Research engineer (2018 - present) Soil Service of Belgium W. de Croylaan, 3001 Heverlee (Belgium) www.bdb.be ▪ responsible for the following up of various projects and studies on soil and water management (incl. project and report writing, follow-up of trials and lab analyses, data analysis, scientific articles, participation in congresses, meetings, …). ▫ current focuson: irrigation, soil water management, soil quality and plant production ▪ irrigation consultant for arable farming and vegetable cultivation within the "irrigation management" service Lead author on publication: Vaerten J., Janssens P., Elsen A., Elsen F., Vandendriessche H. 2019. 30 jaar irrigatieproeven bij de Bodemkundige Dienst van België. Publicatie van de Bodemkundige Dienst van België. 102 pp. ----------------------------------------------------------- Master in Bioscience Engineering in Agriculture (2017), KULeuven, Leuven, BE Major: Agriculture - Crop production Minor: Agro- and Ecosystems Engineering Master thesis:  ‘Sweet immunity’: the effect of exogenous sugars on the susceptibility of apple plants to the fungus Venturia inaequalis.  It is known that some sugars can induce plant defense mechanisms which prime the plant against future attacks. In my thesis this concept was tested against apple scab. ----------------------------------------------------------- More info @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarlvaerten/