Radu Giurgiu

Experienced R&D Project Manager at ILVO, coordinating SoilWise, a Horizon Europe project under the EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’. Leading a consortium of 15 partners to develop the European Commission’s Soil Data and Knowledge Repository, fostering collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to advance soil health and sustainable land management. Skilled in project coordination, stakeholder engagement, and interdisciplinary research.

Led circular nutrient research at Growy Labs BV, pioneering sustainable solutions for highly automated vertical farming. Focused on closing nutrient loops through innovative organic production systems, optimizing resource efficiency, and integrating bio-based fertilizers. Worked at the intersection of plant science, microbiology, and automation, contributing to cutting-edge advancements in controlled environment agriculture to enhance productivity, sustainability, and scalability in vertical farms.

Managed R&D projects at the intersection of waste-to-resource innovation, plant nutrition, and high-tech food production systems. Led international collaborations with diverse public and private stakeholders across the water-food-energy nexus, driving sustainable solutions. Facilitated the translation of space technology into real-world applications, leveraging advanced circular systems for resource recovery and resilient food production on Earth. Experienced in interdisciplinary project coordination, stakeholder engagement, and system integration for sustainable agriculture and environmental management.

Founded and led the Plant Geek Lab at UASVM, spearheading research on automation and AI-driven optimization of aquaponic systems for circular food production. Secured funding from DBU (German Federal Environmental Foundation) to develop smart, data-driven solutions for controlled environment agriculture. Focused on integrating sensor technology, automation, and AI to enhance aquaponic system efficiency, resource recovery, and sustainable food production. Led interdisciplinary research teams, fostering innovation at the intersection of plant science, aquaculture, and digital agriculture.

Conducted research within the Sustainable Energy, Air, and Water Technology Group at the Department of Bioscience Engineering, focusing on circular nutrient recovery and water recycling. Investigated the cultivation of Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria (PNSB) on brewery wastewater for use as a slow-release biofertilizer in vertical farming. Engaged in wet lab experiments and on-site R&D, exploring innovative biotechnological approaches for sustainable agriculture and wastewater treatment.