Ferrarezi Lab of CEA at UGA

05/23/2026

UGA CAES Mediterranean Study Abroad. Friday 22nd, 2026. Lecture: Traditional almond-based foods By Prof. Dr. José Manuel Barat. Visit to Xixona & Lunch on site followed by a discussion session

05/23/2026

🇪🇸 Hola from Valencia! A Week into Our Mediterranean Journey 🍊

​Last Saturday, a squad of 13 UGA students and 2 Professors touched down in sunny Valencia, Spain! We represent a colorful mix of different majors, but we all share one massive appetite for learning, exploring, and of course, eating.

​We have officially kicked off our study abroad program, and we are diving headfirst into everything this beautiful city has to offer.

​🥘 What We Are Exploring

​Our time here is about understanding the deep connection between people, history, and their plates. Here is a look at what we are diving into:

● ​Global Food Systems: We are tracing how food moves from the fertile Spanish soil straight to the mesa (table), learning about sustainable agriculture and local markets.

● ​Vibrant Culture: From stunning architecture to the daily rhythm of the siesta, we are immersing ourselves in the rich, complex history of the Valencian Community.

● ​The Mediterranean Lifestyle: We are decoding the world-famous Mediterranean diet. More importantly, we are exploring the why behind what they eat. It is not just about olive oil, vine, turrón, citrus, aromatic herbs, and fresh seafood; it is about the pace of life, the importance of community, and the tradition of savoring every single bite with good company.

​"The Mediterranean diet is not just a list of ingredients; it is a way of life."

​We are already falling in love with the local culture, surviving our first attempts at navigating the city, and eating our weight in authentic Valencian paella.

​Stay tuned as we continue to eat, study, and explore our way through Spain. ¡Hasta luego!

​ FoodSystems .soranz

04/29/2026

Nice article from ASHS about the research we do at our lab: https://ashs.org/news/725858/Key-Environmental-Strategies-to-Improve-Leafy-Green-Production-in-Controlled-Environment-Agriculture.htm

Athens, GA – New research is shedding light on how careful management of oxygen levels, lighting conditions, airflow, and nutrient solutions can significantly improve leafy green production in hydroponic and vertical farming systems. The findings, drawn from several recent studies, offer practical...

04/29/2026

Just wanted to share a great milestone. The CENG Capstone Team, working with me on an automatic irrigation system, won 2nd place in the CENG 2026 Engineering Project Showcase. What an accomplishment!

Kudos to Haley Nguyen, Christopher Lewis Jackson, Jacob Callahan and Joseph Nicholas Orlowsky!

UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences University of Georgia Department of Horticulture

04/09/2026

🎙️ We're on the air! So excited to share that our team's work on Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is featured on Episode 2 of Urban Pods! 🌱🎧

Check it out, share with your peers, and let's talk about the future of CEA! 👇

🎬 Teaser: https://share.descript.com/view/1l7ykvV8iQ7
🎧 Full Episode: https://site.caes.uga.edu/uceplab/fab-five/
🔗 Urban Pods: https://site.caes.uga.edu/uceplab/urban-pods-2/

University of Georgia Department of Horticulture UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences UGA Public Service and Outreach Ferrarezi Lab of CEA at UGA

Urban Pods is a podcast series that brings research and innovation in the field of urban and controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) into the hands of the communities. Hosted by Dr. Ruchika Kashyap (Dr. R), Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Urban and Controlled Environment Plant Patho...

03/31/2026

Thrilled to share our latest publication in the prestigious ACS ES&T Engineering! 🌿💻

At the Ferrarezi Lab, we are constantly looking for ways to make precision agriculture and controlled environment production more efficient and sustainable. In our new paper, "Modular, On-Site Solutions with Lightweight Anomaly Detection for Sustainable Nutrient Management in Agriculture," we teamed up with our collaborators at Georgia Tech to tackle the computing and energy bottlenecks in crop monitoring.

We developed a flexible, tiered pipeline using multispectral imaging and machine learning to detect nutrient anomalies before they cause critical crop loss. The best part? We achieved high-efficiency early warning for nutrient stress at a fraction of the computing energy cost. This means these diagnostics can be deployed on the edge in real-world hydroponic and greenhouse environments without the heavy computational load offsetting the sustainability gains from nitrogen savings.

A huge congratulations to the entire interdisciplinary team across UGA and GA Tech for bringing this open-access research to life!

Read the full article here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsestengg.5c00635 University of Georgia Department of Horticulture UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Efficient nutrient management is critical for crop growth and sustainable resource consumption (e.g., nitrogen and energy). Current approaches require lengthy analyses, preventing real-time optimization; similarly, imaging facilitates rapid phenotyping but can be computationally intensive, preventin...

03/24/2026

🚨 LAST-MINUTE OPENINGS! 🚨

Luck is on your side! 🍀 Due to two unexpected cancellations, we suddenly have 2 spots available for our Sustainable Food Systems and Lifestyle in the Mediterranean study abroad program this Maymester 2026!

We’ll be diving deep into the intersection of agricultural innovation and rich culinary traditions. Get ready for hands-on tours of citrus groves, vineyards, and local markets, while seeing firsthand how tech like drones is shaping the future of farming. From olive oil and wine to cutting-edge horticulture and aquaculture, it’s the ultimate experiential learning adventure.

Don’t miss out on an unforgettable Maymester. These spots will go fast! 🍅🍇

📩 Interested? Don't wait! Contact us ASAP to claim your spot:

Dr. Rhuanito Ferrarezi: [email protected]
Dr. Leonardo Lombardini: [email protected]

🔗 Learn more about the program here: https://studyaway.uga.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=14093 UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences UGA Public Service and Outreach University of Georgia Department of Horticulture

Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is currently disabled. This site requires JavaScript support to run properly.

02/25/2026

It is always a proud moment when one of our own is ready to share their hard work with the department, our stakeholders, and the broader scientific community! Yesterday, Husnain Rauf delivered an outstanding exit seminar titled, "Advancing Precision Nutrition in CEA: Optimization of Sap Analysis Protocols and Nutrient Sufficiency Ranges for Lettuce, Cucumber, and Tomato". As you wrap up this intensive writing phase, Husnain, we couldn't be more excited for your next chapter. It is deeply rewarding to watch you step into the market as a fully prepared and exceptional professional. Everyone at the Ferrarezi Lab is so proud of your accomplishments!!!

02/25/2026

What an exciting moment when a brilliant student is ready to present their work to the department, our stakeholders, and the World! Last week, Suyun Nam presented her exit seminar, "Optimizing LED lighting using a Chlorophyll Fluorescence-based Biofeedback System in CEA". As this intensive writing period is coming to a wrap, we are thrilled to see what you do next, Su. As new opportunities arise, it is incredibly rewarding to know you are stepping into the market as a fully prepared, exceptional professional. We at the Ferrarezi Lab are very proud of you!!!