Urban Pods is a podcast series that brings research and innovation in the field of urban and controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) into the hands of the communities. Hosted by Dr. Ruchika Kashyap (Dr. R), Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Urban and Controlled Environment Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia, this series educates, inspires, and engages listeners across the dynamic world of sustainable crop production in urban spaces. Urban Pods is the space where growers, researchers, students, and curious minds find practical advice, success stories, and the latest scientific insights for a more resilient and sustainable food future.

Episode 1: What the Center for Urban Agriculture Brings to the Community

In this first episode of the science communication venture “Urban Pods,” we meet the drivers of the Center for Urban Agriculture (CUA). Join us in this episode to learn more about CUA and help build greener, more resilient communities through innovative growing practices, environmental stewardship, and sustainable production in urban spaces.

Episode 2: Fab Five: The CEA Team at UGA

In this episode, your host, Dr. Ruchika Kashyap, dives deep into the dynamic world of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), addressing common questions like: “What exactly is CEA?” and “Can a backyard hoop house be considered CEA?” Dr. R. is joined by the UGAs CEA Fab Five, a powerhouse team of experts from the University of Georgia, who are leading the charge in CEA research, extension, and innovation. They discuss the broad spectrum of CEA—from simple high tunnels to advanced indoor vertical farms—and how it’s revolutionizing food production, resource utilization, and even space exploration.

Episode 3: Planting Future in the City: Georgia’s Youngest Urban Grower

This episode shines a light on Kendall’s aGROWKulture Urban farm, a beacon of sustainability and community engagement in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia. Amidst a local food desert, ten-year-old Kendall Rae Johnson, Georgia’s youngest urban grower, the Nation’s youngest certified grower, and USDA Youth Urban Agriculture Ambassador, along with her parents, Mrs. Ursula Johnson and Mr. Quentin Johnson, are cultivating not just fresh, nutritious food, but also a movement.

Episode 4: Moon to Mars: Exploring Food Production in Space

In this out-of-this-world episode of Urban Pods, we take a giant leap into the future of food systems by exploring the fascinating world of Space Agriculture. Host Dr. R welcomes Dr. Matthew Mickens, a Plant Scientist at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) specializing in plant growth research in controlled environments. We dive into the extreme challenges of growing plants in space, including managing microgravity’s effects on air and fluid dynamics , the necessity of LED lighting systems, and overcoming limited resources (Mass, Volume, Power, Water, and Waste – the “MVP WW”).

Episode 5: Farming to Academia to Farming: Insider insights

In this episode of Urban Pods, host Ruchika Kashyap (Dr. R) sits down with Dr. Peter Konjoian, a lifelong grower and researcher, to explore the evolving landscape of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and the transition from ornamental floriculture to edible crop production. Dr. Konjoian shares personal stories from his family farm roots to his distinguished academic career, offering a unique “lab to land” perspective on the critical role of water sanitation, the delicate balance between sanitizers and biostimulants, and the future of urban food systems. 

In this episode of Urban Pods, host Dr. R welcomes Dr. Stephanie Burnett, Professor of Horticulture at the University of Maine’s School of Food and Agriculture. Dr. Burnett is a leading researcher focused on enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of greenhouse production.

The conversation explores Dr. Burnett’s pioneering work, which spans from developing sensor-automated irrigation systems to minimizing water use, to researching novel food crops and the booming sector of cut flower production in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).