Hema Prado

Bradenton, Florida

Hema S. Prado is the Policy and Sustainability Director for the vertical farming company, Plenty, which uses controlled environment technology to grow crops with a fraction of the water and without uncontrolled nutrient runoff compared to outdoor farms. Prior to joining Plenty in 2022, Hema spent most of her career with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, DC, ultimately serving as a Senior Advisor for Agriculture in the Office of the Administrator, and previously focusing on water quality, animal agriculture, and pesticides in the Office of Water. Hema was also the American Egg Board’s first Director of Sustainability, and worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations at the nexus of environmental, agricultural, and health issues, including drinking water contamination, water scarcity, and water resource management. Hema is a lifelong aquaphile, has an M.S. in Environmental Management from University of Maryland University College and a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Psychology from Pitzer College, and currently lives with her family in Florida.