Samar Khalil

Researcher, Department of Biosystems and Technology

E-mail

Phone

+4640-415335

Samar Khalil (Associate professor) is a biologist and researcher in horticulture with special research in Sustainable Food Production. In her own research, Samar Khalil focuses on microbial interactions in cultivation systems in relation to plant health and plant protection against diseases. Her research is also focused on circular bioeconomy and microbial interactions where industrial side streams are evaluated in the production systems as alternative to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and peat as a growing medium.

Presentation

I am a researcher in horticultural science with a focus on microbial interactions linked to horticultural crops and growing media, with a focus on the development of sustainable cultivation systems. In 1997, I received a master's degree in biology from Lund University with a focus on microbial ecology. In 2002 I defended my thesis at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in the subject of horticultural science with a thesis "Assessment of microbial communities in closed hydroponic greenhouse systems" where I evaluated different tools for assessing microflora in growing systems with a focus on phospholipid fatty acid analyses for assessing microbial dynamics and metabolic profiles based on the BIOLOG system for assessing microbial function. Since then, I have been researching on biological control of root diseases in hydroponic systems and optimizing growing factors that enhance and streamline the effect of biological plant protection products against root pathogens both in liquid and substrate-based hydroponic systems. Tomato and Strawberries have been used as model crops in my research. Currently, my research is focused on circular bioeconomy and microbial interactions where industrial side streams are reused in the cultivation system and evaluated as an alternative to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and peat as a growing medium. I focus on food production in a circular economy where circular thinking is applied and waste is reused to efficiently utilize resources such as nutrients and water. I conduct research on Aquaponics as a future system for food production and optimization of growing conditions using artificial intelligence to counteract biotic and abiotic stress. A large part of my research is about growing media and the use of, among other things, compost from mushroom cultivation so-called "spent mushroom compost, SMC" as a nutrient and substrate source to reduce the use of peat. Hemp as a growing medium is also evaluated in my research, as is compost from food waste. I place great importance on the effect of these streams on the development of a natural microflora with antagonistic potential and on the potential of these streams to break down antimicrobial chemicals such as drug residues and fungicides. Microalgae are also used in my research as a tool to recycle nutrients and purify various water streams that can be used as an irrigation source.

Research

Ongoing research projects include research on the reuse of industrial side streams in food production. We optimize cultivation conditions in integrated fish and plant cultivation systems in so-called aquaponic systems to achieve healthy and sustainable production using machine learning and artificial intelligence. We develop new cultivation substrates to reduce the use of peat by using hemp, spent mushroom compost, compost from food waste and protein and fibre fractions from plant material. We investigate the quality and potential of reusing water from different residual streams such as water fractions from food waste, wastewater and aquaculture in cultivation systems. Our focus is on health aspects in interaction with microorganisms to promote plant-environment and human health in circular cultivation systems. We work in close collaboration with other academic partners, industry and stakeholders.

Ongoing research projects

Aquaculture integrated with microalgae - An innovative irrigation strategy in horticulture
Hempwood - The growing medium of the future in a biobased economy: Sustainable substrates for professional cultivation
Microalgae for the transformation of food waste into new sources of water, fertilizers and biopesticides in food production
Cultivating innovation: Best practices for integrating aquaponic cultivation as an educational tool

Teaching

I teach primarily in the Horticultural Engineering program with a focus on cultivation and the master's program Horticultural Science. I also have some input into the Agroecology program, the Landscape Engineering program - Alnarp and the Lantmaster's program. I am the course leader for the courses Cultivation and business planning in horticultural companies (15 credits) and Project based research training (15 credits). I am the leader of the theme about urban Horticulture within the framework of the course Urban agriculture and social interactions (15 credits). I teach also in the subject of microbiology, plant protection and plant physiology. I supervise and examine several student’s thesis at bachelor's and master's level every year.

Educational credentials

I have pedagogical qualifications at basic and advanced levels. I am an associate professor and have pedagogical competence for supervising doctoral students. I am also qualified as an examiner when it comes to student thesis.

Supervision role

2022-2024 Main supervisor to Postdoc Yenitze Fimbres- Smart aquaponics and the use of IA technology in aquaponics cultivation

2021-2024 Co-supervisor to PhD student: Fantaye Ayele – Effects of Phytobeneficial Bacterial Rhizomicrobiome on Biotic and Abiotic stress tolerance and nutrients uptake of Finger Millet and Sorghum and their Wild relatives

2019-2020 Main supervisor to Postdoc: Samia Samad - Flower mapping and the reuse of spent mushroom compost in strawberry cultivation

2017-2022 Main supervisor to PhD student: Andreas Nicolaidase – Sustainability of circular economy with focus on water resources.

2011 - 2017 Co-supervisor to PhD student: Samareh Gharaie - Light-phyllosphere interactions in greenhouse grown ornamentals

2006-2010 Co-supervisor to PhD student: Karl-Johan Bergstrand - Variables limiting efficacy of slow filters integrated into closed hydroponic growing systems

Supervision of students at bachelor and master level