Hungria got her PhD in Agronomy (Soil Science) from Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and held postdoctoral positions at the universities of Cornell, California-Davis (USA) and Seville (Spain). She has been a Researcher at Embrapa since 1982, at Embrapa Soja (Londrina) since 1991, and a Researcher of National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) since 1992. She is a Professor of microbiology and biotechnology at the University of Londrina, and supervised more than 100 MSc and PhD students. Her experience is in agronomy with emphasis on soil biotechnology: biological nitrogen fixation, biodiversity; taxonomy and phylogeny of prokaryotes, microbial ecology, soil microbiology, plant growth promoting bacteria; plant physiology; inoculant production; technologies of inoculation; omics sciences; microbial culture collections. She has over 500 refereed scientific articles, book chapters, books and technical publications. She launched more than 20 technologies, including microbial strains and commercial inoculants. She received more than 20 prizes, including the TWAS-Lenovo Science Award (2020). She is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.

Ideris, a renowned scientist in avian medicine, pioneered animal vaccines development in Malaysia. Her research interest is in avian respiratory and immunosuppressive diseases. She plays an instrumental role in advancing efforts towards food security and sustainable food production in developing countries. As a distinguished scientist, Ideris was elected to various fellowships, such as, Senior Fellow Academy of Sciences Malaysia (FASc), Fellow Islamic World Academy of Sciences (FIAS), Founding Fellow Malaysian College of Veterinary Specialists (FMCVS), Fellow Malaysian Scientific Association (FMSA), Fellow Malaysian Institute of Marketing (FMIM), and also elected as an Inaugural Member Hall of Honour, World Veterinary Poultry Association, for her contributions in scientific research and outstanding leadership. Ideris has won various national and international awards. She sits on various councils. She has a wealth of experience in administration as well as an educator. She was the eighth vice-chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia (2016–2020) and is currently the pro-chancellor of the International Medical University Malaysia, since 2021.

Islam, an internationally reputed scientist in agrobiotechnology, has played a key role in establishing the Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering at BSMRAU, Bangladesh. He did PhD at Hokkaido University (HU), and postdoctoral research at the HU, University of Goettingen, University of Nottingham, and West Virginia University under the fellowship programs of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Alexander von Humboldt, Commonwealth, and Fulbright, respectively. He is one of the top 2% of researchers in the world. He collaborated with Sophien Kamoun and led international scientists to rapidly identify the origin of the first epidemic outbreak of wheat blast in Bangladesh. His team developed a novel rapid diagnosis of wheat blast fungus in collaboration with researchers in China and the USA. He is Editor-in-Chief of Bacilli and Agrobiotechnology, and CRISPR-Cas Methods, and Editor of Physiologia Plantarum, Scientific Reports, PLOS One, Frontiers in Microbiology, and CAB Reviews. He is an elected Fellow of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences and the American Phytopathological Society. He received many awards and medals for his outstanding research accomplishments.

Jahiruddin (PhD, 1986, Aberdeen University) is a Professor of Soil Science, former Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and former Associate Director of Central Laboratory at Bangladesh Agricultural University. He obtained BAS Gold Medal Award 2009, Global Research Impact Award 2017, BAAG Gold Medal Award 2018 and Soil Care Award 2018. He is a Fellow of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS). Professor Jahiruddin has a very high record of research publications in relation to Micronutrient problems, arsenic contamination and conservation agriculture. He worked as a team leader for research priority setting in agriculture and development of vision document -2030 and beyond in Bangladesh: Land and Soil Resource Management.

Jayaraman is a biotechnology and plant-microbiology professor at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Trinidad and Tobago (TT). He has completed over 25 funded research projects and published over 125 refereed publications. He has received several awards including UNDP-CARUTA Research Award; UWI Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Award for Outstanding Research Accomplishments; Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago Award, Government of TT for Outstanding Achievements in Applied and Academic Research; and Environmental Management Authority-TT- Greenleaf Award. He is a DST-BOYSCAST Fellow, and an elected Fellow of the Indian Phytopathological Society. He served as advisor to UNU-BIOLAC programme of the UN. He serves as plant protection advisor to programmes for several Caribbean states. A lead trainer for integrated disease/pest management (IDM/IPM) techniques for the Caribbean region, his research projects cover diverse topics focussing on sustainable agriculture including biological control, disease diagnostics, plant-microbe interactions, elicitor-biomolecules, induced disease resistance, seaweed-based products, genetic engineering of plants for biotic stress tolerance, etc.

Khan (PhD 1980, Indian Agric. Res. Inst.) is principal scientist and leader of the widely-reputed push-pull programme at the Intl. Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Kenya. He is Thomas Odhiambo Dist. Res. Fellow of icipe. He is a fellow of the African Acad. of Sciences, the Entomological Soc. of America and the Honorary Fellow of the Royal Entomological Soc., UK. He is an adjunct prof. of entomology at Cornell U., USA, and extraordinary prof. at the North-West U. in South Africa. Khan is a council member of the Intl. Congress of Entomology. In 2010 he received the Nan-Yao Su Award for Innovation and Creativity in Entomology and the ESA Distinguished Scientist Award, and in 2011, the TWAS Prize in Agricultural Sciences and in 2015 Louis Malassis International Prize for Outstanding Career in Agriculture for his contribution in the field of agriculture and food

Khush is adjunct professor at UC Davis. He obtained his PhD at UC Davis in 1960. After serving as assistant geneticist at the same university for seven years, he joined the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines as plant breeder. He retired as principal plant breeder and head of the division of plant breeding, genetics and biotechnology in 2002. His honours include 14 honoris causa doctorates and several awards including the Japan Prize, World Food Prize, Rank Prize, Wolf Prize, Golden Sickle Award, Mahathir Science Award and the Padma Shri Award by the President of India. He is a member of 9 science academies including Indian National Science Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Royal Society and the US National Academy of Sciences.

Lal is dist. univ. prof. of soil science and dir., Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, Ohio State U., Columbus. After obtaining his PhD at Ohio State and completing postdoctoral work at The U. of Sydney, Australia, in 1969, he joined the Intl. Inst. of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan, Nigeria. He returned to Ohio State in 1987 where he has taught two classes: environmental soil physics, and soils and climate change, and conducted research on soil carbon sequestration, soil restoration and food security. Honours include: three h.c. doctorates; Hugh Hammond Bennett Award (1998); Borlaug Award (2005); IPCC Nobel Peace Prize certificate; Zayed Prize diploma, Liebig Award (2006). He is a fellow of five societies, incl. the American Assn. for Adv. of Science (1996) and The Rothamsted (2013). He has authored 15 and edited 56 books, and has about 1700 scientific articles to his credit.

Liao (PhD, Tokyo) is chair prof., Natl. Taiwan Ocean U. and Natl. Pingtung U. of Sci. and Techn., as well as vis. dist. chair, Natl. Cheng Kung U. He returned to Taiwan (1968) as res. fellow, Rockefeller Fndn., then served as dir., Tungkang Marine Lab. (1969-87), dir. gen., Taiwan Fisheries Res. Inst. (1987-02), Pres., Asian Fisheries Soc. (1998-2001) and chairman., Fisheries Soc. of Taiwan (2005-08). His honours include: Outst. Res. Awds., Natl. Sci. Coun., Taiwan (1986-95); Academic Awd., Min. of Edu., Taiwan (1987); Achvmnt. Awd. in Sci. and Engg., Taiwan Am. Fndn., USA (1989); Presidl. Sci. Prize, Taiwan (2009); Lifetime Achvmnt. Awd., Global Aquaculture Alliance, USA (2012), Outst. Memb. The NTU Alumni Ass., Taiwan (2013), and The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, Japan (2014). He is hon. life member, Asian Fisheries Soc. and the World Aquaculture Soc., Academician of Academia Sinica.

Magdy Madkour (PhD University of Wales 1977, UK) is Prof of biotechnology, Arid Lands Agricultural Research Inst., Ain Shams University, Egypt, and Editor in Chief, Journal of Agriculture and Food Security, BioMed Central. He was the Chairman, Executive Committee, Agriculture Research for Development Fund (ARDF), Min. of Agric and Land Reclamation, Egypt; Senior Advisor, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Deputy Director General,ICARDA. Madkour was Prof of Plant pathology, Alexandria University. He served on the Technical Advisory Committee of CGIAR, the Board of Trustees of ICARDA and IPGRI (Bioversity). In 1990 he established the Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI-Egypt). In 2007 he received Egypt’s Presidential Gold Medal for Science & Technology, three AOAD awards for scientific excellence; FAO World Food Day recognition; TWAS Arab Regional Prize. He holds three patents, authored 140 peer reviewed publications and contributed with chapters in 9 international books.

Malik was educated at Government College, Lahore, Pakistan, and the U. of Aston, Birmingham, UK (PhD, 1970). He is currently Dist. Natl. Prof. (Biotechnology) and Dean Postgraduate Studies, Forman Christian College U., Lahore. He was Member, Pakistan Planning Comm., and Secretary, Natl. Comm. on Biotech.. Previously he worked as snr. scientific officer, Nuclear Inst. for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad; Principal Scientific Officer, NIAB; Chief Scientific Officer, Natl. Inst. of Biotech. and Genetic Eng. (NIGBE); Chief Scientist and DG NIBGE and NIAB; Chairman, Pakistan Agriculture Res. Council; and Mmember (biosciences), PAEC. His awards include: Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, 1988; Sitara-e-Imtiaz, 1998; Hilal-e-Imtiaz, 2004; Gold Medal, Pakistan Acad. of Sci., 1996; and ISESCO Prize in Biology, 1997. He is a fellow of the Pakistan Acad. of Sciences.

Mazzafera is a full professor at the University of Campinas (Unicamp), São Paulo, Brazil. He graduated in agronomy and his main knowledge area is plant physiology. He started his career at Agronomic Institute of Campinas, working with coffee, a crop that is still his passion. He teaches plant physiology/biochemistry in undergraduate and graduate courses and supervised more than 120 MSc, PhD and postdoctoral students. Nowadays, his main research areas are lignin metabolism and crop nutrition in coffee, sugarcane, soybean and eucalyptus. He published over 300 refereed scientific articles, book chapters, and technical publications. During his career, he had intense administrative activity. He was head of department at Unicamp twice (1997-2003), director of the Institute of Biology (2006-2010), advisor to the dean of research (2003-2006), advisor to the rector (2011-2013) and director of the National Laboratory of Bioethanol Science and Technology (CTBE) (1985-1986). He is a Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and of the Academy of Sciences of São Paulo. He is a level 1A researcher at the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

McManus, BSc from University College Dublin (1987), MSc from University of Edinburgh (1988) and PhD from University of Oxford (1991), received a post-doctorate scholarship at the University of Sydney (2002). She is full professor of Universidade de Brasilia and CNPq scholarship holder (1A). She has experience in animal genetics and breeding, in conservation of animal genetic resources and landscape genetics. McManus has published more than 400 articles in peer reviewed journals with editorial board, 24 book chapters, more than 550 abstracts in conferences, and supervised more than 200 student. She participates in joint projects at the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Council of South Africa and Institut national de la recherche agronomique (INRA), France, among others. She is a reviewer for 38 national and international journals, and 11 development agencies as well as associate editor for Tropical Animal Health and Production. She was director of international affairs for CAPES/Ministry of Education, Brazil. McManus is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Science and commander of the National Order of Scientific Merit.

Muhammed is rector of the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Islamabad. He received his DPhil in biochemistry. Oxford University, and completed postdoctoral research at the Oakridge National Laboratory, USAEC. He established the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad, in 1969 and was its first director. He was also the vice-chancellor of Agriculture University, Faisalabad, and founder-chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council from which he retired in 1990. He was awarded an honorary DSc, the Prime Minister's Gold medal, and the Gold Medal for lifetime achievement by FAO. He is fellow and past-president of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences. He was elected president of the Pakistan Association for Advancement of Science and the Scientific Society of Pakistan.

Rech has been a scientist at EMBRAPA Recursos Geneticos e Biotecnologia, Brazil, since 1981. He obtained his PhD in 1989 at the University of Nottingham, England. He is recognized by his studies on the recombinant DNA technology and its application for development of processes and products with economic and social impacts. His work focuses on the molecular and biochemical mechanisms that governt several types of protein-conformational expression. His awards include: Prize Estado de Sao Paulo Governator; Embrapa Prize for Research Excellence; Commander of the Order of National Scientific Merit, Brazil; and Fellow of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.

Sabiiti is currently prof of Agric and envir.sci at busitema Univ. Former prof. of crop sciences and former dean, Fac. of Agriculture, Makerere U. (MU); former vice pres., Uganda Natl. Acad. of Sciences (UNAS); pres., Assoc. of Uganda Professional Agriculturalists; former, Member TWAS Adv. Comm. on prizes in Agric. Sciences; 1st President for ASARECA Gen. Assembly, member, Former Chairman, Science education for Africa, member, Global Activities Committee/Intl. Former Oversight Council on IAP Science Education; and TWAS Research prof. After obtaining his PhD (U. of New Brunswick, Canada) in 1985, he served as a lecturer at MU and in various capacities at Ugandan and internatl. research institutions. His honours include: Fulbright Scholar.; uganda Independence Medal award; MU Innovations Awd.; Ntare School Lion's Awd.; Mbarara High School Old Boys Awd.; and Presidential Science, Education and Technology Excellence Awd. He is a member of 15 professional societies and fellow of TWAS,UNAS and AAS.

Sanginga has been director general of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) since 2011. He has more than 35 years of experience in international agricultural research and development, research administration and management, and resource mobilization, particularly in the fields of applied microbial ecology, plant nutrition, and integrated natural resources management in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Before joining IITA, he was director of the Nairobi-based Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT-TBSF, 2003-2011). His career has focused on mentoring and capacity building of young scientists, entrepreneurship, and agriculture/agribusiness in Africa. He has published more than 120 research articles in peer-reviewed international journals and was honored with the International Foundation for Science Sven Brohult Award for his contribution to agricultural and agroforestry research. Born in DR Congo (DRC), Sanginga did most of his postgraduate training at IITA and his PhD in Agronomy/Soil Microbiology under a joint program in DRC, Burundi, and Rwanda. Under his leadership, IITA has tran

Siddique obtained his PhD in 1985 from The University of Western Australia. He is Hackett Professor of Agriculture Chair, and Director, The UWA Australia Institute of Agriculture. He is a Foreign Fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences; Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences; a Foreign Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Fellow of The Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology; and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. He is a highly cited researcher in agricultural sciences 2018–2023, and a highly cited researcher in plant and animal science (Thomson Reuters/ Clarivate Analytics) 2021–2023. Recipient of Urrbrae Memorial Award; Member of the Order of Australia; Western Australian of the Year award; Dunhuang Award by China's Gansu Provincial Government; Friendship Award from the Chinese Government; Western Australian Indian of the Year 2021; Western Australian Scientist of the Year 2023; and Sanqin Friendship Award. Siddique was the special ambassador for the International Year of Pulses 2016, by the UN FAO.

Singhal earned her PhD in 1990 from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India, where she is now a professor. She received fellowships from the Indian National Science Academy, Indian National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Sciences India, International Bioprocessing Association, and Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India). She was a member of scientific panels and working groups, FSSAI, Government of India, and a member of the subject expert committee of national bodies of the Government of India, including BIRAC, DST, UGC, DBT, and TDB. She is a project evaluator for the European Science Foundation, was an associate editor with Carbohydrate Polymers, and is an associate editor with Sustainable Food Technology. She was a chairperson, Research Council, CSIR-CFTRI, and is a former member of the Research Council, CSIR-NIIST. She is a subject expert with the National Board of Accreditation and works in interdisciplinary areas encompassing chemical sciences, in particular, food chemistry, biological sciences, and engineering sciences, where she works with separation techniques, using supercritical carbon dioxide and chromatography.