Eleni Pliakoni

Eleni Pliakoni is a Professor of Urban Food Production and Postharvest Handling at Kansas State University, serving as Director of the Urban Food Systems Initiative. She holds appointments in the Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources and at K-State Olathe.

Education: Ph.D. Agricultural Sciences (University of Thessaly), M.S. Plant Molecular Biology (University of Crete), B.S./M.S. Agriculture (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki).

Research: Develops preharvest and postharvest strategies to extend shelf-life of horticultural crops for urban/small-acreage growers. Investigates high tunnel production impacts on nutritional quality, packaging innovations for loss reduction, and cannabinoid analysis methods.

Teaching: Leads graduate programs including the M.S. in Horticulture (Urban Food Systems emphasis) and Urban Food Systems Graduate Certificate. Courses cover urban agriculture, postharvest physiology, and produce safety.

Global Engagement: Collaborates with Feed the Future Innovation Lab on postharvest loss reduction projects in Tanzania, Bangladesh, and Ghana.