Dr. Shane C. Burgess first in his family to complete college, he graduated with distinction as a veterinarian in 1989 from Massey University, New Zealand. He has worked in and managed veterinary clinical practices in Australia and the UK, including horses, farm animals, pets, wild and zoo animals, and emergency medicine and surgery. He did a radiology residency at Murdoch University in Perth in Western Australia, where he concurrently co-founded Perth’s first emergency veterinary clinic. He has managed aquaculture facilities in Scotland. Between 1995 and 1998, while working full time outside of the academy, he did his Ph.D. in virology, immunology and cancer biology (Bristol University Medical School, UK). Dr. Burgess worked in the UK World Reference Laboratory for Exotic Diseases during the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease crisis, where he led the diagnosis reporting office. He was awarded a Director’s Award for Service. In 2002, Dr. Burgess joined Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine as an assistant professor. He was recruited from Mississippi State as a professor, associate dean of the college and director of the Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology to lead the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in July 2011. Dr. Burgess is currently Vice President for Agriculture, Life and Veterinary Sciences, and Cooperative Extension, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Interim Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, and Director, Arizona Experiment Station at the University of Arizona. The college has a total budget of more than $120M with over 3,400 students and more than 1,800 employees. Dr. Burgess has been a Board Member of the Mississippi Biotechnology Association, served as a Mississippi Universities’ Industrial Outreach Committee member, and was President of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences, 2009-2010. He has served USDA NRSP8: National Animal Genome Research Program as a Bioinformatics Committee Member, was one of the two US (and the non-federal) Inaugural Co-chairs for the Working Group on Animal Biotechnology within the US-EC Task Force on Biotechnology, a National Executive Committee member for the Food Systems Leadership Institute, a University and Industry Consortium (UIC) Executive Committee Member and was on the UIC Project Steering Team for its assessment project to define graduate numbers/quality/skills supply vs. demand in agricultural and biotech industries (a collaboration with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities). He currently serves on the Agri-Business and Water Council of Arizona Executive Committee, the Board of Directors for Arizona Farm Bureau, the Governor’s Agricultural Best Management Practices Committee for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the BIO5 Institute Deans’ Advisory Board, Tech Launch Arizona’s Internal Advisory Board, Arizona STEM Diploma Project Advisory committee, Flinn Foundation’s Arizona Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, the Arizona National Livestock Show Board of Directors, and Reid Park Zoological Society Board of Directors. Dr. Burgess also serves on a number of university-level planning and strategy committees.

veterinary science, cancer, virology, proteomics, immunology and bioinformatics research

He graduated from the University of Tokyo, Department of Biochemistry, School of Science in 1974. He joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan, in 1981 and worked in the research staff for 27 years. He took his doctor’s degree at The Tohoku University in 1989. He continued his research into rice quality and processing, and was promoted to the head of the quality laboratory in 1990. He managed food research as a director of Food Science and Utilization Division at the National Food Research Institute from 2005 until 2008. He retired from MAFF and moved to Niigata University in 2008. He now majors in cereal science and processing, specializing in, quality assay and processing of rice grains. He is currently doing research into rice processing, for example, bio-functional rice bread, rice noodles, and rice cake. He has published more than 260 papers on cereal science and utilization, and he got the prizes for outstanding papers on rice qualities, PCR technology of rice authentications, and the development of bio-functional rice bread, etc.

Cereal science and processing, quality assay and processing of rice grains, bio-functional rice bread, rice noodles, and rice cake, PCR technology of rice authentications.

Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan (born 7 August 1925) is an Indian geneticist and international administrator, renowned for his leading role in India's "Green Revolution," a program under which high-yield varieties of wheat and rice seedlings were planted in the fields of poor farmers. Swaminathan is known as "Indian Father of Green Revolution" for his leadership and success in introducing and further developing high-yielding varieties of wheat in India. He is the founder and chairman of the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation. His stated vision is to rid the world of hunger and poverty. Swaminathan is an advocate of moving India to sustainable development, especially using environmentally sustainable agriculture, sustainable food security and the preservation of biodiversity, which he calls an "evergreen revolution." From 1972 to 1979 he was director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. He was Principal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture from 1979 to 1980. He served as Director General of the International Rice Research Institute (1982–88) and became president of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in 1988. In 1999, Time magazine placed him in the 'Time 20' list of most influential Asian people of the 20th century.

Agriculture, Food, Food Security, Crop Yield.

He received Ph.D. from Mississippi State University, Mississippi, U.S.A, in Agronomy –from Plant and Soil Department. And Master degree in Environmental Science from College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, U.A.E. Since December 25, 2005, he is working as an Associate Professor of Agro-ecosystem and Environmental Plant Physiology with the Department of Aridland Agriculture, College of Food and Agriculture at the United Arab Emirates University. his research interests include the Water Conservation Strategies in the Aridland with special emphasis on Nano-Sand Technology of Water Conservation in irrigated agriculture, Global Change Biology and Food Security. He is still a member of American Society of Agronomy, U.S.A Since 2002. His contributions to the research and service include serving as a member of Scientific Research and Graduate Council in United Arab Emirates University from September 2006 to September 2017. He was a consultant to Emirates Foundation as Environment Manager in Environmental Program. He served as a Member of the Scientific Group for International Datepalm Conference in 2010, 2014 and 2018.

Agro-ecosystem,Environmental Plant Physiology

Dr. N.V.Naidu born in 1957 in a hamlet of Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh was Graduated from S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, A.P and obtained B.Sc (Ag) degree in 1979 and Master & Doctoral degree majoring in Genetics & Plant Breeding in 1981 & 1990 respectively from College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, APAU (Presently renamed as Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University). He joined in service in the A.P Agricultural University in 1983 as Research Assistant and worked in various cadres viz Assistant Research Officer in Pulses & Groundnut, Breeder in Sugarcane, Principal Scientist (Sugarcane), Associate Director of Research, Associate Dean, Director (Seeds), Professor & University Head, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding and Director of Extension at various research Institutions & Colleges of ANGRAU. He has developed 23 improved varieties in Groundnut, Pulses, Sugarcane besides implementable technologies and recommended for commercial application. He was actively involved in the transfer of technologies to the benefit of farming community. He has published more than 100 research papers in national & international journals; number of popular articles & presented research papers in various Seminars, Symposia, Workshops and Conferences. His research contributions were recognised by the competent authorities and presented awards/prizes/appreciations by the university, Government of Andhra Pradesh and NGOs. Some of them include Best Research Worker by ANGRAU, Best Sugarcane Scientist by Sugarcane Growers Association, M/S KCP Sugar & Indcor, Ugadi Puraskharam by Government of Andhra Pradesh, Rythu Nestham by NGO, Gold and Silver medals for best research papers by SISSTA & STAI and Best team work award for Quality Seed Production by AICRP on NSP (Crops). He is a family member of IMRF and is participating in the conferences organized by IMRF since 2014. Presently working as Director of Research is guiding & coordinating research and development activities in ANGRAU.

Agriculture Science, Horticulture Science, Agricultural Biotechnology

Dr. Salah Abdel-Rahman is a Professor of molecular genetics at Department of Nucleic Acid Research Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications Alexandria, Egypt. PhD in 2003, Department of Molecular Animal Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. Dr. Salah has an expertise in Mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting production traits on different chromosomes in farm animals using microsatellite markers. Improvement of quantitative production traits (meat, milk, fertility, wool…etc) in farm animals using marker-assisted selection (MAS). Detection of adulteration and identification of meat and milk plus genetically modified organisms (GMOs) using molecular genetics techniques. DNA fingerprinting and national animals and plants genetic sources preservation.

Molecular genetics techniques, DNA fingerprinting

Dr Abbas Amini is an assistant professor at the Australian College of ACK and Western Sydney University, and the member of graduate supervisory board. After obtaining PhD, he conducted research with other Australian universities, as a postdoctoral research fellow at Monash and Deakin Universities, and as a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne. His fine outcomes have been presented in high impact factor journals, e.g., Nature publication group, and a recent published book in 2016. Abbas is the editor of ten reputed journals, and the committee member of 20 international conferences.

Bio-nanotech

João R. Mesquita (D.V.M., M.Sc.; Ph.D.) is a Professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu where he teaches topics within Infectious Diseases for more than 10 years. On the past decade he has focused on Virology, where he has published 44 papers in Scopus indexed Journals. He has won several scientific prizes from different societies and conferences, where he has presented numerous oral and poster presentations. His research interests are focused on animal and human virology, mainly on zoonotic viruses, with special interest on surveillance tools and epidemiology.

The focus of my research is the epidemiology of emerging viruses aiming to understand disease emergence, prevention, control, and elimination, while integrating the concept of One Health. Many emerging viral diseases are linked to increasing contact between humans and animals, and the intensification and incorporation of food production, which often lead to cross-species episodes resulting in facilitated pathogenicity and notable increase in incidence. Most emergent viruses can be categorized as zoonotic with the clear advantage of possibly having several natural reservoirs for the disease, warranting viral epidemiology studies in multi-species. As such I have been performing both molecular and serological surveillance studies mainly dedicated on enteric viruses such as norovirus and hepatitis E virus in a wide array of domestic and wild animals, as well as in humans.

He is awarded PhD in Field Crops from Çukurova University in the 2001. He holds a Master Degree (MSc) in Field Crops from Çukurova University in the 1995 followed by a Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in Field Crops from Çukurova University in the 1992. He has extended his valuable service as an Associate Professor in Cukurova University for 3 years and has been a recipient of many award and grants. Currently, he is working as a Professor for Cukurova University. His international experience includes various programs, contributions and participation in different countries for diverse fields of study. His research interests as a Professor reflect in his wide range of publications in various national and international journals. He is the Editorial Board Member of many journals and serves as a member of various associations, apart from being an author for many books.

Field Crop, Plant Science, Agriculture

Dr. Shane C. Burgess first in his family to complete college, he graduated with distinction as a veterinarian in 1989 from Massey University, New Zealand. He has worked in and managed veterinary clinical practices in Australia and the UK, including horses, farm animals, pets, wild and zoo animals, and emergency medicine and surgery. He did a radiology residency at Murdoch University in Perth in Western Australia, where he concurrently co-founded Perth’s first emergency veterinary clinic. He has managed aquaculture facilities in Scotland. Between 1995 and 1998, while working full time outside of the academy, he did his Ph.D. in virology, immunology and cancer biology (Bristol University Medical School, UK). Dr. Burgess worked in the UK World Reference Laboratory for Exotic Diseases during the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease crisis, where he led the diagnosis reporting office. He was awarded a Director’s Award for Service. In 2002, Dr. Burgess joined Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine as an assistant professor. He was recruited from Mississippi State as a professor, associate dean of the college and director of the Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology to lead the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in July 2011. Dr. Burgess is currently Vice President for Agriculture, Life and Veterinary Sciences, and Cooperative Extension, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Interim Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, and Director, Arizona Experiment Station at the University of Arizona. The college has a total budget of more than $120M with over 3,400 students and more than 1,800 employees. Dr. Burgess has been a Board Member of the Mississippi Biotechnology Association, served as a Mississippi Universities’ Industrial Outreach Committee member, and was President of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences, 2009-2010. He has served USDA NRSP8: National Animal Genome Research Program as a Bioinformatics Committee Member, was one of the two US (and the non-federal) Inaugural Co-chairs for the Working Group on Animal Biotechnology within the US-EC Task Force on Biotechnology, a National Executive Committee member for the Food Systems Leadership Institute, a University and Industry Consortium (UIC) Executive Committee Member and was on the UIC Project Steering Team for its assessment project to define graduate numbers/quality/skills supply vs. demand in agricultural and biotech industries (a collaboration with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities). He currently serves on the Agri-Business and Water Council of Arizona Executive Committee, the Board of Directors for Arizona Farm Bureau, the Governor’s Agricultural Best Management Practices Committee for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the BIO5 Institute Deans’ Advisory Board, Tech Launch Arizona’s Internal Advisory Board, Arizona STEM Diploma Project Advisory committee, Flinn Foundation’s Arizona Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, the Arizona National Livestock Show Board of Directors, and Reid Park Zoological Society Board of Directors. Dr. Burgess also serves on a number of university-level planning and strategy committees.

veterinary science, cancer, virology, proteomics, immunology and bioinformatics research

Mike Wilkinson is Professor of Upland Agriecosystems at the Pwllpeiran Uplands Research Centre of IBERS, Aberystwyth University. His research spans the interface between agriculture and the natural environment, with contributions in crop genetics and improvement, conservation of crop relatives, applied epigenetics, and environmental risk assessment of Genetically Modified Crops. His research profile includes over 100 refereed publications across >50 journals. He has an H-factor of 42, an i10-index of 86 (Google Scholar) and total citations of almost 8,000. He re-joined Aberystwyth February 2016 after a four year spell in the University of Adelaide where he held the the prestigious Mortlock chair in Plant Epigenetics, was Head of the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Director of the Plant Accelerator and Director of the Waite Research Institute. Prior to this, we worked for eleven years in the University of Reading (UK), five years at the (now) James Hutton Institute (UK) and Leicester University (UK).

Agroecosystem, Agriculture Science, Agriculture Engineering and Agriculture Biotechnology

Lack of clean water to meet society’s needs is recognized as one of the major challenges of modern times by the National Academy of Engineering. Dr. Chaubey’s research is focused on improving water quality and watershed management by integrating field data collection and mathematical modeling, and developing simulation models and tools that will guide policy decision makers, watershed managers, conservation specialists and farmers. Dr. Chaubey is unique in his integration of simulation modeling and innovative field research to improve our understanding of various rainfall-runoff and pollutant transport processes at field, stream reach and watershed scales. Dr. Chaubey is leading efforts nationally and internationally in quantifying how land use changes due to recent demand for biofuel production, agricultural intensification, and urbanization will impact water availability, water quality, and ecosystem services. His research improves watershed management decisions so that resource allocations and resulting water quality improvements can be optimized. Dr. Chaubey has published more than 400 research articles, including 105 peer reviewed journal articles and more than 180 technical papers in various conferences, and has given 50 invited presentations at various regional, national, and international conferences. He has won numerous honors and awards including New Holland Young Researcher Award, ADS/Hancor Soil and Water Conservation Award, Purdue Agricultural Research Award, Purdue University Faculty Scholar, Seed for Success Award, and Outstanding Research Award.

Ecohydrology, Source Pollution Engineering, Future of Water Resources, Design in Biological Engineering, Natural Resources Engineering, Nonpoint Source Pollution Engineering, Modeling and Simulation, NPS Pollution Control and Modeling,

Balabanov Viktor, Doctor of technical sciences, professor, Dean of the faculty "Processes and machinery in agribusiness" Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A Timiryazev (RSAU – MAA named after K.A. Timiryazev), Head of Sub Committee (SC 8) "Radio navigation and control system in agriculture" of the Technical Committee for Standardization (TC 363) "Radio navigation" Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology (Rosstandart). Author of over 300 scientific and educational works, including 25 monographs, scientific journals and popular science books, 25 descriptions of inventions. and 11 on scientific research reports. Accredited experts of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Innovation Center "Skolkovo".

Agriculture Science, Agribusiness, Agriculture Biotechnology, Agriculture Engineering

Dr Abbas Amini is an assistant professor at the Australian College of ACK and Western Sydney University, and the member of graduate supervisory board. After obtaining PhD, he conducted research with other Australian universities, as a postdoctoral research fellow at Monash and Deakin Universities, and as a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne. His fine outcomes have been presented in high impact factor journals, e.g., Nature publication group, and a recent published book in 2016. Abbas is the editor of ten reputed journals, and the committee member of 20 international conferences.

Bionanotech

Shinsuke Agehara is currently working as Assistant Professor in Plant Physiology at the University of Florida, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. He received the B.S. degree in International Agricultural Development at Tokyo University of Agriculture in Japan in 2001, M.S. degree in Crop and Soil Sciences at Michigan State University in 2004, and Ph.D. in Horticulture at Texas A&M University in 2014. His current research program focuses on understanding plant physiological and morphological adaptation mechanisms to environmental stresses, and developing integrated sustainable management strategies for vegetable and small fruit crops.

Agriculture science, Plant science, Plant phycology

He graduated from the University of Tokyo, Department of Biochemistry, School of Science in 1974. He joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan, in 1981 and worked in the research staff for 27 years. He took his doctor’s degree at The Tohoku University in 1989. He continued his research into rice quality and processing, and was promoted to the head of the quality laboratory in 1990. He managed food research as a director of Food Science and Utilization Division at the National Food Research Institute from 2005 until 2008. He retired from MAFF and moved to Niigata University in 2008. He now majors in cereal science and processing, specializing in, quality assay and processing of rice grains. He is currently doing research into rice processing, for example, bio-functional rice bread, rice noodles, and rice cake. He has published more than 260 papers on cereal science and utilization, and he got the prizes for outstanding papers on rice qualities, PCR technology of rice authentications, and the development of bio-functional rice bread, etc.

Cereal science and processing, quality assay and processing of rice grains, bio-functional rice bread, rice noodles, and rice cake, PCR technology of rice authentications.

Dr. Siphiwe Felix M. Mkhize was employed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) , as the Head of Provincial and State Owned Entities Performance Monitoring . Previously h e was posted abroad as M inister Counselor (Agriculture), at the Embassy of South Africa in the United States of America. He represent ed the South African Agricultural interest in the Americas with accreditation to South African Missions in Canada, Cuba and Mexic o from September 2001 to July 2010 . Pr ior Dr. Mkhize is an experienced agricultural and development practitioner who has both South African and international experience. He has worked on all levels of agriculture (policy, planning , monitoring and impleme ntation). He has represented South African agricultural sector on various for ums abroad and locally. Dr. Mkhize has training in various fields of agriculture (agronomy and soils) , sustainable development and international diplomacy . He holds a Diploma i n Irrigation Sciences from Mediterranean Agronomic Institute (MAI), in Bari , Italy, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Agronomy (Agriculture) from Iowa State University , USA, a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Soil Chemistry and Fertility from Universit y of Reading, in England, second Masters ( MPhil ) degree in Philosophy (Applied Ethics) in Environment from the University of Stellenbosch and a PhD in sustainable ecological management from the University of Pretoria , where he wr o t e his dissertation under Prof AS van Jaarsveld the current Vice Chancellor of University of KwaZulu Natal. He is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist ( Pr Nat Sc) with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions a nd al s o with the American Registry of Cer tified Professionals in Crops and Soils (ARCPCS) as a Professional Agronomist (CPAg). He is a member of the South African Soil Science Society and the American Society of Agronomy. He has written a number of papers in the field of agriculture, developmen t, ethics and agricultural biotechnology, and he is the author of two book s titled: Towards Hope and Challenge Agricultural Biotechnology and the Catholic Social Teachings: A Catholic Ethic for Agriculture, Environment, Faith and Food (2004 ) and .. . AND THE EYES OF ALL LOOKED AT HIM Understanding the Mystery of the Ministry of Permanent Diaconate (2014).

Agriculture Science, Plant science,Fisheries and Forestry

Dr. Narendra Kumar Gontia, born on July 24, 1961 did B.Tech. (Agril.Engg.) in 1983. He did his M.Tech. (SWCE) and Ph.D. Agril. Engg. from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in 1991 and 2006 respectively. He is bestowed with prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Out-standing Post-Graduate Agricultural Research 2007 by ICAR, New Delhi for his Ph. D. contribution in Soil and Water Conservation Engg. Presently working as Principal and Dean, Agril Engg. and Technology, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh. He has 33 years of experience in field and academics in Agril. Engg. He has served in faculty of College of Agril Engg. and Technology, Junagadh since 30 years and hold various positions viz. Professor and Head, Dept. of SWE and Research Engineer, AICRP on Groundwater Utilization. He is the recipient of S.J. Hiran Memorial award Year 2001-02 and Distinguished Services Certificate award 1998-99 from ISAE, New Delhi for his contribution in Agricultural Engineering profession. He has good number of publications in national and international journals. He has supervised One Ph. D. and Eleven PG (M.Tech.) Theses in SWE and Seventeen UG projects. He is member of Academic Council, Research council, Extension Education council and Library council of JAU, Junagadh. He is Life Member of Nine professional societies.

Agriculture Science, Horticulture Science

Dr. Mohd Rasdi Zaini currently working at Universiti Teknologi MARA (Melaka) (UiTM) as a senior lecturer (Associate Professor), Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology. His area of specialization is Agriculture Entomology focusing on Population Ecology of Agriculture Insect-Pest, Biodiversity of Insect and Multitrophic System especially sucking pest on vegetables such as whiteflies, aphids, and thrips. Additionally, he is also doing research on major pests in oil palm plantation particularly rhinoceros beetle and bagworms. Currently, he is focused on the trophic dynamics in an agro-ecology of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) plants planted under the rain shelter. The effects of nutrients applications on the crop and early infestations by potentially serious pests; whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) and aphids (Myzus persicae Sulzer) on several arthropod species (mainly pests) whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), aphids (Myzus persicae S.), thrips (Thrips sp.), red spider mites (Tetranychus sp.) and predatory mite (Phytoseiulus sp.) infesting the plant were also tested and investigated. He has also published more than 30 publications such as journals, books, proceeding and etc. Various experience in administration works and hold several positions in UiTM, Ex-Deputy Dean (Student Affairs) 2014-2016 in the Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, UiTM Melaka Jasin Campus and currently being one of the Panel of Academic Advisory Board (PAAB) and Fellow of International Institute of Plantation Management (FiiPM). He was appointed as Academic Advisor of College FELCRA Bhd since 2016 until present. I was also appointed as Guest lecturer for MAP (Malaysia Association Productivity) and International Institute Plantation Management to deliver subject of Crop Protection; Pest and Disease since 2006 until present.

Agriculture Science, Plant Science, Crop protection, Agriculture Entomology, Plantation Management

Dr. N.V.Naidu born in 1957 in a hamlet of Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh was Graduated from S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, A.P and obtained B.Sc (Ag) degree in 1979 and Master & Doctoral degree majoring in Genetics & Plant Breeding in 1981 & 1990 respectively from College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, APAU (Presently renamed as Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University). He joined in service in the A.P Agricultural University in 1983 as Research Assistant and worked in various cadres viz Assistant Research Officer in Pulses & Groundnut, Breeder in Sugarcane, Principal Scientist (Sugarcane), Associate Director of Research, Associate Dean, Director (Seeds), Professor & University Head, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding and Director of Extension at various research Institutions & Colleges of ANGRAU. He has developed 23 improved varieties in Groundnut, Pulses, Sugarcane besides implementable technologies and recommended for commercial application. He was actively involved in the transfer of technologies to the benefit of farming community. He has published more than 100 research papers in national & international journals; number of popular articles & presented research papers in various Seminars, Symposia, Workshops and Conferences. His research contributions were recognised by the competent authorities and presented awards/prizes/appreciations by the university, Government of Andhra Pradesh and NGOs. Some of them include Best Research Worker by ANGRAU, Best Sugarcane Scientist by Sugarcane Growers Association, M/S KCP Sugar & Indcor, Ugadi Puraskharam by Government of Andhra Pradesh, Rythu Nestham by NGO, Gold and Silver medals for best research papers by SISSTA & STAI and Best team work award for Quality Seed Production by AICRP on NSP (Crops). He is a family member of IMRF and is participating in the conferences organised by IMRF since 2014. Presently working as Director of Research is guiding & coordinating research and development activities in ANGRAU.

Agriculture Science, Horticulture Science, Agricultural Biotechnology

Dr Harvinder Singh Dhaliwal, born on May 1, 1962 at village Mandhali (Mansa) was appointed as Dean, College of Agriculture, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana on March 1, 2013 and prior to this he had served as Additional Director of Research (Horticulture) from March 6, 2012 to February 28, 2013. He has acted as Director of Extension Education, PAU from February 1, 2014 to October 27, 2014. He is the recipient of Punjab Sarkar Parman Patar for the year 2013 and has been conferred with Smt. Harpal Kaur Memorial Award for the year 2011 in recognition of his outstanding research, teaching and extension work in the field of Horticulture. He did B.Sc. Agriculture (Hons.) in 1984; M.Sc. (Pomology) in 1986 and Ph.D. (Pomology) in 1991from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He has been awarded Sardar Bahadur Lal Singh Gold Medal for securing first position in M.Sc. (Pomology).

Agriculture Science, Plant Science, Horticulture Science

Ilan Chet serves as Chairman of Advisory Board of Aquagro Fund and Aqua-Agro Fund, L.P. He serves as a Director at FertiSeeds Ltd. Prof. Chet served as a Member of the Board of Directors of Makhteshim Agan Industries Ltd. Prof. He also serves as a Member of the Advisory Board of Pimi Agro Cleantech, Inc., Mitam Biological Control Ltd. and Granot Ventures. He served as a Director of Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd. Prof. Chet was the President of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot from 2001 to 2006. He is a Member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and the European Academy of Sciences. He was Founding Director of the Otto Warburg Minerva Center for Agricultural Biotechnology from 1983 to 1986. He is a Professor of Microbiology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot, specializing in Biological Plant Control. Prof. Chet served as Director of Evogene Ltd. Prof. Chet’s scientific research focuses on the biological control of plant disease. In his field, he has published more than 350 articles in international scientific journals and edited three books. Prof. Chet has received many prestigious prizes and awards, including the Rothschild Prize in Agriculture in 1990; the Max-Planck Award for Distinguished Research in 1994; the Israel Prize in 1996; the Japanese Arima Prize for Applied Microbiology in 1996 and the Wolf Prize in 1998. He holds 32 patents. He is a prominent, leading Microbiology Scientist. He received an honorary Doctorate from Sweden’s Lund University in 1991. He has a BS, an MS and a PhD, all from Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Biological control of soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi, and genetic engineering of biocontrol agents. Lytic enzymes of fungal cell walls (chitinase and glucanases). Induced resistance of plants to fungi. Host-parasite relationship. Fungal-fungal interaction. Cell recognition and lectins. Chitin synthesis inhibition. Biochemical aspects of fungal morphogenesis. Microbial degradation of ligno-cellulose.

Byoung Ryong Jeong completed PhD (Nitrogen nutrition in bedding plants) from Colorado State University, USA.Later in 2008 became President of Korean Society Plug Seedling Research and presently Vice President for Publication & Editor-in-chief of the journal, 'Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology' Korean Soc. Hort. Sci

Horticultural and medicinal crop production in plant factory systems Organogenic and somatic embryogenic micropropagation Substrate development and hydroponic solution recycling Silicon as a nutrient for horticultural crops Propagation and cultivation of roses Control of stem stretchiness in container-grown plants by genetic and cultural means

Dr. Leclerc joined the ranks of the faculty at the University of Georgia in 1995, where she served as an associate professor until 2001, when she became a full professor. She was previously an associate professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Quebec at Montreal (1990-1995) while being simultaneously an adjunct professor at McGill University in the Department of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences (1991-1996). In 1988, she was invited to work at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) during her faculty appointment as an assistant professor at Utah State University from 1987-1990.

Dr. Leclerc is interested in the transport of gases to and from vegetation. She is also looking at the transport of gases, energy and heat inside vegetation canopies,biomicrometeorology.

Graziano Ghinassi born in Talla (Arezzo) in 1961 and graduated in Agricultural Science at University of Florence in 1988. He began research with a doctorate in the Department of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering (DIAF) of University of Florence. Since 1997 he is a researcher at the University of Florence . Is engaged use of irrigation water, both agricultural and residential. He has participated in national and international research groups and has been scientific coordinator of national research projects. IS member associations and academies, as well as Italian representative at the International Commission working groups Irrigation and Drainage (ICID). He is the author of over 40 publications on the use of water in agriculture, the productive response of crops with different irrigation management,irrigation deficit. He is the author of blackberries than 40 papers on agricultural water use, crop yield response to different irrigation managements, irrigation deficit. He authored the ICID manual on the performance evaluation of sprinkler and drip irrigation systems

He is interested in the irrigation use of water, both agricultural and residential.

Dr., Prof. Feibo Wu has completed her PhD in 2003 from Zhejiang University (ZJU). She is the Deputy Director of Crop Science Institute of ZJU. Her main research interest is evaluation and identification of plant germplasm, mainly in barley, resistant/tolerant to abiotic stresses and its molecular physiology, and phytoremediation of metal-contaminated environments and safe crop production. She has published 97 papers in reputed SCI-JOURNALS and has been serving as an editorial board member of Plant Growth Regulation.

Molecular physiology of abiotic stress tolerance in crops; Plant germplasm evaluation, mainly in barley; Phytoremediation of metal-contaminated environments and safe crop production

He is been the research scientist 2007−present in the Department of Food Technology , Ataturk Central Horticultural Research Institute. He was also an auditor of 'Food Safety and Standards’ 2004−2007 in the Agriculture Ministry Office, Yalova, Turkey

New food technologies, Table olive technology, Food technology, Olive oil, Functional foods, Food safety.

Laura Rival is Associate Professor at Oxford where she has been teaching and researching the anthropology of nature, society and development since 2001. In addition to her position at the Oxford Department of International Development (ODID, also known as Queen Elizabeth House, QEH), where she has directed the MPhil in Development Studies, she is an active member of the School of Anthropology (SAME), the Institute of Human Sciences (IHS), and the Latin American Centre (LAC)Technology

Historical and political ecology; development and environmental policies in Latin America

Dr. (Mrs.) Angela M. Lamptey is a Lecturer at the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon. She has a Ph.D in Fisheries Science from the University of Ghana. Her research interests include Aquaculture, Fisheries Ecology, Fish feeding habits, Biodiversity studies (Seabirds and sea turtles), aquatic biotopes studies and water quality studies. She is a reviewer to a number of International Peer-reviewed Journals and has over seven (7) publications in top peer-reviewed journals. She is a motivational speaker to various youth groups and a role model for young ladies.

Aquaculture, Seabird-fisheries interactions, Seabirds ecology, Fisheries ecology, Water quality studies, Fish feeding habits, Biodiversity studies (Seabirds and sea turtles), Aquatic biotopes studies.

Daniele De Wrachien is full professor of Irrigation and Drainage at the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the State University of Milan. He graduated in Geology at the same University ,where he received is PhD in Applied Geology. Director of the Institute of agricultural Hydraulics ( 2000-2006) Director of the Computer Centre of the Faculty of Agriculture ( 1989 - 1995) President of EurAgEng (European Society of Agricultural Engineers ) (2002-2004) Member of the Executive Board of CIGR ( International Commission of Agricultural Engineering ) ( 2006- 2014) Member of the Executive Board of ICID (International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage) (2005-2012) Member of the Board of Directors of WIT ( Wessex Institute of Technology ) (2010-2014) Author of more than 150 publications ( scientific papers ,keynote papers,books and technical papers ) Organizer of more than fifty international Events ( Conferences, Congresses,Symposia and Workshops ) held in about fifteen countries throughout Europe,Africa,Asia,America, Australia

water resources management; irrigation and drainage technology; performance assessment of sprinkler irrigation systems; modelling of transport processes in porous media ;modelling and fluid-dynamics of debris and hyper-concentrated flows; flood control and mitigation measures; desertification and environmental impact of climate change.

Prashant Kawar joined ICAR-CPRI, Shimla in 2014 as Sr. Scientist and led the multi-faceted biotechnology project . He has published 23 research papers in peer reviewed journals, 2 books, 2 book chapters, many popular articles in vernacular languages, 1 biology documents, 2 training manual, 4 invited review papers, more than 20 national and international conference papers, 1500 ESTs sequences, 13 MYB genes, 3 promoters. He was organizing committee member of International Conference on potato held at Shimla in 2015 and actively involved in organizing training programs as well.In 2005, he joined at VSI, Pune as Scientist and leaded the genomics & proteomics group for almost 8 years during his stay identified 13 MYB-TFs and three stress-inducible promoters from sugarcane for stress tolerance. In 2012 he was awarded the prestigious CREST fellowship by DBT-GOI to work at JIC, Norwich, UK on metabolic engineering of tomato to produce high levels of important polyphenolic phytonutrients and explore their usefulness for health promoting benefits for preventing many human diseases or disorders, the findings of this work were published in Nature Communication

Agriculture and crop science

Dr. Raveendra H. Patil, also internationally known by the name Dr. Ravi Patil obtained his B.Sc. (Agricultural Sciences; 1990-94), First Rank to the University (Four Gold Medals), M.Sc. (Agronomy; 1994-96), First Rank to the University (Two Gold Medals), and Ph.D (Agroforestry Systems 1997-2000) from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India (www.uasd.edu). As an outstanding student Dr. Patil received University Merit Scholarship for B.Sc. degree program, ICAR Junior and Senior Research Fellowships for M.Sc. and PhD, respectively, and ASPEE R&D, Mumbai research fellowship for M.Sc. degree program. Soon after completing PhD, he joined UAS, Dharwad as Assistant Professor in Feb. 2000. Since then he has carried out teaching, research and extension activities at different campuses of the UAS Dharwad.

Agro-forestry and Sustainable production systems Crop production under changing climate and plant nutrition Soil nutrient cycling and GHG emissions from agro-ecosystems Crop model application to assess climate change impacts and identify adaptation strategies

Prof Fhatuwani Nixwell Mudau completed a B.Sc Agric (Crop Science) at the University of Venda in 1996. He then registered M.Sc. in Horticulture at the University of Stellenbosch where he conducted research on citrus nutrition. He completed a PhD (Horticultural Sciences) at the University of Pretoria and he has done extensive research in herbal medicine. He has completed Masters in Business Leadership (MBL) at UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership. His previous working experience includes Vista University VUDEC, Campus (Now Incorporated to University of South Africa), University of Venda and University of Limpopo as a Lecturer. In 2006, he was seconded to establish a fully funded Research Centre as an Associate Professor and Centre Manager known as Limpopo Agro Food Technology Station (LATS) by Tshumisano Trust (Now Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). He then joined the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) under Food and Beverages (Now Agro-Industries) Strategic Business Unit (SBU); HealthCare and Education (SBU) as a Specialist

Prof Fhatuwani Nixwell Mudau interests inclide project development and implementation in Agro Industries, Education and Healthcare sectors

R. R. Sharma after post-graduation from IARI, New Delhi, joined as Scientist there in 1997. He is Senior Scientist and associated with release of mango hybrids like Pusa Arunima, Pusa Surya, Pusa Lalima, Pusa Shresth, Pusa Pitamber etc. He has published 40 research articles in International journals, 60 in National journals, and authored 8 books. He is recipient of Dr. R.N. Singh award (twice), Dr Rajinder Prasad award (twice), and Himachal Shri Award. He has also served as International Mango Registrar for about 5 years (1999-2004). He is member, editorial board of Scientia Horticulturae, International Journal of Fruit Science (U.K.), American Journal of Plant Sciences (US), Journal of Food Processing and Technology (US), and Stewart Postharvest Reviews (UK), and Chief Editor of International Journal of Processing and Postharvest Technology, India.

Pre and Post harvest handling of temperate fruits, Food Science

Born in Haifa in 1939, Prof. Ilan Chet completed his doctoral work in microbiology at the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He was Dean and Vice President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Prof. Chet received the Max-Planck Award (1994), the Israel Prize (1996), the Wolf Prize (1998), the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Germany (2001) and the French “Chevalier” Legion of Honor award (2014). From 2001 to 2006, Prof. Chet was nominated President of the Weizmann Institute of Science. He has been a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities since 1998 and of the European Academy of Sciences since 2004. In 2014, he was elected a member of the Academia Europea. Prof. Chet is the Deputy Secretary General for Higher Education and Research in the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean since 2010.

Biological control of plant diseases, Induced resistance, Molecular biology of fungi, Sustainable agriculture, Food security

Upendra M Sainju is currently working on the effects of tillage, crop rotation, crop diversity, cropping intensity, and cultural practices on soil aggregation, organic matter concentration, microbial activities, nitrogen mineralization, and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in dryland areas. He is also engaged in studying the effects of irrigation management, nitrogen fertilization rates, and cultural practices in nitrate-nitrogen movement in soil that affects water quality, soil organic matter level, and nitrogen mineralization in irrigated land. He is also involved in the development of methodology for determination of soil aggregation for dryland and irrigated areas and extraction method for determining ammonium and nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in the soils of various textures amended with or without plant residue.

Upendra M Sainju eight years working on the long-term effects of tillage, cover crops, and nitrogen fertilization on crop production, carbon sequestration in plant and soil, soil nitrogen fertility, microbial activities, and nitrogen leaching at Fort Valley State University, he developed a management practice consisting of conservation tillage, cover cropping, and nitrogen rate that sustains crop production, improves soil and water qualities, and reduces the rate of nitrogen fertilization as compared with the conventional practice.

Dr Johan van Rooyen is currently the director of “The Standard Bank Centre for Agri-leadership & Mentorship Development” and professor in Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University. He teaches Agri-business strategy, Agricultural and rural development and Business cases at the University of Stellenbosch and also lectures at the Universities of Free State, Pretoria, Antwerpen and the University of Ghent, Belgium. To-date he published more than 100 peer group refereed scientific papers, five academic books on Agri-business & Agri- development and presented over 100 papers at local and international events. He is a NRF rated scientist. Prof van Rooyen serves on a number of boards of agri-business companies and agencies, is currently a board member of IAMA (the International Agri-business and Food Industry Management Association) and serves on an expert panel of the “World Competitive Report”, University of Laussanne, Switzerland. He served on a number of committees, including the ‘Agricultural Sector Plan’ task team (2000-2001); served as ministerial appointment on the ‘Agri-BEE steering committee (2005-2008); managed the drafting of the ‘S.A. Wine Industry Transformation Charter and BEE Score Card’ (2003-2007); and served full terms on the boards of the S.A. Land and Agricultural Development Bank (2000-2004) and on the S.A. Agricultural Research Council (1996-2000). Previous employment includes: The Development Bank of Southern Africa (1984-1993) - Executive Group Manager, Agriculture and Rural Development; and Director of the Centre for Policy Analysis; Director of the Postgraduate School for Agricultural and Rural Development & Professor in the ABSA Chair of Agribusiness Management, University of Pretoria (1993-2002); CEO, Agri-business Chamber of S.A (1998-2002); CEO of the S.A. Wine Industry Council (2003-2008). His achievements include: Served On A Number Of Boards Of Agri-Business Companies And Agencies ( New Farmers Development Co, Aquaharvest, Sa Brandy Foundation, Winetech, Sawis, Wosa), President Of The Agricultural Economics Association Of South Africa, Chair Of The Agricultural Outlook Conference(Lanvokon) and Elected An Ifama Fellow In 2014, Co-Chair Ifama 2014 World Conference In Cape Town and Operate As Specialist Consultant In Agribusiness – Strategic Planning And Policy Development.

Agri-business, Agricultural and rural development, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Economy

Professor Byoung Ryong Jeong has completed his PhD at the age of 31 years from Colorado State University, USA, and postdoctoral studies from University of Missouri-Columbia, USA, and Chiba University, Japan. He is a professor in Department of Horticulture and the Dean of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Republic of Korea. He has published more than 250 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editor-in-chief of Horticulture, Environment and Biotechnology, and president of the Korean Society for Floricultural Science. (Up to 100 words)

Climate Change, Conservation Biology, Genetics, Climatology, Ornamental Horticulture, Plant Tissue culture and micropropagation

Dr. Ashok K Patra, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, India. He did his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. He was a Post Doctoral Researchers at ICRISAT, India; IGER, UK; INRA, France; and University of Notre Dame, USA. He was a Principal Soil Scientist (2006 to 2014) at IARI, New Delhi. He is a recipient of British Council TCT Award; Royal Society Award; DBT Overseas Associateship Award; Hooker Award of IARI; and he is a Fellow of the Indian Society of Soil Science and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India. His research area includes nitrogen cycling, soil biodiversity, carbon sequestration and nanoparticles. With more than 200 publications in his credit he is serving as a member of editorial board of reputed journals.

Nitrogen cycling, soil biodiversity, carbon sequestration and nanoparticle

Francis Lewu obtained BSc Agriculture in Plant Breeding and Seed Technology and MSc Agronomy in Nigeria. He started his career as a Genebank Research Assistant in International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Nigeria and later proceeded to study PhD Botany with specialization in plant genetic conservation and propagation. After his postdoctoral study, he joined the Department of Agriculture, University of Zululand, South Africa as a Lecturer in 2008 and was appointed HOD, of the department in January 2009; a position he held till end of May 2011. Francis Lewu joined the Cape Peninsula University of Technology as HOD of Agriculture Department in the Faculty of Applied Sciences. He was appointed Associate Professor in 2014 and became a C Rated National Research Foundation Scholar of South Africa during the same year. He is a qualified Professional Natural Scientist and has supervised and mentored master and doctoral students to completion. Prof Lewu currently concentrates his research effort on the autecology and propagation of screened medicinals and alternative cultivation protocols for field crops and horticultural species. He is editorial member of many journals and serves as reviewer to the NRF, several local and international journals and reviews many masters and doctoral thesis for several universities.

Autecology, Propagation of screened medicinals, Crop Science, Horticulture

Halos-Kim, is a Registered Professional Agricultural Engineer in the Philippines and has over 30 years’ experience working on crop processing, postharvest and food engineering research, development, and most recent, on Extension, in Asia and Africa. She was the Former Head of the Postharvest Engineering Unit, IITA in Nigeria & a Researcher with the Agricultural Engineering Department of IRRI in Philippines. From 2009, Engr. Leony is the Thematic Director of the Postharvest and Agro processing (PHAP) Extension of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Halos-Kim leads a team of specialists (agricultural engineers, food technologist, rural development experts and economists) in Ethiopia, Mali, Nigeria and Uganda to promote the use of appropriate technologies to reduce losses, improve quality and food safety, and enhance food security and income of smallholder farmers in SAA focus countries, and in Africa in general.

Agricultural Engineering, Agro-processing, Crop Processing, Farm Power and Machinery, Postharvest Technology, Food Process Engineering, Agricultural Extension, Rural Development Works

Shashi Sharma is Professor and Chair in Biosecurity and Food Security, and Centre Director of Australia-China Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management in Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry at Murdoch University in Western Australia. Until his appointment at Murdoch University, Professor Sharma was Director of Plant Biosecurity at the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia from where he is on secondment. He has had a long career in food and agriculture spanning over 35 years and it includes working in several countries in different spheres of agriculture -- on-farm, post-harvest, trade, quarantine and biosecurity policy and planning, regulation, legislation and science. He studied for his MSc and PhD degrees at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) New Delhi and later returned to IARI as Professor and Head of the Division of Nematology. He worked well over a decade as a Scientist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), spent his sabbatical at the Delta Centre of the University of Missouri, USA and International Fellowship at the Rothamsted International, UK. He is recipient of several awards in recognition of his contributions to agriculture including Excellence in Science Award of the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research. Professor Sharma is a strong advocate of biosecurity as an integral component of global food security strategy and has been internationally speaking on biosecurity and food security issues for a number of years.

Food sustainably, Bio-security and policy, Food safety and Food security, Post-harvest food loss and food waste management, Managing chemical contaminants, and Innovative technologies for improved market access and trade.

A. Gattinger is agronomist and soil ecologist and coordinates climate-related research at FiBL Switzerland and Germany (www.fibl.org). He studied agriculture at the universities in Kassel/ Germany and Aberdeen/UK and got his PhD at TU München/Germany. He has international scientific expertise in the field of soil ecology and climate impact of farming systems. A. Gattinger is author/co-author of currently 47 peer-reviewed papers and teaches soil ecology at the universities Basel/CH and Giessen/Germany. He chairs the International Round Table of Organic Agriculture and Climate Change, an international, multi-stakeholder association. Furthermore, he is a member in the German organic grower association Naturland and runs an organic farm in Selters, Germany.

Climate impact of farming systems, Greenhouse gas fluxes in soil-plant systems, Structure and function of soil microbial communities as influenced by agricultural management, Adaptive capacity of soils and farming systems to climate change, Soil and water conservation including water and nutrient use efficiency.

Dr. Raveendra H Patil completed his PhD from Copenhagen University, Denmark and has worked as Post-Doctoral Researcher at Yangzhou University, China, University of Nottingham, UK, Aarhus University, Denmark, and University of Florida, USA. Now Dr. Patil is based in India at UAS, Dharwad involved in teaching and supervision of Graduate students, undertaking research on climate change impact and adaptation studies in agriculture, precision agriculture, and sustainable production systems, among others. He is a recipient of Young Scientist award from the Indian Government (ICAR, New Delhi) and ISCA, Kolkata, India for his work on agro-forestry, and over the years he has received number of national and international fellowships. For instance, ICAR Junior & Senior Fellowship, Chinese Govt. Fellowship, The Royal Society, London, UK Fellowship, The Danish Government Post-Doc Fellowship and NSF, USA Post-Doc Research Associate Fellowship. He has published more than 50 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member and reviewer to number of reputed journals.

Agro-forestry and Sustainable production systems Crop production under changing climate and plant nutrition Soil nutrient cycling and GHG emissions from agro-ecosystems Crop model application to assess climate change impacts and identify adaptation strategies

Dr. Mannava Sivakumar was the former Director, Climate Prediction and Adaptation Branch (CLPA) in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Weather and Climate Extremes Journal published by Elsevier and a senior Consultant with World Bank and WMO. He obtained his M.Sc (Agronomy) from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, India, in 1972; and Ph.D in Agricultural Climatology from the Iowa State University (USA) in 1977. From 1977 to 1996, Dr Sivakumar worked at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India (1977-83) and in West Africa (1984-96) occupying the positions successively of Agroclimatologist, Principal Agroclimatologist, Team Leader, Resource Management Programme and Director, Soils and Agroclimatology Division. In July 1996, Dr Sivakumar joined the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and served as the Chief of the Agricultural Meteorology Division until 2008 when he was appointed as the Director of the Climate Prediction and Adaptation Branch (CLPA). Dr Sivakumar has over 300 publications to his credit, including 53 books and 85 articles in various international journals. Dr. Sivakumar received the "Young Scientist Award' and the Science Academy Medal from the Indian National Science Academy of India in 1983. He is a Fellow of seven international scientific societies including the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of India, the Indian Meteorological Society, the National Environmental Science Academy, the American Society of Agronomy, the Royal Academy of Overseas Sciences of Belgium, the Academy of Georgofili of Italy and Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Biodiversity Science. Dr Sivakumar received the 2007 International Service in Agronomy Award from the American Society of Agronomy, the Award of Excellence for exceptional and outstanding contributions in the field of Science from the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) in 2009 and the Bharat Jyoti Award from the India International Friendship Society in 2012.

Agricultural Climatology, Agronomy

Dr. Mohammad Reza Alizadeh has completed his PhD. in the field of Agricultural Machinery Engineering from Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, I.R. Iran in 2007. He works as Associate Professor and head of Agricultural Engineering Department, the Rice Research Institute of Iran (RRII) with nearly 25 years active research experiences in the area of mechanization of agricultural crop production and post-production. He has authored and co-authored more than 80 original and review papers in the national and international peer-reviewed journals. He joined as a member of the editorial board and reviewer of many international reputed journals related to agricultural engineering and post-harvest technology.

Field and post-harvest machinery management, Design and development of agricultural machinery, Engineering Properties of Agricultural Products, Precision Farming in plant Production and Post-Production.

Dr. Kazi Kamrul Islam has completed his MSc from Wageningen University, the Netherlands and PhD from Kyushu University, Japan. Dr. K.K. Islam has also completed his postdoctoral studies from Kyushu University in 2015. Currently he is the head and Associate Professor at the Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University (a renounced and famous agricultural university in Asia). He has published more than 40 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of number of Journals.

Agroforestry, Agroecology, Forest Conservation, Forest Management, Forest Economics, Natural Resource Management

Dr Sani Yusuf Ahmad is an Associate Professor in Agronomy with specialization in Horticultural Production. He obtained his B. Agriculture, MSc. and Ph.D degrees from the famous Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria in 1995, 2003 and 2010, respectively. He is a member of several professional bodies and has several publications in reputable national, International journals and numerous research/technical reports to his credit. He is currently a lecturer/researcher at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria where he is actively involved in teaching, training, research and extension services. He attended several International Conferences and trainings across the globe.

Agronomy, Agriculture Extension, Horticulture

Dr. Sunday Yiseyon Hosu was born in Ogun State Nigeria. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2004. He obtained Masters Degree from Nigeria’s premier university: the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 2007 and PhD in Agricultural/Environmental Economics from the University of Fort Hare in 2013. His PhD thesis is a holistic attempt to know the determinants of food system among the poor households in the semi-arid region; the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. He focused on modeling small farms’ optimal productivity under stressed environmental conditions, resource utilization and effective institutional services provision. His study made insight on the necessary conditions to boost smallholder productivity and food security among the small-holder farmers in the Eastern Cape Province. His research interest focuses on optimal resource utilization for sustainable livelihood, food security and food systems as well as rural poverty analysis. He has authored and co-authored manuscripts and proposal with others. He has read papers on food issues at several local and international conferences. Dr Hosu is the Lead Researcher and Consultant, Sunclare Consults Limited, a-one- stop research outfit for solutions to agriculture and agribusinesses issues based in Nigeria. He is currently a Research Fellow at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, Eastern Cape.

Optimal resource utilization for sustainable livelihood, food security and food systems as well as rural poverty analysis

Dr Olayinka Ayobami AIYEGORO obtained a doctoral degree in Microbiology (Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology) from the renowned University of Fort Hare in South Africa. He has a versatile research career in applied microbiology- his research emphases include: Public Health Microbiology, Phytomedicine, Probiotics and Prebiotics Research. He has published above 40 research articles in international peer reviewed ISI rated journals and also has 2 book chapters in his archives. Dr Aiyegoro is a rated researcher by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa and also a registered professional member of South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions. He has worked as a University lecturer, research scientist and currently he is a Senior Researcher/Project Manager in GI Microbiology and Biotechnology Unit of Agricultural research Council- Animal Production Institute, South Africa. His daily activities include: researching students supervision, project and financial management, office administration and other Ad hoc duties.

Public Health Microbiology, Phytomedicine, Probiotics and Prebiotics Research

Dr. Justin K. Urassa holds a PhD (Developme Studies) and an M.Sc. Social research Methods (Development Studies) from the university of Sussex (United Kingdom), A Post-graduate Diploma in Poverty Analysis for Socioeconomic Security and Development from the Institute of Social Studies-The Hague, Holland in collaboration with the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF)-Tanzania and Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA)-Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, an MSc. and B.Sc. (Agriculture) from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and a Diploma in Dairy Husbandry from Livestock Training Institute (LITI) Tengeru, Tanzania. In addition to his regular academic activities at the university he also acted as Associate Director for the Development Studies Institute, SUA from July 2004 to October 2005. Before Joining SUA in December 1999 he worked as a Livestock Tutor at the Ministry of Agriculture Training Institute (MATI) Mlingano, Tanga.

Rural livelihoods and well-being, Poverty analysis, Food Security, Agricultural and rural development, Policy analysis, Social development and gender and development.

Dr. (Mrs.) Angela M. Lamptey is a Lecturer at the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon. She has a Ph.D in Fisheries Science from the University of Ghana. Her research interests include Aquaculture, Fisheries Ecology, Fish feeding habits, Biodiversity studies (Seabirds and sea turtles), aquatic biotopes studies and water quality studies. She is a reviewer to a number of International Peer-reviewed Journals and has over seven (7) publications in top peer-reviewed journals. She is a motivational speaker to various youth groups and a role model for young ladies.

Aquaculture, Seabird-fisheries interactions, Seabirds ecology, Fisheries ecology, Water quality studies, Fish feeding habits, Biodiversity studies (Seabirds and sea turtles), Aquatic biotopes studies.

Dr. Grace Chen obtained her Ph.D from University of Wisconsin at Madison, and did her postdoctoral studies from University of California ̶ Plant Gene Expression Center. She has published more than 44 papers in reputed journals is globally recognized as an expert on oilseed biotechnology.

Plant Gene Expression

Nurul Faridi has completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge, England, UK, 1988 and worked at the International Rice Research Institute and Intl. Maize and Wheat Research Institute, Mexico from 1989 to 1994, and then worked in the Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University until 2003 before joining with the USDA Forest Service. He has been working in conventional and molecular plant cytogenetics for the last 25 years and published about 70 papers in reputed journals.

Forest science

Leon Daniel van Rensburg is a soil physicist lecturing soil and water management at the University of the Free State, South Africa. He established and maintained a vibrate post-graduate research team, which currently consisted of 2 post-doctoral fellows, 4 doctoral students and 8 master students. The team focus mainly on soil and water management off dryland, irrigation as well as natural field and they published in the last 6 years about 45 scientific articles. He is leading two projects of national importance for South Africa, viz. (i) Management guidelines for technology transfer to reduce salinisation of irrigated land with precision agriculture funded by the Water Research Commission and (ii) the soil water balance of the Ghaap Platue as influenced by open cast mining funded by Sishen Iron Ore Company (Anglo American Kolomela). Both projects are scheduled for five years.

Agriculture Science

Petronia Carillo is an associate professor of plant physiology at the University of Campania, Italy. She has a strong theoretical and practical background in plant physiology, plant molecular biology, enzymology and metabolite profiling. Her research interests are centered on the interactions between nitrogen assimilation and carbon metabolism, and their short-term and long-term control mechanisms in photosynthetic organisms (unicellular algae and plants). At present, her main focus is the metabolite profiling of crop plants and plant model systems for the comprehension of the fundamental plant molecular and physiological responses to salinity, instrumental for developing new strategies to improve salt tolerance in agricultural crops. Since 2001, she collaborates with researchers of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany, for developing new high-throughput methods to measure enzyme activities and metabolites in plants. She is also interested in the valorization and reuse of agricultural residues in a bio-economy perspective

plant physiology, plant molecular biology, enzymology and metabolite profiling

Vanderlan da S. Bolzani is full professor at Sao Paulo State University (UNESP). Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), member of the Brazilian Academy of Science (ABC) and São Paulo Academy of Science (ACIESP) and TWAS, is CNPq Fellow level 1A, and has received several awards, highlighting: 2015 ABIQUIM Award on research innovation; 2014 CAPES-Elsevier Award for the contributions to science in Brazil, Distinguished Woman in Science Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, conceived by ACS & IUPAC (2011); Simão Mathias Medal, the highest honor conferred by Brazilian Chemical Society (2011). With Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, under guidance of Prof. Otto R. Gottlieb, at University of São Paulo, in 1990 she was awarded with a fellowship from DAAD for a short training at University of Hannover. After a post-doctorate at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPISU-USA) under guidance of Prof. David Kingston, she joined to the UNESP, and since 2003, is member of the Biota-FAPESP Program Coordination. Her field of interest is plant science, and has been involved in the isolation, bioactivity and function of secondary metabolites and peptides from plants, and recently has been involved on metabolomics and medicinal chemistry. Has published > 270 papers, 7 patents, and 5 book chapter (ih = 39). Since 2011 is member of the Scientific Advisory Board of L’Oréal in Paris.

bioactivity and function of secondary metabolites and peptides from plants

Caroline Janitz is the manager of the Next-Generation Sequencing Facility at Western Sydney University, Australia. Along with supervising her team, Caroline is responsible for both the development and implementation of technological improvements in the NGS pipeline. Caroline acquired her PhD in molecular genetics from the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, under the supervision of Prof. Hans Lehrach, the Director of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin. Her PhD thesis focused on an investigation of the molecular mechanism of renal damage in the course of rat hypertension using laser microdissection and Affymetrix gene expression profiling.

Molecular Genetics, Geneexpression

Taoufik Ksiksi is an Associate Professor (Plant Ecology) working at the UAE University. He deals with the impact of environmental factors/stresses on eco-physiological parameters of desert plants. Karthishwaran Kandhan is Post-Doctoral fellow at the UAEU. His expertise relates to the assessment of phytochemicals on plants species.

Plant Ecology

André Luis de Alcantara Guimarães has completed his Ph.D. in Botany from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and postdoctoral studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy from UFRJ. He is an associate professor of Faculty of Pharmacy from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He has published papers in reputed journals of Plant Science, especially with galls and their metabolical changes on host plants, and research with medicinal plants.

medicinal plants

Nabil Killiny is Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology & Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, University of Florida. The French Society of Phytopathology, awarded with student fellow travel Award, 2004 Synergistic Activities: Ad Hoc Manuscript Review: Plant Pathology, Phytopathology, Journal of Bacteriology, PLoS One, Journal of Insect Physiology, Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions,Current Microbiology, Electron Microscope Techniques, Biomedicine and Biotechnology, European Journal of Plant Pathology

Plant Pathology, Phytopathology

A.A. Ivlev has completed his PhD at the age of 27 years from Chemical Technology University of D.I. Mendeleev. and got his 2-nd PhD from Institute of Chemical Physics of RAS. In 2005 he has discovered a link between carbon isotope distribution and temporal organization of cell processes and was awarded with medal “To Author of Scientific Discovery” by Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. Since 1995 he is Professor of Russian State Agrarian University of K,A. Timiryazev. He has published 66 papers in reputed journals and 4 monographs. The field of his scientific interests includes isotope fractionation in metabolism, photosynthesis, plant physiology, cell mechanisms, evolution, climatology.

plant physiology, cell mechanisms, evolution, climatology.

Rajinder Singh is currently a Principal Research Officer at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. Rajinder has been with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board for the last 19 years. He holds a PhD in Plant Genetics and is currently the Head of Genomics Unit of the Advanced Biotechnology & Breeding Centre, at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). Rajinder has authored and co-authored more than 32 refereed publications

Plant Genetics

Dr Milan S. Stankovic has received his PhD in University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, Republic of Serbia during the period of 2007-2012. Currently, he is working as assistant professor an the same University. His research has included Plant biology and ecology. He is serving as an editorial member of several reputed journals like Plants, Advanced Crop Science, Research in Plant Science. He has authored 45 scientific papers published in international journals, 8 scientific papers published in national journals, 36 International conference proceedings and 46 national conference proceedings

Plant biology and ecology

Dr. Russel J. Reiter, Ph.D., is Professor in the Department of Cellular and Structure Biology at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA, Dr. Reiter has received three honorary M.D. degrees and one honorary D.Sc. degree. He has received numerous awards for his research including the A. Ross McIntyre Gold Metal (USA), the US Senior Scientist Award (Germany), Lizoni Lincee Award (Italy), the Inaugural Aaron B. Lerner Pioneer Award (FASEB, USA), etc. His scientific publications have been cited in the scientific literature more than 83,000 times; his h-index is 140. Thomson’s Institute lists Dr. Reiter as one of the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds-2014 and he is listed in the top 100 scientists in the world in terms of frequency of citation in the fields of Cell Biology and Biochemistry. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pineal Research (2013 impact factor = 7.81) and is or has been on the Editorial/Advisory Board of 26 other journals.

Plant Physiology

Dr. Eloy Rodiguez is the James A. Perkins endowed chair in Environmental Studies and Chemical Biology at Cornell University in New York. He has published over 170 research articles on the chemistry, evolutionary biology and ecology of secondary metabolites and their medicinal and agricultural uses. He is a AAAS fellow, founding member of SACNAS and has lectured throughout the US, Europe, China and South America on the chemistry, physiological role and medicinal use of plant secondary metabolites. Dr. Rodriguez' research has been funded by NSF, NIH and private institutions.

medicinal use of plant secondary metabolites and agricultural science

Nigel G. Halford obtained first degree in Genetics from the University of Liverpool in 1983 and a Masters degree in Applied Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from University College London in 1984. I studied the genes encoding a family of wheat seed proteins called the high molecular weight subunits of glutenin for my PhD while at Rothamsted in the 1980s, then spent 11 years at Long Ashton Research Station near Bristol before returning to Rothamsted in 2002. I am a Visiting Professor at Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences and was awarded The Magnolia Silver Award by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government in 2012. I am also Special Professor at the University of Nottingham, Council Member and Programme Secretary for the Association of Applied Biologists, Fellow of the Society of Biology and former member of the UK’s Advisory Committee for Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF).

metabolic and stress signalling pathways in plants

Nurul Faridi has completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge, England, UK, 1988 and worked at the International Rice Research Institute and Intl. Maize and Wheat Research Institute, Mexico from 1989 to 1994, and then worked in the Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University until 2003 before joining with the USDA Forest Service. He has been working in conventional and molecular plant cytogenetics for the last 25 years and published about 70 papers in reputed journals

molecular plant cytogenetics

NASIR S. A. MALIK has 40 years of agricultural research experience, including 16 years in an industrial environment. He has written over 50 research articles, one patent, (publication list attached), numerous industrial reports, pesticide registration reports for EPA, intellectual property disclosures, and attracted $2 million in extramural funding from industrial clients and over $700K in competitive research grants as PI &Co-PI. He received numerous invitations for seminars, writing reviews, chapters to edit books.

plant molecular biology, plant-microbe interactions (bacterial & fungal), plant insect interactions, pesticide metabolism, pesticide formulations, isolation of bio-pesticides, grafting and propagation methods in fruit trees and vegetable crops, organic farming, and soil science

A.A. Ivlev has completed his PhD at the age of 27 years from Chemical Technology University of D.I. Mendeleev. and got his 2-nd PhD from Institute of Chemical Physics of RAS. In 2005 he has discovered a link between carbon isotope distribution and temporal organization of cell processes and was awarded with medal “To Author of Scientific Discovery” by Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. Since 1995 he is Professor of Russian State Agrarian University of K,A. Timiryazev. He has published 66 papers in reputed journals and 4 monographs. The field of his scientific interests includes isotope fractionation in metabolism, photosynthesis, plant physiology, cell mechanisms, evolution, climatology.

cell processes;

Dr. Rajasekaran is a senior Research Biologist with the USDA-ARS. He obtained his B.S and M.S. from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India. After receiving his Ph.D. from The University of Sydney, Dr. Rajasekaran has continuously worked on the application of recombinant DNA technology towards genetic improvement of food, feed and fiber crops. He has published 135 full length publications plus 12 U.S. patents, >50 international patents, and 168 national/international conference abstracts. He serves as an Adjunct Professor in five universities. Currently his research focus at USDA-ARS is on effective control or elimination of preharvest aflatoxin contamination caused by Aspergillus spp through biotechnological means in cotton and maize .

recombinant DNA technology,

Dr. Grace Chen obtained her Ph.D from University of Wisconsin at Madison, and did her postdoctoral studies from University of California ̶ Plant Gene Expression Center. She has published more than 44 papers in reputed journals is globally recognized as an expert on oilseed biotechnology.

Plant Gene Expression

Prof. Ilan Chet completed his Ph.D. in microbiology at the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has published more than 390 articles, edited five books and holds 38 patents. Prof. Chet served as Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Vice President of the Hebrew University and was President of the Weizmann Institute of Science. He was visiting professor at Harvard, Colorado State, Cornell and Rutgers Universities. Prof. Chet was awarded with the Max-Planck, the Israel Prize, the Wolf Prize and more. He is nowadays Deputy Secretary General of the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean.

plant pathology and soil microbiology

Gunnar Wingsle has completed his PhD at the age of 34 years from Department of Forest Genetics & Plant Physiology. He has published more than 60 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as a PI of the proteomic masspectrometry facility at Chemical Biological Centre at Umeå University and SLU since 2000.

Genetics & Plant Physiology

André Luis de Alcantara Guimarães has completed his Ph.D. in Botany from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and postdoctoral studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy from UFRJ. He is an associate professor of Faculty of Pharmacy from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He has published papers in reputed journals of Plant Science, especially with galls and their metabolical changes on host plants, and research with medicinal plants.

medicinal plants

Igor G. Loskutov has completed his PhD (Plant Breeding) at the age of 29 years from N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry, St-Petersburg (Russia) and in 2003 his dissertation of Doctor of Science (D. Sc., Botany and Plant Breeding) from the N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR). Now he is the head of department of Plant Genetic Resources Oat, Barley, Rye (VIR) and full professor of Biology Faculty of St-Petersburg State University. He has published more than 140 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of journals Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution since 2008, Advances in Plant Sciences Research since 2013.

Plant Genetic , Plant Breeding

Rajinder Singh is currently a Principal Research Officer at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. Rajinder has been with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board for the last 19 years. He holds a PhD in Plant Genetics and is currently the Head of Genomics Unit of the Advanced Biotechnology & Breeding Centre, at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). Rajinder has authored and co-authored more than 32 refereed publications

Plant Genetics

Dr Milan S. Stankovic has received his PhD in University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, Republic of Serbia during the period of 2007-2012. Currently, he is working as assistant professor an the same University. His research has included Plant biology and ecology. He is serving as an editorial member of several reputed journals like Plants, Advanced Crop Science, Research in Plant Science. He has authored 45 scientific papers published in international journals, 8 scientific papers published in national journals, 36 International conference proceedings and 46 national conference proceedings.

Plant biology and ecology

YuegangZuo is currently a Full Professor in analytical and environmental chemistry and Director of Graduate Programs at Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He received his BS degree from Wuhan University, MS from the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and PhD from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich. One of his recent research areas has focused on separation, identification and quantification of phenolic antioxidants in plants and examine their bioavailability in humans and animals. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers in prestigious international scientific journals such as Science, and JAFC.

Separation, identification and quantification of phenolic antioxidants in plants

Nnadozie Oraguzie received his PhD in Plant breeding and genetics at Lincoln University, New Zealand and worked for a year as a Post-Doctoral researcher at Canterbury University, Christchurch, New Zealand, before joining Plant and Food Research (PFR) Institute, New Zealand as Research Scientist in 1998. At PFR, he was the Manager of the national pome fruit germplasm collection and an Objective Leader in the Pome fruit breeding consortium program. With the help of a fellowship from the Science and Technology Agency (STA) of Japan in 2001, he led an international collaboration including PFR, Hirosaki University and the National Institute of Tree Fruit Science, Morioka, Japan, that first linked an allele of the Md-ACS1 gene to fruit softening in apple. He was also the recipient of an Invitation Fellowship from the Japan Ministry of Science and Technology in 2006. He joined the faculty of Washington State University (WSU) in 2008 as Associate Professor. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed journal publications and a book, and currently serves on the editorial board of two journals.

His current research interests are at the interface of breeding and genomics. He leads the stone fruit breeding, genetics and extension program at WSU with emphasis on developing new sweet cherry varieties suited for growing in the PNW regions of the USA. He also has research interests in the genetics and genomics of traits that govern consumer appreciation of fresh fruit products in apple and pear.

Waled Elkhoby currently working at Agricultural Research Center, Field Crops Research Institute, Rice Research and Training Center (RRTC), Egypt

Crop Science

Shyam S Yadav completed his Bachelor Degree in agriculture at the University of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, in 1964, and a Master Degree in Genetics & Plant Breeding from University of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1967. He completed a PhD in Genetics & Plant Breeding from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, in 1987. Dr. Yadav has a very wide working experience at different research organizations. During 1969 to 2006, he worked at Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi on various capacities. In 2008 to 2010, he was working with National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), PNG as Chief Scientist. During 2010 to 2012 he was holding the position of International Advisor in Agriculture for Capacity Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock (MAIL), Kabul, Afghanistan. At different occasions, he also worked as a short time consultant with FAO, UNDP, ACIAR, DPI-Victoria, Australia, State University of Montana, USA etc. Dr Shyam S Yadav is working as Freelance International Research Consultant in Agriculture. Simultaneously, Dr. Yadav is also working as President, Manav Foundation at Manav Yadav Memorial Trust, Vikaspuri, New Delhi, India. He is also engaged as a part time International Research Advisor in Agriculture on Capacity Development in Agriculture at Agriculture Research Institute of Afghanistan (ARIA), Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan. Dr Yadav has a wide working experience as an agriculture scientist, consultant, and expert in different countries across the continents ranging from Australia, United States, Asia, and the Pacific Region. His primary interest of research has been focused on plant breeding, development of integrated crop production and management technologies and their dissemination among farming communities at village levels in diversified ecologies, mentoring and coaching of graduate and post graduate students, agricultural personnel, NGOs, and different stakeholders. Dr. Yadav has worked as Chief Editor for books on Crop Wild Relatives & Climate Change in 2015, A Publication of Wiley - Blackwell Inc. USA, Crop Adaptation to Climate Change in 2011, A Publication of Wiley – Blackwell Inc. USA, Climate Change and Management of Cool Season Grain Legume Crops in 2010, A Publication of Springer, The Netherlands, Chickpea Breeding and Management in 2007, A Publication of CABI, UK, and Lentils: An Ancient Crop of Modern Times in 2007, A Publication of Springer, The Netherlands.

Plant Breeding, Integrated Crop Production

Raveendra H Patil completed his PhD from Copenhagen University, Denmark and has worked as Post-Doctoral Researcher at Yangzhou University, China, University of Nottingham, UK, Aarhus University, Denmark, and University of Florida, USA. Now Dr. Patil is based in India at UAS, Dharwad involved in teaching and supervision of Graduate students, undertaking research on climate change impact and adaptation studies in agriculture, precision agriculture, sustainable production systems, among others. He is a recipient of Young Scientist award from the Indian Government (ICAR, New Delhi) and ISCA, Kolkata, India for his work on agro-forestry, and over the years he has received number of national and international fellowships. For instance, ICAR Junior & Senior Fellowship, Chinese Govt. Fellowship, The Royal Society, London, UK Fellowship, The Danish Government Post-Doc Fellowship and NSF, USA Post-Doc Research Associate Fellowship. He has published more than 50 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member and reviewer to number of reputed journals. He is one of the organizing committee members of this agri-2015 conference in Beijing.

Agro-forestry and Sustainable production systems
Crop production under changing climate and plant nutrition
Soil nutrient cycling and GHG emissions from agro-ecosystems
Crop model application to assess climate change impacts and identify adaptation strategies

Awarded with PhD (Horticulture) in 1991 and PDF (Visiting Scientist) from AVRDC (TAIWAN) in 1994-1995. Handled 21 externally funded schemes as Principal Investigator with the budget of Rs. 448.94 lakhs. Completed 15 schemes with the budget of Rs. 575.94 lakhs funded by various government, private and foreign agencies. Acted as backbone and catalyst for releasing more than 21 varieties and numerous horticultural techniques. Worked as the Dean, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Published 32 books, 39 book chapters, 127 research papers,etc. Editor of two seminar proceedings and delivered 23 radio talks. Totally there are 679 publications. Guided (15) MSc (Hort.) and (18) PhD (Hort.) students. Received Dr. G.S. Venkata Ram Memorial Award for the best research and oral paper presented at PLACROSYM XIV. Receipient of foreign Examiner, Dr. K.G. Shanmugavelu, Dr. S. Muthuswami medals, Golden Jubilee Symposium of Horticulture award for Best PhD research, Junior and Senior ICAR fellowship. Received TNAU Scientist Award (2010 & 2011) for research contribution by obtaining externally funded schemes (6 awards 2011 and 5 awards in 2012). Received Rastriya Gaurav Award, Bharat Jyoti Award and Best citizen of India from India International Friendship Society, New Delhi for the contribution to Horticultural Science. Also received MASU award (2012) for best technical bulletin in Tamil. Received Fellowship of CHAI (Confederation of Horticulture Associations of India) Award 2012 for meritorious service and outstanding performance in the field of Horticultural sciences. Served as a QRT member for oil palm and pomegranate. Chairman in Assessment Committee of ICAR for technical positions, Member in various committees in different universities, ICAR, Govt. of India. Recently Golden wings award for outstanding performance in Horticulture by Kalai Ilakkiya mandram of Theni and Best oral presentation award in Noni Search 2012. Awarded with in 2013 Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam life time achievement and best college award for academic excellence, in 2014 received best and highest number of horticulture book writer award in TNAU Coimbatore, India.

Horticulture

Mahendra P Srivastava born in 1942, obtained PhD in 1967 from University of Allahabad and subsequently joined Pb/Haryana Agricultural University, served as Rice/Cotton Pathologist, Extension Plant Pathologist, Professor, Head Plant Pathology, and Director Planning, Monitoring till 2002. He is considered an architect of Extension Plant Pathology and remembered for his contribution and innovative periodicals -- Plant Disease Warning & Plant Pathology Courier among others. He is known worldwide for his contribution in technology transfer and plant clinic. He has played a pivotal role in popularization of plant clinic by delivering invited lectures in India, China, New Zealand, Singapore, Italy, and Germany. He organized and chaired an ‘Evening Session on Plant Health Clinic’ in 9th International Congress of Plant Pathology at Turin, Italy in 2008, and delivered an invited keynote address on ’Plant clinics hold key to food security and organized Key note Session-5 in 10th ICPP at Beijing, 2013. He is recipient of several honors and awards, which include ‘Fellowship of The National Academy of Sciences’ in 1988, ‘Best Extension National Award’ 1996, Keynote speaker in 8th ICPP, New Zealand in 2003, and invited speaker on Knowledge transfer in 10th ICPP, 2013 at Beijing, Dr Radhakrishnan Award 2013, and International Technological Achievement Award on 9th February 2014. He has been President of Indian Society of Plant Pathologists, Chief Editor, Indian Journal of Plant Pathology, and Member Pesticide Panel of DST, GOI, and Technical Advisor of Pestology.

Technology Transfer, Plant Health Clinic, Integrated Pest Management and Fungicides

Awnindra Kumar Singh, presently posted as Senior Scientist (Plant Breeding) at Central Island Agricultural research Institute, Port Blair is working on the genetic improvement of food legumes. He did his PhD. from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He started his academic career from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and also served SKUAST-Jammu in the capacity of Assistant Professor-cum-Jr. Scientist. He is recipient of ISPRD Fellow and AABS Award for Best Research Paper. Dr. Singh is associated with more than 8 international and national scientific societies and more than 98 publications in his credit comprises of research papers, abstracts, technical bulletins and book chapters.

Crop Breeding, Genetics

Grace Chen has obtained her PhD from University of Wisconsin at Madison and her Postdoctoral studies from University of California, Plant Gene Expression Center. She has published more than 44 papers in reputed journals and she is globally recognized as an expert on oilseed biotechnology.

Plant Gene Expression Center

Dr. Yinghua Huang is a Research Geneticist for U.S. Department of Agriculture and serves as the Lead Scientist for the Plant Genetics Program. Before that, he served as faculty member for Oklahoma State University for ten years and now remains an Adj. Professor at the university. He is a member of editorial boards for several scientific journals. He earned a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Michigan Technological University. His scientific background is in plant genetics and molecular biology, and he has considerable research experience in plant biotechnology, genomics and crop improvement. During his early career, Dr. Huang made a breakthrough in developing a reliable system for producing transgenic larch plant, which represents the first record of genetically engineered conifer tree, carrying the important traits such as resistance to insects and herbicide. Another example of his recent research accomplishments is the systematic evaluation of the US sorghum germplasm collection (> 42,000 accessions), leading to the discovery of important new sources of resistance to greenbug and sugarcane aphids, the most important insects of field crops, including barley, sorghum and wheat, then incorporation of the new resistance into crop breeding programs. Furthermore, using the cutting-edge microarray, RNA-seq and the next-generation sequencing technologies, his lab has generated the differential expression profiles which resulted in the identification of the key genes and the networks that regulate the host defense against insect pests, crop yield traits, and bioenergy quality in sorghum

Plant Genetics, Molecular biology and Microbiology

Dr. Arron Carter is the O.A. Vogel Endowed Chair in Winter Wheat Breeding and Director of the winter wheat breeding and genetics program at Washington State University. His research focuses in on developing winter wheat cultivars with high yield potential, excellent end-use quality, and genetic resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. To research these goals, he implements the most recent technology available, including marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, high-throughput phenotyping, and other direct and indirect selection methods. His cultivars make up roughly 35% of the production in the Pacific Northwest and Dr. Carter works closely with his stakeholders to ensure his varieties help fit into current cropping systems and lead to high economic return and sustainable agricultural systems.

Plant Breeding

Doctor of Philosophy in Genetics, Purdue University, 1999 Master of Science in Horticulture, Clemson University, 1994 Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore, India, 1991

Identifying and characterizing plant genes in nonhost disease resistance Omics approach to understand the disease resistance and susceptibility to cotton root rot fungus (Phymatotrichopsis onmivora) Optimizing or improving virus-induced gene silencing in crops such as sorghum and cassava Identifying and characterizing plant genes involved in Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation Translational research to confer biotic and abiotic stress (drought) tolerance in crop plants. Tnt1 insertion mutagenesis in Medicago truncatula and Brachypodium distachyon

John Salmeron is the Director of PlantSciences at Precision BioSciences, Inc. in Durham NC, USA, and has worked in the field of plant biotechnology for over 20 years. Prior to joining Precision, he held positions in business development and led the agricultural R&D team at Intrexon Corporation, a leader in synthetic biology. John was a research portfolio manager at Syngenta Biotechnology Inc., and held leadership roles directing teams in trait development and genomics. He is the founder of eiiConsulting, an early-stage biotechnology consulting firm, has an A.B. degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Ph.D. from Duke University.

Plant sciences, Genome editing

W. P. is an Assoc. Prof. of Organic Chem. at Kasetsart University at Kamphaengsaen, Thailand. He obtained BS from Prince of Songkla University, Thailand and MS and PhD from Chiang Mai University in Thailand and post-doct (Natural Products chemistry) at NIES in Japan. His research interest has two main intersecting themes. The first involves the development of methods for the synthesis of novel bioactive compounds and the study of their spectroscopic, chemical and pharmacological properties. Mechanistic aspects of these and associated syntheses are also of interest. New synthetic methods for antibiotic compounds are also being investigated

His research interest has two main intersecting themes. The first involves the development of methods for the synthesis of novel bioactive compounds and the study of their spectroscopic, chemical and pharmacological properties

Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Novi Sad. Honorary Member for International Sunflower Association.

Agricultural engineering , genetic plant

S YANG has completed her PhD from Charles Stuart University, Australia. She has been an Associate Professor at Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China until 2009. Currently she is a Research officer at School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Australia. Her major research work on the germplasm evaluation, grain legume crops breeding and molecular marker, herbicide selection and genomic study. She have published with Colleagues in two book chapters; 30 refereed journal papers.

Agriculture

Prof. Gad Galili Department of Plant Sciences Weizmann Institute of Science

Genetic, metabolic engineering, metabolomics, genomics and bioinformatics tools to study the operation of amino acid metabolism in plants within the context of the entire system including transcriptional, metabolic and physiological networks. We show that besides the importance of lysine metabolism in protein synthesis, under stress conditions, lysine metabolism also cross interacts with stress-associated gene expression and also with metabolic programs associated with cellular energy

Department of Plant and Environmental Science,Associate Professor University of Copenhagen

PLANT BIOCHEMISTRY

Parwinder Kaur is working as a Research Scientist with a focus on the Plant Molecular Genetics & Genomics at the Centre for Plant Genetics and Breeding (PGB) at the University of Western Australia. Dr Kaur has received the Science and Innovation Award for young people in Agriculture, Fisheries

genome scaffold for subterranean clover using the de-novo sequencing pipelines anchored to a high resolution genetic map and BioNano optical maps for trait mapping. She has been working with a team of researchers across various disciplines to develop methodologies to enable breeders to identify environmentally friendly pasture legume to tackle future challenges for Australian livestock industries.

Dr Meixue Zhou has been involved in plant research for more than 30 years which includes more than 10 years of experience in China. His major research areas include physiological and molecular mechanisms of plant biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. He is serving as a review panel member for ARC of Australia and the Natural Science Foundation of China. He is the co-director of Australia China Research Centre of Plant Stress Biology. In last 10 years more than 100 papers were published in various peer-reviewed journals. He is a member of editorial board of several journals.

Dr Meixue Zhou has been involved in plant research for more than 30 years which includes more than 10 years of experience in China. His major research areas include physiological and molecular mechanisms of plant biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. He is serving as a review panel member for ARC of Australia and the Natural Science Foundation of China. He is the co-director of Australia China Research Centre of Plant Stress Biology. In last 10 years more than 100 papers were published in various peer-reviewed journals. He is a member of editorial board of several journals.

Clive Lo received his PhD at Purdue University. He is currently an Associate Professor at The University of Hong Kong. His laboratory has been working on the biosynthesis pathways of flavonoids in the cereal crops rice and sorghum.

They have recently identified a number of phylogenetically conserved enzymes for biosynthesis of flavones which are prevalent in vegetative tissues of grasses. They represent good targets to engineer flavones in edible tissues which do not normally synthesize these health-beneficial phytochemicals.

Hao Cheng, director of National Center for Tea Improvement, TRICAAS, China has his expertise in tea breeding. He is especially interested in several important traits in tea plants, such as flavonoid biosynthesis, nitrogen uptake and self-incompatibility

Tea Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (TRICAAS)

Permanent position as scientific researcher at the National Research Council, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (formerly Institute of Plant Genetics) Portici, Italy.

Agricultural Sciences

2008 is Assistant Professor at the Department of Arboreal Crops,2011 is Confirmed Researcher at the Department of Arboreal Crops,Þ currently with the Department of Agricultural Sciences in the Department of Arboreal crops merged.

Agricultural Sciences.

Indu Jaganath in the last 30 years has been attached to the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute. where she started off her research in the field of pollination biology and biodiversity of tropical crops. Her main achievement other than setting up a collection /germplasm of 300 species of medicinal plants at MARDI Serdang was to author a book entitled “The Green Pharmacy of Malaysia”. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree at in the field of botany at University Malaya and Master of Science from the University of California, Riverside in the field of Plant Science. In 2005, she received her PhD at University of Glasgow in the field of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. Her current research is focused on the discovery of chemically and biologically active natural products in tropical plants. She is using metabolomics approach to understand and delineate the metabolic pathways involved in the production of these biologically active compounds. With the incorporation of genomics tools, she is currently focusing on agricultural nutrigenomics, where high throughput screening techniques for the identification and validatation of health benefits of phytonutrients in herbs and fruits has been developed. She was recently awarded the best scientist award in 2014 by her organization.

Agricultural Plant Science, Food Science, Plant Fertilization, Animal and Human Nutrition.

He graduated from the University of Tokyo, Department of Biochemistry, School of Science in 1974. He joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan, in 1981 and worked in the research staff for 27 years. He took his doctor’s degree at The Tohoku University in 1989. He continued his research into rice quality and processing, and was promoted to the head of the quality laboratory in 1990. He managed food research as a director of Food Science and Utilization Division at the National Food Research Institute from 2005 until 2008. He retired from MAFF and moved to Niigata University in 2008. He now majors in cereal science and processing, specializing in, quality assay and processing of rice grains. He is currently doing research into rice processing, for example, bio-functional rice bread, rice noodles, and rice cake. He has published more than 260 papers on cereal science and utilization, and he got the prizes for outstanding papers on rice qualities, PCR technology of rice authentications, and the development of bio-functional rice bread, etc.

cereal science and processing, quality assay and processing of rice grains, bio-functional rice bread, rice noodles, and rice cake, PCR technology of rice authentications.

Currently a Professor in Postharvest Physiology and Technology at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Prof Asgar, is the founding director of the 'Centre of Excellence for Postharvest Biotechnology' at the University of Nottingham, a research group deemed for great success in its field and great impact beyond. With a range of postharvest students under his guidance and supervision, Prof Asgar has set the grounds for pioneering and innovative research in the field of edible coatings and films for postharvest biology. Additionally, he is constantly involved in the progress of science within postharvest biology as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences as well as the International Journal of Ecology, Environment and Conservation.

Pre-harvest, Post-harvest, Control fruit quality and storage life, Phytochemical properties of exotic fruits and vegetables

EDUCATION, ACADEMIC ADVISORS and Positions held: Diplom: 1973 University of Hannover (Horticulture) Ph.D.: 1976 University Hannover, Soil Science (Advisor: Prof. Dr. Dr hc. K.H. Hartge ) Habilitation: 1981 Technical University Berlin, Soil Science (Advisor: Prof. Dr. Dr hc. H .P. Blume) 1982- 1987 Professor for Soil Science, University Bayreuth 1988- 1998 Professor for Soil Science and Soil Protection (C3), Christian Albrechts University Kiel since 1.Oct.1998 Professor for Soil Science (Chair C4) at the Institute for Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Christian Albrechts University Kiel AWARDS and FELLOWHIPS: Honorary Member: Soil Science Society of Romania ,Romanian Academy of agriculture and forestry science Fellow award 2005 of the American Soil Science Society, Fellow award 2006 of the American Society of Agronomy, Honary doctor of the University of Applied Sciences and environment, Iasi, Romania 2012 Honary Professor of the Polytechnical University Lublin, Poland 2014 RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS, extended visits: in China, Chile, Australia, Poland, USA, Brasil MAJOR PROFESSIONALACTIVITIES: President of the German Soil Science Society (2008-2011) President of the International Union Soil Science (IUSS) (2014- 2016) Chief Editor: Soil and Tillage Research TEACHING AND RESEARCH SUPERVISION OF PHD AND POSTDOC STUDENTS: 51 finished PhD –Students ; 3 Habilitations MEMBERSHIPS: German Soil Science Society (since 1974) International Union Soil Sciences (since 1974) International Soil and Tillage Research Organization Soil Science Society America European Geophysical Union Publications: a) books and monographs, 22 b) papers in refereed international journals, >320 c) refereed book chapters and reviews, 106 d) refereed, published conference papers approx. 100 e) conference papers; >200

soil mechanics: stress strain effects in structured soils, soil structure effects, chemical as well as hydraulic processes in structured soils, coupled processes in structured unsaturated soils, waste deposit management capping systems, soil tillage effects on soil properties and functions, chemical and biological aspects of soil aggregates, carbon sequestration,

She completed a BSc (Agric.) (Hons.) in 1981 at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Thereafter she gained expertise in numerous agricultural enterprises such as Feedlot & extensive Beef Production, Dairy Production, Pig production and wildlife farming. In 2000 she was appointed as Animal Science Lecturer at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa. She enrolled for a Master’s Degree in 2001. The research focussed on the replacement of corn with small grains such as barley and wheat. It also included in vitro digestion rate of roughages. She was later appointed as Program Coordinator for the Agricultural Program and have 8 years’ experience. She received numerous awards over the last 15 years such as the Faculty Emerging Researcher of the year 2006, Faculty Researcher of the year 2007, Faculty Teacher of the Year 2009, NMMU Teacher of the year 2009, and runner-up in an innovation technology competition (acidosis related) in 2013. She has presented research papers in Brazil (Porto Allegra), France (Grenoble) and the South African Society for Animal Scientists (SASAS) conferences. She has supervised post graduate students and am currently involved with a study on flocculation of UHT milk.

Dairy cow(ruminant) nutrition, Animal breeding and genetics, animal nutrition and reproduction, Animal Production Science, livestock farming systems, sustainability and natural resource management

Lack of clean water to meet society’s needs is recognized as one of the major challenges of modern times by the National Academy of Engineering. Dr. Chaubey’s research is focused on improving water quality and watershed management by integrating field data collection and mathematical modeling, and developing simulation models and tools that will guide policy decision makers, watershed managers, conservation specialists and farmers. Dr. Chaubey is unique in his integration of simulation modeling and innovative field research to improve our understanding of various rainfall-runoff and pollutant transport processes at field, stream reach and watershed scales. Dr. Chaubey is leading efforts nationally and internationally in quantifying how land use changes due to recent demand for biofuel production, agricultural intensification, and urbanization will impact water availability, water quality, and ecosystem services. His research improves watershed management decisions so that resource allocations and resulting water quality improvements can be optimized. Dr. Chaubey has published more than 400 research articles, including 105 peer reviewed journal articles and more than 180 technical papers in various conferences, and has given 50 invited presentations at various regional, national, and international conferences. He has won numerous honors and awards including New Holland Young Researcher Award, ADS/Hancor Soil and Water Conservation Award, Purdue Agricultural Research Award, Purdue University Faculty Scholar, Seed for Success Award, and Outstanding Research Award.

Ecohydrology, Source Pollution Engineering, Future of Water Resources, Design in Biological Engineering, Natural Resources Engineering, Nonpoint Source Pollution Engineering, Modeling and Simulation, NPS Pollution Control and Modeling,

More than 30 years experience in the field of Agricultural Engineering and presently Dean, College of Agri. Engg. & Technology, Hisar (India). Completed research projects on watershed management, hydrology, pressurized irrigation and greenhouse technology. Life member of World Association of Soil and Water Conservation, Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers and Fellow, Institution of Engineers (India) and Indian Water Resources Society. Attended International course on ‘Hydrometeorology’ at Israel. Participated in International conference at Belgium and Thailand and chaired a technical session. Served as Head, Dept. of Agricultural Engineering in Eritrea (Africa) and taught as Professor in Libya. Published more than 30 research papers and edited a book on ‘Post Harvest Management and Value Addition’. Received awards in Paper Presentation, Appreciation Certificates; National Fellows and Society Awards. Member of many national committees of Department of Science and Technology and Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Referee and Reviewer of national and International journals.

watershed management, hydrology, pressurized irrigation, greenhouse technology, Soil and Water Conservation Planning,

Benmeziane Dr Farida, teacher - researcher at the Agronomy Department, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life. University of El-Tarf, Algeria. She got my engineering degree in June 2005 at the University of Bejaia, Algeria. The Magister degree in 2008 issued by the same university. Currently I have my doctorate degree in Plant Biology, obtained in June 2015 at the University of Annaba, Algeria. I am a teacher at the University of El-Tarf since December 2009, She taught several modules such as Food Technology, Nutrition, Packaging, Food Toxicology, ... etc. She currently supervising 3 pairs Master 2 in product quality and food safety. She own 08 publications whose 07 in international journals 07 and 01 in a national journal. My Areas of interest: Food Technology, Biochemistry, especially natural antioxidants foods including polyphenols.

Food Technology, Biochemistry, Especially natural antioxidant foods Including polyphenols.

Prof Abbyssinia Mushunje is currently a Full Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University Of Fort Hare South Africa. He is also the Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension at the same university. Prof Mushunje is the Eastern Cape Provincial Coordinator of Economic Education in South Africa. He received his BSc Agricultural Economics (Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe in 1991, before obtaining and MSC and PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Fort Hare in 2001 and 2005 respectively. His most recent research has been focussing on the following; land reform, farm efficiency, food security, climate change, ecotourism, food systems; etc. He has published about 40 papers in international peer reviewed journals. To date he has successfully supervised 25 Masters and 11 PhD students.

Agricultural Economics

Dr. S. S. Siwach, presently working as Director of Research at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar did his Doctoral in Plant Breeding with specialization in Plant Breeding and Genetics & Seed Technology in 1995. He also looked after the Extension activities as Director Extension Education. He has undergone trainings in the relevant field of his specialization. He contributed in the development of first GMS line and on the basis developed first GMS hybrid in the country in AAH-1 in Gossypium Arboreum L. as well as in the development of first GMS bases Gossypium hirsutum hybrid HHH 287. Dr. Siwach started seed production of the varieties as well as parents of hybrids at farmer’s field. He contributed in the development of newer varieties /hybrids of Cotton having better seed cotton yield with resistance/ tolerance to abiotic as well as biotic stress and better fibre quality. Dr. Siwach is also responsible for the screening and evaluation of recommended Bt. Cotton hybrids. Crop varieties and hybrids of CCS HAU has been registered with PPV & FR as well as with NBPGR. A number of MoUs with different seed companies and other commercial technologies have been signed during his tenure as Director of Research. He is planning, executing, monitoring and technically evaluating on-going research schemes of different constituent colleges/outreach Research Stations of CCS Haryana Agricultural University. Dr. Siwach has more than 100 research publications in National and International repute of journals. On behalf of the University, he has been nominated on various committees of Haryana Government, Central Government to represent CCS HAU.

Seed production, Hybrids of Cotton, Crop varieties and hybrids,

Dr. R.R. Sharma completed his post graduation from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India during 1994 and qualified ARS-1995 examination with top position. He joined as Scientist in the Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, IARI, New Delhi in 1997 and worked on mango improvement, high-density planting and strawberry up to 2004 and then shifted to Division of Post Harvest technology, IARI, New Delhi. He has developed six mango hybrids and standardized several farmer-friendly fruit production and postharvest management technologies. He is a recipient of several awards and honors in India. He has also worked as International Mango Registrar (1999-2004) of International Society for Horticultural Science. He is a member, Editorial Board of Scientia Horticulture (The Netherlands), International Journal of Fruit Science (UK), American Journal of Plant Science (USA), Journal of Agriculture Science (USA) and Chief Editor of International Journal of Food processing and Technology (India). He has published about 40 articles in International Journals, 50 in Indian journal, 110 popular articles, 7 books, 5 farm bulletins and several pamphlets.

Major research interests of Dr.R.R. Sharma are, Postharvest physiology & pathology of horticultural crops especially temperate fruits Regulation of ripening and senescence of fruits and vegetables, edible coatings, Safe approaches (bioagents, GRAS) for PHM of fruits and vegetable Pre-harvest management and its effects on PHM & quality of fruits and vegetables.

Dr Yeo Siok Koon possessed her PhD from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia and is now a senior lecturer in Taylor’s University, Malaysia. Her passion in teaching is recognized where she obtained an award from her institution for excellence teaching and a national award. Before she joined as an academician in Taylor’s University, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Korea. Her research work focuses on probiotics and prebiotics. Her main research objective is to develop food products with enhanced functional properties. To date, she has published more than 20 indexed journals and book chapters. She has also genuinely shared her findings and knowledge in various national and international conferences.

Development of probiotics and/or prebiotics dietary adjunct Determination of health beneficial properties of fermented food

Dr. Manjree Agarwal from last 14 years has been working in conducting basic and applied research for development of new technologies, non-chemical methods, innovative processes, new chemicals for stored and horticultural product insect management, with special emphasis on post-harvest plant biosecurity. Area of expertise includes: • Development of innovative, rapid and accurate diagnostic tools based on insect ecology and biology • Management of phosphine resistance insects in grain storage • Exploration of novel non chemical method for control of stored product insect pests • Development of biosecurity tools for potential new incursions of exotic organisms • The role of volatiles in understanding and manipulating plant/pest/microbe interactions with the aim to control incursions and resistance build up to chemicals • Alternatives to methyl bromide for quarantine treatment of grains and horticultural produce. Currently she is working as Post doctorate fellow in post-harvest plant biosecurity and food safety laboratory, Murdoch University, Western Australia. She is currently supervising 12PhD students and has successfully supervised two PhD students.

Developing new novel green and safe chemicals for protection of post-harvest commodity in storage, Looking for fumigants alternative to methyl bromide, Management of phosphine resistance stored grain pests, and Studying chemical ecology between host plant, healthy plant and pest.

Dr. Arun Kumar Pal (Born.01.08.1962) is Head, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya (State Agricultural University), Nadia, West Bengal, India where he has been since December, 1997. He received his Ph.D. in Horticulture in Floriculture and Landscaping from the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya in 1993. From 1988 to 1991 he worked at The Agri. Horticultural Society of India, Kolkata. He also served as Scientist (I.C.A.R.) at Ramkrishina Ashram Krishi Vigyan Kendra during 1995 to 1997. His research interests center on improving Agro-techniques of crops like Tuberose, Marigold, Annuals flower, Foliage plants. He has worked on Organic manure and bio-stimulants to those crops. He has given numerous invited talks on TV & Radio programme, Govt. of West Bengal, State Bank of India (Rural Sector), Director of Extention BCKV and others training programme. Professor Pal is co-author of book Varieties of Horticultural Crops (Agrobios, 2006) and writer of floriculture book chapter and is the author of over forty research papers on Floriculture. Professor Pal is an academic expert of different Indian University and Institutes like Calcutta University, Viswa Bharati, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bihar Agricultural University. He guided two Ph.D. and eight M.Sc. students. At present he has two PhD and three M.Sc. students. He visited different country like Thailand, Malaysia, Srilanka and Bangladesh. He participated twenty four national and international seminar & symposium(13-National and 11-International).He also participated five winter/summer school. His major contribution in the field of floriculture is to popularization of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L) variety Prajwal cultivation in the major flower growing area of West Bengal, India.

Agriculture, Horticulture, Crop science, Floriculture, Landscaping

Professor V.P. Singh is a University Distinguished Professor and Caroline and William N. Lehrer Distinguished Chair in Water Engineering at Texas A & M University. He received his B.S., M.S., Ph.D. and D.Sc. degrees in engineering. He is a registered professional engineer, a registered professional hydrologist, and an Honorary diplomate of ASCE-AAWRE. He has published more than 885 journal articles; 25 textbooks; 59 edited reference books; 104 book chapters; and 315 conference papers in the area of hydrology and water resources. He has received more than 79 national and international awards. He is a member of 10 international science/engineering academies. He has served as President of the American Institute of Hydrology (AIH). He is editor-in-chief of three journals and two book series and serves on editorial boards of more than 25 journals and three book series.

Surface-water Hydrology, Groundwater Hydrology, Hydraulics, Irrigation Engineering, Environmental Quality and Water Resources. Principal research topics have encompassed:Watershed modeling, Erosion and Sediment Transport in Upland Watersheds,Streamflow Forecasting,Dam Break Analysis,Entropy-Based Modeling,Network Design,Groundwater Modeling, and Hydrologic Impacts of Climate Change.

Dr. Batchelor earned a BS and MS in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Georgia in 1986 and 1987. He served on the faculty of the University of Georgia from 1987-1990 as an Instructor, where he taught courses and conducted research in expert systems and simulating the effects of pest damage on crop growth. In 1993, Dr. Batchelor received a Ph.D in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Florida, followed by a post doctorate at Virginia Tech. In 1994, Dr. Batchelor joined the faculty of Iowa State University and established a nationally and internationally recognized program in crop growth modeling, working in areas including precision farming, biotic and abiotic stress physiology, crop management, yield forecasting and climate change. Dr. Batchelor served as the head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Mississippi State University from 2005-2010. He also helped establish and served as Director of the Sustainable Energy Research Center and the Energy Institute at Mississippi State University. He led a team of over 50 faculty members to develop renewable energy from biomass feedstock. In 2010, Dr. Batchelor was appointed Dean of the College of Agriculture and Director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station at Auburn University and served in this role until May, 2015. Dr. Batchelor currently serves as Professor of Biosystems Engineering at Auburn University. During his career, Dr. Batchelor secured over $50 million in funding, published 75 peer reviewed journal articles and has given numerous presentations in over 20 countries. He served as the President of the Institute of Biological Engineers, Editor of the Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, served on the editorial board of the Journal Agricultural Systems and has received numerous paper awards. He has received numerous honors including being appointed a Hearin Eminent Scholar by Mississippi State University, named a Distinguished International professor by the University of Hohenheim, awarded the prestigious New Holland Young Researcher of the Year by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, received the Early Achievement in Research award from Iowa State University, and was selected by the National Academy of Engineering as one of the top 100 young engineers in the US in 2003. In 2009, Dr. Batchelor was elected as a Fellow in the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for his contributions to information and electrical technologies and biological engineering.

Professor William D. Batchelor's research program involves: crop growth modeling, precision farming, biotic and abiotic stress physiology, crop management, yield forecasting and climate change.

Zacch I. Olorunnipa was born and raised as a farm boy in the rural area of Nigeria, Africa. My educational training and professional career in Agriculture has spanned over 40 years. I obtained my undergraduate degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria; M.S degree in Agric. Econs & and Post Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Education from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. In 1987, I completed my PhD degree in Agric. Econs at the University of Illinois, USA. From 1988 to June 2016 when I retired, I worked at the College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture (CESTA) now known as CAFS - College of Food and Agricultural Sciences. At CESTA and CAFS, I have served in various positions including Asst Professor, Assoc Professor, Professor, Director, Business and Information Technology (BIT) and Interim Director of Agric Sciences, CESTA. I have received a good number of teaching and research awards including Teacher of the Year award, Advanced/Distinguished Teacher of the Year award and First Place in Competitive paper presentation.

My research focus includes Agricultural Marketing, Price Analysis and Forecasting, Impact of technology on Agricultural Development, Food security and International Trade and Development. I have secured several teaching grants and have also been involved in farmers' training in Business and Financial planning, analysis and management in various countries in Africa and other parts of the world.

Hsu Jenn-Chung is a Retired professor of Animal Science department from National Chung Hsing University.

Animal Communications, Nutritional Biochemistry, Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition,Nutrition Assessment

He is been the research scientist 2007−present in the Department of Food Technology, Ataturk Central Horticultural Research Institute. He was also an auditor of 'Food Safety and Standards’ 2004−2007 in the Agriculture Ministry Office, Yalova, Turkey

Dr. Yasin Özdemir’s research program involves: New food technologies, Table olive technology, Food technology, Olive oil, Functional foods, Food safety.

Prof. Dr Dorien DeTombe is the founder and chair of the field Methodology for Societal Complexity. She developed the Compram Methodology for political decision making on complex societal issues like sustainable development, terrorism, credit crisis and water affairs. The Compram Methodology is advised by the OECD to handle Global Safety. She studied social science and computer science. Her doctorate is in Methodology for Societal Complexity. She spend her main carrier at Utrecht University and Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands, and is since 2015 connected with Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China. She published many books , more than 150 articles. She gives lectures and workshops as Visiting Professor and Conferences all over the world. She organizes yearly conferences and is editor of many journals. She is in the board of many research groups and established a world-wide research network on International Society on Methodology of Societal Complexity.

Dorien J. DeTombe is the founder of the field Methodology for Societal Complexity. She developed the Compram methodology for political decision making on complex societal issues like sustainable development, floods, large city problems, terrorism, healthcare, credit crisis and water affairs.

J S Prasad is a Formerly Principal Scientist & Head Directorate of Rice Research from the department of Entomology.

Dr.JS Prasad’s research program involves: Plant Biotech in Rice, Plant Parasitic nematode of Rice, Integrated pest management, Entomopathogenic nematode

Dr. Ugur Cakilcioglu has done his PhD from Firat University, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Department of Biology. He has received The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) Encouraging Award for International Scientific Publications. He worked in many international journal in order to follow the international innovations in the field of plants.

I have many studies on systematic botanic, ethnobotany, morphology, anatomy, rare and endemic plants, medicinal plant, antioxidant activities of plants, DPPH and ABTS radical removal activities of plants, plant essential oils, nitrate contents of plants, plant production strategies and the diseases infecting from soil. I work in many international journal in order to follow the international innovations in the field of plants

Kifle G. Gebremedhin is a Professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. He is an elected Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and a member of ASCE, National Frame Building Association, Institute of Biological Engineering, and various honor societies. He is the recipient of numerous awards for teaching, research, advising, service and leadership. Professor Gebremedhin has published over 200-refereed journal articles and research technical publications and has made several invited presentations nationally and internationally.

Professor Gebremedhin's research program involves: Animal thermal-stress physiology, modeling animal bio-energetics (heat and mass transfer), engineering livestock thermal environments, and design and analysis of post-frame buildings, and diaphragm action in metal-clad wood-frame buildings.

More than 30 years experience in the field of Agricultural Engineering and presently Dean, College of Agri. Engg. & Technology, Hisar (India). Completed research projects on watershed management, hydrology, pressurized irrigation and greenhouse technology. Life member of World Association of Soil and Water Conservation, Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers and Fellow, Institution of Engineers (India) and Indian Water Resources Society. Attended International course on ‘Hydrometeorology’ at Israel. Participated in International conference at Belgium and Thailand and chaired a technical session. Served as Head, Dept. of Agricultural Engineering in Eritrea (Africa) and taught as Professor in Libya. Published more than 30 research papers and edited a book on ‘Post Harvest Management and Value Addition’. Received awards in Paper Presentation, Appreciation Certificates; National Fellows and Society Awards. Member of many national committees of Department of Science and Technology and Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Referee and Reviewer of national and International journals.

watershed management, hydrology, pressurized irrigation, greenhouse technology, Soil and Water Conservation Planning

A member of the NC A&T faculty for the past 13 years, Yeboah’s scientific interests began at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in his native Ghana, where he earned an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Science. After working as an Assistant Agricultural Economist in charge of agricultural statistics from 1987 to 1991 in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana, he came to NCA&T to his earn a Master’s Degree in Production Economics in 1993 and a doctorate in Agricultural Economics (Resource Economics/International Agricultural Trade) at University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1998. He served as a postdoctoral research fellow at University of Nebraska-Lincoln on a U.S. EPA funded grant project from 1998 to 2000. In January 2001, he became Visiting Scholar teaching M.S. and PhD. courses in resource economics at Auburn University, Alabama. He was also an adjunct faculty at the Auburn University Environmental Institute. In September2003, Dr. Yeboah returned to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in the department of Agribusiness & Applied Economics as an Assistant Professor in international trade, international marketing, and agribusiness marketing. In April 2004, he became the interim director of the then North Carolina A&T International Trade Center and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2009; Professor in 2014; and Professor and director in 2016. Dr. Yeboah received Gamma Sigma Delta award of Excellence in Research in 2008; and the university’s Senior Excellence in Research Award in 2013. Dr. Yeboah is a recipient of many grants awards from agencies such as USDA and USIAD. Most recently, including evaluation of alternative storage technologies for maize in Ghana; and strengthening the peanut value chain in Ghana, all USDA-FAS funded projects. Dr. Yeboah is a member of the American Agricultural Economics Association.

Dr. Yeboah’s research interests focus on international trade (theory and policy); international agribusiness marketing; agricultural marketing and cooperative development, environmental and natural resource economics and policy; agricultural policy; production economics; small scale agriculture; and others.

Hikmet Budak received his Ph.D. degree with a major in plant breeding and genetics and with a minor in biometry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA, in 2002. He worked as a Coordinator, and led grass genetics and breeding program at the same university, then returned to Turkey in 2004. He received the Turkish Young Scientist Award in Turkey and Achievement Award by WORLCOMP06, USA in 2016. Dr. Budak then joined to Montana State University, USA as Montana Plant Sciences Endowed Chair, in 2016. He has published over 120 peer reviewed articles and 10 book chapters. His research interests include molecular mechanisms of a/biotic stress in wheat and barley in addition to computational genome analysis and genomics.

Professor Hikmet Budak's research program involves: Analysis of abiotic (drought and heat) and biotic stress (insects and pathogens) response mechanisms of important genes and manipulation of these genes employing genomics and bioinformatics tools. A better understanding of gene transmission and silencing.

Professor of Plant Science, University of Idaho, 2004 to present. Associate Professor of Plant Science, University of Idaho, 1997 to 2004.Assistant Professor of Plant Science, University of Idaho, 1992 to 1997.Senior Scientist, ESCA genetics Corporation, 1988 to 1992.Higher Scientific Officer, Scottish Crop Research Institute, 1981 to 1988.Scientific Officer, Scottish Plant Breeding Station, 1977 to 1980.

Professor Jack Brown's research program involves: Develop genetically superior Brassica oilseed and condiment mustard (Brassica napus, B. juncea, Sinapisalba, and others) cultivars suitable for a wide range of environments throughout the Idaho, the PacificNorthwest, and other regions in the USA. Investigate breeding methodologies and inheritance ofimportant traits in developing new and improved Brassica crop species. Examine and develop procedures to increase breeding efficiency in developing superior Brassica oilseed and condiment cultivars. Develop oilseed Brassica cultivars that would be suitable for industrial processing, including high quality biodiesel and bio-jet fuel. Broaden genetic base and introgress insect and disease resistance and other desirable traits into Brassica crops using interspecific and intraspecific hybridization. Develop genotypes of yellow mustard (S. alba) modified fatty acid oil content, improved oil content, and with low glucosinolate content in residual seed meal. Develop interspecific and intraspecific hybrid genotypes with designer glucosinolate content and quality suitable as an alternative to highly toxic synthetic soil fumigants.

Benjamin Gray was born and raised in Greensboro, NC USA. As a child, he grew up on a small family farm being exposed to many of the processes that take place in agriculture, but at a small scale. His father was a Dean at a local college which left many of the day to day responsibilities of running our small operation up to me. By doing so, I developed a strong work ethic and a passion for the land and local community environment. I had to learn how to fix and repair our machinery whenever we would have breakdowns. I was not necessarily that mechanically inclined, but my father was a certified mechanical engineer which he taught me a lot of the basics that I still apply today. After completing high school, I attended both North Carolina A/T State University and received my undergraduate degree in Agriculture business. I then transferred to NC State University in Raleigh, NC and entered into the Rural Sociology program where I developed a strong fondness of the for the community and people who make up the community. I graduated in 1994 with a MS degree in Sociology and in 2000, with a degree in Rural Sociology. Since that time, I have taught at NC A&T College of Agriculture all of the rural sociology-related courses, along with the research methodology courses both, at the undergraduate and graduate level. I have been affiliated in academia for over 28 years. Currently serve as professor of rural sociology for undergraduate and graduate students at North Carolina A&T State University

Professor Benjamin Gray 's research program involves: social organization of agriculture (graduate class on campus and online), principles of rural sociology, sociology of development, economic geography, agricultural economics, agri-business management

Dr Abbas Amini is the registered member of Western Sydney University graduate supervisory board at the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, and the member of Work Health and Safety Committee of the same university, Penrith Campus. Before joining the Western Sydney University, he conducted research with other Australian universities and CSIRO, as a postdoctoral research fellow at Monash University and Deakin University, and as a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne. His fine outcomes have been presented in high impact factor journals, e.g., Nature publication group, and a recent published book in 2016.

Water treatment, drug delivery systems, piezoelectric materials, biomedical materials,environmental sustainability and water efficiency

Head of Department “Strength of materials” National University Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, Professor, Doctor of Technical Sciences, full member of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences (RAASN), a member of UMO universities of Russia for education in the field of construction, Honored Worker of Higher School, member of the Russian National Committee on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Honorary professor at the Warsaw University, honorary builder of Russia.

Solid Mechanics, Mechanics of Inhomogeneous Bodies, Soil Mechanics.

Vijay Sigh Working as Distinguished Professor, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering &Zachry Department of Civil Engineering Texas A and M University, His research interests reflect in his wide range of publications in various national and international journals. He is committed to highest standards of excellence and it proves through his co-authorship of many books. He is the Editorial Board Member of Journals and serves as a member of various associations , apart from being an author for many books.

Watershed modeling,Erosion and Sediment Transport in Upland Watersheds,Groundwater Modeling.

Dr. Kelly Morgan provides growers of Florida with science-based information on improved soil fertility and water management methods. Implementation of best management practices that sustain yields while protecting water quality. Dr. Morgan is also invovled in modeling of soil nitrogen and phosphorus bioavailability with focus on environmental cycling and crop uptake. Improved nutrient and water use efficiencies through the development of expert systems for citrus, vegetable, and sand-land sugarcane production. Establish N and P best management practices that provide maximum environmental protection while maintaining highest possible economical yields.

Soil and Water Science

Dedrick Davis is a Assistant Professor in Soil Physics at Alabama A&M University. He obtained his PhD in Soil Sciences and Environmental Sciences, His teaching expertise Soil Physics and Irrigation and drainage system . He has published Research papers in national and international scientific journal, chapters of book, and he has taken part in national and international congresses.

Agricultural and Urban water Management,cropping systems impact on soil physical properties and Soil Management.

Dr. Jack Rechcigl is the center director and professor at the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center and on the HCC campus in Plant City. Dr. Rechcigl’s studies the beneficial uses of organic wastes and industrial by-products as fertilizers for agricultural crops. In particular, his research focuses on evaluating the fertilizer requirements of pasture grasses as well as determining ways to reduce fertilizer runoff in to water ways.

Soil fertilit, Management of Nutrients,Pesticides, and Wastes

Professor Fred Molz is a Collaborator on the Department of Energy, Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Implementation Project "Radionuclide Waste Disposal: Development of Multi-scale Experimental and Modeling Capabilities" (2014-Present). Recent research projects have involved computer modeling of transport processes in laboratory constructed wetlands, simulation of reactive plutonium transport in variably saturated soils exposed to the natural climate and experimental/theoretical studies of turbulent sedimentation in flocculant-aided, storm-water retention ponds. Courses taught by Dr. Molz during the past decade include: Geohydrology, Groundwater and Contaminant Transport, Subsurface and Wetland Hydraulics, Surface and Subsurface Transport and Numerical Methods in Process Simulation (flow and transport). Consulting activities have made him aware of the acute environmental problems faced by government and industry

Soil Sciences, hydrology, soil physics, geochemistry, environmental biology, and computer simulation

D Jose María Bodoque obtained his Ph.D. in Geology from Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. He undertook his postdoctoral studies at the Department of Civil Engineering –Texas A&M University, United States. Currently, he is professor of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Biochemistry at the University of Castilla-La Mancha His main research is focused on hydrology and geomorphology, which has resulted in more than 40 papers in international peer reviewed journals related to fluvial geomorphology, flood risk assessment and management, soil erosion, water quality and ecological restoration.

Hydrologic modeling, Hydromorphology, Flood assessment, Geomorphology

Manuel Esteban Lucas Borja is a Professor of University of Castilla-La Mancha , ETSI Agronomists of Albacete Department of Science and Technology and Genetics Agroforestry , Campus Universitario spain, Since 2005 work in teaching and research tasks at the School of Agricultural Engineers Albacete, University of Castilla La Mancha. My doctoral thesis I did in the Serrania de Cuenca, on issues related to natural regeneration and sustainable forest management of the masses of black pine (Pinus nigra Arn. Ssp salzmannii). Since then I have made several research stays at several universities and national and European research such as Edinburgh University, the Higher Institute of Agronomy in Lisbon, the University of Tras-Os-Montes e Alto Douro or Center Applied biology Segura. Currently, teaching and research in which I participate, both in Albacete Agronomists TSI and the Research Institute of Albacete Renewable Energy. he is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Advanced Research (Elsevier) and serves as a reviewer of articles from several indexed scientific journals.

forest ecosystems,forest management on the microbiological and enzymatic properties of forest soils.

CAMILLE DUMAT is a Professor of Soil Science and Environmental Risks in Department of Education: Agronomy and Environment, Research laboratory: Research laboratory: UMR EcoLab. In 2006 she is Authorization to conduct research, INPT and achieved "Become metal trace elements in the soil-plant system; Influence of speciation ". - Since 2005, INP-ENSAT, EcoLab: MCF then PR. In 1998-2005 she is a member of "Environment-Health-Society". MCF, Lab. Biogeochemistry Isotopic. "Metal and Organic Soil Interactions". In 1997 she worked under Doctorate , Paris, Earth Sciences Laboratory Geochemistry, European project: "Becoming pollutants in soils in relation to soil characteristics and speciation". she is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Advanced Research (Elsevier) and serves as a reviewer of articles from several indexed scientific journals.

Transfers of elements into terrestrial ecosystems, Quality and sustainable management of soils, Management of environmental and health risks related to polluted sites and soils.

Cristina Menta is responsible of the Soil Biology Laboratory (Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability), she is titular professor of the Systematic Zoology and she is the Scientific Director of the Natural History Museum of Parma University (Italy). She is scientific administrator, as soil fauna expert, of several research projects related to the characterization of soil fauna in natural and degraded areas. She is conducting some studies in natural and agricultural lands to define soil biodiversity and soil biological quality. She conceived a new biological soil quality index based on soil micro-arthropod community, named QBS-ar, from some years applied at international scale. She was trainer in the European ExpeER project “Soil Macrofauna Protocol – ExpeER WP2”. She was a member of the project for the definition of Biodiversity index Protocol: “Biodiversity Friend”, WBA Onlus and of the International Commission ISO/TC 190/SC 04/WG 02 for the standardization of the ISO norms “Soil quality – Biological Methods” and she is a member of LANDMARK European project.

Soil invertebrates - Biodiversity edaphic

I am following the PhD program at the Earth Systems Analysis department at ITC, University of Twente, The Netherlands working on soil erosion and Remote Sensing. Nowadays, assessment and monitoring of natural processes through RS is become a necessity. I started to work at the Institute of Geosciences, Energy, Water and Environment at the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania. Building a geo-information (GIS) and RS laboratory for processing and analyzing data for earth science applications.

Soil erosion and land degradation. Multi-temporal and hyperspectral Remote Sensing.