These recorded webinars let you hear directly from experts – on YOUR time!
Available Webinars:
To see the current and previous content brought to you by OMAFA staff, scroll through the talks below with their full descriptions, or use our quick-reference list to jump to the recording you’re interested in.
From the GrowON Webinar Series: Talks from North American experts, hosted by OMAFA
- Thriving in Containers – Key Factors Affecting Plant Health in Ornamentals with Ryan Munroe, NVK Nurseries
- Cybersecurity for Greenhouses with Dr. Ali Dehghantanha, UofG and Bryan Lachapelle, B4 Networks
- How to use Light Spectral Combinations to Steer Plants with Dr. Youbin Zheng, University of Guelph
- Dynamic LED and the Circadian Rhythm of Greenhouse Crops with Telesphore Marie, UofG PhD Candidate
- Autonomous Greenhouses: Improving Production and Sustainability with Kenneth Tran, Quade Digweed and Mark Reimer
- Enriching Water with Gases: Benefits and Uses in Controlled Environment Agriculture with Dr. Thomas Graham, UofG and Warren Russell, Molearer
- Smart Sensors for Floriculture with Dr. Krishna Nemali, Purdue University
- Staying Alive: Strategies to improve shelf life of spring crops with Dr. Neil Mattson, Cornell University
- PRIVA’s BioLogics for Plant Growth with Peter Kamp, Priva
- Making Sense of Lighting During Propagation with Dr. Roberto Lopez, MSU and Dr. Erik Runkle, MSU
- Phosphorus and Cannabis: How Much is Enough? with Bill Macdonald, Niagara College
- Alternative Ways of Heating Greenhouses with David Arkell, Jordan Kearns and Muhammed Murad
GrowON Webinar Series:
This webinar series is run by OMAFA greenhouse staff, to bring you the latest production and IPM information in greenhouse crops. Although this series started as a response to the Covid Pandemic, we continue to bring information from around the world into the greenhouses of Ontario growers.
For talks relating to greenhouse pest management (rather than production), check out our IPM Webinars page.
Thriving in Containers – Key Factors Affecting Plant Health in Ornamentals, With Ryan Munroe, NVK Nurseries
Recorded January 21, 2026. Running time: 72 min.
Moderator: Kathryn Russell, Greenhouse Floriculture Specialist, OMAFA
In this webinar we will learn some of the key considerations that go into commercially producing healthy and beautiful container grown ornamentals. Our speaker, Ryan Munroe, will discuss the plant health monitoring practices he implements in his own work at NVK nurseries. Ryan will also delve into various growing media properties and how they can impact and potentially change plant irrigation needs, pH and rooting.
Cybersecurity for Greenhouses, with Dr. Ali Dehghantanha, UofG and Bryan Lachapelle, B4 Networks
Recorded August 13, 2025. Running time: 55 min.
In this GrownON webinar presented by OMAFA, our two speakers will delve into the evolving world of greenhouse cyber threats and discuss the tools available to combat them. Dr. Ali Dehghantanha, professor and Canada Research Chair in Cybersecurity and Threat Intelligence at the University of Guelph, explains how these threat actors exploit agriculture’s unique mix of operational tech and smart devices, stresses that security can’t be outsourced to vendors alone, and walks growers through a clear five‑step roadmap. Our second speaker, Bryan Lachapelle, president and CEO of B4 Networks, will identify why small businesses are prime targets and explain how to take immediate, high-impact actions to close security gaps.
How to use Light Spectral Combinations to Steer Plants with Dr. Youbin Zheng, University of Guelph
Recorded July 22, 2024. Running time: 57 min.
Dynamic LED and the Circadian Rhythm of Greenhouse Crops with Telesphore Marie, UofG PhD Candidate
Recorded May 12th, 2023. Running time: 50 min.
How does supplemental lighting affect the plant’s wake/sleep circadian rhythm? How can we use dynamic light recipes to sync the plant’s circadian rhythm with its environment and improve production? University of Guelph researchers will share their latest results to answer these questions at this hybrid event.
Autonomous Greenhouses: Improving Production and Sustainability with Kenneth Tran, Quade Digweed and Mark Reimer
Recorded March 20th, 2023. Running time: 50 min.
Are you interested in learning more about how autonomous growing technologies can increase your greenhouse production and sustainability? Watch this webinar to hear about the results of a recent project that included Koidra, Great Lakes Greenhouses, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Enriching Water with Gases: Benefits and Uses in Controlled Environment Agriculture with Dr. Thomas Graham, UofG and Warren Russell, Molearer
Recorded July 29, 2021. Running time: 58 min.
There are a number of technologies on the market today that enable greenhouse and vertical farm producers to enrich water with different gases. These technologies can be used to supplement oxygen levels that drop in recirculated water systems, reduce build-up of pathogens in the water system, and improve plant health. This webinar will host experts on this topic to inform and educate producers on some of the uses and benefits of these technologies. You will hear from Dr. Thomas Graham, assistant professor at the University of Guelph, on the differences between microbubble and nanobubble technology, and Warren Russell, chief commercial officer of Moleaer, will discuss the science behind Moleaer’s products and services. Moderated by Dr. Fadi Al-Daoud, Greenhouse Vegetable Specialist and Dr. Andrew Wylie, Acting Greenhouse Vegetable IPM Specialist OMAFRA .
Smart Sensors for Floriculture with Dr. Krishna Nemali, Purdue University
Recorded September 27, 2021. Running time: 50 min.
Dr. Krishna Nemali from Purdue University talks about his lab’s work developing plant-monitoring techniques using affordable and easy-to-use devices, such as smartphones and low-cost remote sensors. These ‘smart sensors’ capture and process plant images to generate economically useful information including seedling counts, plant growth rate, height and width, nitrogen status, and color development (and potentially many other traits). In addition to aiding in plant monitoring, these devices can train workforce with plant growth and quality related issues. The APTUS app will be available for Android and iPhone users in Spring 2022. A virtual demonstration is part of the webinar.
Staying Alive: Strategies to improve shelf life of spring crops with Dr. Neil Mattson, Cornell University
Recorded November 18, 2021. Running time: 56 min.
Spring is a busy time for growers, especially those with bedding plant production. Optimized production practices are important for maintaining healthy crops during this busy season, when greenhouse space is at a premium! Dr. Neil Mattson from Cornell University gives insight into how environmental controls, fertilization choices, substrates and biostimulant products can all play a role in the final quality of your crop. Using production practices to achieve optimal crop quality in the greenhouse can improve shelf-life in the retail environment, allowing for better sell-through. Maintaining plant quality is important, both for maintaining relationships with customers and your bottom line.
PRIVA’s BioLogics for Plant Growth with Peter Kamp, Priva
Recorded January 20, 2022. Running time: 44 min.
Peter Kamp, Crop Systems Innovator with PRIVA, presents a new steering principle to achieve crop goals based on the overall water balance of the plant. The unique starting point of this steering principle is a feed-forward control for the greenhouse climate and water-supply, based on water uptake, fixation of water and transpiration of the crop. The control follows the plant’s circadian rhythm in terms of growth and crop development and can be specifically tuned to the crop goals of the grower.
Making Sense of Lighting During Propagation with Dr. Roberto Lopez, MSU and Dr. Erik Runkle, MSU
Recorded February January 24, 2022. Running time: 74 min.
Dr. Erik Runkle and Dr. Roberto Lopez from Michigan State University talk about the benefits of supplemental lighting in floriculture propagation. Propagation is often the place where many growers can see the potential for adding supplemental lighting, especially in the late winter and early spring months. The latest research is presented and considerations for return on investment are discussed.
Phosphorus and Cannabis: How Much is Enough? with Bill Macdonald, Niagara College
Recorded April 28, 2022. Running time: 64 min.
Bill MacDonald from Niagara College’s Commercial Cannabis Program talks about Phosphorus levels needed in cannabis production. Results from deficiency trials at the college and cutting edge research from across the world are presented. With fertilizer prices continuing to rise, this is a practical talk that will help you evaluate nutrition needs on your farm.
Alternative Ways of Heating Greenhouses with David Arkell, Jordan Kearns and Muhammed Murad
Recorded May 26, 2022. Running time: 45 min.
This GrowON webinar presented a panel of experts in energy and heating technologies discussing alternative ways of heating greenhouses. 360 Energy discussed natural gas pricing trends, Medley Thermal described their natural gas-electricity hybrid boilers, and Phoenix Solar Thermal introduced their solar-powered technology used to heat buildings using hot water and steam that can be used to supplement heat generated by existing natural gas boilers. If energy pricing and diversification is on your mind, this webinar showcases some potential solutions.
