Cleantech Symposium
Sustainable Farming Meets Innovation: Swiss and Georgia Solutions for a Greener Future
2025 Cleantech Symposium and Student Poster Competition at the University of Georgia
Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Location: UGA Delta Innovation District, 210 Spring St., Athens, GA
Learn more and register:
- About the symposium
- Event registration
- Schedule
- Student poster competition and registration
- Event contacts
- Poster competition contact
About the symposium
The future of agriculture depends on innovation. With increasing pressure to reduce chemical inputs, optimize resource efficiency, and address labor shortages, new technologies are shaping the way we grow food. From AI-powered robotics to advanced solar solutions for greenhouses, sustainable farming is at the forefront of cleantech advancements.
To foster collaboration and accelerate the exchange of cutting-edge solutions, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Atlanta, the Swiss Business Hub in Atlanta, the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the UGA Innovation District, and the Department of Horticulture CEA Crop Physiology and Production Laboratory are proud to present the 3rd Annual Cleantech Symposium. This year's event will focus on agricultural innovation, robotics, and solar-powered solutions, showcasing Swiss and Georgia-based technologies that are transforming the industry.
Key topics include:
- Precision Agriculture and Robotics – Reducing chemical use and improving efficiency with AI-powered solutions
- Solar-Powered Greenhouses – Harnessing sunlight to optimize indoor farming while cutting energy costs
- Carbon Credits and Sustainable Practices – How innovation can support carbon neutrality in agriculture
- Swiss cleantech startups Voltiris, Caterra, BCHAR, and Ecorobotix will present their groundbreaking solutions alongside Georgia-based experts, offering unique insights into how technology is reshaping the agricultural landscape
As part of the symposium, UGA students will have the opportunity to showcase their research through a poster competition, fostering dialogue between academia and industry.
Join us on Tuesday, November 18th, 2025, for an engaging discussion on how innovation can drive a more sustainable future for farming.
Event registration
The event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. Faculty, staff, students, postdocs, entrepreneurs, and friends of UGA with an interest in sustainability research and development are especially invited to attend.
Schedule
| TIME | EVENT |
|---|---|
| 2:00 p.m. | Intro Words by Consul General of Switzerland |
| 2:10 p.m. | Present UGA, the Horticulture Department, and the CEA Crop Physiology and Production Laboratory Dr. Rhuanito Ferrarezi, UGA |
| 2:25 p.m. | Keynote Presentation by Student Entrepreneur UGA Student |
| 2:45 - 3:45 p.m. | Panel Discussion: Smart and Sustainable Farming: Cutting Costs, Chemicals, and Carbon with Innovation
Speakers - UGA Expert: Chris Rhodes - Start-ups |
| 3:45 - 4:30 p.m. | Coffee Break and Poster Competition Networking opportunity. Coffee and snacks provided. |
| 4:30 - 5:15 p.m. | Presentation Voltiris Jonas Roch, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of the Swiss Start-up Voltiris (online) |
| 5:15 - 5:35 p.m. | Presentation BCHAR Stefan Kaspar, Co-Founder and CEO of Swiss Start-up BCHAR (online) |
| 5:35 - 5:55 p.m. | Presentation Caterra Aurell Neff, Co-Founder, Swiss Start-up Caterra (in person) |
| 5:55 - 6:25 p.m. | Presentation Ecorobotix Olivia Soares De Camargo, Project Manager Business Development at Swiss Start-up Ecorobotix (in person) |
| 6:25 - 7:45 p.m. | Pitch Presentations, Student Poster Competition (2 min each) |
| 7:45 - 8:15 p.m. | Apéro riche/Networking |
| 8:15 p.m. | Winner Announced, Student Poster Competition |
Student poster competition
In conjunction with the Cleantech Symposium, UGA is organizing a student poster display for both graduate and undergraduate students and a competition to showcase student research pertaining to the two main focus areas of the conference. The poster competition is open to any UGA undergraduate and graduate student whose research topic is related to Precision Agriculture, Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), Agri-Robotics and Automation, Sustainable Energy and Solar Solutions, Biological Inputs and Alternative Fertilizers, Smart Irrigation and Water Management, Regenerative and Climate-Smart Agriculture, Circular Bioeconomy, and AgTech and Digital Farming. Cash prizes ($300, $200 and $100 for first, second and third place, respectively) will be awarded separately for the best undergraduate and graduate student posters, as judged by a panel of UGA faculty members and industry delegates from Switzerland and Georgia.
Registration
Who: UGA undergraduate and graduate students
Topics: Sustainable Farming Meets Innovation
Registration: Students who wish to participate in the poster display and competition must register by Monday, November 10, 2025. On the registration page, make sure to check the box for “Poster Competition Participant.” This will allow you to enter the title of your poster and a 250-word abstract.
You will be informed about the acceptance of your abstract submission by Tuesday, November 11, 2025. More information about poster format and judging criteria (PDF).
The poster session will be held in the Spring Street Building at the UGA Delta Innovation District on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Cleantech Symposium. Students are expected to stand by their posters during that time to discuss their research with interested attendees and answer questions posed by the poster judges. Please contact Rhuanito Ferrarezi (ferrarezi@uga.edu) with questions.
Event contacts:
Olivia S. Perner
Project Manager, Consulate General of Switzerland, Atlanta, GA
email: olivia.perner@eda.admin.ch
Chris Rhodes
Executive Director, UGA Innovative District, Athens, GA
email: chris.rhodes@uga.edu
Poster competition contact:
Dr. Rhuanito Soranz Ferrarezi
Associate professor, UGA CAES Department of Horticulture, Athens, GA
email: ferrarezi@uga.edu
