Title: head of business development
Association/Company: Square Roots
Biography:
John Paul Boukis cultivates research partnerships as the Head of Business Development at vertical farming startup Square Roots. He previously led public-private research collaborations at AeroFarms for 5 years. Mr. Boukis also founded and served as senior editor of national food magazine Hotel F&B Executive. He cares deeply about food quality and champions complex projects that encourage breakthroughs in food and agriculture.
Speech session
The innovation of plant biology
Speech
Genome-edited tomatoes grow heterotrophically without light through acetate metabolism
Abstract
Square Roots, a leading startup in controlled environment agriculture, is working with gene-edited plants that grow heterotrophically, including tomato. This 2-year program aims to prove that light can be removed from a commercial indoor vertical farm, and is supported by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In place of photosynthesis under LED lights, these plants uptake carbon from acetate added to irrigation water. Initial trials have started with Arabidopsis, and will be followed by lettuces, and then tomato. By addressing the intensive energy required in vertical farming, this program aims to reduce both costs and CO2 emissions to unlock the benefits of vertical farming for more crops and contribute to food security around the world.
