Highlights of the Program

2 days business program:

Learn from real-world case studies by industry leaders.

SHOWCASING INNOVATION:

Discover the latest technology and techniques from across the industry.

leaders talk:

Hear from top-level experts about how to stay ahead in a fast-changing industry.

MULTIPLE STREAMS:

A business program that is multi-disciplinary, giving you a broad view of the industry.

SMART TECHNOLOGIES:

Explore the latest smart and AI-driven solutions, and see how they can be used in your business.

roundtable discussion:

Join talks with industry peers. Share ideas, make connections, and find new partners.

Program

Day 1 :
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
REGISTRATION AND MORNING REFRESHMENTS
09:30 - 09:40
OPENING ADDRESS
09:40 - 10:05
CONNECTED, NOT COMPLICATED: RETHINKING MONITORING SYSTEMS IN VERTICAL FARMING
Evija Gosse
Aranet

Evija Gosse

Aranet

  • Debunking myths around wired systems and showcasing the benefits of modern wireless alternatives
  • Exploring how seamless system integration improves efficiency and reduces data fragmentation
  • Demonstrating how real-time wireless data enables holistic, proactive farm management
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON SMART MONITORING IN VERTICAL FARMING SYSTEMS
10:10 - 10:30
SPEED NETWORKING SESSION
  • Exchange business cards and get connected in short one-to-one meetings
  • Start the conversation to arrange a more formal meeting later on in the conference
  • Share your professional background and discuss your biggest business issues – don't forget your business cards!
10:30 - 11:00
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
11:00 - 11:30
PANEL DISCUSSION ON POLICY-DRIVEN SUSTAINABILITY: ALIGNING VERTICAL FARMING AND CEA THROUGH STANDARDS, INCENTIVES, AND MUTUALLY REGENERATIVE PARTNERSHIPS
Speaker ImageSpeaker ImageSpeaker Image
  • Advancing policy-driven sustainability by closing regulatory gaps while strengthening data standards, cybersecurity, and inclusive innovation incentives
  • Building climate-smart CEA workforces through aligned policy incentives, education programs, and interoperable data systems for AI-driven vertical farms
  • Integrating livestock-aligned policy frameworks to position CEA within existing agricultural systems while enabling inclusion of integrated production models

| Mission Critical

| Cal Poly Pomona

| Eleusis Feed

11:30 - 11:55
FIT-THE-FARM LIGHTING: CUSTOM LEDs THAT MATCH YOUR AGRONOMY (NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND)
Brian Bennett
Thrive Agritech

Brian Bennett

Thrive Agritech

  • Showcasing how tailored lighting solutions adapt to each farm’s structure, workflows, and energy needs
  • Illustrating how advanced LED designs improve installation, serviceability, and climate efficiency
  • Sharing case studies on how custom lighting boosts yield, quality, and cost-effectiveness in diverse setups
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON CUSTOM LED LIGHTING FOR FARM-SPECIFIC AGRONOMY
12:00 - 13:30
NETWORKING LUNCH AND VISITING THE VERTICAL FARMING SHOW EXHIBITION
13:30 - 14:00
PANEL DISCUSSION ON AI-POWERED INDOOR AGRICULTURE INTEGRATING SENSORS, AUTOMATION, AND DIVERSE CROPS TO ELEVATE RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND YEAR-ROUND OUTPUTS
Speaker ImageSpeaker ImageSpeaker ImageSpeaker Image
  • Advancing CEA crop breeding and lighting strategies to enhance nutritional value, flavor profiles, and biofortification across diverse indoor crops
  • Integrating AI-driven sensor networks and automation platforms to manage diverse crops while improving energy, water, and nutrient efficiency
  • Leveraging AI-optimized automation and real-time sensor insights to improve product quality and enable affordable adoption for indoor growers

| Thrive Agritech | Moderator

| University of California, Davis

| Cal Poly Pomona

| University of California

14:00 - 14:25
PRECISION NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR CONTROLLED-ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE
Amin Nouri
Thatcher Company

Amin Nouri

Thatcher Company

  • Exploring advanced nutrient formulations designed for vertical farm hydroponics and greenhouse systems
  • Explaining how water chemistry, micronutrient stability, and recirculating systems influence plant performance
  • Demonstrating how tailored nutrient strategies improve crop consistency, resource efficiency, and reliability
14:25 - 14:30
Q&A SESSION ON PRECISION NUTRIENT STRATEGIES IN CEA SYSTEMS
14:30 - 15:00
AFTERNOON COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
15:00 - 15:25
INNOVATIVE OUTDOOR SEMI-TRANSPARENT RETRACTABLE AGRIVOLTAIC SHADE SCREEN: BRIDGING URBAN FARMING AND PROTECTED-ENVIRONMENT GROWING
Grant Johnson
University of California

Grant Johnson

University of California

  • Utilizing adaptive technology for precise light management, optimizing energy generation, and crop yield
  • Measuring electricity yield, plant physiology, crop production, and water savings under PV panels
  • Evaluating the economic and environmental benefits for outdoor and container-grown plants
15:25 - 15:30
Q&A SESSION ON INNOVATIVE AGRIVOLTAIC SHADE SCREEN TECHNOLOGY
15:30 - 15:55
HOW ROUTINE LAB TESTING CAN EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR NUTRIENT SOLUTION IN RECIRCULATING SYSTEMS
Lauren Houston
Jack's Nutrients

Lauren Houston

Jack's Nutrients

  • Understanding the role of water quality in creating effective plant nutrition strategies
  • Tracking nutrient fluctuations to better monitor plant uptake and optimize system efficiency
  • Reducing reservoir changes by maintaining balanced solutions to save both time and costs
15:55 - 16:00
Q&A SESSION ON EXTENDING NUTRIENT SOLUTION LIFE IN RECIRCULATING SYSTEMS
16:00 - 16:25
EVALUATION OF HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILLESS GROWING MEDIA, WITH EMPHASIS ON COCONUT COIR
Bruno Quanquin
Stevens Water Monitoring Systems, Inc.

Bruno Quanquin

Stevens Water Monitoring Systems, Inc.

  • Exploring the rise of soilless media like coconut coir in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) systems
  • Understanding hydrological behavior to optimize irrigation and fertigation strategies
  • Presenting data on water retention, conductivity, and other key hydraulic parameters
16:25 - 16:30
Q&A SESSION ON HYDROLOGICAL STUDY OF COCONUT COIR IN CEA SYSTEMS
16:30 - 17:30
NETWORKING DRINKS RECEPTION
Day 2 :
TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026
09:00 - 09:30
MORNING REFRESHMENTS
09:30 - 09:40
OPENING ADDRESS
09:40 - 10:05
SCALING LOCAL IMPACT: BRIDGING VERTICAL FARMING INNOVATION AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Alex Tyink
Fork Farms

Alex Tyink

Fork Farms

  • Exploring how decentralized growing models complement large vertical farms to expand food access
  • Demonstrating how schools, healthcare, and community sites deploy localized farming systems successfully
  • Presenting collaboration and scaling frameworks that connect agritech innovation with social impact
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON CONNECTING VERTICAL FARMING WITH COMMUNITY IMPACT
10:10 - 10:35
FROM FARM TO SERVER: SECURING SMART AGRICULTURE THROUGH CLOUD-NATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE
Diego Gonzalez
The Cloud Express, S. de R.L. de C.V.

Diego Gonzalez

The Cloud Express, S. de R.L. de C.V.

  • Explaining how real-time monitoring secures thousands of farm sensors without slowing operations
  • Enabling scalable and resilient CEA farm management through hybrid and multi-cloud systems
  • Preparing agriculture data systems for future cyber risks while maintaining compliance and integrity
10:35 - 10:40
Q&A SESSION ON SECURING CLOUD-BASED SYSTEMS IN SMART AGRICULTURE
10:40 - 11:00
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
11:00 - 11:25
RETHINKING LOCAL: HOW WALL-BASED VERTICAL FARMING IS RESHAPING ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD
Rick Langille
Harvest Today

Rick Langille

Harvest Today

  • Exploring how wall-based farms bring food production directly into local communities and schools
  • Highlighting modular, scalable systems that overcome cost and infrastructure challenges
  • Presenting global case studies that showcase future-ready food systems for all environments
11:25 - 11:30
Q&A SESSION ON WALL-BASED FARMING AND LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS
11:30 - 11:55
DEVELOPING A SOFTWARE FOR QUANTIFYING RESOURCE INPUTS AND YIELD IN VERTICAL FARMING
Eshwar Ravishankar
Cal Poly Pomona

Eshwar Ravishankar

Cal Poly Pomona

  • Creating a user-friendly software tool to quantify resource inputs for high-value crops in various climates
  • Simulating internal microclimates and energy costs with a transient energy model
  • Integrating crop growth models to predict yield and resource uptake over multiple growth cycles
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON SOFTWARE FOR QUANTIFYING RESOURCE INPUTS IN VERTICAL FARMING
12:00 - 12:15
FEEDBACK & RAFFLE DRAW
12:15 - 13:30
NETWORKING LUNCH

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