British Columbia Grower Summit

Insights and Opportunities for a Changing World
From Growers. For Growers.

April 24, 2025 | Surrey, British Columbia
Join us for the 2025 British Columbia Grower Summit, hosted by ACT, a premier event dedicated to advancing the greenhouse industry through collaboration and knowledge-sharing. This year’s theme, Insights and Opportunities for a Changing World: From Growers. For Growers, brings together industry leaders and British Columbia growers to exchange insights, share best practices, and explore strategies for thriving in an ever-evolving horticultural landscape.
 

Tailored for growers of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and cannabis, this summit offers a unique opportunity to deepen your expertise, spark innovation, and help shape the future of horticulture.

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Why attend the grower summit?

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Expert guidance

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Fresh inspiration

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Industry connections

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Educational growth

Schedule of Events

Registration for the British Columbia Grower Summit opens at 12:00PM, and we will serve lunch for all attendees until 1:00PM.

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Greg Palmer
VP of Trade & Market Development at Canadian Produce Marketing Association

 

We will kick off the event with a Welcome Address by Greg Palmer offering a high-level overview of the current state of British Columbia's horticulture industry. This keynote will explore key topics shaping the industry today, including labor challenges, advancements in automation, opportunities through regional rebate programs, the increasing focus on food security, and British Columbia’s growing role in the global horticultural market.

 

Greg Palmer is the VP of Trade & Market Development with the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA). Greg brings a wealth of experience in retail, having held procurement roles at both Loblaw and Costco Canada. His expertise spans produce procurement, quality control, and food safety. Greg holds a BSc. in Biology and Psychology from Dalhousie University, along with a certificate in Animal Behaviour.  In 2023, Greg was recognized with the Young Professional Award by the CPMA. Greg is also a CPMA Passion for Produce Alumni (2022), completed IFPA's year-long Young Leaders Development course in 2024 - further highlighting his dedication and accomplishments in the Fresh Produce industry. In his role at CPMA, Greg can often be found at conventions and trade shows promoting Canadian produce and encouraging others to do business in the Canadian marketplace. When he's not thinking about all things produce, he can be found performing, binge watching TV or cooking up a storm. 

Join us for fireside chats with experts from Grodan and Philips LED Lighting, alongside local British Columbia growers. Each session showcases practical techniques, the grower’s personal journey, and valuable advice for success, all while exploring future trends in horticulture. These engaging conversations provide real-world solutions and fresh insights tailored for greenhouse growers.

Networking coffee break with refreshments.

Continue the conversation with fireside chats featuring experts from Priva and Svensson paired with British Columbia growers. 

Networking coffee break with refreshments.

Take advantage of this exclusive opportunity to pre-register for one of two specialized forums tailored to your interests and challenges. Choose between one of the two forums below:

  • Specialized Forum #1: Optimizing Vine Crop Production through Root Management, Lighting, and Screening 
    Speakers: To be announced

  • Specialized Forum #2: Autonomous Greenhouse Cultivation: Revolutionizing Efficiency and Sustainability in Horticulture
    Speakers: To be announced

These in-depth sessions provide actionable insights and expert guidance to help you succeed. Be sure to select your session during registration to secure a tailored and impactful experience.

A brief wrap-up to highlight key takeaways from the day and address audience questions.

Join us for Happy Hour at the Northview Golf & Country Club, featuring complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks, courtesy of the ACT Group. Relax, network with peers, and keep the day’s conversations flowing. Didn’t attend the earlier sessions? No problem—growers are welcome to register for Happy Hour only. We look forward to seeing you there!

Conversations in Cultivation:
Real Solutions for Efficient Growing

Join us for an insightful panel session featuring British Columbia growers. During this session, we will delve into practical growing techniques, share the grower’s unique story and career journey, and provide actionable advice for fellow growers.

Thesis session will explore the future of horticulture, offering valuable insights into emerging trends and opportunities in greenhouse cultivation. Designed to educate and motivate, this series is a must-attend for growers looking for real-world solutions and fresh perspectives.

CUSTOM LEARNING TRACKS
Choose your own specialized forum

Take advantage of this exclusive opportunity to pre-register for one of two in-depth sessions designed to address your specific interests and challenges. Whether you want to explore advanced techniques for optimizing strawberry and pepper cultivation or delve into innovative strategies to enhance greenhouse operations, these specialized forums offer actionable insights and expert guidance.

Make your selection during registration to ensure a tailored and meaningful experience.

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SPECIALIZED FORUM #1

Optimizing Vine Crop Production Through Root Management, Lighting, and Screening

Vine crops are experiencing a rise in greenhouse production, offering growers unique opportunities and challenges with the help of new, disruptive technologies. This session explores how root zone management, lighting strategies, and advanced screening techniques can work together to optimize vine crop production. Learn how to balance light, temperature, and humidity with energy-efficient screens, manage moisture, nutrients, and pH in the root zone for healthy growth, and leverage tailored light recipes and LEDs to enhance crop quality. Designed for growers in British Columbia, this session provides practical strategies to boost efficiency and yields.

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SPECIALIZED FORUM #2

Empowering the Grower: Unlock the full potential of your greenhouse data for predictive and sustainable cultivation

In today's rapidly evolving horticulture industry, data has become the key to unlocking unprecedented efficiency and sustainability, with Autonomous Greenhouse Cultivation leading the transformation through cutting-edge technologies like advanced climate controls, AI-driven analytics, and precision resource management. This session, hosted by Dirk Prins from Priva, along with special guest speakers from IUNU and Blue Radix, will empower growers to harness greenhouse data. Learn how to turn insights into actionable strategies to maintain control, achieve predictable and profitable large-scale cultivation, and deliver consistent, high-quality crops.

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Keep the conversation going at Happy Hour

Join us for a Happy Hour with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks, provided by the ACT Group. We also welcome growers who were unable to attend the educational sessions to join us for the happy hour only - please just complete a registration form stating you will only join for happy hour.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Share your experience with the horticulture community

#ACTGrowerSummit

   

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ACT is a collaboration of industry-leading companies, providing premium services and products for the horticulture industry. We partner to bring together industry suppliers and growers to provide networking opportunities and education on the latest cutting-edge technologies and best practices.