Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo to feature hydroponic production education sessions

The Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo will feature educational sessions on Advanced Hydroponic Production on Nov. 8 2018. The sessions are as follows:

• Greenhouse Strawberry Production- Physiologies and Technologies for High Quality Fruit Production, Chieri Kubota, The Ohio State University
• Benefits and Risks of a Closed-Loop Irrigation, Rosa E. Raudales, University of Connecticut
• Successfully implementing biocontrol agents (BCAs) in a Pest Management Program, Ronald Valentin, Bioline Agrosciences, Inc.

The following session will take place on Nov. 7, 2018:

• Transforming the Way Food is Grown, Paul Sellew, Little Leaf Farms

Kubota is a professor in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, the Ohio State University. Kubota received Ph.D. in Horticultural Engineering and M.S. in Horticultural Science from Chiba University, Japan. She worked as faculty for six6 years in Chiba University, 16 years in University of Arizona and recently joined the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at the Ohio State University. Her research program focuses on the development of science-based technologies in the area of controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Kubota’s research includes value-added grafting, soilless strawberry production, as well as LED lighting applications.

Raudales is an assistant professor in Plant Science at the University of Connecticut. Raudales received a Ph.D. in Horticulture from the University of Florida, a M.Sc. in Plant Pathology from The Ohio State University, and a B.Sc. in Agricultural Science and Production Systems from Zamorano University. Raudales’ research program focuses on understanding how to use low-quality water for irrigation of greenhouse crops. The Raudales team conducts research on control of plant pathogens in closed-loop hydroponics, evaluating factors that affect clogging of irrigation systems, safe use of reclaimed-water, and water treatment options for control of pathogens, algae, biofilm and residual chemicals. Her research and outreach program address management of biological, chemical and physical parameters in water that affect the plan health and irrigation efficiency of greenhouse crops. Follow Rosa on Instagram @rosaraudales or Twitter @RaudalesLab

Valentin was born in the heart of the greenhouse industry in the Netherlands. His family owned a greenhouse operation and his father started using biological control in 1971. At a very young age, Valentin  developed an interest for the “bugs” and as a teenager; he was managing and producing the biological control agents for the family greenhouse operation. After finishing his education in crop protection management, biochemistry and vegetable production at State Secondary College of Agriculture in De Lier the Netherlands, he embarked on a career in biological control in 1986. Over the years, Valentin has worked with many growers to set up sustainable and effective pest management programs with as a focus to use BCA’s as a first line of defense. Valentin is currently Technical Lead and Commercial Manager for Bioline Agrosciences in North America and Director for Bioline Canada Inc.

Sellew has over 30 years of experience developing and leading successful companies, Sellew has built a career on his belief in sustainable agriculture. As the founder of Backyard Farms, he brought locally-grown tomatoes to the East Coast market. He also founded and served as CEO of Harvest Power, North America's largest processor of organics. Sellew holds a BS in Horticulture from Cornell University.