Our Authors
Andreia Fausto
Head of Programme at World Food Programme
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1 Articles
Andreia Fausto has over 7 years of professional experience in food security and nutrition, focused food systems and all the value chain. She has also great experience in country strategic planning and program implementation on food fortification, SBCC, market access and advocacy on food security and other rural development areas. Additionally, Andreia has experience in stakeholder engagement including a heavy focus on private and public sector involvement in development efforts. She holds a degree in veterinary medicine and currently works at world food programme (WFP) in central Africa.
Benjamin Akane
Agriculturist specialized in the Ghanaian Cocoa system
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9 Articles
Benjamin Akane is an agriculturist with an in-depth field knowledge and skills in the Ghanaian Cocoa system, a holder of BSc in Agriculture Technology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. I started off my career working with Ghana Cocobod as field technical assistant, I moved to Touton SA. As M&E officer and was later promoted as Cocoa sustainability officer. I am currently working with Cargill Ghana as Sustainability field coordinator. In this role, I perform a full cycle cocoa certification duties by ensuring all farmers are registered under the certification program are trained on good Agriculture practices by complying the RA certification standards. Implementation of Agroforestry projects- raising of cocoa and shade tree seedlings for farmers to combat carbon emission.
Biocyclic Vegan International
Network of associations
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1 Articles
Biocyclic Vegan International is a broad network of associations, private individuals, companies and institutions with the common objective to establish and promote a sustainable, closed loop and vegan oriented form of organic farming by introducing the biocyclic vegan principles in all areas of agriculture and food production. Through its member associations in various countries, the network advises growers on the conversion to biocyclic vegan farming and raises public awareness of the benefits of this form of cultivation. In addition, it participates in research projects on humus accumulation and sustainable soil fertility increase through the use of biocyclic humus soil on a purely plant-based basis. The legal foundation of the International Biocyclic Vegan Network is the Berlin-based not-for-profit company Adolf-Hoops-Gesellschaft mbH who is the editor of the Biocyclic Vegan Standard and the owner of the Biocyclic Vegan Quality Seal.
Christina Marantelou
Agriculturalist - Food Scientist, M.Sc. Nanobiotechnology
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1 Articles
I graduated in Agriculture-Food Science & Technology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – A.U.Th., Greece and I hold an MSc degree in Nanobiotechnology from the same university, where I studied the physical properties of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in dispersions & biopolymer films. During my master's studies, I worked as a research assistant at the laboratory of food chemistry, biochemistry and physical chemistry in the School of Agriculture, A.U.Th. My career expands from research to food production management to co-creation and presentation of my TV Show « Mητέρα Γη» (Mητέρα Γη) on the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation.
Coala Project
Project
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1 Articles
COALA (COpernicus Applications and services for Low impact agriculture in Australia) is a Research and Innovation project funded by European Commission Horizon 2020 RIA – Topic:DT-SPACE-06-EO-2019). Time and size: 2020–22 (1.7 m€). COALA will develop Copernicus-based information service for irrigation and nutrient management for the Australian agricultural systems, starting from the consolidated past experiences of the proposed European partnership, but based on strong collaboration with Australian Academic institutions and business players in the agricultural sector of Australia.
Dayana Andrade
Syntropic Agriculture Expert
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1 Articles
With a transdisciplinary academic background, Dayana transits between the major areas of Communication and Life Sciences. Since 2009, she has been applying such skills to the theoretical study, practical experimentation, and the diffusion of Ernst Götsch’s Syntropic Farming. Dayana holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Conservation from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and wrote with collaborators important scientific papers on Syntropic Farming and agriculture innovation. In the practical experience, she managed the Syntropic Experimental Areas and Learning Center on São Sebastião Farm (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) between 2016 and 2018; applied syntropic principles in the implementation of four Public School Gardens in a Mediterranean context during 2019; and more recently, she is facing the challenge of recovering an olive grove in crisis using syntropic techniques, in southern Italy. In the communication field, Dayana has written texts and produced videos for Agenda Götsch and Life in Syntropy websites and social platforms. She also has worked as an Environmental consultant in wide-reaching TV Shows such as the telenovelas “Velho Chico” and “Pantanal”, in which she helped to bring up important ecological and farming-related issues to a broader audience. Together with Felipe Pasini, she is the author of the book "Life in Syntropy - Ernst Götsch's Syntropic Agriculture Explained" (Portuguese version scheduled to be released in the second half of 2022).
Dimitris Afentoulis
MSc. Agronomist
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1 Articles
Dimitris Afentoulis is an Agronomist specialized in Crop Protection. He originates from an agricultural family that runs the oldest gardening shop in the centre of Athens over four generations. Dimitris holds a Master of Science degree in Plant Pathology and Entomology from Wageningen University and has a broad educational background in Crop Science and Agriculture. During his studies, he published four peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals related to biological pest control and insect systematics. He has participated in numerous research programs, scientific conferences and technical trainings. Throughout his career, he served as an IPM technical consultant with expertise on field demonstration of biocontrol agents against crop pests and diseases. Currently, he is responsible for Product Development and Technical Support at Syngenta Hellas in South Greece.
Dionysia Bourtsoukli
Landscape Architecture Designer
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1 Articles
Graduate of the Agricultural University of Athens, expertised in Floriculture and Landscape Architecture. In 2019, after completing my internship, I started working in a landscape architecture design office, which is active in Greece, as well as abroad, designing large and small-scale gardens. This experience helped me renew my knowledge about ornamental plants. At the same time, I cultivate an olive grove in Argolis and an orchard with walnut trees in the region of Mantineia in Arcadia, by applying the principles of ecology for the needs of each landscape. Finally, I spend time updating my knowledge and preparing for a master's degree related to landscape architecture.
Dr. agr. Johannes Eisenbach
Coordinator at Biocyclic Vegan Network
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1 Articles
Dr. agr. Johannes Eisenbach, born in Germany, is a trained farmer and has lived with his family in Kalamata/Greece since 1995. He has been involved in organic farming since 1982 and, together with organic pioneer Adolf Hoops, worked out the foundation for the Biocyclic Vegan Standard that was admitted to the IFOAM Family of Standards in 2017. After studying agricultural sciences at the Justus-von-Liebig-University in Giessen/Germany, he headed a comparative study between Greece and Turkey at the Institute of World Food Economics. He did his doctorate on the topic of increasing the marketing efficiency of Greece ́s international fruit trade. After five years at the Frankfurt-based Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, Department of Economics, Agriculture and Public, he began to set up a network of organic producers in Greece in 1995. He started the first compost plant in Greece, producing high-quality compost and Biocyclic Humus Soil. Since 2010 he has been coordinating the Panhellenic Biocyclic Vegan Network, which brings together growers from Greece and Cyprus that, since 2016, have become certified according to the Biocyclic Vegan Standard. As the initiator and principal author of the Biocyclic Vegan Standard, he is co-founder and partner of the Adolf Hoops Society, the international standard and label organisation for biocyclic vegan agriculture, and chairman of the Biocyclic Vegan Standard Committee. Johannes Eisenbach is also a board member of the German Association Förderkreis Biozyklisch-Veganer Anbau e. V. and a member of the Scientific / Editorial Committee of the Growers’ Forum at IFOAM AgriBioMediterraneo (ABM).
Dr. Rajendra Uprety
Executive Director-AgriGreen Nepal
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1 Articles
Rajendra is an enthusiastic agriculturist working in the fields of agriculture and rural livelihood development for more than 30 years within the country and abroad. He has ground-based practical knowledge and long experience to facilitate context-specific agriculture technology innovation, and resource management. Agriculture research and extension, crops management, agri-mechanization, irrigation management, organic farming, climate-smart agriculture, seed production, plant nutrient management, plant protection, IPM, Farmers Field School, and System of Rice Intensification (SRI), farmers' group, and cooperative mobilization are some areas of his expertise. Further, Rajendra has long experience in editing technical newsletters and running an agriculture radio program.
Esteban Gutierrez La Torre
Doctoral candidate in Food Biofunctionality at University of Hohenheim
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2 Articles
Bachelor in Food Industries (National Agrarian La Molina University, Peru, 2004-2010). Served as lecturer to bachelor students from the Faculty of Food Industries of the National Agrarian La Molina University (2013-2018). Participant of the 23rd Peruvian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (2015). With additional training in food science laboratory techniques (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China, 2016). Served as research assistant in the Horizon2020 Project “Protein2Food” (2016-2018). Master in Food Technology with specialisation in Food Product Design (Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands, 2018-2020). Master thesis awarded as the Best Poster (20th International Conference of Future Challenges for Cereal Science and Technology, Austria, 2022). Lecturer in food science conferences in Peru, Mexico, Austria and China. Currently, PhD candidate in Natural Sciences with specialization in Food Biofunctionality (University of Hohenheim, Germany, 2021 onwards) as part of the Sino-German International Research Training Group “AMAIZE-P”. My research is focused on the impact of the phosphorus in the soil on the nutrients of maize grains for human consumption.
Eulogia Bohol
Experienced International Fruit Quality Controller, Trader and Farmer.
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8 Articles
I am strongly passionate in negotiating with clients for International Trading of agricultural crops in 12 years, commonly the banana from the Philippines and a little experience in pineapple exported abroad, mainly to China and the Middle East market. With the specialization and very well-experienced in Quality control and Sales & Marketing. To enhance and upgrade my capability and knowledge about trading, I am now interested in the importation also of some crops from abroad, like onions, garlic, and fruits, especially the Dragon fruit from nearby top producer countries. The second thought of going Farming aside from Trading is the next option, with the target of Dragon Fruit farming in the future to be supplied locally and abroad.
Evgenia Sarakatsani
Trainee in Plant Health Monitoring team-European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
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1 Articles
Agricultural Scientist with an MSc in Ecology from the University of Amsterdam, currently working in the field of Plant Health, as part of the Plant Health and Pesticide Residues (PLANTS) Unit of EFSA. I am involved in the identification and ranking of emerging pests with the aim to support the EU decision-making on the prevention of the introduction and spread of such organisms in the EU territory. I have been trained in plant protection practices against pests of crops, as well as in research for the biological control of insect pests. For one year, I have also worked in the media sector, covering news of interest for farmers in Greece.
George Marakas
Fruit (Avocado) producer and trader
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9 Articles
Georgios Marakas is a third-generation farmer with more than 20 years of personal experience in fruit production and trading. He decided to make a transition from Merlin orange production (that his father did) to avocados due to the exceptional nutritional value of the fruit and its constantly growing market. By planting 3 avocado varieties (Zutano, Fuerte, and Hass), at his fields in the Chania region of Crete (Greece), Mr. Marakas can offer a good market supply year-round. By focusing on the well-being of the trees and taking extra care to ensure the best fruit quality for the consumers, the farmer has optimized the production and harvesting of avocados, creating a model farm. Thanks to the unique quality characteristics of Cretan avocados, the producer is exporting large quantities to many European countries.
Giacomo Ciriello
PhD Apiculture
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Giacomo is a beekeeper and horticulturalist currently living in Wales and working at Bees for Development. He manages partnerships with NGOs in Ghana and Zimbabwe, supporting projects that generate vital income by training beekeepers and organising supply chains. He coordinates and teaches on an annual programme of over 20 practical courses covering various aspects of beekeeping. He contributes to the Bees for Development Journal and to running the charity’s website (https://www.beesfordevelopment.org/), webstore and Resource Centre.
Guillaume Morel-Chevillet
Landscape Architect and Engineer
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1 Articles
After 8 years working as a landscape architect and engineer, in France and in the USA (about greens roofs), Guillaume Morel-Chevillet, discovers the urban farming movement in Montréal, Canada, in 2013. Since 2015, he works for the French Institute of Horticulture, ASTREDHOR, specifically on urban farming research. From 2015 to 2017 he analyzed more than 70 urban farming professional projects in USA, Canada, Europe and France. Since 2017 he participates to European and national urban agriculture ‘s research programs and gives courses in different universities and engineering schools. With ASTREDHOR, he launches a consultancy office (TechnAU) dedicated to urban farming studies for public and private stakeholders. He wrote a book called “Agriculteurs Urbains, du balcon à la profession |trad. Urban Farmers, from balconies to careers ]”, Ed. France Agricole in 2017. This book, only in French for the moment, focuses on urban farmers and new jobs that have been created thought this movement. From social landscape architects, rooftop greenhouses gardeners, indoor farmers, urban micro-farms jobs, this book also shows future prospects for traditional agricultural sector. More info about his book: www.editions-france-agricole.fr/livres-et-ebooks/droit-et-gestion/agriculteurs-urbains.html
James Mwangi Ndiritu
Environmental Governance and Management, Agribusiness consultant
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2 Articles
Ph.D. Environmental Governance and Management, Agribusiness consultant with Success in Agriculture, and author of agribusiness training materials. Advocating for Agroecological systems in Agriculture. 1. Optimization of ecosystem services for sustainable coffee production under changing climate - https://eajsti.org/index.php/EAJSTI/article/view/353 2. Evaluating Cover Crop Ecosystem Services for Buffering Coffee against Changing Climate - ISSN: 2220-6663 (Print) 2222-3045 (Online) 3. Assessment of Ecosystem Services Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Coffee Farmers Using Legume cover crops.”Ecosphere13 (4): https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4046
Lorenzo Franchini
Vertical Farming consultant and environmental educator
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2 Articles
I love developing “green” projects to help cultivate a better planet. I strongly believe that cooperation, awareness, and good habits are keys to fight global warming. As global community we need to change our life-style, consuming less and better. Find more information below. www.verticalfarmingconsulting.com and in www.verticalfarmingeducation.com
Luka Marcinkovic
Vineyard manager
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1 Articles
Luka Marčinković was born on October 23, 1993, in Viareggio, Italy, but spent his childhood years in Croatia, where he currently lives. During his high school years, he developed an interest in nature and ecology, which consequently led him to enroll at the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb, Croatia. In 2018, he finished his graduate studies in horticulture with an emphasis on viticulture and enology. His professional path led him to wineries and vineyards in California, New Zealand, and England, where he got the chance to expand his knowledge about winemaking and wine growing. Currently, he's working as a vineyard manager in Croatia.
Marco Costanzo
Agricultural expert (in precision farming)
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1 Articles
Marco Costanzo is an agricultural expert specializing in precision agriculture. His experiences and interests have led him to focalize on extensive agricultural systems, minimum tillage, and agricultural machinery with a particular eye on agritech solutions.
Maria Gerakari
PhD candidate student at the Agricultural University of Athens
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1 Articles
Maria Gerakari is an Agronomist specialized in Plant Breeding. She has a master’s degree in “Innovative Applications in Sustainable Agriculture, Plant Breeding and Agro-Meteorology” and she is a PhD candidate student at the Agricultural University of Athens, at the Faculty of Crop Science in the Laboratory of Plant Breeding and Biometry. She has worked in various research programs such as Legumes4Protein (https://www.legumes4protein.gr/el/). Currently, she is working on ZeroParasitic Project: “Innovative sustainable solutions for broomrapes: prevention and integrated pest management approaches to overcome parasitism in Mediterranean cropping systems”, in collaboration with Benaki Phytopahological Institute (BRI) (https://zeroparasitic.eu/). She is also running her PhD study, funded by the Hellenic Foundation of Research and Innovation (HFRI) (https://www.elidek.gr/en/homepage/), regarding the study of interaction of tomato host plants and the parasitic weeds (Phelipanche spp.) through molecular approaches to unravel genetic material with resistance.
Nikolaos Barkolias
MSc Agronomist & Oenologist
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2 Articles
Integrated MSc Agronomist from the Agricultural University of Athens. The Direction of my degree is Plant Protection and Environment. My Thesis focused on olive diseases and the testing of modern plant protection products such as nanomaterials, bioelicitors, and essential oils. During that period, I got involved in chromatography, spectrophotometry, fungal cultures, and bioassays. For four months, I worked in an agricultural shop as part of the internship, where I contacted farmers and learned about technical issues of crops. For the last year, I have been working at IKEA Company, in Athens, as manager of Plant Section in a department store.
Nuno Meira
Advisor on Climate Smart Agriculture and Agricultural Insurance
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4 Articles
Nuno Meira is an Agricultural Engineer with a 25-year career in agriculture, CSA+biodiversity, agricultural risk management, agricultural insurance/reinsurance/microinsurance, and International Economic Development & Cooperation developed, on-location, over 7 different countries (Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, Senegal, Ukraine, Philippines, Germany), and with experience as well in South America. Nuno Meira has cumulative experience in the private sector as an International Agricultural Reinsurance Broker having been the former EMEA Agricultural Specialist at “Guy Carpenter” (“Marsh & McLennan Group of Companies”), and in International Development & Cooperation, and agricultural research organizations (ILO, IFC/World Bank, CIM/GIZ, IsF/Frankfurt School of Finance, CGIAR), on business development, change management and innovation, agricultural insurance/reinsurance/microinsurance, capacity building of organizations, vocational training, funding, and writing of proposals.
Orestis Theofanoudis
Food Scientist
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1 Articles
Orestis holds an Integrated Masters’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the Agricultural University of Athens. He has work experience in quality control and analytical techniques. He has worked as an educational tour guide at the agricultural university of Athens. His scientific research revolves around wine and beer fermentation, as well as research and development of new products. His passion is in science communication so that it is accessible to everyone.
Paolo Di Bona
Food labelling expert, Regulatory affairs, Food safety specialist
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2 Articles
I graduated in Biological Sciences from 'La Sapienza' University of Rome, and began my activity in the field of agri-food sector in 2006, joining a consulting company that has been active in the market for 40 years. I started getting involved in food labeling matters in 2007, first specializing in the national sphere and then turning my attention to the markets of some non-EU countries. My main tasks were labeling revision and design, training courses, and regulatory opinions. Since 2019 I became a freelance consultant, dividing my activity between collaboration with consulting and certification companies in Italy, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S.A. and following my clients on the national territory.
Patricia Duque-Estrada
Postdoctoral Researcher
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2 Articles
I graduated in Biomedicine in 2010 from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and in Nutrition from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2012. Afterward, I obtained an MSc degree (2015) in human nutrition at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, where I studied the nutritional adequacy of vegetarian/vegan diets. Then, during the Ph.D. I studied the effect of food processing on the nutritional quality of meat analogs at the Food Process Engineering Group. I obtained the degree in 2019 from Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands. Currently, I am a postdoc researcher at the Plant-based foods and Biochemistry Group at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. I am studying how sustainable food processing impacts the nutritional quality of plant proteins.
Petros Lioupis
MSc Plant Breeder – Agronomist
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1 Articles
Petros has studied Crop Science, and he's specialized in crop production. He holds an MSc in Plant Breeding and Genetic Recourses from Wageningen University & Research, focusing mainly on varietal field selection and potato genome bioinformatics. My theoretical knowledge was enriched with practical experience by working as a junior plant breeder in Germany. Currently, Petros works for their family company, Gaia seeds S.A. (https://gaiaseeds.gr/en/) as a plant breeder and product manager. His main interests and expertise are in cereals, forage seeds, and sunflowers.
Ploutos H2020
Project
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1 Articles
Ploutos is an EU-funded project, which is comprised by 33 partners and aims to rebalance the agri-food value chain and enhance its economic, social and environmental sustainability. In order to achieve this, the project will develop a Sustainable Innovation Framework, which will follow a systemic approach to the agri-food sector and build on a combination of behavioural innovation, collaborative business models and data-driven technological services. Based on this Framework, Ploutos will deploy 11 Sustainable Innovation Pilots throughout 13 European countries, where new innovation solutions and methodologies will be applied, tested, evaluated and practical lessons will be derived. Moreover, a virtual Innovation Academy will be set up, offering stakeholders the opportunity to attend a series of applied experiments and good practices related to the sustainability of the agri-food value chain. The Innovation Academy of Ploutos will be the mechanism for the design, support, presentation, and promotion of all the implemented innovations, ensuring their maximum impact. This will stand as the legacy of the project, integrating all the information and best practices that will transform the agri-food sector and make it more competitive, efficient and sustainable.
PRIMA Partnership for Research & Innovation in the Mediterranea Area
Non profit organization
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5 Articles
The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) is an initiative launched by 19 Euro-Mediterranean Countries, including 11 EU States (Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain) and 8 non-EU countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey) to participate in an EU joint research and innovation programme. In the legal framework of Article 185 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFUE) this ambitious initiative is set up to build research and innovation capacities and to develop knowledge and common innovative solutions for water management and agro-food systems on both shores of the Mediterranean inspired by principles of co-ownership, mutual interest and shared benefits across the Mediterranean basin. PRIMA works on four thematic areas namely MANAGEMENT OF WATER: Integrated and sustainable management of water for arid and semi-arid Mediterranean areas. FARMING SYSTEMS: Sustainable farming systems under Mediterranean environmental constraints. AGRO-FOOD VALUE CHAIN: Sustainable Mediterranean agro-food value chain for regional and local development and WEFE Nexus: Interlinkage between water, energy, food and ecosystems in the Mediterranean.
Promote Pollinators
Organization
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1 Articles
Promote Pollinators, the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ on pollinators was founded at the end of 2016 in response to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production. The assessment emphasises the threats that human activities pose to pollinators, and the key role pollinators play in the conservation of biological diversity, ecosystems, food production and the global economy. The first countries to join the Coalition were Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Peru, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Uruguay. By now (early 2022), Promote Pollinators has 30 member countries and 4 observers. Members of Promote Pollinators sign a declaration and commit to taking action to protect pollinators and stop their decline, sharing experiences and lessons learned, seeking collaboration with stakeholders, developing research and supporting other members. Wikifarmer is one of the observers of the Coalition. Promote Pollinators supports members in developing national pollinator strategies through practical meetings and workshops. The coalition also shares knowledge with a wider network through a bi-monthly newsletter and regular webinars that are open to the public.
Regeneration Academy
Organization
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4 Articles
The Regeneration Academy is an organization whose mission is to use education as a tool to regenerate the land. We give young entrepreneurs, farmers and students the knowledge and resources to become innovators in the fields of regenerative agriculture and ecosystem restoration. In our regenerative agriculture HUB, we connect young entrepreneurs and academics to find solutions to revitalize the Spanish countryside, speeding up the transition to a better future. Join our courses and activities and become a changemaker!
ROBS4CROPS Project
Project
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1 Articles
The most important challenge in European agriculture is the cost and scarcity of labour. Robots have replaced labour in several sectors of the economy. Agricultural robots have not yet reached widespread acceptance. The vision of ROBS4CROPS is an agricultural sector where robots will replace humans in all heavy and unpleasant work! From a technical point of view, agricultural robots do not reach their potential because they are used as stand-alone units rather than as part of a complete, innovative robotic system. From a non-technical point of view, agricultural robots do not fit well with current farming practices and agricultural standards are not supported by an ecosystem of stakeholders. ROBS4CROPS tackles technical challenges by creating a robotic farming solution that consists of three elements: smart implements, autonomous vehicles, and the farming controller. Existing agricultural implements and tractors will be upgraded so that they can function, together with existing agricultural robots, as parts of a robotic system.
Tavares Gilmar
Professor Titular na Federal University of Lavras
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7 Articles
Mechanical Engineer with MSc in Soil Science and DSc in Food Sciences. University Professor at UFLA since 1977 being Full Professor since 1998. Expertise on Agricultural Machinery Projects, Agroecology Sustainable Socio-Environmental Technologies, Family Farming and Innovative University Extension. Creator and Coordinator (2007) of the "UFLA-Africa/Asia Voices Project". Founder (2009) of the "UFLA-NEAPE (Nucleus of Studies in Agroecology, Permaculture and Innovative University Extension)". Founder (2012) of the “Lavras Nucleus of the NGO-Engineers Without Borders”. Blog creator (1996) of the “Alternative Energy Forms” (www.energialternativa.ufla.br). Professor “Honoris Causa Doctor” (2015) by the ULPGL (Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs), Goma/DR Congo. Coordinated more than one hundred Innovative University Extension Projects in Agroecology issues at UFLA and is currently retired Full Professor and Volunteer Extensionist at Agricultural Engineering Department at Lavras Federal University (DEA / UFLA) from where he continues to coordinate several participatory inovatives extensionists projects around the world.
Tennyson Nkhoma
Agricultural scientist
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10 Articles
Tennyson is a multi-award-winning undergraduate scholar at Earth University in Costa Rica. He is studying agricultural science and has hands-on experience in crop and soil nutrition and crop protection. Tennyson is also a short-term scholar at the University of Florida, where he is doing research in integrated nematode management. He also holds a diploma in land administration from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi. His passion for crop protection has made him come up with an innovation in bio-pesticides and fertilizer from invasive plants, an innovation that has made him win multiple awards like the Wege Prize, Net Impact, End Poverty Innovation Challenge, and Resolution Project Fellowship.
Thought For Food
Organisation
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2 Articles
Thought For Food® is the world’s entrepreneurial innovation engine for food and agriculture. We work with more than 30,000 next-generation leaders from over 175 countries, empowering them to generate and scale breakthrough business ventures that build sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems. Our comprehensive suite of next-gen innovation programs include the TFF Challenge®, an annual collaborative innovation prize competition; the TFF Digital Labs™, a digital startup accelerator and collaboration platform; the TFF Ac ademy™, an in-person incubation program for world-class startups; and the TFF Summit™, a flagship global event focused on bringing the voices of the next generation together with policy and business leaders to co-create solutions.
Torsten Mandal
Agronomist specialised in international sustainable agroforestry, land and soil management
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9 Articles
Torsten Mandal completed PhD-level courses (not degrees) in Advances in Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrient, Analytical and Physical (environmental) Chemistry, Land Use in Subsaharan Africa, Tropical Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition A and B at the University of Copenhagen (U-CPH, current name). Before he completed a combined BSc- and MSc-level study of agronomy with additional master-level courses in Applied Social Anthropology (U-CPH) and Tropical Agriculture (1-3) at The Swedish Agricultural University. Torsten has worked for about 6 years in the tropics as an agronomy and agroforestry specialist incl. Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Uganda, and Tanzania for leading organisations like U-CPH, Care International in Rwanda, International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, and Kenya Forestry Research Institute Agroforestry Division. He has also travelled, studied, and presented research results in e.g. India, Benin, and Brazil, Torsten has agricultural experiences from Denmark and Spain. Mandal analysed research needs, plus developed, documented, and published several improved, low-input methods. They make it easier, faster, and more affordable for also small farmers in the tropics and subtropics, to establish trees, conserve and improve soil fertility, direct seed challenging seeds, and manage multipurpose tree legumes better among crops. He has published at many levels on these topics since 1983 in Danish and English. He has experience with teaching at all levels (incl. African farmers and MSc at U-CPH). He is now a freelance agronomist providing advice, advisory-, technical- and teaching services, proposal writing etc. More details can also be found at https://torstenmandal.wordpress.com.
UPSCALE
Project
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1 Articles
UPSCALE is a H2020 Research & Innovation project worth €7.66 million, which started in November 2020 and lasts for 5 years. The project aims to take key steps to realize the transformative potential of push-pull technology by expanding its scope and applicability from individual fields to whole landscapes and regions, and from cereal to other important crops and cultivation systems. The overall goal is to address food security, livelihoods and climate change resilience in the sub-Saharan region of East Africa, while reducing the environmental impact of agricultural practices. For this, it will foster the design, adaptation and adoption of strategies for integrated agro-ecological management based on push-pull technology for wide-spread and climate-resilient sustainable intensification.
Urbana Project
Project
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1 Articles
Urbana is an Operational Programme Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation 2014-2020 (EPAnEK) project, that aims at building a repository of good urban farming practices and raising awareness of the societal and environmental benefits of urban agriculture. The Urbana project created a technologically innovative platform to build a bridge of knowledge exchange between Urban Cultivators and Agricultural Consultants. Urbana acts as a crowdsourced collection of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects, as the users are able to present complete or ongoing, small-scale, urban cultivations and various constructions related to urban agriculture. At the same time, users are able to make use of information and advice that are collected from crowdsourcing mechanisms, IoT sensors, and social networks. Urbana creatively engages city population with urban agriculture and fosters social innovation and collective awareness of the sustainability of cities.
Walter De Oliveira
Agricultural production systems Expert
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3 Articles
Walter De Oliveira has more than 23 years of professional experience in rural development, focused on analysis of agricultural production systems and institutional capacity building. He has vast experience in providing policy advice and technical assistance to all levels of government on food security, agribusiness, value chain, farmer field schools, voucher schemes and other rural development issues. Moreover, he is an expert in facilitating south-south cooperation and public-private partnerships. He is currently working for FAO in Haiti.