Consiliul Științific Consultativ
Univ. Prof. Dr. Philippe CHOQUET
Director General, Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle, France
Short Bio
An engineering graduate of the UniLaSalle Polytechnic Institute and holder of an MBA from HEC, Philippe CHOQUET began his career in the seed industry, then moved into strategy consulting. He took over as director of UniLaSalle (formerly ISAB) in 1999. Under his leadership, the school merged successively with IGAL (2006), ESITPA (2016), EME (2018) and most recently ESIEE-Amiens. In addition, UniLaSalle was the first association-run school to be authorised to open a veterinary training programme in September 2022 in Rouen.
Philippe CHOQUET holds various positions in associations, including the presidency of iTerra, the Oise bioeconomy incubator, the vice-presidency of FESIC – the French Federation of Higher Education recognised as being of general interest (President from 2017 to 2025) and is a member of the National Council for Higher Education and Research (CNESER).
Philippe CHOQUET is also involved internationally as a member of the board of GCHERA, the Global Consortium of Higher Education in Agriculture (President from 2009 to 2013 – Treasurer since 2013), and IALU (International Association of La Salle Universities (72 universities in 20 countries).
Călin COSTINAŞ
Deputy CEO, Profi Rom Food, Romania
Short Bio
Călin COSTINAȘ is a Romanian businessman serving as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Profi Rom Food, one of the country’s largest supermarket and convenience store chains with more than 1,750 locations nationwide. In this senior leadership role, he is responsible for strategic operations, growth planning and representing the company in public and industry discussions. Under his leadership, Profi has focused on reinvesting its operational results into expanding and modernizing its network of stores, distribution centers and digital platforms, with substantial investment directed exclusively within Romania.
A key figure in the company’s evolution, he oversaw a massive expansion that took the retailer from €100 million to €2.7 billion in turnover. His career spans over two decades in retail and entrepreneurship, including leadership roles at Artima and SPAR. Călin COSTINAȘ is also an active board member for Linella and a dedicated supporter of social initiatives through the Excelsor Alumni Foundation.
He frequently speaks on economic and retail issues, including the evolution of consumer behavior, the importance of supporting local producers and Romania’s broader economic challenges, such as the imbalance between rising purchasing power and domestic production capacity.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Milen I. GEORGIEV
Head of Department of Plant Cell Biotechnology and Metabolomics Lab
Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB)
Institute of Microbiology (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences), Bulgaria
Short Bio
Milen GEORGIEV is heading both Lab of Metabolomics at Institute of Microbiology (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) and Department of Plant Cell Biotechnology at the Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology. He has 20 years of experience in natural products field and has published more than 200 papers. He has delivered 80+ invited lectures in 30 different countries.
His current research focuses on 1) biosynthesis of fine molecules and development of biotech tools for their sustainable mass production, 2) metabolomics and comprehensive metabolite profiling and 3) molecular pharmacology (with particular focus on obesity, photoaging and longevity).
Since 2020 he is listed among top 2% in worldwide citation ranking of all scientists and scientific disciplines for six consecutive years. Milen GEORGIEV is a recipient of Pythagoras award for outstanding scientist by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science (2011, 2015, 2020 and 2024), being the first scientist in Bulgaria to have won four times.
Milen GEORGIEV serves as an Editor, Associate Editor and Editorial Board member of dozen journals in biotechnology and natural products fields, incl. Phytomedicine, Phytochemistry, Phytochemistry Reviews, Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, Biotechnology Letters, Chinese Medicine, Food Frontiers, Frontiers in Pharmacology, among others. Serving as a chairman he has established the International Conference on Natural Products Utilization: from Plants to Pharmacy Shelf (ICNPU; www.icnpu2025.com), which had six issues so far.
Since 2022 he serves as a President of the Bulgarian Phytochemical Society and in 2025 he was elected as a member of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Univ.Prof. Dl Dr.Dr.h.c.mult. Martin H. GERZABEK
President, Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft, Austria
Short Bio
Martin GERZABEK is an Austrian ecologist and soil scientist, currently a professor at the Institute of Soil Research at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). He studied agriculture and plant production at BOKU, earning his Diplom-Ingenieur in 1985 and his doctorate (Dr. nat. techn.) in 1987.
Since 2001, he has held the chair in Environmental Toxicology and Isotope Application at BOKU. Over the course of his career, he has advanced through roles including institute researcher, department head at the Austrian Institute of Technology, university lecturer, associate professor, and full professor.
Between 2010 and 2018, he served as Rector of BOKU. Since July 2019, he has been the President of the Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft (CDG). He is recognized internationally and is a member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), the Academia Europaea and the German Academy of Engineering Sciences (acatech), among other distinctions.
His research focuses on soil chemistry, humus chemistry, isotopic methods in soil and plant systems, radioecology (mobility of radionuclides in soil and plant systems), behavior of pollutants in soil (heavy metals, organic contaminants), soil organic matter dynamics, soil development (chronosequences and altitudinal gradients), soil microstructure and micromorphology and long-term environmental monitoring, including soils of sensitive ecosystems such as alpine and island soils.
Dr. Christian HUYGHE
Former Scientific Director, French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), France
Short Bio
Christian HUYGHE was the Scientific Director of Agriculture at the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE). His career in the organisation began in 1987 with a career in genetics and plant breeding on grain and forage legumes.
Throughout his career, Christian HUYGHE has strongly promoted an interdisciplinary research and innovation combined with knowledge transfer and education which he believes are critical in the challenging transition to delivering Sustainable Agri-Food Systems.
His early scientific work focused on improving forage and field crops through plant breeding and he went on to lead major research units dedicated to genetics, seed systems and plant innovation. Over the years, he has contributed extensively to national and international scientific communities, publishing widely and guiding research programs that bridge fundamental science with practical, real-world applications for agriculture.
In his last position at the head of INRAE, Christian HUYGHE plays a central part in shaping INRAE’s strategy for sustainable and resilient agriculture. He advocates for agroecological approaches that combine productivity with environmental stewardship, biodiversity protection and reduced reliance on pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
His work strongly emphasizes the importance of collaboration across disciplines and sectors, linking researchers, farmers, technical institutes and policymakers to accelerate innovation and support transitions toward more sustainable agri-food systems. Through his involvement in national committees and research steering bodies, he continues to influence public policies and agricultural transformation in France and Europe.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Nicolae ISTUDOR
Rector, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania
Short Bio
Nicolae ISTUDOR is Rector of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (2016–present), Vice-Rector of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies for Academic Affairs (2008–2016), State Secretary within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (2014–2015), Director General within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (2001–2004).
He has completed all stages of the academic career, starting in 1993 as a teaching assistant and advancing to full professor in 2007 within the Department of Agro-Food and Environmental Economics from Bucharest University of Economic Studies. Nicolae ISTUDOR has contributed to the development of several important works, among which the following may be mentioned: “Thinking Beyond Today – The Romanian Economic Model in the European Union – Romania Horizon 2040”, Economic Publishing House, 2021; “Discover Romania – Retrospective 2007–2013”, Romanian Academy Publishing House, Bucharest, 2016; “Agriculture as a Strategic Sector for Food Security and Safety”, Romanian Academy Publishing House, Bucharest, 2013, chapter “The Common Agricultural Policy from the Perspective of the National Interest”; “Pages from the History of Higher Economic Education in Romania 1843–2013 – Monograph: 170 Years since the First Course in Political Economy Delivered by Ion Ghica at the Mihăileană Academy in Iași”, Bucharest University of Economic Studies Publishing House, 2013; “Management of the Logistics System of Agri-Food Organizations”, Bucharest University of Economic Studies Publishing House, 2011 etc.
Nicolae ISTUDOR has an extensive publishing activity as author and co-author, having produced over 20 books and specialized book chapters, more than 20 ISI-indexed articles, over 50 articles published in specialized journals, and has participated in more than 60 national and international conferences. Research activity represents a priority, Nicolae ISTUDOR being a member of 50 research projects, including 3 international projects.
Among his main professional affiliations, the following may be noted: Honorary Member of the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences “Gheorghe Ionescu-Șișești” (2024–present); Lay Member of the National Church Assembly, mandate 2022–2026; Lay Member of the Eparchial Assembly of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, mandate 2022–2026; Member of the Romanian Distribution Committee Association (2019–present); Representative within the National Commission for the substantiation of the National Plan for the Adoption of the Euro (2018); President of the Association of Faculties of Economics in Romania (AFER) from 2016 to the present; Vice-President of the National Council of Rectors (May 2016–present); Secretary General of CNATDCU (2016); Vice-President of the National Council for Higher Education Financing (2015–present) etc.
Scientific distinctions: Doctor Honoris Causa of “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați (2017); Ovidius University of Constanța (2018); Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (2018); University of Petroșani (2018); Land Forces Academy of Sibiu (2022); “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu (2022); University of Oradea (2023); “Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava (2023); “Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad (2023); Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești (2023); University of Alba Iulia (2025); Pierre Werner Centenary Medal, Romanian Academy – National Institute of Economic Research “Costin C. Kirițescu” (2016); National Order “Faithful Service”, Knight rank, for activities carried out in support of rural development and the efficiency of agricultural and forestry sectors within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, awarded on the occasion of Romania’s National Day – Presidency of Romania (2004); Certificate of recognition for activity carried out in the agri-food sector – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), March 2010; Honorary Citizen of the Municipality of Bucharest (2018) and of the Municipality of Buzău (2019) etc.
Dr.rer.pol. Dr.sc.agr.habil. Stefan MANN
Department Leader Socioeconomics
Research Station Agroscope, Federal Office of Economics, Switzerland
Short Bio
Stefan MANN pursued PhDs in agriculture and economics. He is Senior Researcher at Agroscope, Switzerland.
Stefan MANN’s work is broad, touching on agricultural economics, social/structural change in agriculture, sustainability, and policy. He studies how the Swiss agricultural sector is changing with respect to structural shifts, labor, productivity and economic pressures.
MANN’s food-related research does not just ask what people eat or how farms produce food, but digs into the social, generational and structural dynamics behind those choices. His work shows that understanding food systems requires integrating economics with sociology and social sustainability.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Dan Cristian VODNAR
President, Senat of the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine from Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Short Bio
Dan Cristian VODNAR is a Romanian food-science specialist, Member of the European Academy (Academia Europeae) and Corresponding Member of the Romanian Academy (2025).
Dan Cristian VODNAR graduated as an engineer in Control and Expertise of Food Products at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca (USAMV Cluj-Napoca) in 2007, completed a Master’s in Food Quality Management in 2009, and obtained his PhD in Food Biotechnology in 2010, with research partially conducted in Germany through a DBU scholarship.
He is currently a professor at the Faculty of Food Science and Technology of USAMV Cluj-Napoca, where he has advanced from assistant to full professor and PhD supervisor. He previously served as Vice-Rector for Research (2016–2024) and today is the President of the University Senate.
His research covers food biotechnology, functional ingredients, valorization of agro-industrial byproducts, edible biomaterials, intelligent packaging, microencapsulation, probiotics, and interactions between food, microbiota, and health.
VODNAR has authored more than 300 scientific papers indexed in Web of Science, 19 book chapters, and 6 patents, with over 14,650 citations and an h-index of 65. He ranks among the top 2% most cited researchers globally in his field and has received several major awards, including distinctions from the Romanian Academy, the Danubius Young Scientist Award and the Geneva International Invention Salon. In 2025, he received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c Petra WINTER
President, European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE), Austria
Short Bio
Petra WINTER is an Austrian veterinarian and academic leader, recognised for her contributions to veterinary medicine, research and higher education. At the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Petra WINTER played a central role in modernising veterinary education and advancing institutional reform, serving as rector from 2017 to 2025. Presently, Petra WINTER serves as the President of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE), an independent association that is committed to advancing the harmonisation of research-based veterinary education and ensuring its continual evolution in response to societal challenges.
Petra WINTER graduated in veterinary medicine from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in 1991 and earned her doctorate in 1992. Her academic specialisation includes internal medicine and epidemiology in food-producing animals, with a strong research focus on ruminant health, mastitis and herd health management. Over the years, she has held key roles in clinical practice, research and veterinary public health, including leadership positions within Austria’s Agency for Health and Food Safety. She has been recognised as an advocate for innovation, digital transformation and gender equality as well as students’ wellbeing in academia, while also contributing to European and international veterinary education policy.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Philippe CHOQUET
Director General, Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle, France
An engineering graduate of the UniLaSalle Polytechnic Institute and holder of an MBA from HEC, Philippe CHOQUET began his career in the seed industry, then moved into strategy consulting. He took over as director of UniLaSalle (formerly ISAB) in 1999. Under his leadership, the school merged successively with IGAL (2006), ESITPA (2016), EME (2018) and most recently ESIEE-Amiens. In addition, UniLaSalle was the first association-run school to be authorised to open a veterinary training programme in September 2022 in Rouen.
Philippe CHOQUET holds various positions in associations, including the presidency of iTerra, the Oise bioeconomy incubator, the vice-presidency of FESIC – the French Federation of Higher Education recognised as being of general interest (President from 2017 to 2025) and is a member of the National Council for Higher Education and Research (CNESER).
Philippe CHOQUET is also involved internationally as a member of the board of GCHERA, the Global Consortium of Higher Education in Agriculture (President from 2009 to 2013 – Treasurer since 2013), and IALU (International Association of La Salle Universities (72 universities in 20 countries).
Călin COSTINAŞ
Deputy CEO, Profi Rom Food, Romania
Călin COSTINAȘ is a Romanian businessman serving as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Profi Rom Food, one of the country’s largest supermarket and convenience store chains with more than 1,750 locations nationwide. In this senior leadership role, he is responsible for strategic operations, growth planning and representing the company in public and industry discussions. Under his leadership, Profi has focused on reinvesting its operational results into expanding and modernizing its network of stores, distribution centers and digital platforms, with substantial investment directed exclusively within Romania.
A key figure in the company’s evolution, he oversaw a massive expansion that took the retailer from €100 million to €2.7 billion in turnover. His career spans over two decades in retail and entrepreneurship, including leadership roles at Artima and SPAR. Călin COSTINAȘ is also an active board member for Linella and a dedicated supporter of social initiatives through the Excelsor Alumni Foundation.
He frequently speaks on economic and retail issues, including the evolution of consumer behavior, the importance of supporting local producers and Romania’s broader economic challenges, such as the imbalance between rising purchasing power and domestic production capacity.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Milen I. GEORGIEV
Head of Department of Plant Cell Biotechnology and Metabolomics Lab
Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB)
Institute of Microbiology (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences), Bulgaria
Milen GEORGIEV is heading both Lab of Metabolomics at Institute of Microbiology (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) and Department of Plant Cell Biotechnology at the Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology. He has 20 years of experience in natural products field and has published more than 200 papers. He has delivered 80+ invited lectures in 30 different countries.
His current research focuses on 1) biosynthesis of fine molecules and development of biotech tools for their sustainable mass production, 2) metabolomics and comprehensive metabolite profiling and 3) molecular pharmacology (with particular focus on obesity, photoaging and longevity).
Since 2020 he is listed among top 2% in worldwide citation ranking of all scientists and scientific disciplines for six consecutive years. Milen GEORGIEV is a recipient of Pythagoras award for outstanding scientist by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science (2011, 2015, 2020 and 2024), being the first scientist in Bulgaria to have won four times.
Milen GEORGIEV serves as an Editor, Associate Editor and Editorial Board member of dozen journals in biotechnology and natural products fields, incl. Phytomedicine, Phytochemistry, Phytochemistry Reviews, Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, Biotechnology Letters, Chinese Medicine, Food Frontiers, Frontiers in Pharmacology, among others. Serving as a chairman he has established the International Conference on Natural Products Utilization: from Plants to Pharmacy Shelf (ICNPU; www.icnpu2025.com), which had six issues so far.
Since 2022 he serves as a President of the Bulgarian Phytochemical Society and in 2025 he was elected as a member of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Univ.Prof. Dl Dr.Dr.h.c.mult. Martin H. GERZABEK
President, Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft, Austria
Martin GERZABEK is an Austrian ecologist and soil scientist, currently a professor at the Institute of Soil Research at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). He studied agriculture and plant production at BOKU, earning his Diplom-Ingenieur in 1985 and his doctorate (Dr. nat. techn.) in 1987.
Since 2001, he has held the chair in Environmental Toxicology and Isotope Application at BOKU. Over the course of his career, he has advanced through roles including institute researcher, department head at the Austrian Institute of Technology, university lecturer, associate professor, and full professor.
Between 2010 and 2018, he served as Rector of BOKU. Since July 2019, he has been the President of the Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft (CDG). He is recognized internationally and is a member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), the Academia Europaea and the German Academy of Engineering Sciences (acatech), among other distinctions.
His research focuses on soil chemistry, humus chemistry, isotopic methods in soil and plant systems, radioecology (mobility of radionuclides in soil and plant systems), behavior of pollutants in soil (heavy metals, organic contaminants), soil organic matter dynamics, soil development (chronosequences and altitudinal gradients), soil microstructure and micromorphology and long-term environmental monitoring, including soils of sensitive ecosystems such as alpine and island soils.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c Petra WINTER
President, European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE), Austria
Petra WINTER is an Austrian veterinarian and academic leader, recognised for her contributions to veterinary medicine, research and higher education. At the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Petra WINTER played a central role in modernising veterinary education and advancing institutional reform, serving as rector from 2017 to 2025. Presently, Petra WINTER serves as the President of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE), an independent association that is committed to advancing the harmonisation of research-based veterinary education and ensuring its continual evolution in response to societal challenges.
Petra WINTER graduated in veterinary medicine from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in 1991 and earned her doctorate in 1992. Her academic specialisation includes internal medicine and epidemiology in food-producing animals, with a strong research focus on ruminant health, mastitis and herd health management. Over the years, she has held key roles in clinical practice, research and veterinary public health, including leadership positions within Austria’s Agency for Health and Food Safety. She has been recognised as an advocate for innovation, digital transformation and gender equality as well as students’ wellbeing in academia, while also contributing to European and international veterinary education policy.
Dr.rer.pol. Dr.sc.agr.habil. Stefan MANN
Department Leader Socioeconomics
Research Station Agroscope, Federal Office of Economics, Switzerland
Stefan MANN pursued PhDs in agriculture and economics. He is Senior Researcher at Agroscope, Switzerland.
Stefan MANN’s work is broad, touching on agricultural economics, social/structural change in agriculture, sustainability, and policy. He studies how the Swiss agricultural sector is changing with respect to structural shifts, labor, productivity and economic pressures.
MANN’s food-related research does not just ask what people eat or how farms produce food, but digs into the social, generational and structural dynamics behind those choices. His work shows that understanding food systems requires integrating economics with sociology and social sustainability.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Nicolae ISTUDOR
Rector, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania
Nicolae ISTUDOR is Rector of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (2016–present), Vice-Rector of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies for Academic Affairs (2008–2016), State Secretary within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (2014–2015), Director General within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (2001–2004).
He has completed all stages of the academic career, starting in 1993 as a teaching assistant and advancing to full professor in 2007 within the Department of Agro-Food and Environmental Economics from Bucharest University of Economic Studies. Nicolae ISTUDOR has contributed to the development of several important works, among which the following may be mentioned: “Thinking Beyond Today – The Romanian Economic Model in the European Union – Romania Horizon 2040”, Economic Publishing House, 2021; “Discover Romania – Retrospective 2007–2013”, Romanian Academy Publishing House, Bucharest, 2016; “Agriculture as a Strategic Sector for Food Security and Safety”, Romanian Academy Publishing House, Bucharest, 2013, chapter “The Common Agricultural Policy from the Perspective of the National Interest”; “Pages from the History of Higher Economic Education in Romania 1843–2013 – Monograph: 170 Years since the First Course in Political Economy Delivered by Ion Ghica at the Mihăileană Academy in Iași”, Bucharest University of Economic Studies Publishing House, 2013; “Management of the Logistics System of Agri-Food Organizations”, Bucharest University of Economic Studies Publishing House, 2011 etc.
Nicolae ISTUDOR has an extensive publishing activity as author and co-author, having produced over 20 books and specialized book chapters, more than 20 ISI-indexed articles, over 50 articles published in specialized journals, and has participated in more than 60 national and international conferences. Research activity represents a priority, Nicolae ISTUDOR being a member of 50 research projects, including 3 international projects.
Among his main professional affiliations, the following may be noted: Honorary Member of the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences “Gheorghe Ionescu-Șișești” (2024–present); Lay Member of the National Church Assembly, mandate 2022–2026; Lay Member of the Eparchial Assembly of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, mandate 2022–2026; Member of the Romanian Distribution Committee Association (2019–present); Representative within the National Commission for the substantiation of the National Plan for the Adoption of the Euro (2018); President of the Association of Faculties of Economics in Romania (AFER) from 2016 to the present; Vice-President of the National Council of Rectors (May 2016–present); Secretary General of CNATDCU (2016); Vice-President of the National Council for Higher Education Financing (2015–present) etc.
Scientific distinctions: Doctor Honoris Causa of “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați (2017); Ovidius University of Constanța (2018); Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (2018); University of Petroșani (2018); Land Forces Academy of Sibiu (2022); “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu (2022); University of Oradea (2023); “Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava (2023); “Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad (2023); Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești (2023); University of Alba Iulia (2025); Pierre Werner Centenary Medal, Romanian Academy – National Institute of Economic Research “Costin C. Kirițescu” (2016); National Order “Faithful Service”, Knight rank, for activities carried out in support of rural development and the efficiency of agricultural and forestry sectors within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, awarded on the occasion of Romania’s National Day – Presidency of Romania (2004); Certificate of recognition for activity carried out in the agri-food sector – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), March 2010; Honorary Citizen of the Municipality of Bucharest (2018) and of the Municipality of Buzău (2019) etc.
Dr. Christian HUYGHE
Former Scientific Director, French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), France
Christian HUYGHE was the Scientific Director of Agriculture at the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE). His career in the organisation began in 1987 with a career in genetics and plant breeding on grain and forage legumes.
Throughout his career, Christian HUYGHE has strongly promoted an interdisciplinary research and innovation combined with knowledge transfer and education which he believes are critical in the challenging transition to delivering Sustainable Agri-Food Systems.
His early scientific work focused on improving forage and field crops through plant breeding and he went on to lead major research units dedicated to genetics, seed systems and plant innovation. Over the years, he has contributed extensively to national and international scientific communities, publishing widely and guiding research programs that bridge fundamental science with practical, real-world applications for agriculture.
In his last position at the head of INRAE, Christian HUYGHE plays a central part in shaping INRAE’s strategy for sustainable and resilient agriculture. He advocates for agroecological approaches that combine productivity with environmental stewardship, biodiversity protection and reduced reliance on pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
His work strongly emphasizes the importance of collaboration across disciplines and sectors, linking researchers, farmers, technical institutes and policymakers to accelerate innovation and support transitions toward more sustainable agri-food systems. Through his involvement in national committees and research steering bodies, he continues to influence public policies and agricultural transformation in France and Europe.