The scholarship supports emerging leaders in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) by providing a fully funded opportunity to attend Indoor Ag-Con 2026, taking place February 11–12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The program is designed to connect academic research with real-world industry application through mentorship, networking, and exposure to the latest technologies shaping indoor farming.

LAS VEGAS (January 13, 2026) -- Indoor Ag-Con and Sollum Technologies have announced Karli Barton, a Master of Environmental Science student at the University of Guelph, as the recipient of the 2026 Sollum Student Scholarship to Indoor Ag-Con.

The scholarship supports emerging leaders in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) by providing a fully funded opportunity to attend Indoor Ag-Con 2026, taking place February 11-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The program is designed to connect academic research with real-world industry application through mentorship, networking, and exposure to the latest technologies shaping indoor farming.

Scholarship benefits include
• A full-access conference pass to the February 11-12, 2026 event
• Round-trip airfare (coach)
• A two-night hotel stay (room and tax)
• A daily per diem allowance
• Scheduled one-on-one meeting time with the Sollum Technologies team in their expo booth
• An opportunity to film a short video interview recapping their experience and learnings from the show — to be featured by both Indoor Ag-Con and Sollum Technologies across digital channels

About the Scholarship Recipient
Karli Barton is a second-year Masters of Environmental Science student at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. Her research focuses on the intersection of advanced LED lighting strategies and sustainable pest management in controlled-environment strawberry production. A key component of her work examines how dynamic lighting regimes—such as blue-light night interruption and continuous lighting—affect the performance of biological control agents used to manage aphid pests.

Before beginning graduate studies, Barton spent nearly a decade working in integrated pest management roles across both field and controlled-environment systems, including six years as a biocontrol consultant supporting commercial greenhouse operations. Her research aims to help growers adopt innovative lighting technologies without compromising the effectiveness of biological pest control, bridging scientific research with practical, on-farm decision-making.

"Supporting emerging researchers like Karli is critical to the future of controlled environment agriculture," said Jenny Zammit, Vice President of Marketing and Customer Success at Sollum Technologies. "Her work reflects exactly what this scholarship was designed to encourage—rigorous, applied research that helps growers integrate new technologies in a sustainable and practical way."

"Indoor Ag-Con is proud to partner with Sollum Technologies to provide meaningful opportunities for students who are shaping the future of indoor agriculture," said Brian Sullivan, CEO of Indoor Ag-Con. "Karli's background and research exemplify the kind of industry-connected innovation we aim to support through this scholarship."

About Indoor Ag-Con
Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con has emerged as the largest trade show and conference for vertical farming | greenhouse | controlled environment agriculture. The event brings together industry professionals from across the globe to explore the latest trends, technologies, and innovations in the CEA sector. Its events are crop-agnostic and touch all sectors of the business, covering produce, legal cannabis | hemp, alternate protein and non-food crops. More information, visit www.indoor.ag

About Sollum Technologies
As the leader in advanced, dynamic LED lighting for commercial greenhouses, Sollum Technologies offers a unique proposition. The comprehensive solution provides the flexibility to adapt lighting in real time to meet crop needs at every stage of growth, supports producers operational and financial goals in a sustainable manner, and offers unmatched technical and agronomic guidance. Designed and manufactured in North America, Sollum's technology is deployed across major greenhouse operations to support year-round production, consistent quality, and smarter energy use. Founded in 2015, Sollum is headquartered in Montréal with regional offices in Ontario and Georgia. For more information visit sollum.tech.