California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA — California State University Channel Islands (CI) Business & Technology Partnership (B&TP) will host its seventh-annual Holiday Mixer on Thursday, Dec. 3 at the campus. The event will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. that will feature student, faculty, and staff demonstrations on how the campus is furthering its sustainability efforts.

A presentation entitled, ‘The Future of Sustainable Agriculture’ will begin at 6:30 p.m. by keynote speaker Casey Houweling, President and Owner of Houweling Nurseries Ltd., the third largest greenhouse production operator in North America. Casey Houweling has over 33 years of experience as a grower, having joined his father’s agricultural business in 1976 in Delta, British Columbia (Canada). In 1985, Houweling Nurseries became the first large-scale commercial greenhouse vegetable producer in British Columbia, a facility that has grown from 6 to 50 acres.

As demand for fresh greenhouse grown produce grew, Houweling Nurseries sought new ways to expand to meet market needs for consistent, year-round production. In 1996, Houweling Nurseries addressed this opportunity by opening California’s first commercial scale greenhouse in Oxnard and is the world’s most advanced greenhouse growing environment employing proprietary, patented technology that has tremendous environmental benefits. The Oxnard facility utilizes state-of-the-art technologies such as a closed structure which minimizes pest pressures and allows for full atmospheric control of the growing environment. The facility has also installed solar energy and thermal collectors to provide sustainable/green energy and heat. In addition, a water recirculation system was developed which recaptures/filters/re-circulates all water that is not used by the plants thereby eliminating runoff and reducing water draw by 66%. This greenhouse is the first energy neutral greenhouse facility in the world.

Casey Houweling was the 1991 recipient of the “Pacific Outstanding Young Farmer Award,” as well as the national “Motherwell Award”. He has also served on the BC Hot House Inc. board of directors for 11 years, having been the organization’s Chairman from 1995 – 2000.

Event sponsors include Ocean Law, Logix Development Corporation, Pacific Coast Business Times, and Herzog Wine Cellars. Both the reception and presentation will be held on the CI campus at the Aliso Hall Auditorium. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $35 for B&TP members and $50 for non-members.

Reservations are required for this event and can be made by contacting Mitchel Sloan, Director of University Affairs at CSU Channel Islands at 805-437-8916 or mitchel.sloan@csuci.edu. Parking is complimentary for those who have made reservations. There will be way-finding signage on campus directing attendees to parking and the event.

For media inquiries contact Nancy Gill, Director of Communication & Marketing at CSU Channel Islands at 805-437-8456 or nancy.gill@csuci.edu.

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CSU Channel Islands is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

CSUCI Mission Statement

Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives.