Alex Fisher
Founder and CEO, Saturn Bioponics
Alex Fisher is the Founder and CEO of Saturn Bioponics, an award-winning hydroponic science and technology company pioneering soil-less crop growing systems, strategy and know-how. The company develops and utilises appropriate technology and advanced science to provide improvements in yield, quality traits and costs of production. Hydroponics has a significant role to play in the sustainable intensification of agriculture globally.
Hydroponics is an adaptable, high-density method of growing fresh food in a clean, less labour-intensive way. The crop is not planted in the soil, but raised above ground level in cost-effective growing systems where it is fed on a carefully controlled blend of nutrient-enriched water to optimise the quality (such as flavour, shelf-life, nutritional values) and yield.
Not only does this mean there is 100% traceability through the cultivation process, the hydroponic method significantly reduces the environmental impact of crop production whilst simultaneously offering the capacity to increase the yield in a typical greenhouse as much as four or even fivefold.
Alex is a Maserati 100 Innovator, winner of the InnovateUK Award for Innovation leading to Productivity Improvement and recipient of the Food and Farming Awards' Special Award for Innovation. He is a frequent speaker and panelist at industry events, and a policy advisor to various government departments. Saturn Bioponics is uniquely featured in the UK government's 25 year Environment Plan.
Alex is passionate about the natural environment and sustainability, innovation, small business, job creation and the role these all have to play in building a better economy and society.