Jan 30, 2023
Editor’s Note: Get to know the amazing team at Agritecture! This interview features Luc Lalire, Business Development Consultant at Agritecture Consulting.
Written by: Sarah Jordan
January 30, 2023
Meet Agritecture’s newest team member: Luc Lalire!
Luc Lalire recently joined Agritecture’s team as our Client Success Manager. “Agritecture is an information hub of the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry, and I am excited to expand my industry connections and knowledge as part of the team,” shares Luc. He is responsible for making every interaction with Agritecture Designer as productive and enjoyable as possible. In his role, Luc will support users of the platform and manage the Agritecture Partner Network.
Luc comes to Agritecture with a strong background in science and technology, particularly in the CEA field.
After studying for a Bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Vermont, Luc obtained his Master’s degree in Controlled Environment Agriculture from Cornell University.
Luc also enjoys canoeing in his free time.
Luc’s love of cooking brought his attention to products grown in CEA facilities, and he is excited for the opportunities it provides to try novel produce. “I’m an enthusiastic chef. In fact, I first came across the CEA industry while grocery shopping and noticing the higher quality of CEA-grown leafy greens. I’m excited to see the CEA industry enable greater access to food products previously not available such as exotic fruits, herbs and in particular, specialty mushrooms.”
“The question of how we are going to feed our ever-growing population is asked frequently, but I rarely hear anyone ask how are we going to feed them well? CEA not only provides a stable, year-round supply of produce, but this produce is also high quality and nutritious,” says Luc on what drew him towards working in CEA.
Luc hopes to see more collaboration between growers in the industry to facilitate more efficient production and growth in the sector in the coming years.
Credit: Rethink Events.
CEA has seen many challenges in recent months, but Luc has big hopes for the future. “In 5 years, I hope the capabilities and shortcomings of the CEA techniques will be more widely understood to allow for steady and sustainable investment. With advances in technology, such as climate control systems, nutrient delivery systems, robotics, and automated irrigation systems, I expect that CEA will become more efficient and cost-effective, giving greater access to a wider range of growers. This will allow greater adoption by large commercial growers which in turn, increases the contribution to the global food supply.”
In addition, he hopes to see more automation in CEA, particularly to allow farm operators to remotely monitor and control their systems. Luc sees potential for artificial intelligence and machine learning to help optimize growing conditions and maximize output. He hopes that increased connectivity will eventually allow for more efficient data sharing practices between growers and companies in the industry. More transparency in data sharing is essential to move our industry forward, and Luc hopes to achieve this through his support of Agritecture Designer.
Credit: Greenhouse Grower.
Concerning Agritecture Designer’s ability to facilitate data transparency in the industry, Luc says, “I am particularly excited to make farm planning more equitable by providing tools and knowledge previously only available through consultants.”
“Starting an indoor farm can be a complex undertaking and requires careful planning and consideration of many factors. Many of today’s largest names have tried to do it all on their own and have spent huge quantities of money in the process. There is huge value and gratification in indoor farming but don’t try to do it all on your own. Learning from other people’s mistakes and success is the best way to be profitable,” shares Luc.
Luc is enthusiastic about his role in expanding access to data in tech-enabled agriculture. He enjoys connecting with others in the industry and loves to talk about how Agritecture Designer can help you plan your dream CEA facility. Reach out to discuss how the Agritecture Partner Network can help you achieve your goals as a company or to discuss Agritecture Designer’s capabilities.