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Professor Kouretas was born in Patras, Greece in 1962. He studied Pharmacy (1985) and received his PhD in Biochemistry (1989). He spent the period 1990-1992 at Harvard Medical School, USA, as post-doctoral fellow.

His field of research is the mechanisms of antioxidants in health and disease. He has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers with more than 5000 citations with an  h-index of 38.

He is Professor of Physiology-Toxicology in the Department of Biochemistry-Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Greece as well as scientific advisor of Eatwalk, a start-up specialized in functional food development.

He was vice Rector in University of Thessaly (2013-2014) and he is member of the committee of Experts in Commission in Chemical Threats. He is Assistant Editor of Food and Chemical Toxicology and Academic Editor in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity.

Lucas Marxen is the Associate Director of the Office of Research Analytics within the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University.  As Associate Director, he provides leadership and direction on the development of analytical capabilities and services to meet the ongoing demand of stakeholders both within and outside the university.

Lucas has expertise in developing geographic information systems (GIS), enabling spatial analysis and modeling for research initiatives in a variety of disciplines.  In addition, he leads a team that specializes in incorporating computer technology into research projects, establishing in-house capacity for developing custom software, database and website solutions for a variety of research and extension initiatives.  He also has developed an unmanned aircraft program to provide certified drone expertise for data collection and analysis for research programs and integration into academic curriculum.

Lucas earned a Master in City and Regional Planning from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and a Master of Science in Computer Science from Rutgers University.

Augusta A. Vrachnou is a Principal Banker in the Athens office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) covering Agribusiness among other sectors.

Augusta joined the EBRD in early 2016, short after the Bank started operating in the country, and has 10 years of blended experience in financial services, including banking and financial consulting.

Augusta holds an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, US and a BSc in Accounting and Finance from the Athens University of Economics and Business.

Stergios Litos is the President of the Farmers & Breeders Association to the region of Serres-Central Macedonia. He has studied Electrical Installations at Nigrita Technical School with specialization in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.

His agricultural activity as producer starts in 2002. Through his active participation at the common farming matters, in 2004 he was elected Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Farmers Association of the Prefecture of Serres. Since 2005 he serves as President to the Association being also active in the Chamber of Commerce of Serres.

He regularly participates at the Thessaloniki International Fair for the promotion of the agricultural products of Serres in cooperation farmers and entrepreneurs. He is a founding member of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Sarakatsanaia.

Geert Wilms studied Horticulture at Wageningen University and Business Administration at Open University. For more than 20 years Geert has been director of Agricultural Innovation Brabant (LIB), and he is consultant at Royal Haskoning DHV.

LIB is a partnership of Province North-Brabant and farmers organization ZLTO. Each year more than 30 innovative projects are initiated and supported, with the participation of hundreds of (agricultural) businesses. Several workshops are organized and guided. Geert is directly accountable to the President of ZLTO and regional Minister of agriculture in North-Brabant. One project he started and is very proud of: “Smart irrigation in agriculture; 3.000 farmers participating with 60.000 hectares, and 25% gain of efficiency in water use”.

 Geert Wilms also is a speaker, discussion leader and initiator of cooperation in different regions in Europe. He is/was involved in more than 15 European funded projects, for example Water management, Water conservation, Agrispin, Eurodairy, EU-PIG and STRING.

Peter Oudemans is Professor of Plant Biology and Pathology at Rutgers University and is stationed at the PE Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension where he leads the small fruit pathology program.  His position at Rutgers is divided between research (50%), extension (30%) and teaching (20%).

The small fruit pathology program is focused on the development of methodologies to reduce the impact of plant disease and improve fruit quality.  In addition, small fruit are vulnerable to a range of abiotic factors that affect fruit quality and interact with pathogens.    Recent accomplishments include ground breaking work on the biology and control of fungal diseases such as blueberry anthracnose, cranberry fruit rot, fairy ring disease, mummy berry and Phytophthora root rot. Overheating of cranberry fruit has begun to have a major impact on fruit quality and new technologies to reduce the impact of solar radiation on the fruit are being investigated. Also, several emerging diseases such as the sooty blotch/ fly speck complex, Mycosphaerella leaf spot, and cranberry funky flower are at various stages of investigation.  The primary strategy of this program is to increase understanding of the life history and yield impacts of the various diseases and develop biologically rational management methods that can be implemented by commercial growers.  Significant strides are being made through the use of remote sensing for detecting, mapping and understanding the impact of plant disease on these important New Jersey fruit crops.

In extension he works with growers to develop and implement economically sound and environmentally rational crop management methods. He has published fact sheets and crop recommendations. He gives regular talks at grower meetings and provides on-farm advice for crop disease management.

Peter also teaches graduate classes in Plant Pathology and undergraduate classes in Agricultural Technology and Remote Sensing.

Peter received his training at the University of New Brunswick (BS), University of Guelph (MS) and the University of California (PhD), as well post graduate training at Duke University and the University of Kansas.

Athanasios Kizos is Professor of “Rural Geography” in the Department of Geography of the University of the Aegean, where he teaches from 2003. He has a Bachelor in Agricultural Science and a Ph.D. in Environmental Policy and Management.

His research is focused on local and rural development and spatial impacts of agricultural, agri-environmental and rural development policies and with agricultural landscape changes in relation to rural households and other rural actors’ practices’ that includes geographies of quality, services’ provision and multifunctionality.

He has published more than 100 papers in international and domestic scientific journals and edited volumes and recently his book “Rural Development: Concepts, Practices and Policies” was published by Tziola publishers.