DR AFTAB ALAM | CO-FOUNDER, CTO

Dr Aftab Alam is an agricultural scientist with 25 years of experience in research & development, teaching and consultancy in biological sciences, aquaculture, aquaponics and urban agriculture. He worked in Academia for 20 years and 5 years in Industry. He is specialized in designing food production systems, establishing guidelines for operation and management and analyzing performance of such systems.

Dr Aftab is currently the director of R&D- A&A Epiphany LLC (Science and Technology Consultancy), USA since 2017'

Consultant for the Food Sector of NEOM (Saudi Arabia) from April to July 2019 International Consultant- Employed by the FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (FAO-UN) from April to July 2018 Vice President of Agriculture- Edenworks Inc., New York, USA (over 3 years, 2015-2018) Senior Research Scientist at Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia (2½ years, 2013-2015) Scientific Specialist at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Saudi Arabia (14½ years, 1998-2012) QUALIFICATIONS: Ph.D. (1999) Zoology, AMU, Aligarh (India) M.Phil. (1995) Zoology, AMU, Aligarh (India) M.Sc. (1993) Zoology, MJP Rohilkhand University, Bareilly (India) PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: Received KAUST-UC Berkeley Entrepreneurship Certificate the program in 2014 Emergency and Crisis Management Overview at KAUST in 2014 Laboratory Safety and Emergency at KAUST in 2013 Hazardous Waste at KAUST in 2014 Summer school on Fisheries enhancement at Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) in 1997 Aquatic Microbiology at Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, India in 1994

Patents Published and Filed

PATENT published with colleagues in King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia- A Modular, Insulated, Plug and Play Aquaponics Unit and Method. WO2019/135104A1, published on July 11, 2019. https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2019135104 PATENT filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) with colleagues- Stacked shallow water culture (SSWC) growing systems, apparatus and methods (US20180042192A1) https://patents.google.com/patent/US20180042192A1/en PATENT filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) with colleagues- Methods, systems, and apparatus for cultivating

Recognition

Designed and helped operate a completely decoupled vertical aquaponics prototype for Urban Agriculture in Brooklyn, New York City, USA. • Designed and helped develop a roof top aquaponics system for Project Renewal Company in, Bronx, New York City, USA • Prepared Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for aquaculture and horticulture components • Established Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) and Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) • Developed Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for urban agriculture farm • Worked with the team to secure required permits/licenses pertaining to aquaponics • Successfully tested Hybrid Striped Bass in decoupled aquaponics • Worked with the team to establish protocols for growing microgreens and baby greens in aquaponics • Designed and consulting on the operation of a commercial Aquaponics farm in Saudi Arabia..
Ph.D. (1999) Zoology, AMU, Aligarh (India) M.Phil. (1995) Zoology, AMU, Aligarh (India) M.Sc. (1993) Zoology, MJP Rohilkhand University, Bareilly (India)