Archives: Speakers

As a mechanical engineer passionate about technological advancements and multidisciplinary learning, Poudel is currently a MASc student at the University of Windsor under the supervision of Dr. Carriveau and Dr. Ting. His research focuses on leveraging Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for sustainable energy solutions in controlled environment agriculture. He has substantial experience in project facilitation, mentoring, and leadership, combined with rapid learning ability and is dedicated to using his skills to contribute positively to society, particularly through enhancing greenhouse energy systems for a better tomorrow.

Amy Jenkins is a senior research technician in the Consumer, Sensory, and Market Insights department at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master’s in food science from the University of Guelph.

During her 8-year career at Vineland she has used her background in human behavior and food to conduct research on consumer preference for fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. Additionally, Amy has developed strategies to communicate scientific concepts with the public with the goal of increasing transparency, trust, and engagement with the horticultural sector. Most recently she has been working on studies to understand the adoption of sustainable practices in horticulture.

Rita Sterne, PhD (Mgmt), is Project Manager at the Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN), a consortium of five research centres led by Niagara College. In this role, Rita acts as a “boundary-spanner”, connecting research and subject matter experts with greenhouse-related technology businesses in southern Ontario and connecting those technology businesses with GTN’s project funding. Rita is a strategy expert and examined value creation with robotics in Ontario’s greenhouse vegetable sector in her post-doc research. Rita has a passion for understanding how businesses can better navigate fluid environments, particularly at a time when the need for technology solutions across agriculture value chains and sectors is pressing.

Dr. Josh Henry is a Technical Services Specialist with Ball Seed, providing support to growers across North America. In this role, Henry helps solve a wide range of grower problems for both young plant suppliers and customers. With a background in plant nutrition and diagnostics, he focuses on optimizing environmental and other abiotic factors to improve crop quality. Henry completed his undergraduate education at The Ohio State University and his MS and PhD at North Carolina State University in Horticultural Science with an emphasis on greenhouse production.

Scott leads and supports the success of applied research projects mainly for the Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN), a Niagara College-led initiative that brings together research institutions and greenhouse and technology businesses to accelerate the development, commercialization, and adoption of new technologies. Research projects focus on validating novel products and/or technology through testing within greenhouses. Thanks to funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Applied Research and Technology Partnership, Scott will lead cannabis and hemp projects, in addition to GTN projects.

With over 14 years of experience in teaching and research, Scott has a diverse background in plant science, genetics, as well as indoor, outdoor and greenhouse cultivation. Having led roles as a Master Grower and Plant Scientist for major cannabis companies, he has led numerous projects focused on optimizing crop production and breeding/developing new cultivars.

Scott holds a BSc in Forensic Science from Trent University, an MSc in Biotechnology from Brock University, and a Post-graduate Certificate in Commercial Cannabis Production from Niagara College. Currently, Scott shares his expertise as a part-time faculty member at Niagara College, teaching in the Commercial Cannabis Production Program and the Biological Sciences Department at Brock University.

Dr. Jonathan Griffiths is a Research Scientist specializing in Molecular Plant Virology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in Vineland, Ontario. Research in the Griffiths lab focuses on the molecular biology and genomic diversity of plant viruses in various fruit production systems including tomatoes, tree fruits, grapes, and berries. Major research areas include genetic resistance to tomato brown rugose fruit virus, plant virus diversity in pollen from different fruit production systems, and transmission of grapevine red blotch virus. Dr. Griffiths has a M.Sc. in Plant Biology from Western University and a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of British Columbia.

Judy is the IPM Technical Lead for Plant Products in Ancaster, with more than 30 years’ experience working with beneficial insects. She specializes in tropical plants, annuals and potted plants in the greenhouse as well as field and high tunnel berries.
Judy also has experience as an IPM instructor at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture and at Niagara College.

Dr. Brian Lynch is the Director of Horticulture Technology Solutions at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. Lynch started at Vineland in 2018 as a Senior Research Scientist, Automation and has led teams of engineers and technicians on projects tackling R&D problems in horticultural automation and robotics. In 2023, Lynch was named Director of Vineland’s Horticulture Technology Solutions, a hub for testing, validating and optimizing technology solutions for the Canadian and international horticultural industry. Previous to Vineland, Brian was Adjunct Professor at Queen’s University in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He holds a Master’s degree and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa.