2025 Keynote Speakers

Anna Testen is a Research Plant Pathologist with USDA-ARS. Her research focuses on improving detection and management of plant diseases in CEA production systems.

One research focus is Pythium root rot management without use of synthetic pesticides in leafy greens and improved detection of Pythium pathogens in hydroponic systems.

Dr. Laura Bautista is the Project Leader of Leafy Crops at Delphy, dedicated to advancing commercial leafy crop production in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). Collaborating with industry partners, she develops and optimizes cultivation strategies, integrates technological innovations, and drives data-driven cultivation. Laura also provides consulting and training to help companies implement research into practice.

She holds a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology and International Agriculture from the Pennsylvania State University (U.S.) and a Bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees in Agricultural Sciences and Engineering from the University of Cordoba (Spain).

Andres Cervantes Garzon works as the Product Specialist for the leafy hydroponics department at Enza Zaden. Andres' background is in plant sciences with a specialization in greenhouse horticulture.

His work focuses on product development of high-tech hydroponic lettuce for different markets namely; USA, Benelux, Scandinavia and Asia. As product specialist, Andres runs second screening trials of renewed and new varieties of CEA lettuce under different climates, systems and hydroponic concepts (such as trio-lettuce, single-head, and high-density lettuce).  

Marco de Bruin is a third-generation greenhouse farm operator from the Netherlands, who studied mechanical engineering and horticultural crop care and business economics. He emigrated to the USA in 1993 and worked for various companies like Colorado Greenhouse, Village Farms, Bushel Boy, and Equilibrium Capital, where he became a partner and co-founder of several projects, including being a principal founder of Revol Greens and more recently co-founding Lettuce Lead.

Marco emphasizes the importance of a “climate whisperer” in greenhouse projects, understanding the interplay of climate, crops, technology, and people. His key achievements include innovations in greenhouse design, production efficiency, and utility savings.

Martin Veenstra is a Consulting Engineer with Certhon. He has a background in physics and optical engineering and over a decade experience in horticultural technology.

As a consulting engineer Martin helps our clients to design an optimally performing horticultural project. With our team of experts we realise our vision: Growing anything, anywhere. For everyone.