KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

 

 

Prof. Dr. Henryk Flachowsky

 

 

• Prof. Dr. Henryk Flachowsky holds a Ph.D. in agricultural science. He is scientist at the Institute for Breeding Research on Fruit Crops in Dresden-Pillnitz (Germany) since 2001, which is part of the Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), the Federal Research Institute for Cultivated Plants in Germany. His research focus is on fruit breeding and genetics. Among other topics, his scientific interests lie mainly in researching the genetic mechanisms of flower induction, bud dormancy and biennial bearing in apple. He is also working on resistance to fire blight and the development of new breeding techniques. Since 2018, he is head of the institute. He is member of the advisory board for Horticulture of the Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology, board member of the European Fruit research Institutes Network (EUFRIN) and advisory board member of The German National Fruit Collection and the German Society for Plant Breeding e.V. (GPZ).

 

 

Prof. Dr. Silvana Nicola

 

 

• Prof. Dr. Silvana Nicola holds an MSc in Agricultural Science from the University of Turin (1988) and a PhD in Horticulture from the University of Florida, USA (1997). Dr. Nicola has served as Vice-President (2014) and then Secretary (2018) of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), as an elected member of the Board of Directors. She has been the President of EUVRIN, the European Vegetables Research Institutes Network, since 2017. Dr. Nicola is also a member of three Focus Groups of the EIP-AGRI (now EU-CAP Network) of the European Commission: the Focus Group on Fertilizer Efficiency – Focus on Horticulture in Open Fields (since 2014), the Focus Group on Circular Horticulture (since 2017), and the Focus Group on Plant-based Medicinal and Cosmetic Products (since 2019).

 

• Dr. Nicola is a full professor at the University of Turin, Italy, in Vegetable Crops & Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, where she teaches at the BSc, MSc, and PhD levels. Her current research focuses on the effects of pre-harvest environmental factors on the quality and safety of fresh and fresh-cut produce, especially leafy vegetables and culinary herbs grown with advanced soilless systems, ultra-density growing systems, controlled environment horticulture, and post-harvest processes related to aromatic plant production.

 

• At the conference, Prof. Dr. Nicola will present some of her recent research on advanced production in indoor farms.

 

 

Andis Lazdiņš, Dr. Silv.,

 

 

 

• Andis Lazdiņš, Dr. Silv., Senior Researcher in Forest Operations and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation at the Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava" is a forest researcher and expert specializing in sustainable forest operations, greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation solutions, and carbon dynamics in forest ecosystems. With over 20 years of experience in academic research, policy development, and applied forestry practices, he has significantly contributed to advancing knowledge and practices in forestry and environmental science.

 

• His academic expertise spans forest carbon accounting, forest-based climate change mitigation strategies, and the socio-economic impacts of mitigation-targeted forestry. He has led and participated in numerous international and national research projects, addressing key challenges such as forest soil carbon dynamics, peatland restoration, and the integration of forestry into climate policies.

 

• Andis has a strong background in empirical research and modeling, focusing on forest
  management's environmental and economic aspects. His work often involves developing innovative tools and methodologies for GHG monitoring and accounting, supporting international frameworks like the Paris Agreement. In addition to his research, Andis has a practical understanding of forestry operations, having worked on collaborative projects with forest owners and managers to implement advanced forestry practices. He is also actively involved in policy advisory roles, helping shape national and EU-level strategies for forestry and climate action. Andis is a prominent advocate for integrating forest management into global efforts to combat climate change while ensuring the socio-economic benefits of the forest sector.

 

Prof. Sylwia Mildner-Skzudlarz

 

 

 

• Prof. Sylwia Mildner-Skzudlarz has a longstanding association with the Poznan University of Life Sciences in Poland, dating back to her studies, which she completed at the Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition in 2000. Over the years, she has achieved significant milestones in her academic career. She obtained her doctorate in 2005, followed by her habilitation in 2015 and professorship in 2022. 

 

• Prof. Mildner-Szkudlarz’ focused on the research into regulating the level of potentially harmful Maillard reaction products in cereal products, designing cereal-based product with improved functionality, as well as the influence of food processing wastes on the rheological, nutraceutical, physical and sensory properties of cereal-based product. She is leading several research projects and has authored numerous scientific publications.