Leamington Grower Summit by ACT

ACT invites you to the 2025 Leamington Grower Summit, a premier event dedicated to advancing the greenhouse industry through knowledge-sharing and collaboration. This year’s theme, Insights and Opportunities for a Changing World: From Growers. For Growers, brings together industry leaders and Leamington growers to share insights, best practices, and strategies for navigating the evolving horticulture landscape. Designed for growers of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and cannabis, this summit is an opportunity to expand expertise, foster innovation, and contribute to the next generation of horticultural excellence.

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

Ron
Ron Lemaire
President at Canadian Produce Marketing Association

The event will open with a Welcome Address by Ron Lemaire, President of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA). He will provide a high-level overview of the Canadian horticulture industry, covering key issues like labor challenges, automation advancements, rebate opportunities, food security, and Canada’s role in the global market.

As CPMA President, Ron represents over 890 member companies, accounting for 90% of fresh produce sales in Canada. His leadership focuses on sustainable food systems, regulatory advocacy, and strengthening global value chains. With 28 years of experience, Ron is a recognized expert in supply chains, sustainability, and industry collaboration, serving as Chair of the Global Coalition for Fresh Produce and a member of the Grocery Code of Conduct Interim Board.

Join us for fireside chats featuring experts from Grodan and Philips LED Lighting and local Leamington growers. Each session highlights practical techniques, the grower’s journey, and advice for success while exploring future trends in horticulture. These inspiring conversations offer real-world solutions and fresh insights for greenhouse growers.

Networking coffee break with refreshments.

Continue the conversation with fireside chats featuring experts from Priva and Svensson paired with Ontario 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: Strawberries and Peppers: The Role of 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 Happy Hour at the Roma Club, with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks courtesy of the ACT Group. Unwind, connect with peers, and continue the day’s conversations. Growers unable to attend earlier sessions are welcome to join—just register for Happy Hour only. See you there!

Join us for an engaging series of fireside chats featuring experts from four leading companies—Grodan, Philips LED Lighting, Priva, and Svensson—alongside experienced Ontario growers. Each session pairs an industry expert with a grower to discuss practical growing techniques, share the grower’s unique story and career journey, and offer valuable advice for fellow growers.

Together, they will explore the future of horticulture, providing insights into emerging trends and opportunities in greenhouse cultivation. Designed to inspire and educate, these conversations are a must-attend for growers seeking real-world solutions and fresh perspectives.

Conversation schedule

1:45PM - 2:15PM Don Courtemanche, Grodan & Jan VanderHout, Beverly Greenhouses

2:15PM - 2:45PM Amos Bassi, Philips LED Lighting & Juan Manuel Lopez Garcia, Great Lakes Greenhouses

3:00PM - 3:30PM Juan Gonzales, Priva & Matt Korpan, Centre for Horticulture Innovation

3:30PM - 4:00PM Paul Arena, Svensson & Andrew Heinen, Ontario Plants

SPECIALIZED FORUM #1

Strawberries and Peppers: The Role of Root Management, Lighting, and Screening

Both strawberries and peppers are seeing an uptick in greenhouse production and with new, disruptive innovations and technologies, these crops present growers with unique opportunities and challenges. This session explores how root zone management, lighting strategies, and advanced screening techniques work together to optimize 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 improve crop quality. Designed for Ontario growers, this session offers practical strategies to boost efficiency and yields.

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.