Edible flowers. Functional botanicals. Niche herbs. The excitement is real—but what does it actually take to make these crops work commercially?

Building on our Indoor Ag-Con 2026 session, this webinar dives into the operational and business side of specialty crops. Panelists will share real-world insights on yields, labor, pricing, and market demand—plus what’s working, what’s not, and where the biggest opportunities lie.

MODERATOR:

Rebekka Boekhout, Founder, Phyto by RCB

PANELISTS:

Michael Evans, Ph.D. , Professor, Virginia Tech & Co-Director, CEA Innovation Center

Mark Horler, Founder, CEA Proteins

Daniel Kluko, President, Kluko Consulting, LLC

Tomato grafting continues to be debated in greenhouse and controlled environment production as growers weigh disease pressure, rising costs, and evolving production systems. Advances in rootstock breeding and propagation have changed some of the variables, while labor, cost, and operational fit remain real constraints. This moderated panel will examine how growers and technical teams are re-evaluating tomato grafting today, drawing from real commercial experience. Panelists will discuss current performance outcomes, practical limitations, and the decision factors that determine whether grafting makes sense within different production models.

MODERATOR:
Matt Korpan, Executive Director of Research & Innovation, Biophi

PANELISTS:
Ben Pieterse, Sales Manager, Food, TTA-ISO
Hande Saganak, Vegetable Grafting Operation and R&D, The Morning Star Company

Forecasts from Wageningen University & Research and Next Step Solutions indicate the world could face a 40 percent shortage in substrate volume by 2050. Even with expanded production of peat, coir, wood fiber, and other alternatives, demand is outpacing supply. This session brings together leaders from Jiffy, Profile Products, and GyroPlant to examine how the industry can adapt through renewable materials, circular sourcing, and new production methods. Panelists will explore how shifting availability, cost, and sustainability pressures are reshaping one of horticulture’s most essential resources.

MODERATOR
 Kyle Barnett, Program Director, Indoor Ag-Con

PANELISTS:
Jennifer Neujahr, MBA, Founder & Senior Director ,Global Business Development Horticulture, Profile Products
Kyle Freedman, Ph.D., Global Segment Manager CEA, Jiffy Group
Marcus Comaschi, Design Engineer, GyroPlant

Not every farm needs sensors, robots, and seven-figure CapEx to succeed. In this session, growers and advisors who’ve built lean, efficient operations share how to maximize yield and minimize complexity with low-tech setups. Whether you’re growing in ground under cover, using basic automation, or retrofitting existing structures, this panel is all about real-world, replicable strategies that work without overengineering.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Higgins, General Manager, Hort Americas

Aaron Fields, CEO, Campo Caribe

Richard Vollebregt, CEO, Cravo Equipment Ltd.

With major shifts in the space, container farming is at a crossroads. This session brings together active operators to discuss where the model delivers, where it struggles, and how to build resilient businesses in a changing market.

MODERATOR:
Grant Anderson, Owner, Better Fresh Farms

PANELISTS:

Glenn Behrman, Founder & President, CEA Advisors

Matt Daniels, Chief Product Architect, AmplifiedAg, Inc.

Tripp Williamson, President, Vertical Crop Consultants

As Controlled Environment Agriculture scales, the need for meaningful public policy, advocacy, and funding has never been greater. This webinar dives into the role of public affairs in shaping the future of CEA exploring how industry leaders can engage policymakers, align with national priorities, and unlock opportunities through strategic advocacy. Join us for a candid conversation on where we stand, what’s missing, and how we move forward together.

MODERATOR:
Tom Stenzel, Executive Director, CEA Alliance

PANELISTS:

Skip Hulett, Chief Legal Officer, NatureSweet
Colin O’Neil, O’Neil Strategies, LLC
Jed Portman, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, 80 Acres Farms