HortiContact 2026 Recap

Ledgnd Reflects on a Successful Edition of HortiContact 2026

HortiContact 2026 at Evenementenhal Gorinchem once again served as a meeting place for the Dutch greenhouse horticulture sector. Ledgnd looks back on two successful exhibition days, during which many conversations were held about data-driven cultivation, plant feedback, and the role of data integration in the greenhouse. The Ledgnd team also welcomed the Kas Werken & Leren Tour, Ramon van de Vrie gave a stage interview with HortiBiz Newsradio, and the Ledgnd team won the award for the highest number of registered visitors.

Visitors at the stand were able to explore the MyLedgnd platform and see how climate data, sensors, and plant feedback are brought together within one integrated data platform. Several sensors were also showcased, including those from Phenovation, Sigrow, Aranet, Sendot, and Wireless Value.

According to the team, many of the discussions revolved around one central question: how do you translate large amounts of greenhouse data into practical steering information for cultivation?

Stage Interview on Plant Control: Google Translate for Plants

Another highlight of the exhibition was a stage interview on HortiBiz News Radio, where Ledgnd director Ramon van de Vrie discussed the development of data-driven cultivation and the shift from traditional climate control to cultivation based on plant feedback.

According to Van de Vrie, the foundation of cultivation decisions is gradually changing: “We still use a lot of climate data, but we now link it to plant data. You could say we act as a kind of Google Translate for plants.”

Where growers traditionally steer based on temperature, humidity, and CO levels, more₂ information is now coming directly from the plant itself through sensors and plant measurements. By combining this data with climate data, growers can better understand how their crops respond to the microclimate within the greenhouse.

According to Van de Vrie, the challenge is not so much collecting data, but translating that data into practical actions. “The real difference is not in measuring, but in understanding what the data means for your cultivation strategy.”

Read & Listen to the full interview here

Kas Werken & Leren Tour

In addition to conversations with growers, the exhibition also focused on knowledge sharing and inspiring young talent. Ledgnd participated in the Kas Werken & Leren Tour, an initiative that introduces horticulture students to companies within the sector.

During the tour, approximately fifty students from the Horticulture & Agribusiness program at Inholland Delft visited the Ledgnd stand.

Plant physiologist Thijmen Calis and colleague Koen van Lith shared their personal stories about working and learning at Ledgnd. For the students, this provided a concrete insight into potential career paths within both Ledgnd and the greenhouse horticulture sector.

Interview with RoboCrops on Automation

During the exhibition, Van de Vrie was also interviewed by the platform RoboCrops about the role of automation in greenhouse horticulture.

In that conversation, he emphasized that the sector is still at the early stages of true automation based on plant feedback. By combining data from sensors and climate computers, growers can better understand how their crops respond to environmental conditions and translate these insights into concrete steering actions.

According to Van de Vrie, trust in data is a crucial factor. “Only when growers truly trust their data will they allow automation to take a real role in their cultivation.” Once that trust is established, the next step can be taken: moving from simply collecting data to actively steering cultivation based on plant responses.

Winner of the Most Exhibition Registrations

The exhibition delivered an additional achievement for Ledgnd. Thanks to the large number of visitors who registered for HortiContact via Ledgnd’s registration link, Ledgnd won a free 24 m² stand for HortiContact 2027.

Winning this award highlights the growing interest within the sector in data-driven cultivation and data integration.

The Growing Importance of Data-Driven Cultivation

Looking back at the exhibition, Ledgnd notes that digitalization within greenhouse horticulture continues to accelerate. More technologies and sensors are becoming available, while at the same time the need for clear data interpretation and overview is increasing.

According to the company, this is where data integration platforms such as MyLedgnd play an important role: bringing together data from multiple sources and translating it into understandable insights for growers.

As Van de Vrie summarizes: “If you understand how the plant feels, you can steer much more accurately. Ultimately, that is the next step in data-driven cultivation.”

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