In a showcase of collaboration, the inaugural Nordic Horti Forum brought together Scandinavian growers in Malmö to discuss Energy & Growing and Data & Growing. Over two days, experts shared insights on climate control, plant growth, and the integration of AI technology. The event's first edition was met with a lot of appreciation from the attending growers.
Plant empowerment revolution
There were several highlights and takeaways during the two days of the Nordic Horti Forum, which is an initiative by Biobest, Philips Lighting, Svensson, Grodan, and BASF Nunhems. Ton Habraken from Svensson introduced a new approach to sustainable cultivation—Plant Empowerment. Rolf Westerholm from BASF Nunhems illustrated its practical applications with a case study, about an autonomous and data-driven lettuce trial in 2018 followed by a GPE trial in tomatoes seasons 2019-2021 and trials in cucumbers 2021-2023. Learning points from the trials were to trust your data, do what the data tells you, and don't hold back.
Jakob Wenz from Biobest showed in a presentation titled "More with less " the ongoing innovation of the automated scouting system Trap-eye and the challenges that needed to be tackled. The 40 cameras per ha deliver finely grained pest data especially whitefly to your computer without any additional work; allowing you to apply your beneficials where your pest problems really are and observe on the same dashboard how your past measures work. Enabling growers to have a deeper look into their crops in an intuitive way without needing outside consultants is the goal that was achieved. The effect of sleeping better is priceless.
AI: The future of growing
One of the standout moments came from Swedish AI expert Amer Mohammed, who led a captivating discussion on how artificial intelligence is transforming horticulture. Another highlight of the first day was the panel discussion on the practicalities of Data & Growing in Nordic horticulture. Mads Ulrik Pedersen (Nordic Greens A/S), Roy Rosendahl (Klagtorps Gurkodling AB), and Ville Lethopolu (Agrifutura Oy) spoke about how they integrated data into their processes, answered questions from the audience, and explained the challenges of growing in the colder climate of Scandinavia.
Insights from the latest research
Day one concluded with a thought-provoking presentation by Leo Marcelis from Wageningen University & Research on the future of cultivation, followed by an engaging dinner where attendees networked and exchanged ideas.
LED Lighting Advantages
The second day featured Jos Beerens from Grodan and Philips experts Stiina Kotiranta and Niko Grönberg, who shared remarkable trial results showcasing how to grow tomatoes with low energy input using the climate, lighting, and irrigation strategy. Ruud Brouwer from WA3RM followed this up with a presentation on how greenhouses can effectively address the issue of excess industrial heat in Scandinavia, paving the way for sustainable practices. Finally, Ton Habraken wrapped up the forum with an enlightening session on innovative energy-saving methods, reinforcing the commitment to sustainable horticulture.
Valuable takeaways
Participants left with valuable insights and connections, equipping them to tackle the rising challenges in the industry. The Nordic Horti Forum boosted collaboration and knowledge exchange, fostering community among Scandinavian growers. The next Nordic Horti Forum will take place on 29 and 30 October 2025. Details will be announced closer to the time.
With future editions planned throughout Scandinavia, the forum aims to be a cornerstone for knowledge sharing and collaboration, empowering regional growers to navigate emerging challenges in horticulture.
For more information, contact:
Grodan
Frank Janssen
[email protected]
Philips
Henrik Norgaard
[email protected]
Niko Gronberg
[email protected]
BASF / Numhems
Rolf Westerholm
[email protected]
Biobest
Anastasiia Shermentova
[email protected]
Martin Lemche
[email protected]
Svensson
Jorn Rosager
[email protected]
Ton Habraken
[email protected]