Henry Gordon-Smith, the founder and CEO of Agritecture, announced on his LinkedIn page that he will be a visiting professor at Columbia University. There, he will teach a class titled 'Smart Agriculture for a Changing Climate'.
Below is Gordon-Smith's announcement in full:
"I'm excited to start my new role as a lecturer at Columbia University!
I will be teaching a brand new course on Climate Smart Agriculture
where I will take students through a global assessment of the challenges
agriculture faces from climate change and which smart (low and
high-tech) solutions are being developed to adapt to this new normal.
If you have any case studies you suggest I cover with the students, let me know!
Course Overview: Smart Agriculture for a Changing Climate
Agriculture
is at a pivotal point in addressing climate change, facing the dual
challenge of being both a victim and a contributor to it. As other
sectors reduce their carbon footprints, agriculture's emissions could
rise without intervention. This sector must now embrace transformative
actions, including regenerative practices and smart technologies, to
adapt and mitigate climate impacts. This urgency was highlighted in
global discussions, like at the COP28 meetings in the UAE, focusing on
Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) - an approach integrating cropland,
livestock, forests, and fisheries to tackle food security and climate
change.
This course is tailored for future sustainability
leaders, offering a deep dive into the intersection of climate change
and agriculture. With climate change threatening to reduce global crop
yields significantly, understanding and addressing these challenges is
critical. The course explores CSA solutions, from AI and IOT to
hydroponics and urban agriculture, emphasizing adaptive strategies for
diverse environments. Students will analyze key agricultural regions and
crops, assess real-world challenges, and discuss successful adaptation
strategies.
The course demands analytical thinking and practical
application of climate-smart solutions in assignments reflecting
real-world challenges. Through this, students will enhance their ability
to convert theory into actionable strategies, preparing them for roles
in the $1+ trillion US agriculture sector or the global sustainable
agriculture industry."
