Published on 22/06/2026
For the third consecutive year, Cultivators welcomed growers, technology providers, researchers, investors, and industry partners from across Europe and beyond for the Leafy Hydroponics Summit. What began as an initiative to connect professionals in a rapidly developing sector has grown into a unique international gathering dedicated entirely to hydroponic leafy greens production.
Held on June 15–16 in the Netherlands, this year’s summit brought together professionals from across the value chain for two days of knowledge sharing, technical insights, open discussions, networking, and company visits. Participants represented genetics, greenhouse technology, lighting, automation, substrates, cultivation systems, climate control, packaging, and crop management, reflecting both the diversity and growing maturity of the hydroponic leafy greens industry.
More importantly, the event once again created something that is often difficult to achieve in a fast-growing sector: meaningful conversations between people facing similar challenges and opportunities. Throughout the two days, participants exchanged experiences, shared lessons learned, and explored how collaboration can help accelerate the development of the industry.
The first day opened with a welcome from Cultivators, followed by a full conference programme at Van der Valk Hotel Delft A4.
The morning focused on market developments, project planning, and business growth. Carlos Umaña of BASF | Nunhems shared valuable insights from more than a decade of teen leaf production in North America and explored how those lessons could support the continued development of European markets. David Riseborough of KUBO Greenhouse Projects followed with practical considerations for planning successful leafy greens projects, highlighting the importance of strategic preparation and long-term thinking.
Beyond technology and infrastructure, several discussions focused on the people behind successful businesses. Keynote speaker Sandra Kalcik addressed leadership as a key driver of growth, reminding participants that organisations often develop only as far as their leadership allows. Her presentation sparked valuable conversations about company culture, team development, and decision-making within growing businesses.
Technology and innovation remained central themes throughout the day. Discussions covered LED lighting, floating systems, automation, greenhouse design, propagation strategies, and scalable production methods. Together, the sessions highlighted how rapidly hydroponic leafy greens cultivation continues to evolve and how closely technology, crop performance, and operational efficiency have become connected.
After lunch, Cultivators’ Eelke Hempenius presented From Concept to Crop: Establishing a Hydroponic Leafy Greens Operation, connecting the many technical and operational elements required to successfully move from an idea to a functioning production facility.
The afternoon then took a more interactive turn. Participants exchanged notebooks for company-branded caps and hats during the LHS Quiz, using a simple “hat on, hat off” format to answer yes-or-no questions. The room quickly filled with laughter, friendly competition, and a few surprising answers. The eventual winner took home a bottle of wine and chocolates, but the real reward was the energy and engagement the activity brought to the event.
Artificial intelligence emerged as one of the most discussed topics of the day. During an interactive session led by Joost Somford of JASA Packaging Solutions, participants openly shared their experiences, expectations, and questions regarding AI applications within the leafy greens sector. Discussions ranged from post-harvest automation and packaging processes to operational efficiency and future opportunities. Rather than a traditional presentation, the session became a valuable exchange of perspectives and demonstrated how quickly AI is moving from a future concept to a practical consideration for many businesses.
The conference programme concluded with a series of innovation pitches showcasing emerging developments within the industry. Nicole Kuleshova Shalumov introduced the Leafy Hydroponic Consortium and its ambition to bring research closer to commercial practice. Bram Meulblok of HelioSense presented the potential of real-time plant biofeedback, while Thijs Kapteijns of N2 Applied shared a new perspective on nitrogen management within hydroponic systems.
The day ended with drinks, dinner, and networking, allowing conversations that had started during the presentations to continue in a more informal setting. As is often the case, many of the most valuable exchanges happened between sessions, around tables, and during conversations between professionals eager to learn from one another.
While the conference sessions provided plenty of ideas and inspiration, the second day focused on seeing innovation in action.
Participants were divided into groups and visited several leading companies within the sector, including BASF | Nunhems, Beekenkamp, KUBO, Deliflor, and Priva. The visits offered firsthand insights into breeding programmes, propagation facilities, research greenhouses, automation technologies, and vertical farming systems.
Moving from conference discussions into real production and research environments allowed attendees to experience many of the concepts discussed during the previous day in practice. The visits also created further opportunities for open discussions, technical questions, and peer-to-peer learning.
By combining conference presentations with company visits, the summit reinforced one of its core objectives: connecting knowledge with practice and creating opportunities for meaningful exchange across the industry.
One of the clearest takeaways from this year’s summit was that no single company can drive the development of the hydroponic leafy greens sector alone. Progress increasingly depends on collaboration between breeders, growers, technology providers, researchers, investors, and industry partners.
With participants travelling from multiple countries across Europe and beyond, the summit once again demonstrated the growing international interest in hydroponic leafy greens production. The diversity of backgrounds and experiences contributed to open discussions and valuable exchanges throughout both days.
For Cultivators, the summit is about more than organising an annual event. It is about creating a platform where people from different parts of the industry can come together, share knowledge, challenge ideas, and build relationships that continue long after the event itself.
We would like to thank all speakers, partners, sponsors, and participants for their enthusiasm, openness, and willingness to share their expertise. The energy and engagement throughout the summit once again confirmed the value of bringing this community together.
We are already looking forward to welcoming everyone back for the next edition.
For more information about the Leafy Hydroponics Summit, please visit the event webpage.
We are already looking forward to welcoming everyone back for the next edition! For more information, please check the event webpage here.