The Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC) has announced the next in a series of seminars running the length of 2024 titled "Vertical Farming: Can technology help break the glass ceiling and unleash AI?" The event will be presented by Paul Gauthier, Professor of Protected Agriculture and Controlled Environment at the University of Queensland.
Plant scientist, researcher and international advocate for environmental sustainability and climate-smart solutions, Prof Paul Gauthier, PhD leads the Australian Indoor Farming Lab at the University of Queensland. His research focuses on developing innovative solutions at the intersection of food, agriculture, environmental sustainability and technology. He is developing economic strategies to grow alternative crops indoors (Cacao, Coffee, Rice, or Wheat) to address sustainable development goals and empower local communities through climate-smart agricultural solutions. Building international collaborations and teams of experts, his research has delivered the first strategic roadmap for indoor staple crops through technological innovations and biological enhancements.
For more than a decade, Prof Paul Gauthier has been acting as an international academic and industry consultant for the Controlled Environment Agriculture Industry supporting leaders in developing vertical farming solutions. Prof Gauthier founded and directed Princeton Environmental Ideathon, a think-tank on Sustainable solutions for the cities of tomorrow at the intersection of Technology, Biodiversity, Energy, and Society. He has also co-founded Kêr Farms, where, as CSO, he led his team in growing berries (strawberries, Raspberries, and Blueberries) indoors sustainably and pesticide-free. He has also led Bowery Farming R&D team using a unique approach combining business, management, and academic excellence and delivered many commercial products including Strawberries and many other leafy greens.
Building on his experience and expertise, he has spearheaded projects in collaboration spanning across North America, Europe, Oceania, Asia, and the Middle East. Notably, he founded the Asian Pacific Indoor Farming Consortium, bringing together diverse stakeholders from across the region, and initiated the Australia-Korea Smart Farming Exchange Program. These endeavors aim to tackle the challenges posed by climate change on global food supplies. Prof. Paul Gauthier's academic and business acumen has established him as one of the leading minds in vertical farming and agriculture.
The seminar will take place online on Wednesday 11 September 2024, from 3PM to 4:30PM SAST. Reserve a spot for yourself here.
For more information:
Advanced Plant Growth Centre / James Hutton Institute
[email protected]
apgc.org.uk