UK growers to gather for BOA Technical Conference 2026

The UK's ornamental horticulture sector will meet at the BOA Technical Conference on Wednesday, 4 February 2026, at the NFU Conference Centre in Stoneleigh. The annual event will bring together growers, researchers, and industry representatives to discuss current developments, challenges, and opportunities in the sector.

Program
The program will include sessions on biologicals and plant health, energy efficiency and sustainability, crop protection and the regulatory outlook, cybersecurity and digital resilience, extended producer responsibility, and developments in growing media. Insights from the YPHA Launch Success Accelerator Program will also feature on the agenda.

Speakers
Confirmed speakers include Derek Jarman, BOA Chair; Dr Minshad Ansari, CEO and Founder of Bionema Group; Richard Hopkins, Chairman of the West Sussex Growers' Association; Simon Conway of HCP; Matthias Redlefsen of Benary; Eirinn Rusbridge, Senior Project Engineer at NFU Energy; Shaun Herdsman of Accelobrand, Accelopack and PulpVision BV; Peter Marshall, Co-Founder of Volta Exo Systems; Stefan Reiner of Selecta Klemm GmbH & Co; Tim Parfitt, General Manager of Beadamoss; and Sean Whitworth, Senior Growing Media and Fertiliser Specialist at Fargro. Lensli will also be represented, with a speaker to be confirmed. Other contributors include Beth Anderson, Events and Communications Officer at YPHA, and Alan Roper, Managing Director of Blue Diamond.

Pre-conference dinner and awards
On Tuesday, 3 February 2026, the BOA will host its Pre-Conference Dinner at Woodland Grange Hotel in Leamington Spa. The event will include the presentation of the BOA's annual awards, which are the Trumpet Blowers Award, the Alan Hendy Award, the Pot Plant Growers Award, the Bright Spark Award, and the Chair's Choice Award, sponsored by HortWeek. A new award for 2026, the MorePeople Award, will recognise outstanding talent within the industry. The dinner will also feature an update from Mike Smith of Floral Fantasia, followed by an after-dinner speech from Guy Moreton, Chairman and Founder of MorePeople.

Sponsors and tickets
The conference is supported by Bulrush Horticulture Limited, Sinclair/Westland, Hutchinsons, and Beekenkamp, with HortWeek and MorePeople sponsoring awards. New sponsors in 2026 include Plant Healthy, NFU Mutual, and Proptek UK.

Discounted tickets will be available for BOA members and professionals aged 35 and under. Early booking is recommended to secure places at the reduced rate.