and celebration.

The agenda for the day included six information sessions presented by leading

48 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

researchers, specialists and growers sharing the latest in pest, disease and crop management.

Emcee, Ashley Paling, research lead at the Horticultural and Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre, part-time professor at Niagara College and first-time Grower Day attendee, presided over the day’s sessions and kept everything on schedule.

Kicking off the sessions was Jasper Verhoeven, product specialist with Royal Brinkman, who discussed how a robust hygiene protocol is vital in Integrated Crop Management (ICM). He stressed the importance of cleaning surfaces in preventing

Now we can grow!

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ABOVE Plant Products team from left: Judy Colley, Greg Carpenter and Alex Wiedrick.

“As conversations spilled over into the parking lot, it marked a fitting end to Grower Day 2025, a milestone in the history of this longstanding industry gathering that was founded with the intent of inspiring those very interactions.” cross-contamination, and spoke at length about how to ensure good, clean water quality for plants.

Up next, Dr. Andrew Wylie, plant pathologist with Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, shared the results of trials testing various disinfection products against Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) on greenhouse surfaces, once again touching on the fact hygiene plays a crucial role in protecting greenhouse crops.

Check out Formoza!

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Winning mixes!

Mix Perlite Canada products to improve your soil

odorless mixes with peat moss gardens and plants

Dr. Sarah Jandricic, OMAFA’s greenhouse floriculture IPM specialist, provided an update on managing Thrips parvispinus, covering issues related to scouting, identification, and IPM strategies.

The morning’s sessions wrapped with Dr. Omid Joharchi, an IPM specialist and researcher with Anatis Bioprotection Inc., offering a fascinating look at mites and how these underused predators can be incredibly effective IPM when strategically selected and deployed.

The lunch hour gave exhibitors and attendees an opportunity to mingle and chat over the delicious lunch spread. Cabbage rolls, brought in from the Delhi German Home – the location of the very first Grower Day that Greenhouse Canada hosted – were also on offer as a nod to this tradition’s humble but delicious beginnings.

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THIS PAGE From left: Dr. Sarah Jandricic provides an update on the latest resaerch into managign Thrips Parvispinus; 2025’s Grower of the Year, Roberto Corea, travelled from Northampton, NB, to accept his award.

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September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 51

ABOVE Panel discussion on biocontrol. From left: Dr. Rose Buitenhuis, Belal El-Hassan (Hendriks), Meghna Rathod (Fernlea), Aron Hoff (Meyers) and Matthew Terlouw (Orchard Park).

have lived up to the hype!)

Vineland’s Dr. Rose Buitenhuis started off the afternoon sessions by delving into the ongoing challenges of aphid control and what work is being done to explore pesticide resistance. We’ll be seeing more on this topic at the

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Canadian Greenhouse Conference. Hendriks’ head grower, Belal El-Hassan, took us into the afternoon’s networking break with his insights on Kalanchoe production and how to keep this money-making crop pest- and disease-free.

Proof of his expertise in this regard was on display in the

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After the break, Dave Harrison, retired former editor of Greenhouse Canada, was welcomed to the Grower Day stage for the first time since his retirement. For more than 20 years, Harrison was the driving force behind Grower Day and this publication, and while on stage, he took time to reflect on his tenure and pay tribute to the sector and its supportive community. He said his involvement in this year’s event felt “like coming home.”

It was the appropriate tone to set as we headed into our grower panel discussion, which served as a springboard into a wider conversation about the sector and how it is

THIS PAGE From left: Greenhouse Canada editor Amy Kouniakis, Paul Boers’ Rudy Ouwersloot with 2025’s Top 4 Under 40 winners: Anthony Ferragine (Bradford Greenhouses); Danielle Rose (Ceragen), Dominick Dimucci (Haven Greens), and Stewart Cameron (Bayview Flowers). Right: Lunch!

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implementing biocontrol.

After some last minute-changes to the line-up, Dr. Buitenhuis was back on stage to moderate this discussion.

She was joined by El-Hassan (Hendriks), Meghna Rathod (Fernlea Flowers), Aron Hoff (Meyers Farms), and Matthew Terlouw (Orchard Park Growers) in a frank and insightful discussion about implementing biocontrol methods and products in commercial greenhouses. Growers opened up about the challenges they’ve faced and how they overcame them; the economics of biocontrol; and how and why, after years using THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE: Paul Boers’ Rudy Ouwersloot with Top 4 under 40 winner Anthony Ferragine (Bradford Greenhouses).; Jasper Verhoeven, product specialist with Royal Brinkman, discusses greenhouse hygiene; Grower Day MC, Ashley Paling, research lead at HESIC, part-time professor at Niagara College.

Rijk Zwaan Peppers A World of Sweet Possibilities Explore the full spectrum of flavour and colour with Rijk Zwaan’s indoor pepper program. From Sweet Palermo® long sweet peppers in three vibrant colours to the innovative Tatayoyo® concept, plus sweet blocky and snack peppers in red, orange, and yellow—there’s a pepper for every greenhouse. Hot peppers are also available, rounding out a diverse portfolio designed to help Canadian growers expand and differentiate their offering. Contact us to learn how to expand your pepper program!

For more information, contact Rijk Zwaan Canada: Brad Breedveld, Pepper Crop Specialist | b.breedveld@rijkzwaan.com David Janik, Fruit Crop Specialist | d.janik@rijkzwaan.com www.rijkzwaanusa.com September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 55

ABOVE Jessica Buscher Mahon of Fresh Venture Farms in Thedford, ON.

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this approach, they remain committed it. It created quite a buzz among attendees and exhibitors alike who crowded into the session space to listen and contribute to the chat.

On the heels of this very engaging discussion, we took the opportunity to celebrate this year’s Top 4 Under 40 honourees and Greenhouse Canada’s Grower of the Year.

Paul Boers’ Rudy Ouwersloot was on hand to give out awards to the Top 4 Under 40 winners, who included Bayview Flowers’ Stewart Cameron, Haven Greens’ Dominck Dimucci, Bradford Greenhouses’ Anthony Ferragine, and Ceragen CEO, Danielle Rose.

Jolly Farmer’s head propagator, Roberto Corea, travelled from Northampton, N.B. to accept his award for 2025 Grower of the Year. You can read more about Corea and his accomplishments in the August 2025 issue of Greenhouse Canada.

It was on that note of celebration and appreciation for the hard work and ingenuity of these five individuals that the 30th annual Grower Day wrapped up.

As conversations spilled over into the parking lot, it marked a fitting end to Grower Day 2025, a milestone in the history of this longstanding industry gathering that was founded with the intent of inspiring those very interactions.

Sponsors of this year’s event included FarmPeat, who were, in fact, first-time exhibitors; Koppert, longtime exhibitors and session sponsors; and Paul Boers and Prins Greenhouses, longtime sponsor of Grower Day and our Top 4 Under 40 recognition.

Save the date: Next year, Grower Day will be held on June 16, 2026!

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Schmid pellets combustion for greenhouses Centre de Formation Agricole de Mirabel / Mirabel QC (CAN)

The agricultural training centre is located in a suburb of Mirabel.

In addition to the agricultural school, the CFAM also includes the Mirabel Agri-Food Research Center. The Research Institute aims to promote the development of organic farming and to strengthen the competitiveness of farms.

Cooperation with Combustion Expert Energy Combustion Expert Energy, Schmid‘s distribution partner, was awarded the project in the second half of 2019. Combustion Expert Energy a pioneer in the Canadian Biomass boiler Manufacturing, Installation and maintaining of biomass systems, has been at the forefront of the renewal energy sector for years. With the Partnership Schmid has secured the most knowledgeable partner with existing local know-how for the market entry in the Eastern part of Canada.

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Founded in 1991, the Centre de Formation Agricole de Mirabel (CFAM) is located in Mirabel, Quebec and provides technical training for agriculture. In February 2021, the first Schmid plant in Canada was commissioned for the customer CFAM.

Best technology prevails Since the customer CFAM has high quality requirements, the Schmid technology and the developed concept were adopted as the basis for the tender.

François Laroche, Quality Control Manager and Technical Advisor at Combustion Expert Energy, is very pleased with the successful project: „It reflects the successful collaboration between the detailed planning of the system components from the Engineering support team from Schmid and CEE expertise of the installation team. This Project is used as a testimonial for future projects, showcasing the success of our companies in delivering high-quality biomass boiler systems. We are enthusiastic to serve our future clients the same way.“

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September 2025 - GREENHOUSE CANADA 57

Introducing the 2026

‘YEAR OF’ PLANTS

National Garden Bureau shares a look at next year’s trendy and easy-to-grow varieties

BY THE NATIONAL GARDEN BUREAU

The National Garden Bureau (NGB) has announced the newest plants selected for their 2026 ‘Year of’ program.

For the ‘Year of’ program, the NGB selects plants and crops specifically for the North American market that are ‘easy to grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse and versatile.’

According to the U.S.based organization, the program ‘promotes awareness, appreciation and understanding’ of the plants selected, as well as underscores their importance to the horticultural industry. It also serves as a handy tool to help breeders, growers, retailers and marketers plan for the year ahead.

58 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

The crops chosen each year represent six horticultural categories: bulbs, annuals, edibles, perennials, shrubs and houseplants, a category added in 2022.

For the first time this year, in an effort to choose genera that are both important to industry members and of interest to gardeners, the committee behind the ‘Year of’ initiative created new protocols that allow both industry members and the general public to provide their input on the “Year Of” plants.

The 2026 ‘Year of’ selections include: • Annual: Impatiens • Edible: Hot Pepper • Perennial: Sedum

• • •

Bulb: Crocus Shrub: Azalea Houseplant: Ficus As a reminder, 2025’s ‘Year of’ plant selections include Asclepias (milkweed), Caladium, Calendula, Dogwood, Monstera and Pea. Once selections have been made for the ‘Year of’ plants, the NGB then develops and makes available marketing tools to help members in the industry promote each year’s “Year of” crops.

Founded in 1920, the National Garden Bureau is a U.S.-based non-profit organization. For more information, contact NGB’s executive director, Diane Blazek at dblazek@ngb.org.

STAY CURIOUS GET THE SCOOP SUBSCRIBE NOW Join to get our Magazine & Enewsletter

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INDUSTRY NEWS greenhousecanada.com

Alberta earmarks $5.2M to upgrade province’s research greenhouses The government of Alberta has allocated approximately $5.2 million to bolster the province’s crop diversification centres (CDC), with a particular emphasis on upgrading their greenhouse facilities.

Outlined in a recent press release, the money will go towards repairs and upgrades at CDC

North in northeast Edmonton and CDC South, southeast of Brooks. CDC South is a production and research greenhouse and CDC North serves a similar function and is also home to the Alberta Plant Health Lab, the Bee Health Team, and Alberta’s Seed Potato Repository.

“Both crop diversification centres are prime

examples of how successful governmentindustry collaboration can be,” said RJ Sigurdson, Alberta’s minister of agriculture and irrigation. “This funding will help ensure the researchers and support staff at both locations can continue their sector-leading work.”

Source: Province of Alberta

Ontario pours funds into water, irrigation system upgrades in Niagara and Leamington Water and irrigation infrastructure throughout the Niagara Region and in Leamington will get significant upgrades after the province earmarked $135 million in funding for the purpose.

In a recent announcement,

minister of infrastructure, Kinga Surma, said the money would go towards ‘unlocking more housing’ and help support the agrifood sector by keeping ‘workers on the job.’

Leamington will get $41 million to improve wastewater treatment

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services that will support greenhouses in the collection of nutrient-heavy runoff.

Another $53 million will go to projects in the Niagara Region as well as $41 million to develop irrigation pipelines to the region’s farms and agribusinesses.

The chair of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) Steve Peters, lauded the announcement and sees the upgrades in both regions as an opportunity to boost the sector’s resiliency and competitiveness.

Source: Province of Ontario

This book features expanded descriptions of former entries, over 2,000 new species and cultivars, trademark names and patent numbers, as well as all species, subspecies and variety names verified using the GRIN taxonomic data base (germplasm resources information network) and other sources.

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2025 EVENTS greenhousecanada.com

ADVERTISERS INDEX AMA Horticulture ........................................36

SEPTEMBER AGGA MEET-AND-GREET Sept. 3 Calgary, AB GARDEN MUMS OPEN HOUSE – SAWAYA GARDENS Sept. 17 Waterford, ON

Advantage Property Management ...............34 Agrolux .........................................................30 Annex Bookstore..........................................60 Ball FloraPlant .............................................23

E B I R C S B SU TODAY

Ball Seed ........................................................5 Ball Horticultural Company ..........................15 Ben Berg Farm & Industrial Equip. Ltd........22 Berger Peat Moss Ltd. .................................29 CGC Preview .......................................... 37-46 DeCloet Greenhouse Manufacturing Ltd. .. IBC

AGRI-FOOD 2050 Sept. 17 Niagara Falls, ON

Distributions Solida Inc................................11 Enza Zaden Canada Inc. ...............................49 Exacon Inc....................................................28 FarmPeat ........................................................7

ACT QUEBEC GROWER SUMMIT Sept. 23 St. Hyacinthe, QC AMERICANHORT NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE TOUR Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 Baltimore, MD

OCTOBER VERTICAL FARMING WORLD CONGRESS Oct. 7 to 9 Amsterdam, NL CANADIAN GREENHOUSE CONFERENCE Oct. 8 to 9 Niagara Falls, ON

Gavita International BV - agrolux .................30 Greenhouse Canada magazine ....................59 HUB International.........................................53 Jiffy Products of America Inc. / Performa .....9 Koppert Canada Ltd. ....................................27

Name: Business Name:

Lambert Peat Moss Inc. / Tourbieres Lambert Inc. ...............................................................31

Title:

Langendoen Electric.....................................52 Langendoen Mechanical Inc. .......................14 Machinerie S.B. Inc. .....................................56 MasterTag.....................................................56 MAX SOLUTIONS CANADA (PKG) ..............24 N.M. Bartlett Inc. ..........................................54 Natural Insect Control (NIC) ........................30 New Age Laboratories.................................IFC Novozymes BioAg Limited...........................51 Pace Solutions Corp ....................................36 Plant Products........................................11, 17 Prins Greenhouses.......................................21 Prospiant, a Gibraltar Company...................47 Proven Winners, Inc. .............................13, 33 Reef Industries, Inc. .....................................34

GLOBAL PRODUCE AND FLORAL SHOW Oct. 16 to 18 Anaheim, CA IGCA CONGRESS 2025 Oct. 19 to 25 Cape Town, ZA

PLUS TAX US $67.00 (USD) • Foreign $76.00 (USD)

Lallemand Inc. / Plant Care ..........................19

Perlite Canada Inc. .......................................50 INTERNATIONAL PLANT TRIALING CONFERENCE Oct. 13 to 16 Bloomington, MN

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Ridder Beheer B.V. .......................................25 Rijk Zwaan Canada.......................................55 Royal Brinkman Canada...............................22 Schmid Energy Solutions ............................57

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INSIDE VIEW

GARY JONES | greenhousewolf@gmail.com

Age-old question: Cats or dogs?

For many pepper growers, no doubt there may have been a few sleepless nights brought about by the Fusarium issue that has been making its presence known across the globe for the past few years. There’s been lots of great research happening here in Canada, exploring the ‘Fusarium oxysporum species complex’ (FOSC), which particular species/ strains are pathogenic, and which ones may be the cause of this ‘new’ problem. There is plenty more work to be done, but we’re certainly better informed and in a better position to fight it now than we were a couple of years ago.

The pressing need for solutions has spurred investigations and tech developments. In particular, I was interested to read about the ‘Ultramins’ system in Ontario. “We were on the stage of clearing out all our plants after experiencing the devastating impact of an unknown Fusarium species in a previous year. However, we decided to give this new Ultramins system a chance, and what happened next was truly impressive” said Brady Tiessen, owner of C&B Farms in Kingsville, Canada.”1 “Since implementing the USAF™ cavitating

of identifying known LCD-positive trees and skipping negative trees.”…”The only way to determine if a tree is positive, at the moment, is to do a PCR test” says Scott Harper, a plant pathologist at WSU-Prosser.” Like our greenhouse pepper FOSC situation, there are several strains of this insect-transmitted virus, and“by the time symptoms prompt a PCR test, it may be too late.”2 These dogs truly are remarkable. But if they can detect a virus in cherry trees outside, surely they can detect a fungal pathogen in an enclosed greenhouse space? It can’t be too big a step from smelling out underground truffles, after all. And what if these dogs can be trained to detect fungal pathogens (e.g.

FOSC) and insect pests (thrips, aphids) at the same time? And I wonder at what point these dogs can detect the disease? Does it have to be present in the tree, or can they possibly separate infected from noninfected insect vectors (in the case of LCD, apple and grape mealybugs) before infection in the tree occurs?

For our FOSC issue in peppers, could they identify the disease in mature plants, or could they possibly find it in seedlings before planting? Or perhaps, for

‘It can’t be too big a step from smelling out underground truffles, after all.’ ultrasonic transmitters in combination with an ECA treatment system in their irrigation setup, they have observed strong positive effects on their pepper cultivation.”1 ““This system has helped protect our crops, the plants fully recovered, and our last two quarters saw very strong production. Growing on rockwool with this system has resulted in optimal water quality, and our yields have reached their highest levels, leading to excellent production” said Tiessen. Additionally, this setup requires no maintenance and consumes minimal energy.”1 Management of any disease post-infection is one aspect. But early recognition of plant symptoms and pathogen identification is also critical. You may recall some time ago news of dogs being employed to seek out mite infestations in greenhouse crops. Well, it seems dogs can take even this impressive feat to another level. How about this: “A study at Washington State University is sniffing out Little Cherry Disease (LCD) with the help of dogs trained to identify infected trees.”2 Isn’t that just mind-blowing? But look at how good these dogs are: “The two-year research project’…’has seen dogs achieve a 99.72% accuracy rate in terms 62 GREENHOUSE CANADA - September 2025

other seed-borne diseases, as early as in the seeds?

I have nothing against all the cool new technology that is coming down the pipeline almost every day.

But, I wonder, in our world of insatiable appetite for developing and adopting ‘sexy’ technology, are we missing out on some less tech-dependent, highly reliable alternatives? It seems that this month’s column has thrown up more questions than answers. I make no apologies, there are lots of fun and fascinating things happening in our industry, as usual. The final question though is for cat lovers: what opportunities are there for our feline friends to make up ground on these amazing canines?

More information: info@ultramins.com, www.ultramins. com, Publication date: 14 Feb 2025.

2 Payne, Ronda (Feb 2025) “Little Cherry Disease going to the dogs”, ‘Country Life in BC’ newspaper.

1

Gary Jones has worked in many aspects of the horticulture industry in BC, the UK, and elsewhere, and welcomes comments at greenhousewolf@gmail.com.

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