Opening Speakers (Day 1)
Dr Panos Panagos
Joint Research Centre of the European Commission
Soil scientist at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and project leader of the EU Soil Observatory. He specializes in soil erosion, land degradation, and environmental modeling, contributing to evidence-based policies for sustainable land management across Europe. He has led major European research initiatives and authored numerous scientific publications on soil conservation and ecosystem services. Through his work, he supports the European Green Deal and promotes the protection of soil as a vital natural resource.
Dr. Martial Bernoux
Climate Change, Biodiversity & Environment, FAO of the United Nations(TBC)
Senior FAO expert in climate change, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability. He specializes in greenhouse gas accounting, carbon sequestration, and climate-smart agriculture. Dr. Bernoux supports countries in strengthening environmental reporting, sustainable agriculture systems, and climate policy frameworks. His work advances global climate change mitigation, food security, and ecosystem resilience through science-based solutions and international collaboration
Plenary Speakers (Day 2)
Prof Jørgen E Olesen
Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark
Professor of Agroecology at Aarhus University, Denmark. His research focuses on climate change impacts on agriculture, greenhouse gas emissions, crop systems, and sustainable land use. He leads major European research projects and advises policymakers on climate-smart agriculture. Olesen contributed to the IPCC team awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
Prof Violette Geissen
Department of Soil Physics and Land Management, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands.
Professor of Soil Physics and Land Management at Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands. Her research focuses on soil degradation, land management, microplastics, pesticides, and soil health under environmental change. She leads interdisciplinary projects promoting sustainable land use, soil conservation, and resilient agricultural systems through international collaboration and science-based solutions.
Prof Tommy Boland
Sustainable Ruminant Production Research, University College Dublin, Ireland.
Professor at University College Dublin specializing in Sustainable Ruminant Production. His research focuses on efficient, low-emission sheep and cattle systems, animal nutrition, and grass-based production. He collaborates with industry and policymakers to develop climate-smart livestock systems that improve productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability.
Plenary Speakers (Day 3)
Prof. Heiko Balzter
National Centre for Earth Observation, University of Leicester, United Kingdom (TBC)
Prof. Heiko Balzter is a Professor at the University of Leicester and researcher at the UK National Centre for Earth Observation. His expertise includes Earth observation, remote sensing, and environmental monitoring. He uses satellite data to analyze vegetation dynamics, climate change, and ecosystem processes, advancing geospatial technologies for sustainable land management and environmental policy worldwide.
Prof. María R.M. Losada
Agroforestry, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, specializing in agroforestry systems that integrate trees, crops, and livestock to enhance biodiversity, productivity, and sustainability. She advances climate-resilient land-use models in Europe, leads the Spanish Agroforestry Federation, and contributes globally through the Global Research Alliance on sustainable agriculture.