Get to know... Pedro Couto

In my scientific career, I have embraced an interdisciplinary path that bridges electrical engineering and agriculture. My early work in computer vision and digital image processing, applied across diverse domains, provided a solid foundation in advanced data analysis and technological innovation. This background has been instrumental in shaping my current research, which focuses on developing innovative monitoring solutions and applying machine learning techniques to agriculture. My overarching goal is to improve production efficiency, enhance crop resilience, and reduce the environmental impact of the agri-food sector. Among my research interests, root phenotyping also play an important role, as it is key to understanding how plants respond to water stress. 

I am an integrated researcher at the Center for Research and Agro-Environmental and Biological Technologies (CITAB) and of the associated laboratory Inov4Agro, where I work with multidisciplinary teams on leading projects that promote agri-food sustainability. Within this scope, I also participate in internationally relevant initiatives, such as WASTELESS – Waste Quantification Solutions to Limit Environmental Stress, funded by the European Union under the Horizon Farm2Fork program. This project seeks to quantify food waste and design innovative strategies to reduce losses and mitigate the environmental impacts of the agri-food chain. 

Is through this work that I hope to contribute to CITAB/UTAD’s mission and to advance the transition towards a smarter, more sustainable agriculture, aligned with the global challenges of the green transition.