Startups, Innovations and Disruptions in the Agri-Food Sector

Panel discussion by Berytech at HORECA 2018

Berytech is organizing a panel discussion during HORECA 2018 titled Startups, Innovations and Disruptions in the Agri-Food Sector, with panelists Nadine El-Khoury Kadi, COO Robinson Agri; Jamil Corbani, CEO Green Studios; Lucien Kazzi, Managing Director Teknologix; and Rani Azzi, Vineyard Manager – Assistant Technical Director Kefraya, and moderated by Ramy Boujawdeh, Deputy General Manager Berytech.

 

Panel Topic & Schedule
The panel will cover topics on trends, needs and innovations in the agri-food value chain in the region, as well as how this sector is innovating and embracing such innovations to stay competitive and attract young talents from different backgrounds to move it forward.

Date: Friday, March 23, 2018
Time: 6:30pm – 7:15pm
Venue: Seaside Arena (formerly BIEL)

 

Panelists

Nadine El-Khoury Kadi
After graduating in 1995 with a BS in Agriculture Engineering from the American University of Beirut, Nadine started working at Robinson Agri, the company founded by her father Sami El Khoury. Armed with a solid belief in the potential of Lebanese agriculture with the help of a highly specialized team, Nadine ascended to the role of COO, directly contributing to the expansion of the greenhouse and seed businesses of Robinson Agri, and the establishment of Agrigrow, the professional plant nursery founded in partnership with Dutch company Grow Group. Her focus on innovation projected Robinson Agri to the forefront of advancing agriculture in Lebanon through shifting from traditional practices in agriculture to advanced techniques (hybrid carrots, NFT concept, grafting vegetables, etc.). Not stopping at agriculture, Nadine worked on the establishment of Elysée WISE and is actively heading its Business Development Unit.

 

Lucien Kazzi
Lucien graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the Lebanese University in 2000 and earned a master’s degree in Industrial Automation in 2003 from the University of Technology of Compiègne. That same year, he was ranked first in the Association of Lebanese Industrialists competition for best designed machine. He worked in the packing machines manufacturing and lead development projects until 2008, when he founded Teknologix Automation, which established partnerships with top European companies in the fields of Smart Factory Automation and delivered successful solutions to market leaders in various industrial sectors in Lebanon and the Middle East.

 

 

Rani Azzi
Rani has more than 9 years of experience in grapevine and wine production. He is dedicated to sustainable agriculture and is currently incorporating state of the art precision viticulture practices in the vineyard of Chateau Kefraya and leading innovation and R&D projects at the winery. Having a strong technical background and a business mindset, Rani holds the position of Vineyard Manager and Assistant Technical Director of Château Kefraya. He graduated as an agricultural engineer from Saint-joseph University with vineyard management emphasis. He also holds an international MBA in Marketing and Management from Sorbonne-Paris Dauphine-USJ, where he developed a new business model for the wine industry.

 

Jamil Corbani
Jamil started his career in 1998 in the field of agriculture technology. In 2009, he co-founded Green Studios with Marc Abi Haila, which designs, manufactures, ships and supports hydroponic green walls and roof gardens installations all over the globe. Green Studios is headquartered in Beirut and its team is spread between Beirut, Dubai, Kuwait and Los Angeles. Jamil is the owner of several patents and patent-pending inventions related to hydroponic farming technology in Lebanon and the United States. In 2011, Green Studios was the winner of the MIT Enterprise Forum Competition of the Pan Arab Region for its innovation in the field of green walls and roof gardens. In 2015, Dubai Municipality awarded the company for its achievements in the field of environmental technologies.

 

 

Find out more on HORECA 2018 here.

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