Agriculture Specialist – Hydroponic Fodder Production

Shunya Agritech is pioneering the delivery of hydroponic green fodder to small dairy farmers in India through a subscription-based service. By leveraging controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technologies, we aim to address livestock nutrition security and sustainability challenges in rural India. As we expand, we are looking for an Agriculture Specialist to lead, frame and optimize our hydroponic fodder production systems.

The Agriculture Specialist will be responsible for monitoring and optimizing our hydroponic fodder growth processes, establishing rigorous protocols for consistent and high-quality yield, and driving sustainable agricultural practices. This role combines hands-on expertise with strategic planning to support our mission of providing reliable, eco-friendly fodder solutions for dairy farmers across India.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Growth Monitoring & Protocol Development
   • Develop, standardise, and oversee protocols for hydroponic fodder growth, ensuring optimal conditions for plant health, growth rate, and nutrient density. The input would be based on maize, barley, wheat or similar crops amenable for conversion into fodder for animals.
   • Regularly monitor and analyze growth metrics, adjusting protocols as needed to maximize quality and yield.
   • Implement sustainable practices and resource-efficient methodologies to maintain a low environmental footprint.

2. Controlled Environment Management
   • Collaborate with engineers to maintain and enhance hydroponic systems, ensuring all equipment and environmental controls meet plant health requirements.
   • Use data-driven insights to optimize inputs, water, and environment parameters.

3. Quality Assurance & Training
   • Establish quality standards and maintain rigorous QA processes to meet high levels of fodder quality and production across multiple geographies and multiple teams.
   • Train field technicians and Growth & Logistics Center (GLC) staff & Partners on standard operating procedures (SOPs) and best practices.

4. Research & Development
   • Stay updated on industry trends, technologies, and best practices in hydroponics and controlled environment agriculture.
   • Conduct research and trials on emerging hydroponic methods, preventive care against infestations & negative elements, better growing methods, and plant nutrients to improve fodder productivity and sustainability.
   • Post internal research, work towards implementing the technologies, and best practices in own production processes across the various GLCs.
   • Work with external research partners to improve on Shunya’s growth protocol and its IPs.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Agricultural Science, Horticulture, Plant Science, or a related field with a focus on Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) or Hydroponics.
• Seed Production, growth and quality control
• Knowledge of Horticulture and hydroponic methods, preferably with hands-on experience in plant cultivation in controlled environments.
• Strong grounding in Plant Biology or Botany to optimize plant health, protect plants from disease, infections, insects etc., and growth in a soil-less environment.
• Familiarity with Sustainable Agriculture principles and practices, especially in resource management for efficient food production.
• Analytical skills to assess plant health, nutrient levels, and growth metrics.
• Strong communication skills for training, collaboration, and reporting.

Preferred Experience:

• Practical experience in Hydroponic Fodder Production or similar hydroponic farming systems.
• Practical experience in Seed Production of multiple crops, and field quality control experience
• Knowledge in Soil Science for a nuanced understanding of plant nutrition, even in soil-less systems.

What We Offer:

• Opportunity to work with a forward-thinking, mission-driven team
• Challenge and Opportunity to grow the business across multiple geographies
• Exposure to innovative agricultural technologies.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

How to Apply: Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their resume and cover letter detailing their experience with hydroponic systems and controlled environment agriculture.