Redefining the future of greenhouse produce

Grownetics

23 May 2026 — 2 min read

10–11, 2026, in Charlotte-Concord, N.C., CEAg World is not a traditional trade show. It is a curated, grower-first gathering designed to prioritize meaningful connections, practical learning, and real business outcomes over scale.

"This event is about delivering practical, proven solutions, from climate and inputs to labor and distribution—so operations can run smarter and more profitably." The conference program features grower-led, practitioner-driven sessions on pressing operational challenges, including climate control, nutrient management, lighting strategies, labor optimization, and farm economics. "As a grower, I learned a ton about how to better position my products to wholesalers and retailers, which will help our business grow even more in 2026.

There was no gatekeeping; only farmers wanting to help one another," said Garrett Corwin, Owner, Piedmont Microgreens, on the 2025 CEAg World Conference & Expo. Related Articles Photoreport: Morocco Tomato Conference 2026 Redefining the future of greenhouse produce Dutch expertise meets ASEAN horticulture needs at Agritechnica & Hortex 2026 The FIFA World Cup is coming up: sign up for the 2026 pool for free Practical solutions to reduce chemical reliance in commercial horticulture Related Articles Coöperatie Hoogstraten excels in strawberries and stands out with innovation University of Lincoln recognized for AI-driven plant science exhibit at Chelsea Flower Show Nigeria: Landmark as TASBISA showcases domestic greenhouse technology Kyrgyzstan: Minister attends agricultural exhibition World Cup pool: Who is your favorite for the title?

Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?

Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.

What is the operator takeaway from this trial?

If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.

"Your biggest long-term cost driver is decided before construction begins"

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Source: VFD.com Controlled Environment Agriculture Alliance Executive Director Tom Stenzel says greenhouse-grown tomatoes should not be in the same category as field-grown. "The market impact on field-grown tomatoes that I have seen, I call the greenhouse revolution, not imports of competitive field-grown product," he says. greenhouse-grown tomatoes

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