Arman Utepov | Agroecology | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Arman Utepov | Agroecology | Research Excellence Award

Center for Ecosystem solutions EcoMind PF | Kazakhstan

Dr. Arman Utepov is a public administration scholar and environmental governance expert specializing in integrated water resources management and ecosystem-based decision-making. He holds advanced degrees in hydro-ecology, law, public administration, and a PhD focused on ecosystem approaches in national governance. His professional experience spans academia, international consulting, and policy development with organizations such as UNDP, FAO, USAID, and GIZ. His research interests include environmental flow assessment, nature-based solutions, land and water governance, climate adaptation, and ecosystem services valuation. Through leadership in scientific projects and policy reforms, he contributes to sustainable water and land management in Central Asia.

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Featured Publications


Implementation of the “Polluter Pays” Principle in Kazakhstan’s State Environmental Regulation

Public Administration and Civil Service, December 2024 · Journal Article


Progress in Digital Technologies for Livestock Exterior and Fatness

Ġylym ža̋ne bìlìm, December 2024 · Journal Article

Shoaib Zawar | Plant Stress Physiology | Innovations in Plant Physiology

Mr. Shoaib Zawar | Plant Stress Physiology | Innovations in Plant Physiology

Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan | Pakistan

Shoaib Zawar is a motivated agronomy researcher with a strong academic background in crop science and sustainable agriculture. He completed his higher education in Agronomy with a specialization in crop physiology at Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan, where his research focused on enhancing drought tolerance through seed priming and micronutrient management. Shoaib has gained hands-on research and field experience through internships at agronomic research stations and agricultural extension departments, along with advanced laboratory training in analytical techniques such as spectrophotometry, chromatography, and soil–plant analysis tools. His research interests include drought and heat stress physiology, seed priming, nutrient management, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable soil management, and yield optimization in cereal and pulse crops. He has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in reputed agricultural journals, addressing crop productivity, stress mitigation, and sustainable farming practices. Shoaib has actively participated in international conferences and technical workshops related to climate resilience and modern agronomy. His academic excellence has been recognized through competitive scholarships and national-level awards. With a strong commitment to research, innovation, and sustainable food systems, he aims to contribute meaningfully to agricultural development and climate-resilient crop production at both national and global levels.

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Linchao Li | Sustainable Agriculture | Young Innovator Award

Dr. Linchao Li | Sustainable Agriculture | Young Innovator Award

Inner Mongolia Agricultural University | China

Linchao Li is an agricultural and environmental scientist specializing in climate change impacts on crop systems, extreme weather analysis, and data-driven yield prediction. He is currently an Associate Professor at Inner Mongolia Agricultural University and previously served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Iowa State University, with international research experience as a joint PhD student at the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australia. Dr. Li earned his PhD in Agricultural Resources and Environment from Northwest A&F University, following a master’s degree in Hydraulic Engineering and a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Water Conservation Engineering. His research integrates machine learning, crop modeling, and multi-source environmental data to improve projections of crop yield, drought risk, precipitation extremes, and greenhouse gas emissions under climate change. He has published extensively in leading journals such as One Earth, Nature Food, Global Change Biology, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, and Communications Earth & Environment. His work contributes to reducing uncertainty in agricultural climate impact assessments and supporting climate-resilient farming systems. Dr. Li has participated in nationally and internationally funded research projects related to climate adaptation, drought evolution, and sustainable agriculture. With strong expertise in R, MATLAB, GIS, APSIM, AquaCrop, and hydrological models, he continues to advance interdisciplinary research bridging climate science, agronomy, and decision-support systems.

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San Nyunt Nan | Sustainable Agriculture | Research Excellence Award

Ms. San Nyunt Nan | Sustainable Agriculture | Research Excellence Award

National Taiwan University | Taiwan

Nan San Nyunt is an agricultural professional from a farming community with a strong focus on climate-smart agriculture, crop modeling, and sustainable farming practices. She earned her M.Sc. in Global Agriculture Technology and Genomic Science from National Taiwan University, where she conducted research on climate change risk assessment and adaptation strategies for potato production in Myanmar using the DSSAT model. Her bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science from Yezin Agricultural University involved experimental work on controlling root-knot nematodes in tomato crops. Nan has extensive experience working with NGOs and international organizations, leading farmer-centered initiatives, capacity-building programs, and agricultural innovation projects. She co-founded Taungthutada (TTTD), managing projects aimed at food security, women’s empowerment in agribusiness, and improving access to innovative agricultural services. Her roles include research assistant and teaching assistant at National Taiwan University, where she focuses on crop modeling, crop rotation simulations, and research manuscript preparation. She has presented her work at international conferences and published research on the impacts of climate change on potato production. Nan’s interests include crop modeling, agronomic research, climate adaptation strategies, and sustainable agricultural value chains. She has been recognized with the NTU-SEARCA Joint Scholarship for her academic and research excellence. Nan continues to bridge research and practice to advance climate-resilient agriculture.

Profile : Orcid

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Janéne Strydom | Plant Physiology | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Janéne Strydom | Plant Physiology | Research Excellence Award

ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij | South Africa

Dr. Janéne Strydom is a South African horticultural scientist and leading viticulture researcher. She holds a PhD in Horticultural Science (2025), an MSc in Viticulture (2006), and a BSc in Viticulture & Enology (1999) from Stellenbosch University. Since 1999, she has served at ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, progressing from Research Technician to Researcher, where she leads major national projects on table grape production, water management, mesoclimate effects, and grape quality from vineyard to shelf. Her research focuses on physiological responses of table grapes to microclimate, irrigation regimes, canopy management, biostimulants, and ripening dynamics—contributing extensively to improving cultivar quality and production systems in South Africa. Dr. Strydom has delivered numerous international conference presentations, published peer-reviewed journal articles, supervised technology-transfer initiatives, and served on scientific committees, including the editorial board of the South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture. She has also contributed to industry advisory panels and review committees for the South African Table Grape Industry. Through her applied research, leadership, and continuous engagement with growers, Dr. Strydom has significantly advanced modern viticultural practices and strengthened scientific understanding of table grape physiology.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Strydom, J., Volschenk, C. G., van der Rijst, M., de Palma, L., Novello, V., di Lorenzo, R., Pisciotta, A., Raath, P. J., & Hunter, J. J. (2025). Physiological response of Crimson Seedless table grape vines to controlled irrigation conditions in different micro-climatic environments. Plants.

Strydom, J., Hunter, J. J., van der Rijst, M., Volschenk, C. G., de Palma, L., Novello, V., di Lorenzo, R., & Pisciotta, A. (2023). Biochemical responses of Crimson Seedless (Vitis vinifera) grapevines to altered micro-climatic conditions and different water treatments in the Breede River Valley of South Africa . In GIESCO 2023: Diverse Germplasm and Precision Technologies for Varied and Changing Climates.

Strydom, J., Hunter, J. J., Volschenk, C. G., van der Rijst, M., de Palma, L., Novello, V., di Lorenzo, R., & Pisciotta, A. (2023). Physiological responses of Crimson Seedless (Vitis vinifera) grapevines to altered micro-climatic conditions and different water treatments in the Breede River Valley of South Africa. In GIESCO 2023: Diverse Germplasm and Precision Technologies for Varied and Changing Climates.

Strydom, J. (2017). Effect of a combination of three biostimulants on Flame Seedless grape quality in the Berg River Valley region of South Africa. In Proceedings of the 8th International Table Grape Symposium.

Strydom, J. (2014). Effect of CPPU (N-(2-chloro-4-pyridinyl)-N’-phenylurea) and a seaweed extract on Crimson Seedless grape quality. In Proceedings of the 7th International Table Grape Symposium.

Kristen McNamara | Plant Stress Physiology | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Kristen McNamara | Plant Stress Physiology | Best Researcher Award

Southern Rural Water | Australia

Kristen McNamara is an environmental scientist and climate change professional with extensive experience in natural resource management, conservation, and policy implementation. She holds a Master of Environment from The University of Melbourne, where she focused on climate adaptation, mitigation, ecosystem restoration, and circular economy principles, and a Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) with Honors from The University of Queensland. Currently serving as Climate Change & Environment Lead at Southern Rural Water, Kristen has led initiatives to achieve net-zero emissions, developed the company’s Climate Adaptation Plan under the Climate Change Act (2017), and facilitated multi-unit committees to drive climate action. Her international experience includes serving as a youth delegate at UNFCCC COP25, coordinating coral reef and turtle conservation projects in Malaysia, and engaging in community-led environmental programs across Australia. Kristen’s research interests span climate policy, water resource management, blue carbon ecosystems, and sustainable agricultural practices. She has published multiple papers in environmental science and conservation. Recognized for leadership and innovation, she has received awards including the Dean of Science Leadership Award, the Our Catchments, Our Communities Women in Leadership Grant, and various marine conservation prizes. Kristen continues to advance sustainable environmental solutions while mentoring future leaders in climate action.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publication

McNamara, K., Greet, J., Mole, B., & Jones, C. S. (2025). Livestock grazing and dense willow shading negatively impact instream plant growth. River Research and Applications.

Winifred Ayinpogbilla Atiah | Climate Science | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Winifred Ayinpogbilla Atiah | Climate Science | Best Researcher Award

Stockholm University | Sweden

Dr. Winifred Ayinpogbilla Atiah is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Meteorology (MISU), Stockholm University, Sweden, where she works on the Swedish Research Council–funded Tropical Precipitation Tipping-Points (TPTP) project, focusing on atmospheric feedbacks, tropical precipitation systems, and climate–ecosystem interactions. She earned her Ph.D. in Meteorology and Climate Science from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, after completing an MSc in Mathematical Sciences at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Senegal, and a BSc in Physics at KNUST. Her work has received over 341citations, 16 documents indexed in international databases, and an h-index of 10. She has served as a Lecturer and Researcher at KNUST, taught climate dynamics and meteorology, and supervised students while engaging in consulting projects with CGIAR and OneCGIAR. Her research spans climate variability, extreme rainfall analysis, agricultural resilience, and satellite rainfall validation. Dr. Atiah is the recipient of prestigious awards, including the 2022 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Fellowship and the AIMS NEI Fellowship for Women in Climate Change Science. She also serves as a pioneer editor of the African Journal of Geophysics and Earth Sciences. Her career is dedicated to advancing climate science, resilience, and sustainable development in Africa and beyond.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Atiah, W. A., Bendito, E. G., & Muthoni, F. K. (2025). Evaluating seasonal rainfall forecast gridded models over Sub-Saharan Africa. Hydrology.

Atiah, W. A., Muthoni, F. K., Kotu, B., Kizito, F., & Amekudzi, L. K. (2021). Trends of rainfall onset, cessation, and length of growing season in Northern Ghana: Comparing the rain gauge, satellite, and farmer’s perceptions. Atmosphere.

Atiah, W. A., Amekudzi, L. K., Aryee, J. N. A., Preko, K., & Danuor, S. K. (2020). Validation of satellite and merged rainfall data over Ghana, West Africa. Atmosphere.

Atiah, W. A. (2020). Trends and interannual variability of extreme rainfall indices over Ghana, West Africa. Theoretical and Applied Climatology.

Atiah, W. A. (2020). A process-based validation of GPM IMERG and its sources using a mesoscale rain gauge network in the West African forest zone. Journal of Hydrometeorology.

Xinguo Chen | Precision Agriculture | Best Paper Award

Dr. Xinguo Chen | Precision Agriculture | Best Paper Award

North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power | China

Dr. Xinguo Chen is an Assistant Researcher at the North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, specializing in agricultural hydrological remote sensing and sustainable water resource management. He earned his Ph.D. in 2021 from Northwest A&F University, where he developed expertise in crop evapotranspiration, drought mechanisms, and climate change impacts on agriculture. With over 23 peer-reviewed publications in SCI and Scopus-indexed journals, his research has been widely recognized, accumulating more than 908 citations and reflected in an h-index of 17. Dr. Chen has successfully led two major research projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Fund and the Open Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources, while also contributing to seven additional national and provincial/ministerial-level projects. His scholarly contributions extend to serving as a reviewer for prestigious journals such as Agricultural Water Management, Remote Sensing, Theoretical and Applied Climatology, and Journal of Environmental Management. He has also authored one book and engaged in industry consultancy projects aimed at improving water use efficiency. Dr. Chen’s research continues to advance agricultural resilience, remote sensing innovation, and water-efficient crop management to support sustainable food security.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Chen, X., Huang, Y., Liu, M., Ren, D., Li, Y., & Huang, Q. (2025). Improving crop evapotranspiration estimation in the Yellow River Basin: A modified SEBAL model approach and spatiotemporal trend analysis. Agricultural Water Management.

Chen, X., Huang, Q., Xiong, Y., Yang, Q., Li, H., Hou, Z., & Huang, G. (2023). Tracking the spatio-temporal change of the main food crop planting structure in the Yellow River Basin over 2001–2020. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture.

Chen, X., Li, Y., Yao, N., Liu, D. L., Liu, Q., Song, X., Liu, F., Pulatov, B., Meng, Q., & Feng, P. (2022). Projected dry/wet regimes in China using SPEI under four SSP‐RCPs based on statistically downscaled CMIP6 data. International Journal of Climatology.

Brocca, L., Tullo, T., Melone, F., Moramarco, T., & Morbidelli, R. (2012). Catchment scale soil moisture spatial–temporal variability. Journal of Hydrology.

Ceccon, C., Panzacchi, P., Scandellari, F., Prandi, L., Ventura, M., Russo, B., Millard, P., & Tagliavini, M. (2010). Spatial and temporal effects of soil temperature and moisture and the relation to fine root density on root and soil respiration in a mature apple orchard. Plant and Soil.

Chala Hussen | Agri-Food System | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Chala Hussen | Agri-Food System | Best Researcher Award

Ambo University | Ethiopia

Chala Hailu Hussen is an Ethiopian academic and researcher specializing in Agricultural Economics, currently serving as Assistant Professor and Research & Community Service Coordinator at the College of Agriculture & Veterinary Science, Ambo University, Ethiopia. He holds a BSc and MSc in Agricultural Economics from Haramaya University and is pursuing a PhD in Agri-food Systems at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy, focusing on agricultural transformation. His professional journey includes teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, agricultural production economics, and climate change economics, along with supervising more than twenty MSc theses and serving as examiner and chairperson in defense boards. He has actively contributed to research on rural credit, market information, farm input commercialization, cluster farming, and climate adaptation strategies, publishing several scientific papers with an h-index of 2, 7 documents, and over 35 citations. In addition, he has participated in national and international training programs on climate information services, decision support systems, and rural development planning, enhancing his expertise in agricultural resilience and sustainability. Recipient of various certificates and recognitions, Chala continues to advance research and education in agricultural economics, with a strong commitment to capacity building, policy engagement, and promoting sustainable agricultural systems.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Hailu, C., Canali, G., & Tabaglio, V. (2025). High-value farm product transformation in contract marketing: Evidence from smallholder farmers in central Ethiopia. Environment, Development and Sustainability.

Besha, T. B., Fikadu, M., & Chala, H. (2022). Marketable supply of honey: Evidence from farmers households in Ethiopia. Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development.

Alemayehu, G., Rikitu, A., & Hailu, C. (2022). Producers’ participation decision in tomato and onion marketing with level of participation in Ejersa Lafo District of West Shewa Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Malaysian Business Management Journal.

Hussen, C. H., & Geleta, F. T. (2021). Factors affecting smallholder farmers’ participation in cluster crop production: Evidence from selected districts of West Shewa Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture.

Wakjira, M., Temesgen, F., Hailu, C., & Wegari, D. (2021). The economic impacts of COVID-19 on micro and small enterprises: Empirical evidences from Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture.

Hussen, C. (2018). Factors affecting credit use for rural farming at household level: Evidence from smallholder farmers of Toke-Kutaye district.

Hussen, C. (2017). Effect of access to market information services on supply of major vegetables: Evidence from farm households of Ambo and Toke-Kutaye Districts, West Shewa, Ethiopia. Information and Knowledge Management.