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 23/03/2026
As greenhouse production continues to expand worldwide, growers increasingly rely on horticultural consultancy to achieve stable yields, consistent quality, and efficient operations. In Japan, Zebra Greens partnered with Cultivators’ experts to support the development and optimization of their hydroponic leafy greens production through structured training, technical guidance, and ongoing greenhouse cultivation support.
This collaboration demonstrates how targeted knowledge transfer and long-term horticultural advisory support can help growers successfully operate modern controlled environment agriculture (CEA) facilities.
The cooperation between Cultivators and Zebra Greens began with an extensive training program designed to build a strong foundation in hydroponic leafy greens cultivation. To ensure practical relevance and effective learning, the training was delivered through multiple formats:
The program covered the entire cultivation cycle, including crop planning, climate management, irrigation and nutrient strategy, hygiene protocols, and harvest quality. In parallel, Cultivators provided technical guidance on greenhouse systems, equipment, and cultivation technologies, ensuring alignment between technical performance and crop needs.
Investing in high-tech greenhouses demands significant capital, making a successful launch critical for long-term profitability. Production losses during the startup phase can rarely be fully recovered, making a smooth and efficient beginning essential.
No new greenhouse starts without challenges; technical or managerial issues are inevitable. The key to success lies in having a well-prepared team capable of identifying and adapting to these potential setbacks.
Before introducing plants, Cultivators guided the Zebra Greens team through a structured startup process, ensuring that all technical equipment connected to the climate computer was thoroughly tested for functionality. While this may seem obvious, it is often overlooked when installation schedules are tight and equipment is installed in phases. The pressure to meet final delivery deadlines can easily lead to rushed completion. To avoid complications, Cultivators recommends testing every system as early as possible during the commissioning phase. Ensuring alignment between computer settings and equipment performance is crucial; Cultivators therefore recommends conducting at least two “dry runs” to verify that everything operates as intended.
The same principle applies to process-related tasks such as pot filling, precision seeding, substrate wetting, and material routing within the facility. Each step must be meticulously checked to ensure smooth operations.
A well-instructed workforce is vital for a seamless startup. Clearly define roles and responsibilities, and ensure your team understands potential issues from the outset. Awareness of potential issues enables timely and effective action.
By addressing these factors early in the project, growers can move more quickly toward stable production and profitability.
A key focus of Cultivators’ horticultural consultancy approach is strengthening internal team capabilities. For Zebra Greens, this meant not only understanding crop physiology but also developing confidence in daily decision-making and operational workflows.
As part of this process, Cultivators trained the Zebra Greens team in key cultivation competencies, including:
By embedding knowledge within the organization, Zebra Greens builds long-term resilience and reduces dependency on external intervention.
To maintain stable production, predictable yields, and consistent quality, Cultivators continues to support Zebra Greens through biweekly greenhouse cultivation support sessions.
During these sessions, both teams review:
This structured, ongoing support allows for early identification of risks and continuous optimization of the cultivation strategy, ensuring that performance improvements are sustained over time.
Together with the Zebra Greens team, Cultivators acts as a long-term horticultural partner, combining hands-on training with strategic greenhouse cultivation consulting. This partnership supports Zebra Greens in moving confidently from project development to stable commercial greenhouse operation, while continuously refining their hydroponic production system.
Zebra Greens is an innovative grower in Japan focused on sustainable vegetable production and high-quality produce. More information about their activities can be found at https://www.zebragreens.jp/en/
At Cultivators, we believe that long-term success in controlled environment agriculture is built on knowledge, structure, and consistent decision-making. Our collaboration with Zebra Greens shows how horticultural consultancy, greenhouse training, and ongoing cultivation support can help growers improve yield stability, crop quality, and operational efficiency.
Whether you are developing a new greenhouse project or looking to optimize an existing hydroponic operation, Cultivators supports growers worldwide with practical, crop-driven expertise tailored to their goals.
Interested in improving yield, crop quality, and operational efficiency in your greenhouse operation? Contact the Cultivators team to schedule an introductory call and explore how our horticultural consultancy services can support your cultivation facility.
