GROW Webinar: Unchaining genetic diversity by harnessing omics tools for genebank innovation and adaptive agriculture

Dr. Kioumars Ghamkhar is a leader in plant genetic resources, phenomics, agritech, and agricultural innovation. Since 2014, he has directed the Margot Forde Genebank at AgResearch, New Zealand’s premier agricultural genebank. With a PhD in plant molecular phylogeny and evolution from the University of New England, Australia, he has over 24 years of experience in plant genetic diversity, ex situ conservation, and cutting-edge agricultural technologies in Australia and New Zealand. He has pioneered the integration of genomics data into genebank databases and has led award-winning research in plant phenomics in New Zealand. Kioumars also has entrepreneurial experience being the founder of Map&Zap, a revolutionary AI-driven, non-chemical weed control technology, spun out to a startup.

Internationally, Kioumars has edited and co-authored a landmark book on omics and genetic resources with 18 global experts in 2023. He serves as co-chair of the academia section and board member at the International Plant Phenotyping Network (IPPN) with a mission to integrate technology into plant phenotyping, driving global standards in phenotyping. He has been an invited keynote or plenary speaker at five international conferences in the past 6 years. A dedicated editor for the journal “Frontiers in Plant Science” since 2020, he has also edited and co-edited special issues with journals Frontiers, Plants and The Phenome Journal on topics such as plant phenomics and plant genetic resources.