Biography:
João Cotter is the Co-founder and CEO of Aquaponics Iberia, a position held since early 2017. With an academic foundation in Marine Biology (MSc) and business acumen (MBA), Cotter has dedicated over 20 years to the research, development, and implementation of sustainable aquaculture systems, with a particular focus on aquaponics.
His professional journey encompasses roles such as innovation consultant in the food retail sector, IT project manager, and CEO of three companies. His research in ichthyology and aquaculture has contributed to his deep knowledge of aquatic ecosystems.
Cotter is a BLUEINVEST Coach for blue economy startups, an Agrifood Expert (EIT Food’ AFEC) and an expert in aquaponics technology, having successfully designed, engineered, and installed numerous systems and trained more than 2200 individuals. His international impact is highlighted by his role as Aquaponics Project Manager for INMED in the Caribbean, where he contributed to social and economic development through climate-adaptive agriculture and aquaculture. Furthermore, he was also Aquatic Production Specialist for Food4Sustainability CoLAB.
Title : XRAqua: Bridging aquaponics and extended reality for an immersive learning experience