Resources from the greenhouse mini conference
Thank you to all 130 people that attended the very first mini conference for the NZ greenhouse industry. It was great to gather, share knowledge and learn a few things along the way!
Below are the presentations that our speakers talked through. There are also some resources that are relevant listed below.
If you have feedback (e.g. topics, speakers) for a future event, please just get in touch dinah.cohen@tomatoesnz.co.nz
The programme for the 2026 mini conference was:
1. Ground-sourced heat for horticulture: can it add up? Exploring the barriers to uptake - Helen Barnes, Earth Sciences NZ, and Yale Carden, GeoExchange NZ
2. Making Every Drop Count: Practical Land Application of Drain Nutrient Solution - Andrew Barber, AgriLink
3. Growing with AI - Stefan Vogrincic, Grower2Grower / The NZ Covered Crop website
4. Resistance Management in the Protected Crop Paradox: When ideal conditions favour fungal diseases - Francis Ferrada-Hartley, Master of Science student, Massey University - Bioeconomy Science Institute
5. IPM discussion block: Whitefly and greenhouse thrips control - Robert Lindsay, cucumber grower and Daniel Sutton, NZVeg R&D Manager
6. How plant growth is impacted by humidity control - Arlet Dechering, Delphy Academy, the Netherlands
Some useful resources linked to the presentations:
The Geoheat Mapping tool can be found on this website page - use this to see how warm the underground water is near your site. Even with 17 degrees, it is worth exploring as an option for heating, no matter what fuel type you currently use. Contact Yale Carden at GeoExchange NZ to ask more about Geoheat. Email Yale here
IPM guidance, developed for the greenhouse tomato industry but with relevant tips and tricks for all, is on this page
The Drain Nutrient Management Cope of Practice booklet is here on the HortNZ website
The Drain Nutrient Management workbook is here
There is also an abridged 4 page version of the Code Of Practice for download below
Thank you to all our sponsors for supporting our event
Including: Horticentre Charitable Trust; MG Group; FruitFed Supplies; EcoAgro; Zonda and Enza Zaden