Edwin van der Knaap

De-Risking Advisor | Strategy & New Business Development Leader | Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) | AgTech Innovation | Venture Builder | Greenhouse Technology | Digital Twins | Food & Agriculture Systems

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

About

CEAlutions is an independent Advisor to Investors & Lenders in High-Tech Greenhouse Projects | Technical Due Diligence, Energy & Yield Risk. Strategy and innovation executive operating at the intersection of agriculture, climate technology, and controlled environment production systems. I build ventures from 0-to-1, develop scalable operating models, and translate complex technical systems into bankable investment opportunities. Core Expertise : - Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) - Greenhouse Technology & Climate Systems - Digital Twin Modelling - Agricultural Innovation & AgTech - Venture Building (0–1) - Strategy & Business Development - Food System Infrastructure - Capital Formation & Investment Readiness

Experience

  • Founder at CEAlutions Inc.
    Nov 2024 - Dec 2025 · 1 yr 2 mos

    Independent advisory platform focused on advanced greenhouse systems, digital twin modelling, and agricultural infrastructure investments. Investment selection, project development and revamps or scaling existing projects. - Developed techno-economic models for high-tech greenhouse systems achieving >100 kg/m² tomato production potential. - Designed digital twin modelling frameworks integrating climate, crop physiology, and energy systems - Advised investors and growers on CAPEX optimization for projects exceeding $70M - Built partnerships across AgTech, greenhouse engineering, and energy infrastructure sectors

  • Director Strategy Operations at Marshall Fields
    Jun 2022 - Nov 2024 · 2 yrs 6 mos

    Corporate Director, Strategy & Operations at Marshall Fields International Led the end-to-end design and execution of scalable production and operational platforms across a multi-asset cannabis portfolio, translating strategy into measurable performance outcomes. Accountable for driving technical innovation, operational excellence, while aligning cultivation, infrastructure, and organizational capabilities with investor expectations and growth targets. Built and implemented data-driven planning, budgeting, and performance monitoring systems to optimize yield, cost efficiency, and capital deployment, and acted as a key interface between operations, leadership, and shareholders to support new investments, business development, and long-term value creation.

  • Chief Executive Officer (Under Marshall Fields International) at Hollands Heights
    Jun 2022 - Apr 2024 · 1 yr 11 mos

    “Stepping from Canada, into the transformed Dutch cannabis market, Hollandse Hoogtes (under Kenzoll Capital) pioneers a “Hollands Heights” experience: surreal, high-quality, lab-tested cannabis accompanied by whimsical branding, poised to reshape consumer expectations.”

  • SVP APIS Crop Consultancy at ALPS Inc.
    Jun 2021 - May 2022 · 1 yr

    Provide expertise in cultivation for food and pharmaceutical facilities. Support clients with development, implementation and review of processes, procedures, systems, and equipment to maximize operational performance. ALPS (Aurora Larssen Projects) – Overview & History: ALPS, or Aurora Larssen Projects, was established in late 2017 when Aurora Cannabis acquired the Canadian greenhouse engineering firm Larssen Ltd., forming ALPS as its in-house design and project execution division. Larssen brought over 30 years of experience in high-tech, automated, environmentally controlled greenhouse design and had completed 1,000+ global projects. ALPS was structured to provide turnkey solutions encompassing design, engineering, construction, maintenance, cultivation support, genetics, and regulatory compliance (GACP and EU GMP).

  • SVP Cultivation at Aurora Cannabis Inc.
    Jan 2020 - Apr 2021 · 1 yr 4 mos

    Aurora Cannabis Inc. is a publicly-traded Canadian cannabis producer, headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. The company specializes in both medical and recreational cannabis, serving markets across Canada, Europe, and Australia. I led the commercial cultivation company wide, solved the operational issues that the Sky facility faced, and initiated a streamlined a data-driven continuous improvement based cultivation operation across all Canadian production facilities in the East and West.