Rhuanito Soranz Ferrarezi

My position is 65% Research, 30% Teaching, and 5% Service, leading a program in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) at the Department of Horticulture at the University of Georgia. My program focuses on precision irrigation, plant nutrition, crop physiology, and cropping systems (phenotyping, lighting, substrates, biostimulants, biopharmaceuticals), and emphasizes production issues confronting greenhouse and indoor vertical farming production. My overall research goal is to maximize the yield and quality of ornamental and vegetal crops and advance horticultural science through basic and applied research using sustainable horticultural practices. Additionally, my research aims to increase CEA profitability and sustainability by enhancing water and fertilizer management and optimizing hydroponics and other cropping systems. Research is conducted through the procurement of extramural funding, and research results are published in peer-reviewed journals and educational materials. My teaching duties involve undergraduate and graduate student education by teaching HORT 3200 “Hydroponics and Controlled Environment Agriculture” and HORT 4050/6050 “Greenhouse Management I”. I participate actively in graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, and publishing research results with students and young professionals.