Workshop “Transformation of Ukraine: the path to green recovery and global leadership in the circular economy”: visit of British scientist and businessman Philip Lee to the University
On March 12, the Department of Environmental Law and the Center for Sustainable Development and Environmental Law organized a workshop “Transformation of Ukraine: the path to green recovery and global leadership in the circular economy” with Dr. Philip Lee as a key speaker.
Philip Lee is the CEO of Evolve International Group, Managing Director of Evolve Growing Solutions Ltd, a specialist in advanced systems and design of enclosures for greenhouse crops.
Dr. Lee is a former commercial farmer who completed his PhD in the design of advanced sustainable food production systems. In 2012, he founded Evolve Growing Solutions with the goal of providing sustainable food production. Thanks to his hard work, he and his company are respected in Europe and the Middle East, and his company has been involved in the world’s most ambitious project, Neom, a city under construction in Tabuk province in northwestern Saudi Arabia near the Red Sea. Neom is planned to use smart city technologies and function as a tourist center.
In his lecture, Dr. Philip Lee examined the potential of circular economy principles, focusing on key topics such as waste, water, energy, and food. The lecturer paid special attention to the innovative systems and processes developed for the Neom project, demonstrating how organic waste can be transformed into optimal soils, fertilizers, precursor chemicals, and even aviation fuel.
The lecture also discussed the concept of biomimicry, which is the use of systems and elements of nature in the development of innovative products, as well as ways to apply it to food production beyond traditional and organic practices. By using sustainable practices, biofuels, and modern biostimulants, we can integrate these solutions into waste-to-energy-food cycles. The goal is to achieve the same or higher yields compared to conventional methods, while significantly reducing the carbon footprint and improving food quality.
Dr. Phillip Lee emphasized that Ukraine’s post-war recovery creates a unique opportunity for “better and greener reconstruction” through circular economy solutions. Through the synergy of the waste management, water, energy and food sectors, Ukraine can become a global leader in sustainable development.
The event was organized and moderated by Yevhen Suetnov, Head of the Department of Environmental Law, Ievgeniia Kopytsia, Head of the Center for Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection, and Sergii Kolesnikov, a postgraduate student. In addition to the representatives of the Environmental Law Department, the lecture was attended by colleagues from the Department of Land and Agrarian Law, the Department of European Union Law, as well as students of the University and teachers from other higher education institutions.
Participants noted the high level of organization of the event, the importance of the issues discussed, the English-language format, the friendly atmosphere and the opportunity to join a fruitful scientific discussion.
No responses yet