MEET THE TEAM

KATIA ZACHARAKI

Step into the vibrant world of Katia Zacharaki, a Plant Scientist and the driving forcebehind InnoPhyte Consulting. But Katia’s journey didn’t start in the labs or boardrooms; it began in the heart of an artistic family, where her parents’painted canvases and shedanced to classic melodies. Yet, amidst the colourful strokes of her upbringing, Katia felt the pull of science and business, leading her to trade ballet point shoes for agricultural studies.

Her academic path took her from exploring the efficiency of strawberry crops in various substrates to delving into the intricacies of hydroponic cultivation software. But as she embarked on her MBA journey, a new horizon beckoned across the English Channel. Terrified of navigating a foreign language, Katia’s leap to England seemed improbable. Yet, here she stands today, immersed in the world of vertical farming and Total Controlled Environment Agriculture (TCEA), with strawberries as her muse.

Katia’s tenure as a plant scientist reads like a tale of innovation and collaboration. From spearheading ground-breaking research on indoor strawberry cultivation to nurturing TCEA start-ups, she’s woven a tapestry of partnerships and commercial success. But her quest for knowledge doesn’t end there; she’s currently pursuing her PhD on the behaviour of strawberry plants in indoor vertical production, a testament to her relentless pursuit of excellence.

Beyond the lab, Katia’s voice resonates in the UK Urban AgriTech community as the Comms Director for UKUAT. Her passion for connecting people and fostering collaboration underscores her commitment to advancing AgriTech on the urban landscape.

In 2023, fueled by a desire to democratise science, Katia founded InnoPhyte Consulting. With a mission to offer “Science as a Service,” her company provides a diverse array of expertise, from experimental design to grant writing, catering to the needs of AgriTech companies worldwide. Whether it’s deciphering complex data or translating science into commercial success, Katia and her team stand ready to lend their expertise.

So, whether you’re a budding start-up or an established player in the AgriTech arena, Katia invites you to join her in shaping the future of agriculture. And if you’re simply seeking to expand your network, she welcomes you to connect with her. After all, in the vibrant tapestry of innovation, every connection counts.

JIM STEVENS

Jim is one of our most-experienced consultants at InnoPhyte with a varied background bringing unusual and unexpected skills to bear.

He started his career in the wine trade in 1995 at Majestic Wine, where he gained his Diploma in Wines and Spirits (about half way to being a Master of Wine). Jim’s summary: “It was a great experience, but as they say, the best way to make a small fortune in wine is to start out with a large one. And there really is plenty of nonsense written about the stuff. I advise you to drink the stuff you like and not overpay.”

He then went to work in the City initially for internet stockbroker Self Trade and latterly for Gartmore in its various iterations. He rose to become a fund manager with a focus on emerging market equities and earned the Chartered Financial Analyst qualification (the gold standard for investment analysts). ‘It was great to understand the economic and accounting underpinnings of business and how to model corporate returns. But there’s little moral purpose to the industry. And considering neither I nor practically anyone else in financial services foresaw the Crisis of 2008-9, I think we can conclude that there’s little actual skill on display either. There is, however a giant sucking sound as money is hoovered out of client’s wallets’, Jim says of this experience.

So, Jim left the City and went back to school, gaining a PhD in plant science from the University of Essex. He then lectured and did research there for several years. He then worked at Vertical Future, a vertical farm engineering firm, until 2024. Jim focused on environmental control, development of novel sensors and building models in silico based on physics, biology and finance to develop productive growing systems. He was also a Visiting Scientist at the University of Cambridge in Prof Alex Webb’s lab. Bringing Jim’s career up to date, he notes that:

“I’ve loved every minute of working in labs and trying to solve real-world problems with direct implementation in growing practices. There is real pressure on agriculture to deliver biodiversity and climate change goals, to enhance food security and improve the environment. Oh and to keep food cheap, nutritious and abundant. So agriculture probably can’t be all things to all people. But I can focus on using my experience to help clients”.

Jim can help you to do good science – designing, running and (most importantly) analysing trials. He can model outcomes from those results that will help you implement the best practices you can uncover. And if you have a great idea, along with colleagues at InnoPhyte, he can help you apply for grant funding through bodies such as Innovate UK. Jim notes that ‘Grant writing isn’t difficult, but it is a skill that is hard-won. I have written plenty of grant applications that have failed. But I won some and learned the lessons. That’s why I’d love to hear how we can help you bring your best ideas to life.’

OSCAR RODRIGUEZ

Oscar is a UK and Spain registered Architect actively contributing to the definition of Regenerative Design through accumulated expertise in Urban Food Systems, Architectural ETFE design and Carbon Negative Construction.

He has worked at high profile Architectural practices including Foster + Partners and Wilkinson Eyre Architects on a range of project sectors, stages and scales with pronounced experience in large scale residential, commercial, rail infrastructure, biome design and Green Belt village masterplanning.

He runs his own specialist consultancy, Architecture & food to explore how the Built Environment could be designed to viably grow fresh produce using technology while delivering economic, biospheric and social value.

Since 2020, he has been Director of Policy for UK Urban Agritech, a 50+ member professional body for technology-led urban agriculture and vertical farming enthusiasts and professionals, and currently leads a campaign to get urban food systems their own planning Use Class.

In 2022 he was the UK external consultant to an Interreg-NWE-funded research project called GROOF, assembled to define the state of the art of the Building Integrated Greenhouse.

In 2022, alongside Christophe Egret from Studio Egret West, he led the Hackney Sitopia Design Think Tank Module unit at the London School of Architecture and occasionally teaches at other Architecture schools including the RCA and University of East London.

Oscar can speak the language of technology-led horticulture and apply design thinking to any architectural or spatial challenges urban farmers may be dealing with, particularly those seeking to exploit synergies between growing operations, their host buildings and their immediate environments.

THEA OTTO

With a passion for reshaping the future of food production, Thea-Isabella Otto brings a wealth of experience and knowledge at the intersection of international food and agri-business and cutting-edge vertical farming practices. Thea-Isabella Otto holds a business degree in sustainable food, agricultural supply chains, and market dynamics with a special focus on vertical farming. 

As an advocate for the burgeoning vertical farming industry, and with a profound commitment to addressing the pressing climate challenges of our time, she has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between science and industry for a more sustainable future.

Thea has since 2019 handled research- and project management for the Association for Vertical Farming (AVF), has written several reports on the development of the industry, and is currently acting as an advisor and consultant to a wide array of companies within indoor farming.