Innovation takes root in Enkhuizen

Discovery Field Days Hydro: Growing Smarter, Together

Last week, we opened the doors of our Enkhuizen headquarters for one of our favorite events of the year, Discovery Field Days Hydro. It’s the moment we welcome growers, partners, and customers from around the world to explore what’s new and next in hydroponic lettuce.

This year, the focus was clear: pushing the boundaries of hydro innovation and showing how collaboration drives the future of controlled environment agriculture (CEA).

Why hydroponic lettuce is thriving

Hydroponic lettuce is no longer the future, it’s the now. With the demand for fresh, high-quality leafy greens continuing to grow, hydro cultivation offers a smart and sustainable way forward. By using significantly less water, fertilizer, and crop protection than traditional farming, it’s not just efficient, it’s environmentally sound.

And that’s not all. Free from soil-borne diseases and unpredictable field conditions, hydro systems deliver consistent quality and reliable harvests all year round. Cleaner produce, longer shelf life (especially with roots attached), and suitability for vertical and urban farming make hydro cultivation a perfect fit for modern growers.

From seed to shelf: innovation you can taste

During the event, our breeders, product specialists, and salesmanagers guided visitors through our demo greenhouse, where guests could see, touch, and taste our latest hydro varieties. These varieties are the result of years of breeding expertise and continuous innovation.

Anne Marie Schoevaars, Research Expert, shared valuable insights into post-harvest aspects of hydro lettuce, sparking lively discussions and idea exchanges among participants. These conversations are exactly what make this event so special, because we don’t just talk about innovation, we build it together.

Collaboration at the core

Our motto for this year’s edition said it all: “High-tech hydroponics thrives on collaboration. Together, the industry grows smarter.”

For us, that’s more than a slogan, it’s how we work. Every step in our hydroponic journey, from seed to shelf, is powered by partnership. By joining forces with growers, post-harvest experts, and supply chain specialists, we develop solutions that are practical, scalable, and future-focused.

Growing smarter, together

At Enza Zaden, we believe high-tech hydroponics is more than a growing method, it’s a forward-looking approach rooted in quality, innovation, and shared progress.

Because when we grow together, we grow smarter.