The University of Toronto’s Climate Positive Energy Initiative (CPE) hosted the much anticipated fourth annual Climate Positive Energy Research Day to bring together researchers, entrepreneurs, industry professionals and students across various disciplines.
This exciting event consisted of keynotes speeches, student presentations and panel discussions, all of which highlighted current research, innovations as well as updates in the field of climate positive energy with many opportunities for networking.
Impressive opening speeches
The opening remarks and addresses set the atmosphere for the event by emphasizing the need for collaboration and action on climate change. Dr. Shatha Qaqish-Clavering (CPE) and Professor David Sinton (Lawson Climate Institute) gave opening remarks showcasing their organizations’ work in translating research findings into real world solutions.
The presence of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change the Honourable Julie Dabrusin demonstrated the value placed by the government on addressing climate change and was greatly appreciated by participants.
Interdisciplinary Panel Discussions
Panel discussions covered topics such as Carbon Management, Energy Transition and Sustainable Agriculture. In the Sustainable Food for Healthy People and Healthy Planet panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Qaqish-Clavering, panelists Prof Keiko Yoshioka (UofT) and Dr. Nicole De Longe (Vineland Research) discussed the future of sustainable agriculture and agricultural innovation with an emphasis on healthy food production.
They noted that the industry push towards the use of AI was apparent with the implementation of AI in developing precision and predictive technology to anticipate plant stress in order to apply precise treatments preventatively.
The potential use of AI also includes the analysis of large datasets to inform farming practices. The panel agreed on the need for rapid implementation of effective solutions to reduce crop loss, but barriers to these innovations include building trust with farmers and ensuring profitability.
A lively discussion occurred on the topic of Urban Farming, which is gaining momentum in plant agriculture and includes vertical farming, utilizing urban spaces for farming and growing produce through hydroponics. Both panelists recognized the challenges as well as benefits.
Water and disease management could pose problems as well as energy usage. However, Urban Farming has the potential to increase food production and decrease food insecurity when combined with conventional mass production agricultural practices.
Urban Farming was also mentioned to not just be about food production but is also about utilizing the energy already generated by the city to produce urban farms and productive greenspaces.
This informative and productive conversation ended with both panelists agreeing that the way forward towards sustainable and healthy food production is through increased interdisciplinary collaboration.
This panel discussion engaged and inspired the audience with Maidah, a MSc Student in CSB saying “I found this panel discussion to be a highlight! To me it really put into perspective how plant agriculture is adapting to climate change and the need for it. It also inspired me to remember the bigger picture as I begin my own Master’s research and ultimately remember what it is working towards.”
Students present climate positive solutions
Throughout the day, students presented interesting pitches. They detailed their research involving climate positive solutions and answered questions from industry professionals about next steps and potential applications of their research within the industry.
The top three student presentations were selected based on the potential of their pitches. These sessions were a great opportunity to not only hear about current research, but also to witness collaboration that can bridge the gap between research and application into the industry.
Overall, the fourth annual Climate Positive Energy Research Day was a day full of interesting talks and discussions on the future of energy towards climate positive solutions. It was also a great showcase of the research and current innovations within the field by students and professionals in Toronto and beyond. Through this event, interdisciplinary collaboration and open communication was fostered, with new perspectives and insights gained into the future of climate positive energy.
Looking forward to the 5th annual research day next year!