For the second year in a row, Cultivators organized, with the support of GreenTech Americas in Mexico to help lead the conversation around hydroponic leafy greens in Latin America. Together with partners and speakers from across the value…
Published on 16/02/2026
Across the global horticulture sector, leafy greens production is undergoing a fundamental shift. Increasing climate instability, pressure on land and water resources, and rising expectations around food safety and sustainability are rapidly accelerating the move toward controlled environment agriculture. What was once considered a niche or high-risk approach has rapidly become a strategic production model for ensuring a year-round supply of high-quality leafy vegetables.
Open-field production is increasingly exposed to unpredictable weather patterns, extreme temperatures, heavy rainfall events, and prolonged droughts. For leafy crops with short cycles and strict quality requirements, these risks directly affect consistency, yield stability, and market reliability. In response, growers worldwide are investing in greenhouse and indoor hydroponic systems that allow tighter control over climate, nutrition, and crop development.
Beyond climate resilience, hydroponic leafy greens systems offer additional advantages that align with broader societal and market demands. Local production closer to consumption centres reduces transport distances and strengthens supply chain security. Precise nutrient and water management enables significant efficiency gains compared to traditional cultivation methods, while closed systems support reduced pesticide use and improved food safety. At the same time, higher land-use efficiency makes it possible to produce more fresh food with a smaller physical footprint.
As hydroponics and indoor growing mature, the conversation within the industry is changing. The focus is no longer solely on whether controlled environment systems can produce high-quality leafy greens, but on how they can do so reliably, at scale, and under increasing economic pressure. Energy costs, labor availability, system complexity, and return on investment are now central considerations for growers and investors alike.
This transition from innovation to commercial resilience requires more than technology. It demands knowledge exchange across disciplines: genetics, substrates, climate control, lighting, automation, and post-harvest handling must function as integrated systems rather than isolated components. Equally important is the ability for growers to learn from one another, across regions, climates, and production models, about what works, what does not, and where real efficiencies can be achieved.
It is within this evolving industry context that the Leafy Hydroponics Summit (LHS) has positioned itself as a dedicated platform for professional dialogue. Designed as a focused, invitation-only event, LHS brings together commercial growers, technology providers, and industry experts from around the world to discuss the realities of hydroponic leafy greens production under controlled environments.
In 2026, the Leafy Hydroponics Summit will return for its third edition, continuing to build on the momentum of previous years. The central theme for this year’s event is “From Innovation to Resilient Scale”, reflecting the industry’s collective shift toward economically viable, scalable, and sustainable production models. As such, for the first time, an innovation pitch session is organised as well.
The 2026 edition is supported by a group of main and supporting partners representing key segments of the leafy greens value chain, including: BASF | Nunhems, HAWE, KUBO, MechaTronix, Light4Food, JASA, as well as Cultiwool, Urbanati, and Priva. Together, these companies contribute expertise across genetics, propagation, substrates, greenhouse systems, lighting, automation, handling, and packaging, areas that are increasingly interconnected in modern hydroponic operations.
The previous edition of the Leafy Hydroponics Summit demonstrated the value of this focused approach. Last two years, growers and industry professionals from multiple continents gathered in the Netherlands for two days of expert presentations, panel discussions, and greenhouse visits. Topics ranged from sustainability and energy management to crop strategy, automation, and system integration, with open discussion and peer exchange at the core of the program.
Please click here to check the video recap of the 2025 summit, which highlights the atmosphere, content, and collaborative nature of the event.
With climate uncertainty, market pressure, and sustainability targets shaping the future of fresh produce, the need for informed, experience-based dialogue within the leafy greens sector continues to grow. LHS 2026 aims to provide exactly that: a global meeting place for commercial growers and industry stakeholders who are actively shaping the next phase of hydroponic leafy greens production.
The Leafy Hydroponics Summit is invitation-only, with participation limited to ensure meaningful interaction and high-quality discussion. Growers and professionals interested in attending are invited to review the event details and request an invitation. This can be done by clicking here to visit the official LHS 2026 event page. Stay tuned and follow up on social media for the latest news about the LHS and more. Looking forward to meeting you there!