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The HydroGreen International Team

The HydroGreen International team brings together decades of experience in livestock farming, animal nutrition, agricultural engineering, and international business. Our people share one goal. We want to make fresh, reliable feed available to every livestock producer, in every climate, every day of the year.

Many of us come from farming backgrounds ourselves. That experience shapes how we work. We understand seasonal pressure, feed price volatility, and the daily realities of running beef and dairy operations. It is why our automated feed technology is built to be practical first: simple to operate, dependable, and proven in commercial conditions.

Board of Directors

Dan Burns

Chairman of the Board

About
Leo Benne

Director

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Executive Leadership Team

Michael B Kyne CFA

Chief Financial Officer & Chief Investment Officer

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Fiore Macari

Chief Commercial Officer | Global Operations

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Engineering & Project Delivery

Ryan Joens

Director of Engineering

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Kurt Kuipers

Senior Installation & Project Manager

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Matthew Jude

Engineering & Automation Manager

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Commercial & Corporate Operations

Josée Gagné

Sales & Project Coordinator

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Fareeha Tahir

Financial Operations Lead

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Harneet Deu

Human Resources Manager

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Arianna McNally

Projects & Operations Coordinator Europe | Middle East

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Technical Advisory Team

John Jarchow

Senior Ruminant Nutrition Advisor

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Christian Kyne

AgTech Crop Scientist

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Digital Systems & Software

Carter Walford

Software Consultant

One HydroGreen International Team, Seven Countries

Together, the HydroGreen International team supports producers across seven countries and counting, from initial system design through installation, nutrition planning, and ongoing support. Our specialists work directly with farmers to integrate fresh sprouted forage into beef finishing and dairy rations that perform.

Want to talk to the team about your operation? Get in touch and we will connect you with the right specialist for your region. You can also connect with Fiore Macari on LinkedIn.

Dan Burns

Chairman of the Board
Daniel Burns is an experienced lawyer, accountant, entrepreneur and corporate director with leadership experience across banking, insurance, mining, consumer products, agriculture, technology and capital markets. He holds a JD from the University of British Columbia, a Global Executive MBA from the University of St. Gallen and the Rotman School of Management, and a BA in Economics from Western University.

Daniel has chaired and served on the boards of international organizations, including TSX-listed companies. His governance credentials include ICD.D, completion of the International Company Directors Program through the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and Audit Committee certification from Directors College.

He has led corporate turnarounds, recapitalizations, special committees and strategic transactions, helping organizations navigate financial restructuring, executive transition and successful sale processes. Daniel currently serves as Chair of CubicFarms Systems Corp., bringing his extensive expertise in governance, corporate finance and strategic leadership to HydroGreen International.

Leo Benne

Director

Leo Benne is CEO of Bevo Farms Ltd., one of North America’s leading plant propagation companies based in British Columbia and continues to serve as Director of Cubic Farms Systems Corp, parent company of Hydrogreen, a company he has been a part of since its inception. 

Drawing on many decades of hands-on horticultural experience, he has helped grow Bevo into a trusted partner for greenhouse growers and floral wholesalers by combining modern technology with sustainable growing practices. Leo is known for his practical innovation in controlled-environment agriculture and his commitment to delivering healthy, high-quality plants at scale.  

Michael B Kyne CFA

Chief Financial Officer & Chief Investment Officer

Michael is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer of HydroGreen and is focused on the overall corporate strategy, financial management, and long-term capital planning of the company. Michael joined the organization in early 2023. He is responsible for the realignment of the company’s overall business strategy, corporate reorganization, strategic financial control, and all capital market and investment activities supporting HydroGreen’s global expansion initiatives and long-term growth strategy.

Prior to joining the organization, Michael spent over 30 years in the international asset management business, serving as Senior Vice President & Portfolio Manager at Driehaus Capital Management in Chicago and later as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer at his own firm, Leeward Hedge Funds.

Fiore Macari

Chief Commercial Officer | Global Operations

Fiore Macari is a commercially driven executive with over 30 years of experience across business development, operations management, hospitality, food production, agri-tech, and international commercial negotiations. He has successfully built and managed businesses from the ground up, leading ventures and large-scale projects across multiple sectors. Throughout his career, Fiore has developed extensive expertise in commercial strategy, sales leadership, high-level negotiations, joint venture development, operational leadership, client relations, and complex international deal structuring.

Fiore has a strong track record in developing strategic partnerships, leading teams, engaging with corporate and governmental stakeholders, and creating scalable business opportunities aligned with industry and sustainability demands.

As Chief Commercial Officer – Global Operations at HydroGreen, Fiore leads global sales strategy, commercial expansion, strategic partnerships, operational coordination, and international growth initiatives, working closely with investors, agricultural groups, governmental stakeholders, and industry leaders to advance large-scale climate-smart feed security solutions and long-term strategic business development.

Ryan Joens

Director of Engineering

Ryan Joens is the Director of Engineering at HydroGreen. Prior to joining HydroGreen, he built a strong foundation in product design as an engineer for Northman snowplows, Red Devil snow blowers, and Design Tanks. He began his tenure at HydroGreen in 2016 as VP of Operations, where he spearheaded the design and development of the core HydroGreen system. In this role, he also directed purchasing, production, scheduling, and onsite system installations.

Ryan later transitioned into the role of Director of Engineering, where he led the design and engineering of the current fully automated GLS 808 platform. Known for his practical engineering mindset, problem-solving ability, and deep understanding of HydroGreen’s technology systems, Ryan plays a critical role in product innovation, system optimization, and commercial scalability. Over the past several years, he has successfully expanded the engineering team while driving the performance, reliability, and commercial readiness of both the DGS and GLS product lines, helping position HydroGreen as a leader in fully automated and controlled feed production technology.

Kurt Kuipers

Senior Installation & Project Manager

Kurt brings over two decades of hands-on technical expertise in designing, building, deploying, and improving complex equipment systems across industrial, municipal, greenhouse automation, and agricultural technology sectors.

His background combines formal training in welding and mechanical design with extensive real-world experience in specialty fabrication, system development, installation, commissioning, and operations. Kurt has a strong ability to turn technical concepts into practical, reliable, and buildable solutions. In his role as Installation and Project Manager, he supports project execution from design review through installation, commissioning, and operational handoff.

He also helps bridge product development, field performance, customer requirements, and long-term system improvement to ensure projects are delivered with both technical integrity and practical execution.

Matthew Jude

Engineering & Automation Manager

Matthew Jude, P.Eng., is an experienced engineering and automation professional with over 12 years of expertise in electrical instrumentation, controls systems, project management, and product development. His career has focused on delivering innovative automation solutions across Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), industrial processing, and advanced manufacturing environments.

Matthew specializes in leading multidisciplinary teams through the full lifecycle of projects, from concept development and system architecture through commissioning and operational support. With extensive experience in industrial control systems, electrical design, and process optimization, he is passionate about developing reliable, scalable technologies that improve operational efficiency and sustainability.

In recent years, Matthew has focused heavily on indoor agriculture and CEA technologies, supporting the development of automated growing systems, environmental controls, and data-driven operational improvements. His leadership style combines strong technical capability with collaboration, mentorship, and a practical approach to problem solving.

Throughout his career, Matthew has built a reputation for technical leadership, strategic thinking, and delivering high-quality solutions that align engineering innovation with real-world operational needs.

Josée Gagné

Sales & Project Coordinator

Josée Gagné serves as HydroGreen’s Sales & Project Coordinator, playing a key role in coordinating projects across sales, engineering, operations, and customer support teams. With more than 20 years of experience in project management, operations, and structural engineering, she supports the planning, execution, and delivery of complex commercial projects from initial engagement through implementation.

Josée is responsible for coordinating internal workflows, preparing commercial agreements and project documentation, supporting customer communications, and ensuring alignment between technical, operational, and commercial teams throughout the project lifecycle. She also contributes to process improvement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, communication, and project execution across the organization.

A Civil Engineering Technologist fluent in both French and English, Josée is recognized for her strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to supporting HydroGreen’s continued global growth within the ag-tech sector.

Fareeha Tahir

Financial Operations Lead

Fareeha is the Financial Operations Lead at HydroGreen and is responsible for supporting the company’s financial operations, business systems, and administrative processes. She works closely with cross-functional teams to ensure the efficient execution of financial workflows, reporting activities, payroll administration, and operational initiatives that support the company’s ongoing growth and strategic objectives.

With more than 10 years of experience in financial operations, human resources, payroll administration, and process improvement, Fareeha has led system implementations, streamlined business processes, and supported organizational growth across both Canadian and international operations. Her expertise in financial administration and operational excellence helps drive efficiency and scalability throughout the organization.

Arianna McNally

Projects & Operations Coordinator – Europe | Middle East
Arianna McNally supports HydroGreen International’s global expansion, coordinating commercial initiatives and project execution across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and other international markets.

With qualifications in business, marketing and psychology, Arianna combines strong commercial awareness with exceptional organisational and people-management abilities. Her managerial experience includes overseeing business operations, personnel, staff training, supplier coordination, scheduling, procurement, financial administration and multi-stakeholder communications.

Experienced in taking projects from planning through to execution, Arianna helps maintain clear communication between HydroGreen’s internal teams, international partners and prospective clients. Her structured, proactive approach ensures that priorities are effectively coordinated and followed through.

Arianna also understands HydroGreen’s climate-smart technology and its important role in strengthening global feed security, supporting sustainable livestock production and addressing increasing pressures on land, water and conventional feed resources.

John Jarchow

Senior Ruminant Nutrition Advisor

John Jarchow is HydroGreen’s Ruminant Nutrition Advisor, bringing over 40 years of experience in livestock feed, beef and dairy cattle nutrition, and ration development. Raised in a strong agricultural community in southwestern Minnesota, John has spent his career working closely with producers to improve cattle performance, feed efficiency, and overall herd health through practical nutrition strategies.

Throughout his career, John has worked extensively within the feed industry, advising on ruminant nutrition programs and balanced feed rations designed to optimize beef and dairy performance. His hands-on experience in cattle feeding, combined with his deep understanding of feed ingredients and animal nutrition, has made him a trusted and respected advisor within the industry. At HydroGreen, John plays a key role in feed integration, livestock performance optimization, and supporting producers adopting fully automated controlled feed production systems.

Christian Kyne

AgTech Crop Scientist

Christian holds a Hons Bachelor of Science with a Double Major in Chemistry and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing a strong analytical and scientific foundation for precision agriculture environments.

He subsequently completed a specialized 1 – year certificate program in applied crop science at Fanshawe College in London Ontario. The program focused on gaining hands-on experience in controlled-environment horticulture, nutrient management, fertigation systems, integrated pest management, and GMP-compliant production and sanitation protocols — skills directly applicable to high-throughput, technology-driven crop production operations.