The 16th edition of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Fair in Kielce will feature the "Under Cover" conference, dedicated to the challenges and future directions of greenhouse and tunnel cultivation. The event will bring together international experts, producers, and trade media representatives from across Europe, creating a platform for science, agricultural practice, and the media to exchange knowledge and experience.
The conference program will cover a wide range of topics central to protected cultivation. Dr. Eng. Dorota Łabanowska-Bury of Pod Osłonami.pl and Agro Smart Lab will present an analysis of the 2025 season in the Radom region, focusing on problems in vegetable protection. Dr. Sylwia Stępniewska-Jarosz from the Plant Disease Clinic will discuss the most frequently detected diseases in greenhouse and tunnel vegetable crops. Assoc. Prof. Beata Komorowska of the Institute of Horticulture will present findings on tomato viruses such as ToBRFV and methods to reduce their harmful effects, while Tomasz Krasowski from Delphy will outline cultivation strategies involving resistant varieties and grafting to combat ToBRFV and PepMV.
© TSW 2026
Other sessions will address residue-free cultivation methods, with Dr. Łabanowska-Bury highlighting approaches to growing vegetables without traces of plant protection products' active substances. Dr. Eng. Agnieszka Stępowska of the Stefan Batory Academy of Applied Sciences will explore ways to increase plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Dr. Eng. Gabriela Wyżgolik will examine the realities and misconceptions surrounding vertical farming, along with the protection challenges this technology faces.
The discussions take place against the backdrop of growing global interest in protected cultivation. Climate variability, stricter regulations on pesticide residues, and rising consumer expectations for food safety are making greenhouse and tunnel cultivation not just an alternative, but a necessity for ensuring stable, high-quality production. According to the Global Greenhouse Update 2025, the area of land under greenhouse cultivation has nearly doubled in many regions in recent years. Forecasts predict that the global greenhouse market will continue expanding at an annual growth rate of 7 to 10 percent over the coming decade.
Alongside greenhouse production, new technologies such as Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), vertical farming, and the integration of biological plant protection are attracting attention. Zero-residue cultivation is also becoming a key standard, reflecting both regulatory and consumer expectations. These themes will be central to the Kielce discussions, positioning the conference as a vital meeting point for innovation and strategy in the industry.
The conference will take place on January 23–24, 2026, at Targi Kielce in Kielce, Poland.
For more information:
Fruit and Vegetable Industry Fair 2026
www.tsw.pl
