Meet Our Team
Restoring soil requires more than one discipline. At Soil Builders Lab, we bring together expertise in soil science, environmental microbiology, agroforestry, permaculture, engineering, research funding, and science communication to develop practical, science-based solutions for farmers and agriculture policy.
Core Team
Georgia Kapelides
Georgia combines practical farming experience with expertise in soil science, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable land management. As a regenerative farmer and soil restoration practitioner, she raises chickens, rabbits and goats, using her homestead as a living demonstration site where regenerative practices, like biologically-active compost production, are continuously tested and refined. She has also worked as a soil health consultant and educator, helping farmers understand the role of soil biology in resilient agricultural systems. She also completed training in Permaculture Design and the Soil Food Web School (Dr. Elaine Ingham), building on her academic background in Environmental Health and Biology.
At Soil Builders Lab, Georgia leads field implementation, operates agricultural machinery, and oversees on-site regenerative farming activities at the Metamorphosis Pilot, bridging scientific knowledge with practical, field-tested solutions that restore soil health and support productive Mediterranean landscapes.
MSc Environmental Health | BSc Biology | Soil Food Web School Certified | Permaculture Design Certificate
Dr. Urania Michaelidou
Urania is an environmental microbiologist with more than 25 years of experience in microbiology, molecular biology, and microbial biotechnology. Her research has focused on the isolation and characterization of environmentally beneficial microorganisms, as well as the analysis of soil and plant root microbial communities. Throughout her career, she has worked across academia, research institutes, and industry, translating complex scientific knowledge into practical applications.
At Soil Builders Lab, Urania leads laboratory method development, soil biological assessment and research activities, supporting farmers and research partners in adopting science-based regenerative practices. She is particularly passionate about restoring soil function through biology and developing innovative tools that help monitor and improve soil health, making soil biology accessible to farmers and contributing to resilient Mediterranean farming systems.
PhD Electrochemically Active Bacteria | MS Microbiology, Biochem & Molecular Biology | Microbial Physiology | Laboratory Methods
Abraham Tsapanides
Abraham brings extensive engineering and technical expertise to the design, construction and operation of Soil Builders Lab's field infrastructure. He is responsible for the installation, operation and maintenance of field equipment, machinery and technical systems, ensuring the smooth implementation of research and demonstration activities. His practical skills span site preparation, construction, equipment fabrication and infrastructure development, providing the operational foundation that enables field experiments to run efficiently and safely.
At Soil Builders Lab, Abraham is working closely with the scientific and field teams and helps transform innovative ideas into practical, reliable solutions, playing a key role in establishing and maintaining the Metamorphosis Pilot and supporting its long-term development.
Aircraft Engineering | Technical Operations & Maintenance | Engineering Systems | Technical Training & Leadership
Expert Collaborators
George Varnavides
George is an agroforestry and soil health consultant specializing in the design and implementation of regenerative farming systems for Mediterranean dryland environments. Over the past decade, he has developed extensive hands-on expertise in agroforestry, soil biology, and regenerative land management through practical field experience and advanced training with internationally recognised leaders, including Dr. Elaine Ingham (Soil Food Web School), Nicole Masters (Integrity Soils), Mark Shepard (Restoration Agriculture Development), Martin Crawford (Agroforestry Research Trust), and Peter McCoy (Mycologos), and the Pretaterra Academy. He has designed and implemented agroforestry projects across Cyprus, integrating ecological principles with practical, climate-adapted land management.
At Soil Builders Lab, George consults on the design and implementation of agroforestry systems, helping develop resilient landscapes that improve soil health, water retention, and biodiversity. His work focuses on creating regenerative farming systems that are both environmentally sound and economically viable for the Mediterranean.
MA | BSc Applied Economics | Permaculture Design Certificate |
Soil Food Web School | Restoration Agriculture Development | Integrity Soils
Dr. Sofia Matsi
Sofia is an ecologist with expertise in biodiversity, agroecology and regenerative land management. Her research focuses on developing nature-based solutions that enhance soil health, biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, with particular emphasis on Mediterranean dryland farming systems. Alongside her academic work, Sofia has over a decade of practical experience applying agroecology and permaculture principles to the sustainable management of her own land, where she cultivates olive, fig and pomegranate trees using regenerative practices. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Cyprus Environment Foundation, where she leads initiatives that promote regenerative land use, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience across the Eastern Mediterranean.
At Soil Builders Lab, Sofia provides expertise in ecology, biodiversity and agroecosystem design, helping integrate ecological principles into practical solutions for resilient farming systems as well as outreach and capacity-building activities.
PhD Ecology & Biodiversity | BSc Chemistry | Permaculture Teacher Training | Dryland Water Harvesting
Marios Demosthenous
Marios combines over a decade of expertise in environmental consultancy and EU project management to drive climate and sustainability solutions. Holding degrees in both Environmental Management and Environmental Science, he offers a comprehensive approach to sustainable resource management. His research focused on sensor technologies and data analysis. Over his career, he has been part of consortia managing multi-million-euro EU-funded initiatives across agroecology, rural development, sustainable tourism, and the circular economy.
At Soil Builders Lab, Marios leverages his background in grant management, environmental consultancy, and stakeholder engagement to design and execute high-impact projects. He supports consortium-led initiatives focused on ecosystem restoration, regenerative agriculture, and building regional climate resilience through environmental planning.
BSc Energy & Environmental Management | MPhil/MSc Environmental Science | EU Grant & Project Manager | Environmental Consultant | HRDA Certified Trainer
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