Committee Members

Pelse Modrite (Dr. Modrīte Pelše) is a Professor of Economics at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU), affiliated with the Institute of Economics and Finance. Her research focuses on regional economics, sustainable development, and the economic aspects of bioeconomy. She has authored numerous publications and participates in international research projects, while also teaching and mentoring students in sustainable development and regional economic planning.

José Boaventura‑Cunha is an Associate Professor with Habilitation in the Department of Engineering at the School of Science and Technology, University of Trás‑os‑Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Portugal, and a senior researcher at INESC‑TEC. His research focuses on modeling, instrumentation, system identification, and adaptive and predictive control, with applications in industrial and agro‑forestry processes. He has participated in numerous national and international research projects and has an extensive record of publications. Dr. Boaventura‑Cunha holds a degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Aveiro and a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UTAD.

María Serrano is a Professor of Plant Physiology at Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) and Deputy Director of the Institute of Agri-Food and Environmental Research and Innovation (CIAGRO-UMH). Her research focuses on plant physiology and biotechnology, with particular emphasis on postharvest quality, plant responses to environmental stress, and the sustainability of agricultural systems. She has led and participated in numerous national and international research projects and has an extensive record of publications in leading scientific journals. Dr. Serrano also works closely with the agri-food sector to promote innovation and knowledge transfer in sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Tamara Gajić is a Research Associate at the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Organizational Studies Eduka, University Business Academy in Novi Sad. Her research focuses on tourism, hospitality, sustainable and rural development, agritourism, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in hospitality and destination management. Recognized among the top 10% of scientists in Serbia by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, Dr. Gajić is also a visiting professor at several international institutions and an active contributor to global research projects, conferences, and high-impact journals as an editor and reviewer.

Doctor of Economics (2001) Irina Pilvere is currently working as a Professor at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. She has 342 scientific publications, including seven monographs and 230 papers in internationally reviewed editions. Ninety-six publications are included in the SCOPUS database, and ninety-one are in the Web of Science.She has experience in 25 international and 94 national research projects, with a scientific focus on Agricultural and Rural Development, Land Use Efficiency, the Common Agricultural Policy, Food Processing Development, Bioeconomy, and other related areas.She has led the successful defense of 12 Doctoral Theses and 17 Master’s Theses.Irina Pilvere is a True Member of the Latvian Academy of Science, a True Member and Vice President of the Latvian Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, and the Manager of the Latvia Bioeconomy Management Group.  She is a Member of the European Union Rural Networks’ Assembly, the Nordic Association of Agricultural Scientists (NJF), and a member of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR).

Dr. Feyda Srarfi is a specialist in environmental sciences and remote sensing. In 2007, she had her PhD in environmental geology. Currently, she is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Tunisia. Coordinator and member in several national and international research projects. Numerous indexed publications (>20) focused on the biomaterials valorisation for domestic and industrial phosphates wastewater treatment. Recently, her researches focus on the soil salinization modelling and heavy metal soil pollution. Member of the International Network of Salt-affected Soils (INSAS). Several participations as a member of scientific committee and/or organization in international congresses related to water and the environment.

Ana M. Tarquis is a professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and researcher at CEIGRAM. Her work focuses on risk management in agriculture, the application of digital technologies to climate adaptation, and sustainable soil and water management. She has published extensively and collaborated on European and international projects addressing the challenges of climate change in agriculture.

Prof. Tatianne holds a Bachelor’s in Food Engineering from UFG (2004), an M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the Institut National Agronomique, Paris (2008), and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Orléans, France (2011) . She serves as Coordinator of the UFG’s Graduate Program in Food Science and Technology (PPGCTA), leads the Brazil–France Agricultural Exchange project (Brafagri), and is an active member of UFG’s internationalization committee. Her research addresses sustainability and innovation in the agroindustry, with emphases on agro-industrial waste valorization, development of new products and processes, treatment of agro-industrial residues, micropollutants in food, liquid-solid separation, adsorption, unit operations, and quality control

Prof. Guo received his Ph.D. from Sun Yat-sen University in 2004. His expertise lies in the development of rare-earth luminescent and optoelectronic materials for applications in lighting, displays, energy, and biophotonics. Since joining Northwest University in 2011, he has published over 150 high-impact SCI articles, holds 16 patents, and has received multiple provincial and university-level technology awards.

Dr. Supat holds dual Ph.D. degrees—in Plant Physiology from Blaise Pascal University (Clermont-Ferrand II), France, and in Agronomy from Khon Kaen University—alongside a Master’s and Bachelor’s in Horticultural Science from Kasetsart University . His research specializes in plant ecophysiology, particularly transpiration dynamics and nutrient management in fruit and rubber species such as mango, pomelo, jujube, papaya, banana, and rubber trees . Notably, he developed the “Water Demand Estimation Program for Economic Fruit Trees,” a tool recognized at Farm Expo 2024 for its impact on optimizing irrigation and enhancing sustainable fruit production

Dr. Alessio Cappelli is Associate Professor in the Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion at Università San Raffaele, Rome. He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Food Engineering from the University of Florence. His research focuses on food technology, cereal science, dough rheology, and sustainable innovations in agro-food processing. He has authored numerous scientific publications and serves on editorial boards of international journals.

Dr. Andrea Visca is a researcher at ENEA’s Casaccia Research Centre within the Division of Biotechnologies and Agroindustry. He holds a degree in Genomic Biotechnologies, a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, and a Master’s in Bioinformatics and Data Science. His research focuses on environmental microbiology with a One Health perspective, particularly the fate and effects of emerging contaminants on soil microbial communities. He specializes in molecular microbiology, next-generation sequencing, and bioinformatics applied to soil and agroecosystem health.

Dr. Da-Long Guo is a Professor of Horticulture at Henan University of Science and Technology, China. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of fruit and flower quality and development in grape, tree peony, and watermelon. He has served as Associate Editor for Scientia Horticulturae, Fruit Research, and the New Zealand Journal of Crop & Horticultural Science, and is on the editorial board of BMC Plant Biology. He has also been a visiting scholar at Cornell University (USA), USDA-ARS, and Massey University (New Zealand).

Dr. inż. Dawid Skrzypczak is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology (PWr), Poland. He received his PhD in Chemical Engineering in 2021. His research focuses on sustainable solutions in agriculture through the valorization of agricultural and industrial waste. He specializes in designing eco-friendly fertilizers, seed coatings, and biostimulants. Dr. Skrzypczak develops innovative hydrogel-based systems for controlled nutrient release. His work often integrates natural biopolymers and biosorption techniques. He is actively involved in converting biomass and waste into value-added soil conditioners. His projects aim to reduce environmental impact while enhancing agricultural productivity. He explores the use of biochar derived from tannery and other industrial wastes. These materials are used in improving soil health and supporting precision agriculture. He has published over 30 scientific articles in international journals. The cumulative impact factor of his publications exceeds 198. Dr. Skrzypczak has participated in numerous national and EU-funded R&D projects. He is also a co-author of 13 patents and patent applications. His work bridges the gap between science and industry. He is a member of Academia Iuvenum, a group of young talented researchers at PWr. His current research promotes sustainable, circular economy practices. He continues to explore innovative materials for greener farming. His interdisciplinary approach involves chemistry, materials science, and agronomy. Dr. Skrzypczak is recognized for advancing eco-engineering in agriculture. His contributions aim to support future food security and environmental protection.

Professor Ten Feizi, FRS FMedSci, is the Director of the Glycosciences Laboratory at Imperial College London’s Faculty of Medicine. She is a leading expert in glycobiology, pioneering carbohydrate microarray technology to study glycan–protein interactions in immunity, infection, and cancer. Her groundbreaking work includes sequencing the glycans on the HIV envelope protein, which has significantly advanced vaccine research. Professor Feizi has received numerous prestigious awards and is a Fellow of both the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences. Her research continues to deepen understanding of the vital roles glycans play in health and disease.

Professor Miklas Scholz is a distinguished water resources engineer and environmental scientist, serving as Distinguished Visiting Professor in Civil Engineering Science at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Holding multiple doctorates and professional charters, he is internationally recognised for his work in sustainable drainage, water quality management, and environmental protection. A Fellow of leading institutions including FICE, FCIWEM, FHEA, and IWA, he has received prestigious awards such as the Humboldt, Marie Curie, and VINNOVA Fellowships. His vision is simple yet powerful: Sufficient clean water for everyone.

Althiéris de Souza Saraiva is a Professor at the Instituto Federal Goiano (IF Goiano), Campus Campos Belos, specializing in entomology and environmental sciences. He serves as the Director-General of the campus since January 2024. His research focuses on ecotoxicology, aquatic pollution, and the impact of agrochemicals on non-target organisms such as bees and planarians, alongside studies on Cerrado biodiversity. Saraiva has authored over 30 scientific publications, actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students, and leads initiatives promoting sustainable agricultural practices, including the project “Mais Agro Menos Tóxico”.

He received the PhD degree in Signal Processing in 2000 and his Habilitation to Supervise Research in 2005, both from the Faculty of Sciences at Ibnou Zohr University, Morocco. In 2015, he was appointed Full Professor in Intelligent Embedded Systems. He currently holds a full professorship in the Department of Industrial & Electrical Engineering at National School of Applied Sciences, Ibnou Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco. His research interests encompass intelligent embedded systems, hardware/software co-design, water quality monitoring, remote vegetation quality assessment using embedded artificial intelligence, IoT-based approaches, and UAV/Drone-mounted camera modules. He also focuses on remote monitoring of physiological and behavioral indicators in various case studies, including patients affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, automotive driver safety, and premature infants. Additionally, he investigates the complexity and acceleration of embedded vision and AI algorithms and works extensively on high-level synthesis (HLS) and heterogeneous embedded platforms such as OpenMP, OpenCL, OpenACC, CUDA, ARM technologies, ARM-FPGA, and ARM-GPU. From 2006 to 2014, he led the Signals, Systems, and Computer Science group (ESSI). He founded and directed the LISTI Laboratory in December 2014 and has served as the head of the Master’s program in Intelligent Embedded Systems for Industrial Applications. Professor Rachid LATIF is the founder and current president of the Moroccan Society of Embedded Systems (MSES), established in 2018 at ENSA Agadir. Since 2007, he has been responsible for numerous R&D and innovation projects. He served as a member and expert for the CNRST Morocco from 2018 to 2021 and has resumed this role since 2025.