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Our Authors
Food technologist with experience in food processing industry
Sanoli Perera is a passionate food technologist with proven 5 years of experience in the field of the food processing industry. She has a B.Sc. Special Degree in Food Science and Technology. During her time in the food processing field, she has gathered a vast set of skills in product development, generating new product ideas, modifying and improving existing products, raw materials, flavors, preservation, processing, technology, product analysis, providing technical expertise, and project planning. Her research experiences lie on optimization of natural pectin extraction and food waste valorization gaining an alternative protein source. She always welcomes opportunities in food research and innovations.
Director @ FSSAI - National Food Laboratory 🇮🇳 Govt. of India 🇮🇳
Dr. Sanu Jacob is the Director of the National Food Laboratory (NFL) in Chennai, India, which comes under the aegis of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Government of India. He has over 20 years of multicultural and multi-disciplinary work experience in agriculture and food sciences. Dr. Jacob obtained his Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Milan (UNIMI), Italy, and has postdoctoral experiences in France, Italy, and Canada. He also received grants and fellowships from Israel, the Netherlands, the US and the EU linked to his expertise. Dr. Jacob is a member of several professional organizations, including the International Society for Horticultural Sciences (ISHS), the International Food Safety and Quality Network (IFSQN), and many others. He has published peer-reviewed articles and chapters in agriculture and food sciences, in which he has also guided and co-guided the dissertation works of many students. Dr. Jacob serves as an ex-officio member of the Board of Governors at the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Thanjavur, India and is a member of the Board of Studies for both National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, India and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, India. He also serves as a member of the department advisory board for the Department of Food Science and Technology at Saintgits College of Engineering, Kottayam, India. Dr. Jacob mentors aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators funded under various schemes of the State and Central Government of India. By utilizing his scientific acumen, he serves as an editorial board member of the Journal of Food Science & Technology (JFST) and the Journal of Post-harvest Technology (JPHT). Previously, he was selected as an external reserve expert to evaluate the EU - COST (European Union - Cooperation on Science and Technology) research proposals. He has also coordinated the scientific panels of FSSAI on [1] fruits and vegetables and their products, [2] biological hazards, and [3] contaminants in the food chain and served as an ex-officio member of the scientific panel of FSSAI on sampling and analysis methods. Dr. Jacob serve-s/-d as an expert member / resource person / master trainer of FSSAI in various committees and forums, both inter- and intra-institutional. Born in 1975, Dr. Sanu Jacob is a highly accomplished and respected scientist, academician and leader. He is passionate about his work and committed to positively impacting the lives of deserving individuals / communities. On his LinkedIn page, one can find his elaborate accomplishments.
MSc. Plant breeding
I am Sarkal Jyakhwa, from Nepal. I graduated from an Erasmus mundus master program in plant breeding in June 2022. I studied my first year in France and second year in Finland. Currently, I am looking for a PhD role preferably in plant breeding. My research interest includes exploiting genetic diversity, studying the genotype*environment interaction and biotic and abiotic resistance in crops. I have experience in molecular biology, phytopathology, crop production, data analysis and agribusiness.
I completed my bachelor's in agriculture in 2017 from Nepal. Regarding my hobbies, I like exploring new places and playing chess. I also help international students by reviewing their application documents and giving instructions to those who are willing to apply for Erasmus Mundus scholarship.
Ph.D. Scientist in Food Science and Dairy Technology
Sèdo Eudes Anihouvi is an enthusiastic food scientist with excellent English, French, and Turkish language proficiencies. He holds a Ph.D. in Food Science and Dairy Technology and is eager to contribute to reducing the incidence of chronic diseases using food science. He has a clear understanding of food microbiology, functional food development, process development, food chemistry, data analysis, and research and development. His main interest focuses on the use of food science to modulate food sensory properties and provide value-added foods (use of bioactive compounds) whose consumption could promote health and reduce the incidence of chronic diseases. He is currently the founder and the chief scientist officer of Lanmɛsyɛn n'dùdù: a research and development center.
Field Research Agronomist
Segun Badewa, PhD - A Sustainability and Agri-Development Enthusiast with a Heart for Rural Livelihoods! 🌿🌾 Passionate about sustainable farming and enhancing farmers' lives, Segun has over 10 years of expertise in diverse agri-projects. From cassava breeding to cocoa agroforestry, he cultivates change with a thirst for knowledge and a deep love for nature, music, and art.
Hydroponics Technician - Agronomist
An Agronomist with a B.Sc in Agriculture Science with Agricultural practices in Indoor (Hydroponics & Aeroponics) as well as Open field farming. Shahbaz Khan has an excellent practical knowledge and hands-on experience in Hydroponic & Aeroponic cultivation, of Scheduling Seedling Nursery Production Pre & Post, Transplantations, bed preparation. Additionally, he is experienced in Food Production of Flowers, Microgreens, Herbs, Leafy Vegetables, Root Crops, & Tubers. He advises farmers in areas such as growing and harvesting practices, choice of machinery and equipment, nutrient disorders in plants, management of weeds and plant diseases, etc., while at the same time he conducts classes or deliver lectures, presentations and demonstrations on subjects such as farming techniques, business management and new regulations.
Entomologist and chemical ecologist
Md Shahinoor Rahman is an entomologist and chemical ecologist and has 10 years of demonstrated teaching & research, project management, multicultural student/technician & employee supervision, consulting-coordination-communication, and an impressive level of knowledge and proficiency in agricultural crop protection. His ability to monitor and assess insects, pests, diseases, and viruses is unparalleled. Through in-depth research and investigation, Shahinoor has gained a deep understanding of molecular and phytochemical mechanisms, employing advanced techniques like metabolomics, volatilomics, and hormone analysis. As a result, he has developed highly effective strategies for biological, chemical, and integrated pest management (IPM). Shahinoor's expertise also extends to smart and digital farming solutions, where he applies modern biocontrol pest management strategies. His current postdoctoral research focuses on understanding the mechanism of resistance of sugar beet to the plant hopper causing SBR disease and his doctoral research focuses on how drought and soil salinity, affect aphids, beet leaf miners/flies, their parasitoids, and their chemical ecological interactions in sugar beet at the Agricultural Entomology department of the University of Goettingen, Germany.
Food Safety and Quality Assurance Specialist
Shayan Tayyab, a dedicated professional from Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan, brings a diverse skill set and extensive experience in various roles. As an Instructor at Government College of Technology Sahiwal, he developed and implemented Lesson plan and Course outline, showcasing leadership and effective decision-making. With a background as a Lab Analyst at Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited, he honed skills in quality assurance and collaborated seamlessly with cross-functional teams. Shayan, holding a DAE in Food Processing & Preservation Technology, further enhanced his knowledge, complementing his BSc in Supply Chain Management. Currently pursuing a BBA in Human Resource Management at Virtual University of Pakistan, Shayan's commitment to continuous improvement is evident through certifications in Six sigma, Internal Audit, ISO Standards, and Digital Marketing. He is a motivated individual with a passion for ensuring quality and safety in every aspect of his professional journey.
Plant enthusiast specialized in Genetics and Plant Breeding
Sindoora Nalajala is a plant enthusiast specialized in Genetics and Plant Breeding. She has master's degree in Genetics and Plant Breeding from Central Agricultural University, Imphal and currently she is working as a Research fellow at ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics), Patancheru in Groundnut Breeding. Her master's research was on Molecular and Morphological Characterization of Mung bean funded by AICRP MULLaRP.
Student at JSA college of agriculture and technology
I'm currently pursuing my Bsc (Hons) Agriculture in JSA college of agriculture and technology, Cuddalore.
I'm bright and ambitious individual with a passion for agriculture. I am confident person with good knowledge in field of agriculture. I have a strong interest in the field of agriculture and are eager to learn more about it. Myself a hard worker and dedicated to my studies. I have interest in research or working in a related field after my graduate.
Regenerative Designer
Experienced Designer and Social Entrepreneur focused on eco-friendly lifestyle products' supply chain management. With 17 years in Brand Consultation and Design, she pioneers sustainable agriculture and material sourcing practices. By collaborating with Himalayan tribal villagers, she develops lifestyle prototypes using natural materials. Empowering women artisans nationwide, she facilitates skill development and micro-enterprises, aligning with local culture.
Addressing climate vulnerability, she leads initiatives like Carbon Farming, regenerating lands, and encouraging perennial crop growth. She fosters collaboration between agronomists, NGOs, and corporates for multifunctional agriculture, aiming for environmental, social, and economic sustainability. With a mantra of conscious living, she strives to minimize her carbon footprint and inspire change.
Agronomist-Researcher specialized in Plant Molecular Biology
Dr. Sotirios Fragkostefanakis is an Agronomist specialized in Plant Molecular Biology. He has a master’s degree in “Horticultural Genetics and Biotechnology (Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania – CIHEAM)” and a Ph.D. from the Department of Horticulture of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece). He is currently a Group Leader at the Institute of Biosciences at Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany). He is interested to understand how plants respond to high temperatures and identify the mechanisms that help them survive and recover from stress. His team aims to find and characterize the key regulators of heat stress response, particularly the ones that are related to gene expression and describe their molecular and physiological functions and relevance for thermotolerance. He is member of the EPI-CATCH COST consortium.
Assistant Professor at Brainware University
I am Soumik Dey Roy. I am from Habra, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. I have completed my schooling in 2016 from Hatthuba Adarsha Vidyapith, Habra. After that I went to Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (BCKV), Mohanpur, Nadia and completed my B. Sc. (Ag.) Hons. in Agriculture in 2020. During my graduation I built interest in Agricultural Entomology. So, thereafter in 2022 I did my M. Sc. (Ag.) in Agricultural Entomology from BCKV. Now, in 2023 I have joined as an Assistant Professor (Visiting) at Brainware University, Barasat, West Bengal. I hope to build my career as an entomologist and educate others.
Student of Agricultural Sciences at Visva Bharati University, Shantiniketan
I am Sourin Ray, an undergraduate student of agricultural sciences from India. My academic journey revolves around a profound fascination for the sciences of plant protection. Specifically, I find myself drawn to the captivating realms of entomology and nematology, where I explore the intricate world of insects and nematodes that profoundly influence crop health. My commitment to understanding the complexities of agricultural ecosystems goes hand in hand with a desire to contribute to sustainable and resilient farming practices. Beyond the confines of textbooks, I actively engage in hands-on exploration of practical applications and innovative solutions to address challenges in plant protection. With a curiosity-driven mindset and a deep commitment to the agricultural sciences, I am eager to make meaningful contributions to the field, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture.
Senior Research Fellow at Osmania University
Srinivas Katherasala, a dedicated scholar, and Senior Research Fellow (SRF) in the Department of Social Work at Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, embodies a profound commitment to social sciences and sustainable agriculture. His research interests span a wide spectrum, including social work research and the intricate web of sustainable agricultural practices. Currently engaged in a comparative study titled “Knowledge of Sustainable Agriculture,” Katherasala sheds light on the practices of intensive and conservative farmers in Komaram Bheem Asifabad District of Telangana State. His academic prowess extends further with qualifications such as NET (National Eligibility Test), JRF (Junior Research Fellowship), and SET (State Eligibility Test). As a certified peer reviewer for Web of Science and Elsevier, he actively contributes to evaluating scholarly work. Notably, he is a graduate of the Publons Academy. Beyond academia.
Sustainability Officer at Federated Commodities Limited
Stefan holds a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness from the University of Cape Coast and his research interests include international trade, sustainability, Environmental Economics and Rural Development. Since 2022 he has been working as a Sustainability Officer for Federated Commodities Limited.
Research Project
The current agrifood data landscape consists of data dispersed in different places and forms, data unfit for AI tasks and user needs, as well as subpar dataset search capabilities. Thus, STELAR, a 3-year project co-funded by the EU, aims to design, develop and evaluate a Knowledge Lake Management System (KLMS). This system consists of a platform and set of tools that aim to enable simple and intelligent data discovery, AI-ready data, and semantic interoperability in smart agriculture and food safety applications. The planned KLMS will be developed and then demonstrated through three use cases, all three targeting different user needs: (1) Risk Prevention in Food Supply Lines (2) Early Crop Growth Predictions (3) Timely Precision Farming Interventions. The STELAR platform will be useful for governments, SMEs, small farmers, and other players in the value chain. STELAR articles on Wikifarmer are written by the Dissemination and Communication team at Foodscale Hub and consortium member of STELAR.
Agricultural specialist - Trade & Market analyst
Sue Viana is a highly experienced agricultural specialist with a comprehensive background in public policies and trade strategies. With over 15 years of expertise in market analysis, project management, leadership and stakeholder engagement, she has successfully led teams in complex food trade negotiations and national and international regulatory discussions. Her experience includes working with federal and state governments in Australia and Brazil, as well as international organisations, industry associations and businesses. She currently lives in Melbourne, Australia, and works as a Senior Policy Advisor at VFF providing expert advice on a wide range of agricultural policy matters to shape and influence policy outcomes.
Horizon Widera project
TALLHEDA is a Horizon Widera project that aims to build a new long-term Alliance for Digital Agriculture between agricultural Higher Education Institutes from two Widening countries Greece and Serbia with leading non-widening agricultural universities, and local and international stakeholders from Belgium. TALLHEDA Alliance will contribute to raising the critical mass of highly skilled scientists and to establishing liaisons with surrounding ecosystems, in order to foster the Quadruple Helix of innovation in Widening countries.
Climate justice advocate
Climate justice advocate Tania Roa is the Communications + Outreach Coordinator at Sustainable Harvest International (SHI). SHI is a nonprofit with over 27 years of experience partnering with family farmers in Central America who are transitioning towards regenerative agricultural practices. SHI trains, supports, and empowers farmers by providing technical assistance and resources over the course of four to five years. Partner farmers learn to reforest the land while feeding their families, nourishing communities and the Earth.
Professor at Federal University of Lavras
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.
Masters student in entomology at University of Florida
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.
District Resource Teacher in the Ministry of Education & Farmer
Mr Thabang Daniel Habi is a District Resource Teacher (DRT) in the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) in Qacha’s Nek district Lesotho. He worked as a primary teacher for eleven years and promoted to the position of a DRT from 2014. He holds Master of Education (ME.d) in Educational Leadership Management and Policy (ELMP) from the University of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa. His research interests include rural school leadership, teacher professional development, quality education in rural schools and parental involvement in children’s education. Additionally, Mr. Habi is a farmer, and he has great experience in producing vegetables.
International consultant at Business Coaching Lab (specialized in fruit and vegetable cool storage)
Thodoris Kakaletris is a professional business coach (international consultant at Business Coaching Lab). He has twenty-two-year experience in the field with constant developments-improvements at a personal and professional level. He also holds the sales manager position at Alfa Cool Hellas for the Thessaly region (Greece). His wide knowledge background includes studies in the agricultural and livestock sector. In 2022, he started to study the ideal conditions for the preservation of products, prompted by his collaboration with the leading company and pioneer in the field of fruit and vegetable cool storage (Alfa Cool Hellas). His goal is to provide solutions to professionals related to product cooling storage. In addition, he promotes Isofruit's books on the Secrets of Long-term Preservation of Fruit & Vegetables.
You will find more information on the following sites: www.alfacoolhellas.gr and www.isofruit.gr
Organisation
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.
Agronomist specialised in international sustainable agroforestry, land and soil management
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.
Research Project
TRUST-FOOD project aims at supporting the development of advanced digital skills of the labour force, with a focus on SMEs, as well as to job seekers by providing access to high-quality specialized training courses, reflecting the latest developments in the area of Blockchain technologies applied holistically to the Food Supply Chain. The project will design and deliver short-term training courses that will be highly practical and will provide specific knowledge about key digital technologies of Blockchain and their applications to the Food Supply Chain (FSC), that will be also focusing on job seekers in the particular area. “TRUSTFOOD has received funding from the European Union’s Digital Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 101100804”.
https://trustfoodproject.eu/
Agricultural Science Student at EARTH University - Ambassador for NGIN
Tulisha Malichi is a MasterCard Foundation scholar at EARTH University, where he studies agriculture science. His grandparents, who were small-scale farmers, taught him about agriculture. Through this experience, he became aware of the obstacles that farmers face and chose to pursue a career in agriculture to help discover solutions to these problems. Tulisha is an ambassador for the Next Generation Agriculture Impact Network (NGIN), a network of young agricultural advocates. He is particularly passionate about working with small-scale farmers. This passion has driven him to work on an initiative to help small-scale farmers in his community access agricultural information and markets for their products.
Project
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.
Research Project
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.
Research Project
The EU's heavy reliance on imported plant protein limits local farmers from maximizing their crop value. Absent premium supply chains miss opportunities to unlock the true worth of these protein sources. Current business models lack focus on crucial aspects like nutrient capture, climate resilience, and circularity, hindering sustainable progress. VALPRO Path aims to redirect food-chain actors towards sustainable plant protein production, pioneering new approaches to enhance EU's food and feed sources. With dynamic Innovation Production Systems (IPSs) strategically placed in Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Denmark, and a specific focus on high-value protein crops like pea, lupin, chickpea, faba bean, soybean, and lentils, VALPRO Path is pioneering innovative production and processing systems. To ensure that newly developed practices align with the requirements of the European plant protein market, VALPRO path will formulate tailored business models for each specific IPS. These models will furnish essential insights encompassing market analysis, competitor analysis, and target users. VALPRO Path articles on Wikifarmer are authored by the Foodscale Hub team, a consortium member of VALPRO Path and dissemination and communication leader.
Postdoctoral Researcher in the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology in the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB)
Verónica Arcas-Pilz is a postdoctoral researcher in the institute of environmental sciences and technology in the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB). She is an international doctor in environmental sciences and technology since 2022, focusing on the assessment and decrease of environmental impacts associated to urban agriculture, especially regarding to fertilization strategies in soilless cultivation. She is currently working as part of the research group Sostenipra, on topics related to urban agriculture, LCA and nutrient recovery strategies for urban agriculture. Since 2020 she is also a co-founder and president of the “spin-off” business Tectum Garden based in Barcelona.
Professional in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
Victor Adeyemi is an aspiring professional in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development. He is deeply passionate about agricultural journalism and is committed to bringing research to the forefront and educating key stakeholders in the agricultural sector. Victor is a firm believer in the transformative power of agriculture and aims to inspire others through his effective communication. His ultimate goal is to alter the perception of people towards agriculture by emphasizing its role in alleviating hunger, generating prosperity, and promoting sustainable economic development in Africa and beyond.
Agricultural production systems Expert
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.
Value chain analyst and business development specialist
Wangechi kuria studied Economics and Finance degree from Kenyatta University, and a master’s degree in Strategic Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Her maters thesis titled “Value chain analysis and performance of floriculture exporting firms in Kenya” strengthened her journey as a value chain analyst. She is also a certified business trainer (GYB,SYB,IYB program) by International Labour Organization-ILO. Over the past seven years wangechi has worked in various value chains in rural Africa such as cocoa in Nigeria, Coffee in Ethiopia, Dairy in East Africa, horticulture in Kenya, Blacksoilder fly in Kenya, goat and sheep meat in ASAL areas,Maize in East Africa and blue economy in Zambia and Botswana. Currently, Wangechi works as National SMEs expert at Fair and sustainable Consulting. She is also a dairy farmer in peri-urban setup, in Kiambu county Kenya where she produces milk as well as value addition for yoghurt and mala. Her main interests are agribusiness, Sustainability, Agritech innovations, MSMEs and youth employment in sub-Saharan Africa.
Horizon research project
WATSON is an ambitious Horizon Europe project aiming to develop a methodological framework combined with a set of tools and systems that will detect and prevent food fraud throughout the whole food chain thus accelerating the deployment of transparency solutions in the EU food systems.
Plant scientist— M.Sc. student in Wageningen University
I completed my undergraduate study in Beijing Forestry University, during which I worked in China National Flower Engineering Technology Research Center and focused on the research of chrysanthemum regeneration system. I have also written and edited three articles published in electronic edition of China National Geographic Magazine as the first author. I am currently studying for a master’s degree in plant science at Wageningen University. At present, I am mainly focused on potato breeding and research on the effect of abscisic acid on plant photosynthesis.
Experienced farmer and Agronomist
With 20 plus years farming experience in Zambia, ranging from the production of Commerical Arable crops such wheat, maize and soya beans to providing small scale farmers Agriculture inputs plus technical advice on how best to improve their yields. Wilhelm Hesse has experience in the marketing of Agricultural commodities (both inputs and grains), aware of the challenges farmers face with regard to uncertain market prices and changes to Govt policies on cross border trade that can greatly impact the long term sustainable agricultural production of various crops. A strong believer in the need for farmers at all levels to embark on value addition, the processing of their farm produce as key to long term economic sustainability of farming in Zambia and Africa as a whole.
Research Assistant
Xiaoshang is a senior student at Northeast Agricultural University and a part-time research assistant at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. His research interests focus on the effects of external interventions on agri-food systems, particularly policies and environmental changes.
Researcher
Xinyu Zhang is a doctoral candidate at the School of Chemical Engineering, pursuing innovative research in sustainable food waste recycling. Under the guidance of Dr. Taghi Miri and Dr. Helen Onyeaka, she has been researching green extraction methods to extract nutrients from food waste and utilize them. Xinyu Zhang obtained the Master of Science degree from the University of Birmingham from 2021 to 2022, majoring in food safety, hygiene, and management. And started doctoral studies in February 2023. She has been working on how to integrate pectin, proteins and other bioactive compounds extracted from cocoa shells. The aim of Xinyu is to convert food waste into products such as degradable food packaging or nutritional supplements, thereby reducing the impact of food waste on the environment and further creating a green circular economy industry chain.
Joint Director of the Land Use Department of Government of Kerala
Yasmin holds a professional graduation in Agriculture from the Kerala Agricultural University and Masters in Environmental Studies from Bharathiyar University in India.She did her PhD research from the UAE University .Her research interests includes Sustainable Agriculture,Natural resources Management, Hightech Agriculture and Horticultural Therapy.She started her career as an “agripreneur” catering the needs of the farming communities through technology transfer, conducting outreach programmes and farm trials .She holds the position of Joint Director of the Land Use Department under Government of Kerala and is involved in NRM and Eco restoration related projects
PhD student in Chemical Engineering
Yuting Han is a PhD student in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham, under the supervision of Dr. Helen Onyeaka and Dr. Taghi Miri. She has been researching the use of food waste to make biodegradable and antimicrobial-performing food packaging to improve food safety and reduce the environmental impact of conventional plastics.Since starting her PhD in September 2023, Yuting has been working towards a circular economy by converting underutilized food waste into biodegradable materials after a series of processes. She is also researching the incorporation of bacteriocins into biodegradable food packaging materials to extend the shelf life of food. In addition, the mechanical properties, biodegradability, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity and other properties of the packaging are tested, and the formulation of the film is constantly updated based on the test results. Through meticulous research, Yuting is committed to using food waste to create biodegradable food packaging with better application properties.
Researcher
Yuxin Wang holds Master of Science in Food Safety Hygiene and Management from the University of Birmingham and is currently a PhD student in Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham. Her research interests include the circular economy of eggshell waste and research on food preservation packaging/coatings.
Food Scientist & Technologist
Zacharoula has graduated from the Department of Food Science and Technology of the University of West Attica. She works at Agroknow as a data curator related to food safety. In 2021 she received a scholarship from IFST as an Early Career Food Safety Specialist. She has been involved in chemical analysis and sensory testing of olive oils, for which she has attended the Olive Oil Tasting Seminar from the Tasting Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture Kalamata. Sustainability of food systems, food quality and safety, food tasting, and food waste are some of the issues she is interested in.