The 2025 Vegetable Expo, scheduled for February 4 at Jordan Hall in Geneva, NY, is shaping up to be a pivotal event for farmers, agronomists, agricultural engineers, and scientists. With a focus on advancing vegetable farming through innovation, this year’s Expo boasts a lineup of distinguished experts who will share the latest research and practical strategies to enhance farm productivity and sustainability.
Keynote Speakers and Topics
Dr. Brian A. Nault
A leading expert in insect ecology and vegetable entomology, Dr. Nault has spent over 25 years refining pest management strategies. His work on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has saved growers millions of dollars while reducing environmental harm. Dr. Nault will discuss managing invasive species and optimizing pest control in vegetable crops.
Blake Duden
Blake Duden, Vice President of Sales at Rantizo, will present the future of drone technology in agriculture. With a wealth of experience in precision farming, he’ll demonstrate how aerial applications are revolutionizing specialty and grain crop management.
Dr. Bryan Brown
Cornell University’s Integrated Weed Management Specialist, Dr. Brown, focuses on weed seedbank management to tackle long-term weed pressure. Attendees will gain actionable advice from his research conducted across 50 farms.
Dr. Christine Smart
A vegetable pathology professor at Cornell, Dr. Smart will share critical updates on fungal and bacterial pathogen management, emphasizing fungicide resistance and lessons from the 2024 growing season.
Dr. Laura Acuna-Maldonado
Specializing in food safety, Dr. Acuna-Maldonado will address the latest revisions to the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. Her insights will help growers stay compliant with pre-harvest agricultural water requirements.
Dr. Lynn Sosnoskie
Dr. Sosnoskie’s work on sustainable weed management technologies—including robots, lasers, and precision weeders—offers exciting alternatives to traditional herbicides.
Dr. Mark S. Rea
Exploring ultraviolet (UV) radiation’s effects on plant pathogens, Dr. Rea will present groundbreaking research on UV applications and photocatalysis for disease control.
Why Attend?
The Vegetable Expo is more than just a conference; it’s an opportunity to network with peers, learn from the best, and discover cutting-edge solutions to real-world challenges. Each speaker brings practical expertise that can be immediately applied to your operations, from pest and weed management to compliance and emerging technologies.
The 2025 Vegetable Expo promises to deliver invaluable insights to help you stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of agriculture. By attending, you’ll gain the tools and knowledge to optimize your practices, improve yields, and meet the challenges of modern farming head-on. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your farm’s potential.
