Controlled environment horticulture conference set for Dec. 5 in Dallas

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host the sixth annual Controlled Environment Horticulture Conference on Dec. 5 in Dallas.

The event will be held from 8 a.m.-4:50 p.m. in the Water Education Building at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas, 17360 Coit Road. 

There will also be a round-table discussion from 3:20-4:50 p.m. on challenges and opportunities of strawberry production in greenhouses and high tunnels. The discussion will be moderated by Nathan Howell, Ph.D., West Texas A&M University associate professor of environmental engineering, Canyon.

The round-table discussion will be followed by a tour of the greenhouse to see the latest research in hydroponics and aquaponics. The event will conclude with a dinner and reception following the tour. 

The conference will feature in-person and virtual participation options. Registration cost is $150 for in-person attendance, which includes coffee, donuts and lunch, and $100 for the virtual option. A discounted rate of $50 is available for qualified students. 

To register, visit tx.ag/6thControlledEnvironmentHortConference.

Conference geared toward new, experienced growers

The conference is geared toward both new and experienced growers interested in specialty crop production in a controlled environment system who want to learn more about the basics of crop production. 

“We have assembled a great lineup of controlled environment horticulture experts from Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, Arizona State University and Hort Americas, along with speakers from Texas A&M University,” said Joe Masabni, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulture specialist and assistant professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Dallas. 

Speakers and topics

Topics will include the following:

• Electric lighting to regulate crop growth and development in controlled environments, Erik Runkle, Ph.D., professor, Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University.
• Strawberry propagation in controlled environments: research updates, challenges and opportunities – Ricardo Hernandez, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences, North Carolina State University.
• Hydroponic strawberry production: optimizing root environment to maximize quality and yield – Karla Garcia, Hort Americas.
• Optimizing hydroponic conditions for indoor strawberry production – Yujin Park, Ph.D., assistant professor, School of Applied Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University.
• Organic lettuce production – Jun Liu, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research post-doctoral researcher under Genhua Niu, Ph.D., AgriLife Research and Department of Horticultural Sciences professor of urban agriculture, Dallas.
• Integrated pest management under controlled environment – Arash Kheirodin, Ph.D., assistant professor, Texas A&M Department of Entomology, Dallas.

For questions or more information, contact Masabni at [email protected].