Keynote Presentation (In-Person)
Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, South Dakota State University, United States
Precision agriculture has become an important component of modern farming in the United States, supporting more efficient, productive, and sustainable agricultural systems. Technologies such as Global Navigation Satellite Systems, geographic information systems, yield monitoring, [....] » Read More
Title : Teaching food and nutrition security as a critical concern in higher education capstone
Usha R Palaniswamy, Maria College, United States
The 2026 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World reported that any improvements made on reducing global hunger are fragile, unevenly distributed and insufficient to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The report also examined the cost of he [....] » Read More
Title : Agroecological practices and their effects on ecosystem services in sustainable mediterranean cropping systems
Fabio Gresta, University of Messina, Italy
Agroecological practices are increasingly recognized as key strategies to improve the sustainability, resilience, and ecological functioning of cropping systems. In the context of climate variability, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and increasing pressure on natural resourc [....] » Read More
Title : Innovative tools for enhancing stress resilience in Mediterranean horticulture
Stefania Toscano, University of Messina, Italy
Mediterranean horticulture is increasingly exposed to the pressures of climate change, particularly due to intensified water scarcity and stricter environmental constraints on production. In this context, adopting innovative and sustainable production strategies is essential to e [....] » Read More
Title : Improving food system awareness with agritourism: The Tour de Farm in Duval County, Florida
Stephen Jennewein, University of Florida, United States
Agritourism strengthens community connections to local food systems by increasing awareness of where and how food is produced. In Duval County, Florida, the Tour de Farm exemplifies how farm tours can effectively promote agricultural literacy and appreciation among urban and subu [....] » Read More
Title : Utilizing extension services to broaden the impact of research in communities
Jason A Hedrick, The Ohio State University, United States
Extension systems bring the knowledge of the university directly to communities. In the United States, Extension systems fulfil the land-grant university’s mission by interpreting knowledge and research developed by faculty and staff so communities can use the scientificall [....] » Read More
Title : Integrating winter cover crops to enhance soil organic matter, weed suppression, and nutrient cycling in organic management systems
Dilip Nandwani, Tennessee State University, United States
Organic farming emphasizes ecological balance, biodiversity conversation, and long-term soil health by eliminating synthetic chemicals and genetically modified organisms. However, weed pressure and nutrient unavailability remain persistent constraints in organic crop production. [....] » Read More
Title : Biocontrol of fusarium and other fungal diseases of cereals using bacterial compounds and plant extracts
Joanna Horoszkiewicz, Institute of Plant Protection - National Research Institute, Poland
The development of biological alternatives to synthetic fungicides is increasingly urgent in the context of the progressive withdrawal of chemical active substances by the European Commission and growing concerns about environmental accumulation, resistance development, and food [....] » Read More
Title : Assessment of spraying effectiveness using heavy-duty agricultural UAVs in high-growing crops: Spray deposition and canopy coverage efficiency
Tytus Berbec, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute, Poland
This study, conducted at the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute (IUNG-PIB; Poland), investigates the operational efficacy of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in precision agriculture.** The research evaluates spray deposition, coverage [....] » Read More
Title : Genetic parameters, path analysis, and morphometrics of floral, fruit, and seed traits for the conservation and breeding of Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. in the Colombian Caribbean
Ivan Pastrana Vargas, University of Cordoba, Colombia
Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl., locally known as Bangaño, is an underutilized cucurbit of vital socioeconomic, cultural, and ecological importance for resource-poor farming communities in the Neotropics. Despite its high adaptability to humid tropical conditions, sci [....] » Read More
Title : Cultivating green wisdom: Urban horticulture techniques for home vegetable cultivation in small spaces for older adults
Consuelo Lima Navarro de Andrade, State University of Feira de Santana (UEFS), Brazil
Home vegetable cultivation has been widely recognised as an urban horticulture practice capable of promoting physical, mental, and social benefits, particularly among the elderly population. Interaction with plants and contact with the natural environment contribute to stress red [....] » Read More