Sign up for Root Camp today!
Defining the challenge:
Roots are a primary interface between the physical, chemical and biological realm of soil or media and plants.
Crops with unhealthy, damaged or underdeveloped roots can’t take full advantage of nutrients and water, nor release exudates into the soil as well as they could.
By understanding root health in more detail, growers are empowered to make better decisions for their crops.
Root Camp, a series of root health webinars for farmers
Roots are the unsung heroes beneath our feet — dynamic conduits connecting the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological realms.
When these hidden lifelines are compromised, crops struggle to fully harness nutrients, water, and the beneficial exudates that foster thriving ecosystems.
Join our Root Camp to uncover the secrets of robust root health and empower your farming decisions with groundbreaking insights.
What you’ll learn
Each instalment of this webinar series will give farmers insights into different factors which impact root health:
- › Physical impediments to Root Development
- › Root and Soil Biology
- › Root diseases and Soil-living pests
- › And many more
Next Event in the Series:
Episode 4: Are Parasitic Nematodes Stealing Your Yield and Quality?
In warm, irrigated, high‑density production, small nematode populations can escalate rapidly — often multiplying several times within a single cropping cycle. As a result, nematode pressure is unrelenting, especially when crops remain in the ground for many months or years. Once feeding begins, root function declines, reducing water and nutrient uptake across all crop types. Even moderate damage can cause 10–30% fewer buds in flowers, smaller fruits and lower Brix, reduced yields in vegetables, and lower biomass in herbs. These impacts build up long before severe symptoms appear. At the same time, many growers struggle with correct nematicide delivery, and inconsistent application can significantly reduce control effectiveness.
Root Camp Episode 4 brings together top nematode experts to explain how PPNs affect performance in ornamentals, fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Learn how to identify early root‑zone issues, avoid common application mistakes, and implement sustainable strategies that support crop productivity over long production cycles.
Meet the Presenters
Dr Danny Coyne
Researcher at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
A soil health and nematode specialist with decades of experience in African horticulture systems. His work focuses on diagnosing plant-parasitic nematodes and understanding their long‑term impact on perennial and greenhouse crops.
Dr Colin Fleming
Senior Lecturer – Queen’s University, Belfast
A global authority on nematode ecology and diagnostics. His research bridges molecular tools with practical grower insights, helping producers better understand nematode population behavior in high‑value crops, including ornamentals and floriculture.
Join us for Root Camp E4
Learn how to protect root systems and improve performance in flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs from top nematode experts.
Event Details
Date: Fri, 17 April 2026
Time: 11:00 – 12:30 (EAT)
10:00 – 11:30 (CAT)
09:00 – 10:30 (GMT+1)
Location: Online
In proud partnership with
Past Events
Episode 1: The Dynamic World of Plant Roots
In the first episode of our webinar series, Joel will dive into insights on the interplay between plants and their soil-borne environment.
Event Details
Date: Fri, 2 May 2025
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 GMT+3
Location: Online
Meet the Presenters
Joel Williams
Integrated Soils
Joel is an independent plant and soil health educator and consultant who integrates insights from plant nutrition, biology, and ecology. With a passion for soil microbiology and regenerative systems, Joel brings a unique, systems-thinking approach to farm management.
Episode 2: Diving into Roots and Nutrition
In this instalment, we will take a deeper look at how plant nutrition and roots work together to help crops grow. Our advanced crop nutrition partner InBio will take us through plant and soil chemistry with a focus on the interactions and importance of plant roots.
Join us and gain insights into how crop roots can grow and thrive on your farm.
Event Details
Date: Fri, 27 June 2025
Meet the Presenters
Wessel Cloete
Wessel is a co-founder of Goldsuite, makers of InBio) and an advocate for data-driven agricultural innovation.
With a background in agronomy and precision farming, he empowers growers to make informed decisions by translating complex farm data into practical strategies. Passionate about sustainability and efficiency, Wessel brings a sharp analytical lens to modern farm management.
Episode 3: Integrating Soil Biology for Plant Nutrition
This time, we’re going microbial—with 𝗔𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗗𝗿. 𝗜𝗻𝗲𝘀, a world-class expert in soil microbes and bioinputs that might just replace or complement your chemical fertilisers.
Join us and gain insights into how soil biology can boost your crop.
Event Details
Date: Wed, 20 August 2025
Meet the Presenters
Dr Inés García de Salamone
Faculty of Agronomy, Department of Applied Biology and Foods,
University of Buenos Aires, Argentina (FAUBA)
Agronomy Engineer, Magister in Plant Production, Ph.D. in Soil Science.
- Professor of Agricultural Microbiology in Buenos Aires University, teaching Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology.
- Trajectory in the study of microorganisms-plant-soil interactions in cereal and service crops, and tomato.
- Expertise in Bacterial Bioinputs for Agricultural Sustainability and Bioeconomy.
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