Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering [DENG]

ISHS Elections – Vice-Chairperson – Candidates
Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering [DENG]

[1] Dr. Hicham Fatnassi (France)

As a researcher at the INRAE PACA Research Center, affiliated with the PSH Research Unit (Plants and Cropping Systems in Horticulture), my scientific activities focus on greenhouse horticulture, precision agriculture, environmental control systems, climate modeling, and sustainable protected cultivation technologies. I have been actively involved in multidisciplinary research projects related to smart greenhouses, agrivoltaics, energy-efficient horticultural systems, and climate-plant interactions. I strongly believe that the rapid development of precision horticulture technologies, including IoT-based sensing, artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and digital climate management, represents a major opportunity for advancing sustainable horticultural production worldwide. I would be honored to contribute to strengthening international scientific collaboration, promoting innovation in horticultural engineering, and supporting the dissemination of advanced technologies for resilient and resource-efficient horticultural systems. I am actively involved in teaching and mentoring activities related to greenhouse horticulture technologies and controlled environment agriculture. I am highly motivated to contribute to the scientific leadership and international visibility of the ISHS Division and to support the organization of scientific exchanges, workshops, and collaborative initiatives within the precision horticulture community. Dr. Fatnassi is Chair of ISHS Working Group Computational Fluid Dynamics in Agriculture.

[2] Dr. Joe Mari J. Maja (USA)

Dr. Joe Mari J. Maja is Director of the Center of Applied AI for Sustainable Agriculture at South Carolina State University, USA. His research focuses on AI, robotics, UAV systems, sensing technologies, and automation for precision horticulture and agriculture. He leads interdisciplinary projects involving robotic harvesting, precision spraying, hyperspectral imaging, and RFID-enabled systems. Dr. Maja collaborates with institutions across the United States, Europe, and Asia on sustainable and data-driven production systems. He serves in editorial and reviewer roles for international journals and competitive research programs related to smart agriculture technologies. His recent work includes contributions presented at the International Horticultural Congress and CIGR EurAgEng Conference. Dr. Maja is committed to advancing interdisciplinary collaboration, workforce development, and innovation in precision horticulture. As Vice-Chairperson, he aims to support global engagement and emerging technologies within the ISHS DENG Division.

[3] Dr. Carlos Poblete-Echeverria (South Africa)

PhD Carlos Poblete‑Echeverría is an Associate Prof. at Stellenbosch University and Coordinator of the Digital Agric. Research Group. His research focuses on AI, proximal and remote sensing, robotics, and crop‑water modelling applied to precision horticulture. He has supervised 26 MSc and 5 PhD students and contributed to 42 research projects. He has published 83 journal articles, 3 book chapters, and 100+ conference papers (h‑index = 33). He serves as Associate Editor for several internationally recognised journals. He has participated in scientific committees of international conferences in viticulture, horticulture, and sensing technologies. His academic trajectory spans Chile, Mexico, Spain, and South Africa, contributing globally to digital horticulture.