Archives: Speakers

Executive Editor, U.S. Horticulture Group
Meister Media Worldwide

Jones has 20 years of experience covering the commercial U.S. fruit, vegetable, greenhouse ornamental, and garden retail markets for Meister Media Worldwide’s horticulture brands. As Executive Editor he has responsibility for overall print, digital, and event content for the American Fruit Grower, Western Fruit Grower, American Vegetable Grower, Greenhouse Grower, Greenhouse Grower TECHNOLOGY, and Florida Grower brands. Jones is active with BPIA and has been a leader in developing Meister Media’s biocontrols coverage and events over the last several years. He has a BBA from Southern Methodist University.

Editor, American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower magazines, and Senior Editor, American Vegetable Grower magazine

Eddy is Editor, American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower magazines, and Senior Editor, American Vegetable Grower magazine, also published by Meister Media Worldwide, and frequent contributor to the magazines’ associated website, www.GrowingProduce.com. A native Minnesotan who grew up on the East Coast, Dave is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He is based in Modesto, CA.

Manager, Technical Development, The Sustainability Consortium (TSC)

Amanda joined The Sustainability Consortium in 2012. In her current role as Manager, Technical Development, her duties include aligning sustainability metrics, tools, and reporting systems across a number of agricultural initiatives; improving communication and data flow across the food supply chain; and leading research for the Food, Beverage, and Agriculture sector. Previously, she facilitated a national effort to develop standards for sustainable agriculture and played an instrumental role in engaging a wide range of agricultural interests in making commitments to sustainability. Amanda grew up on a dairy farm and is committed to helping farmers navigate sustainability opportunities and challenges while also improving their livelihoods.

The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) is a global organization transforming the consumer goods industry to deliver more sustainable consumer products. We are dedicated to improving the sustainability of consumer products. Our Members and partners include manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, service providers, NGOs, civil society organizations, governmental agencies and academics. Each member brings valuable perspectives and expertise. TSC convenes our diverse stakeholders to work collaboratively to build science-based decision tools and solutions that address sustainability issues that are materially important throughout a product’s supply chain and lifecycle. TSC also offers a portfolio of services to help drive effective implementation.

President and Owner of Applied Bio-nomics Ltd

Brian Spencer is President and Owner of Applied Bio-nomics Ltd. Spencer has a B.S. in Microbiology form the University of British Columbia. Prior to joining Applied Bio-nomics, Spencer worked for several years in the wine industry as a winemaker and in production, quality control, and management. Spencer has served on the ANBP Board of Directors since 2000, and is currently President of the Board.

Applied Bio-nomics Ltd. is an industry leading beneficial insectary based in Victoria, BC. It was the first company to introduce growers to many now familiar products, including Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Hypoaspis), Stethoros puntillum, and Delphastus catalinae. Its products are used in a variety of crops including fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, and hops, as well as in butterfly conservatories, and are equally suited to outdoor gardens and glasshouses.

Executive Director, Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers (ANBP)

Lynn received her Ph.D. in entomology with a concentration in biological control from the University of California-Riverside in 1985.  She spent the next 17 years with the University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, and left in 2002 as Assistant Director for Research.  After serving as the Academic Coordinator for the Center for Biological Control, UC-Berkeley, she became the Executive Director for the Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers (ANBP) in 2008.

The Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers (ANBP) is a professional, non-profit association representing the biological pest management industry. Augmentative biological control utilizes beneficial insects, mites and nematodes to manage agricultural, horticultural and plant pests. ANBP membership includes producers, distributors, and in addition, users of natural enemies as well as allied industry supporters, university researchers, extension agents and regulatory representatives. ANBP’s mission is to address key issues of the augmentative biological control industry through advocacy, education, and quality assurance.

Owner / Grower – Thiel’s Greenhouses and Nadine’s Fresh Food Scene

With a life long passion for horticulture and an entrepreneurial drive, Nadine purchased Thiel’s Greenhouses in 2010, embracing the challenge of a new career. Producing spring ornamentals for the wholesale and retail markets in Alberta, Canada, she is now expanding into hydroponic greens.

In 2014 Nadine was awarded the AGGA Greenhouse Grower of the Year for her enterprising spirit and business growth. In 2016 she was honored with the Fort Saskatchewan International Women’s Day award for Business & Entrepreneurship. Nadine’s passion for all things green, healthy living, growing clean, educating others and community partnerships is forefront in both her business and her life.

She is an advocate for biocontrol and often downright pushy with her opinions, not fully understanding why EVERYONE isn’t embracing the good bugs battle!

Located in east central Alberta Canada, Thiel’s Greenhouses is just over 55,000 sq ft and growing for the spring ornamental season. It’s a production, wholesale, and retail facility from propagation to finish and consist of ornamentals, potted plants, hanging baskets and container gardens. With two seasonal retail locations and wholesale vendors, customers source plants that are grown utilizing a strong IPM program. Nadine is committed to using biocontrol and is on a constant quest to learn, teach, share and promote #growclean best practice methods.

Current new project: Expanding the business into fresh food production – to grow greens and herbs for the local food market – to provide a healthy option that is accessible to more northern consumers.

Director Research & Development, J&D Produce, Inc.

Dr. Lazcano has a college degree from Monterrey Institute of Technology in Mexico in Agricultural Engineering. He worked on his own farm for 6 years before attending Texas A&M University where he graduated with a Ph.D. in Horticultural Sciences and Vegetable Production. Dr. Lazcano has been Director of Research & Development for J&D Produce, Inc. in South Texas for 18 years. He is responsible for development of new areas and crops for J&D Produce, as well as production protocols. Also, as part of his duties, he is in charge on all areas of production of the company in the US, Mexico and South America.  Also, he works closely with growers, government agencies, private fertilizer and pesticide companies and Universities in the search to develop the best production protocols for desired areas. Currently, he works with 35 crops and specialized on sweet onions.

J&D Produce, Inc. is a family owned company in South Texas where has been in operation for 30 years. It grows 35 crops on 7,500 acres in the US, Mexico and South America. J&D Produce is a grower, packer and distributor of fresh greens and vegetables. For our company the goals of quality produce and service are first and foremost. Little Bear Brand produce prides itself in providing chain stores in the US and Canada with not only the most nutritious, but the freshest and safest produce available.  J&D Produce, invests in new technologies that maintain the soil strength, high value genetics and partners with growers in the Americas to provide quality consistency to our customers year round.

Biological Crop Protection Specialist, Biobest USA Inc.

Paul Koole joined the Biobest team in 2010 as a Biological Crop Protection Specialist for growers in Western USA and Canada. 30 years of co-managing Apko Nurseries Ltd in British Columbia provided him with the knowledge and experience he now uses to help growers.  His extensive involvement in the industry allows him to support sustainable growing practices, using beneficial insects for pest management and bumble bees for pollination. In January of 2017 Paul became the North American Technical Team Coordinator, to help build the ever growing team of Biobest technical representatives in both Canada and the US. Paul lives in British Columbia with his wife, and enjoys the outdoors.

As the first company ever to commercially supply bumblebees in 1987, Biobest continues to lead the way in bumblebee pollination. Biobest offers more bumblebee species to deal with pollination needs in various parts of the world than any other supplier. Natural pollination goes hand in hand with biological control of pests and diseases, so using our biological solutions make for a strong first line of defense in Integrated Pest Management. With a presence in more than 50 countries worldwide Biobest also invests considerable resources in R&D to guarantee that it’s solutions include the latest technological innovations: think Nutrimite^TM and Flying Doctors^®, for example. Finally, Biobest prides itself in offering growers custom solutions for every project. Count on Biobest for technical advice and close follow-up – wherever your business is located.

Field R&D Manager, Trécé Inc.

Higbee is Field R&D Manager for Trécé Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in insect pheromone and kairomone products. After graduating from the University of California, Irvine, he began his career as a technician with the USDA-ARS in Yakima, WA. Over nearly 40 years, his work has included the development of biological control programs for pests of pears, insect predator rearing techniques, pioneering efforts in the use of insect hormones for the control of a key homopteran pest of pears in the Pacific Northwest, and managing two Codling Moth Areawide Projects pivotal in the integration of mating disruption into the pest management programs in the apple and pear industries. In 2002, he established a research laboratory for Paramount Farming Co. (now Wonderful Orchards). His work there included research leading to the implementation of mating disruption for control of navel orangeworm, development of attractants for pests, along with the overall development of pest management tactics and programs for pests in almonds, pistachios, and pomegranates. He has published more than 60 research articles in peer reviewed scientific journals and three book chapters, and has served on numerous industry and professional committees.

Trécé Incorporated located in Adair, Oklahoma develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of insect monitoring and control systems based on semiochemicals, such as pheromones and kairomones. Product lines include the storied PHEROCON^® line for growing agriculture, introduced in 1971 by ZOECON Corporation; the STORGARD^® product line for monitoring stored product insects and an OEM line for the lawn and garden market. Trece has also developed and registered the CIDETRAK^® product line for control of insects in many countries around the world.

Trécé synthesizes over 100 difficult to make compounds for the global monitoring market, conducts a research program focused on chemical synthesis, process development, solid and liquid formulation development and field development of both insect monitoring and control systems working singularly or with cooperators around the world.

Trécé headquarters, laboratories and monitoring systems manufacturing plant are located near Adair, Oklahoma, while another plant focused on manufacturing of insect control products is located nearby at Chelsea, Oklahoma.

EVP – Commercial Products, Dramm Corporation

Kurt Becker is the EVP – Commercial Products for the Dramm Corporation. For the past 23 years, Kurt has worked with growers to improve their spray and irrigation practices through improved technology and technique. Dramm, now in its 76th year, is a leader in horticultural technology focusing on watering, chemical application, air movement and water quality.

For over 75 Years, The Dramm Corporation has served growers in the horticultural industry by providing products that make their jobs easier. With the invention of the 400AL Waterbreaker in 1941, Dramm started a tradition of offering products to improve processes in the greenhouse.

Today, Dramm produces a wide range of watering tools, complete irrigation systems, chemical applications solutions, air flow equipment, water treatment and organic fertilizers.