Programme

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Topics and the Confirmed Speakers of the Conference

The new conference “Revolution in Food and Biomass Production” (REFAB) will showcase leading solution approaches from the wide range of the following topics:

Introduction and overview
  • Thomas Arnold, European Commission, DG RTD (BE): Innovation from Across – can Cross-Pollinating Sectors, Actors and Conversations Unfold Solutions Towards Systemic Change?
  • Michael Carus, nova-Institut GmbH (DE): Sustainability Assessment of New Food and Biomass Technologies

Precision farming, robotics, drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Tobias Menne, Bayer (DE): The Digital Future of Agriculture
  • Prof. Dr. Stefan Pelzer, Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH (DE): Precision Livestock Farming: A Data and Knowledge Based Approach for Sustainable Animal Nutrition
  • Dr. Joachim Stiegemann, CLAAS E-Systems (DE): Aspects and Perspectives of the Digital Shape for Farmers and the Agriculture Industry

Biostimulants – nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza, biopesticides
  • Dr. Alok Adholeya, TERI Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre (IN): Seed plus: A Sustainable Approach with Integration of Mycorrhizae and Nano-bio Stimulants for Precision Agriculture and Resource Use Efficiency

Home, urban and vertical farming
  • Timo Bongartz, OSRAM GmbH (DE): Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) – Potential Relevance for our Future Food Supply
  • Volkmar Keuter, Fraunhofer Institut für Umwelt-, Sicherheits- und Energietechnik UMSICHT (DE): inFARMING®
  • Mattias Lepp, Click and Grow (EE): Feed a Family of 4 from your Living Room Wall
  • Martin Veenstra, Certhon (NL): Successful Indoor/Vertical Farming: Applying Lessons Learned in Horticulture

Agriculture under extreme conditions (desert, ice, outer space) and in combination with solar energy
  • Joakim Hauge, The Sahara Forest Project (NO): From Vision to Reality: Greening Desert Areas through Profitable Production of Food, Freshwater, Clean Energy and Biomass
  • Christophe Lasseur, European Space Agency (NL): Man to Mars means Waste to Food
  • Avner Shohet, Teshuva Agricultural Projects Ltd. (TAP) (IL): Green Hydroponic Agriculture under Challenging Conditions – Climate, Land, Place and Size
  • Dr. Wieger Wamelink and Joep Frissel, Wageningen University & Research (NL): Towards a Sustainable Agricultural Ecosystem for Mars and the Moon

Improved plant varieties for the future
  • Niels de Beus, nova-Institut GmbH (DE): Genetic Modified Crops: Cultivation Areas, Experiences and Breeding Targets
  • Jeremy Harbinson, Wageningen University & Research (NL): Radical Increases in Crop Yield: The Role of Improved Photosynthesis

Alternative protein sources – insects, bacteria, artificial meat and CO2 utilization
  • Matt Ball, The Good Food Institute (US): The Future of Meat: Better Options to Feed a Growing Population
  • Leen Bastiaens, Vlemish Institute for Technological Research - VITO (BE), Prof. Dr. Ir. Leen Van Campenhout, KU Leuven (BE): Insect Rearing and Processing for Food, Feed and Bio-based Chemicals
  • Jason Drew, AgriProtein (ZA): AgriProtein, Creating a Sustainable Future Through Insect-based Technologies
  • Hella Tokos, Ynsect (FR): Insects as Sustainable Protein Source

Future of organic and smallholder farming
  • Rajnish Gupta, Tansa (ID/IN): Are Smallholders Ready for the Future? Transitioning to Organic Farming
  • Dr. Gero Leson, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps (USA): Regenerative Agriculture: Reconstruction of the Soil with Humus, CO2-inclusion, Higher Yields - Both for Field and Forest Fruits

Mariculture or marine farming, algae and aquaculture
  • Javier Fernández Ponce, Smart Floating Farms (ES): Modular Floating Platforms for Local Food Production

Biorefineries for food, chemicals, materials and fibres
  •  Gudbrand Rødsrud, Borregaard AS (NO): Fat Replacers for Food and Chemicals from a Spruce-based Biorefinery