Expert support for smarter, more sustainable berry production.
Strawberry growing is changing fast. We’re here to help you stay ahead.
From substrate to climate control, InnoPhyte offers expert consultancy rooted in hands-on experience and cutting-edge research. Led by Katia Zacharaki, a strawberry specialist with over 10 years of experience in the sector.

Tailored consultancy for strawberry production systems, including:
- Substrate and growing media selection
- Nutrient recipes based on the supply of water
- Monitoring and evaluation of nutrient and leaf analysis
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies with conventional and biological approaches
- Yield mapping and crop planning
- Glasshouse, polytunnel, and TCEA, aka vertical systems
- Climate and irrigation evaluation and monitoring
- Wholistic troubleshooting to improve performance
- Training of the team
- Data analysis and data visualisation
- Introductions to suppliers
Backed by field trials, real-world experience, and ongoing research partnerships across the UK.

Who We Work With
- Soft fruit growers globally
- Agri-tech developers
- Research organisations
- Horticultural suppliers
Innovate UK and DEFRA – and other funded projects.
Meet Katia Zacharaki,
Lead Strawberry Consultant, Director InnoPhyte Consulting
Katia is a plant scientist and the founder of InnoPhyte Consulting, with a specialist focus on strawberries in controlled environments. Her journey into the world of soft fruit began with her thesis project on strawberry performance in different substrates and has since evolved into a commercial and research career dedicated to improving indoor and vertical production of the crop.
In Katia’s experience, growers don’t know as much as they should about both hydroponics and strawberries, leaving a gap in training for technicians and researchers. Though it’s a steep curve within the industry, she has led pioneering research into indoor strawberry systems, supported the development of innovative hydroponic cultivation tools, and now pursues a PhD on strawberry behaviour in vertical farming. From academic trials to real-world troubleshooting, Katia brings deep scientific knowledge and practical insight to every project.
At InnoPhyte, Katia is ready to help clients design smarter cropping strategies, optimise yields, and reduce input use—all while keeping strawberries at the centre of her work.
Common Strawberry Challenges We Solve
• Why isn’t my yield increasing despite good climate control?
• Are my HVAC specs right for strawberries year-round?
• What’s the best propagation material for my facility (glasshouse or TCEA)?
• Why do I keep seeing fungal issues at the fruiting stage?
• Should I grow in glass, poly or vertical—and for what market?

Why InnoPhyte?
At InnoPhyte, we don’t just give advice, we co-develop solutions. Whether it’s solving a rootzone problem or designing a full cropping strategy, we bring scientific rigour, field experience, and deep knowledge of the biological nuances that matter in strawberry production.
Katia has seen the significant obstacles that strawberry growers face in cultivating in a controlled environment. Typical challenges include plant physiology, management of plant pathogens, pollination, propagation materials, fertigation, and environmental requirements. Her work focuses on solving these known pain points with strategies grounded in data, experimental design, and commercial realism.
Book a consultation or ask us a question today, and let’s talk strawberries.


Katia Zacharaki Kouloumprouka
Director – Plant Scientist
Hello, I am Katia, founder and director of InnoPhyte Consulting! I specialise in TCEA strawberry cultivation, offering comprehensive support from business strategy to everyday operations, backed by scientific expertise.
If you need to talk to me, feel free to get in touch at katia@innophyte.co.uk
Science Support
Data Analysis
TCEA strawberries
Project Manager
Hydroponics