Henry Gordon-Smith to teach new course at Columbia

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."