Ralph Fritsche, Gerente del Proyecto de Producción de Alimentos de la Administración Nacional de Aeronáutica y del Espacio (NASA), lidera el esfuerzo para desarrollar sistemas de alimentos frescos sostenibles y confiables en apoyo de los vuelos espaciales de larga duración. Si bien la investigación actual se realiza utilizando las instalaciones Veggie y Advanced Plant Habitat de la NASA en la Estación Espacial Internacional (ISS), se requerirán nuevas instalaciones para cultivar cosechas y cosechar para complementar la nutrición de la tripulación. Antes de centrarse en la producción de alimentos,

Fritsche comenzó su carrera en la NASA en 1989 apoyando el Programa Espacial Tripulado de los EE. UU. En diversos roles operativos y de ingeniería. Fritsche fue director de pruebas de carga útil de la NASA para varios proyectos clave, incluido el módulo de acoplamiento Mir, MEIT (prueba de integración de elementos múltiples), la prueba más grande de hardware de vuelo espacial en la historia del programa espacial de EE. UU., Vuelos de ensamblaje de la ISS y AMS ( Espectrómetro alfa magnético). En los últimos años se desempeñó como Gerente de Proyecto de la NASA para las cargas útiles de investigación biológica BRIC Synergy y Biotube-MICRo. Ralph Fritsche recibió la Medalla de Servicio Excepcional de la NASA y obtuvo una doble licenciatura en Física y Ciencias Espaciales del Instituto de Tecnología de Florida en 1979.

Kellie Walters es candidata a doctorado en el Departamento de Horticultura de la Universidad Estatal de Michigan y trabaja con el Dr. Roberto López. Anteriormente, recibió su Maestría en Ciencias en horticultura de la Universidad Estatal de Iowa con el Dr. Christopher Currey. Su investigación se centra en las respuestas fisiológicas de las hierbas culinarias producidas hidropónicamente en la agricultura de ambiente controlado a la intensidad de la luz, la temperatura y el dióxido de carbono. Se ha centrado en modelar las interacciones de los parámetros ambientales en el crecimiento, el desarrollo y la calidad de las plantas culinarias, incluida la reducción de la brecha entre el análisis de laboratorio y las preferencias de los consumidores.

Kellie Walters is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University working with Dr. Roberto Lopez. Previously, she received her Master of Science in horticulture from Iowa State University with Dr. Christopher Currey. Her research focuses on the physiological responses of hydroponically produced culinary herbs in controlled environment agriculture to light intensity, temperature, and carbon dioxide. She has focused on modeling the interactions of environmental parameters on culinary herb growth, development, and plant quality including bridging the gap between lab volatile analysis and consumer preferences.

Born and raised in Florida with horticultural degrees from the University of Florida and Cornell University. Combined studies in tropical soils, plant pathology, plant breeding, international agricultural development and business. Extensive experience in intensive crop production systems worldwide with a very practical, down-to-earth approach to problem-solving and training of personnel. Speaks Spanish and is respectful of cultural differences and regional restraints to achieve goals. Participated in Deming seminars in quality assurance and programs provided by the Syngenta Academy for training and development at national and global levels within Syngenta. Very comfortable working with complex situations to develop a consensus of progressive steps toward problem solving. Broad experience in production systems using a wide range of inputs for different crops, especially for young crops and their establishment.

Dr. Erik Pekkeriet is working as a Senior Project Manager in Vision and Robotics in Agriculture and Food at Wageningen UR, The Netherlands. He completed his BSc in Mechanical Engineering at Emmen, in 1994. Within the Mechanical Engineering he specialized in Maintenance Technology and Management. After he finished his BSc he started his career at Philips as a project employee in maintenance management at a Philips production plant.
After a few years he started as a consultant in innovation management in Greenhouse Horticulture. He started as a single consultant, but built and led a department with 5 innovation consultants. After 7 years he made a change to Wageningen UR, to work directly with real technicians’ and researchers building innovative robots, vision sorting systems and new greenhouse production systems for, and together with growers and machine manufacturers. Main projects he developed and worked on the last 11 years were: Vision Sorting Systems for pot plants, cut flowers and vegetables in X-ray-, NIR-, Fluorescence and RGB-technology in 2D and 3D; robot harvesting systems for cutting roses, gerberas, cucumbers and tomato leaves and new moving greenhouse production systems for chrysanthemum, pot plants and cucumber. Currently he is leading the EU funded Pick n Pack project.

Topic: Using Automation and Robotics in the CEA Farm

Dr. Takagaki has done research and taught in the fields of tropical agriculture, vegetable science, environmental control, protected horticulture and training of basic horticulture.
Dr. Takagaki Took a leading role in creating the university’s international-student-assisting system, in establishing the sister-university-ship with many universities in the world, including Panamanian universities, and in launching the international double-degree programs with Tsinghua University in China, Mahidol University in Thailand, and Bogol Agricultural University in Indonesia.
Organized, at Chiba University, the first English short course in Vertical Farm in Japan.

Topic: Educating your Labor Force in CEA