Connecting research and practice at the 2nd annual CEA Leafy Greens Network Event

On February 27, industry experts will gather in Columbus, Ohio (and online) for the 2nd Annual CEA Leafy Greens Network Event, hosted by The Ohio Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (OHCEAC) and Wageningen University & Research. Among the invited panelists is Amos Bassi, Senior Plant Specialist at Philips Horticulture, who brings an agronomic and data-driven perspective to controlled environment leafy greens production.

"What excites me most is the opportunity to sit at the same table, literally and figuratively, with leading researchers, innovative growers, and technology partners who are all deeply invested in advancing leafy greens production," he says. "This event is particularly valuable as it combines science and practice. It doesn't just showcase research, but connects it directly to real-world production challenges, decision-making, and business realities."

Managing multiple pressures
"Growers are balancing multiple pressures at once: achieving consistent crop quality, managing energy costs, optimizing inputs like light and climate, and maintaining labor efficiency, all while staying profitable in a competitive market," he explains. "Uniformity, predictability, and resilience of production systems remain key challenges, especially as operations scale up and adopt more technology."

As facilities expand and automation increases, variability can have amplified consequences. Consistency in light levels, temperature, and other environmental parameters is essential to maintain crop timing, morphology, and market quality. For many operations, the focus has shifted from maximizing output alone to improving system reliability and repeatability.

LED lighting continues to play a central role in greenhouse leafy greens production, but its function is evolving. "Lighting is becoming less about simply 'providing photons' and more about precision control of plant conditions and responses," Amos says. "We're moving toward dynamic, data-driven strategies based on crop needs, growth stage, and even real-time environmental conditions."

Rather than relying on fixed light recipes, growers are increasingly integrating sensor data and crop insights to adjust intensity and photoperiod in line with plant requirements and energy considerations. "This allows growers to fine-tune quality traits, growth rates, and energy efficiency rather than relying on one-size-fits-all recipes."

For leafy greens, where attributes such as uniformity, color, and texture directly influence marketability, this level of control can contribute to both crop quality and operational efficiency.

© Signify North America
Amos Bassi on the left, and with Dominick DiMucci and Eric Highfield (Haven Greens) on the right

Collaboration as a growth driver
The event's format, which brings together researchers, growers, and technology partners, is, in his view, essential to industry progress. "No single group can solve the industry's challenges alone," he says. "Researchers provide fundamental insights, growers bring practical experience, and technology partners translate both into scalable solutions. When these groups collaborate openly, innovation accelerates, risks are reduced, and adoption of new practices becomes much smoother and more impactful."

He hopes attendees leave with a systems-level perspective. "I hope attendees leave with a clearer understanding of how lighting, climate, genetics, and management interact in leafy greens production," he says. "More importantly, I'd like them to feel empowered with practical ideas they can test or implement in their own operations rather than just theoretical concepts."

"This is one of the few events that truly blends research and industry in a focused way around leafy greens. It's a compact, high-quality day that delivers real value."

For more information:
OHCEAC
www.ohceac.osu.edu