Prof. Senthold Asseng is a Professor of Digital Agriculture at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), leading the Hans Eisenmann Forum for Agricultural Sciences since 2021. His research focuses on climate-plant-soil systems modeling, addressing global food security, sustainable agriculture, and digital technologies like vertical farming and autonomous robotics. He holds a PhD from Humboldt University Berlin and habilitation from TUM, with prior roles at CSIRO Australia and the University of Florida (as Full Professor and Director of the Florida Climate Institute). His honors include AAAS Fellow, Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher, and multiple teaching/mentorship awards. Education: BSc/MSc in Agronomy & Horticulture, Humboldt University Berlin (1989-1990) PhD in Agronomy, Humboldt University Berlin (1994) Habilitation in Agronomy, TUM (2004) Research Interests: Climate change impacts on crops, digital agriculture technologies, systems analysis for autonomous farming, and vertical farming sustainability. His work integrates modeling, robotics, and environmental control to enhance agricultural resilience and productivity. Awards: AAAS Fellow (2019) Highly Cited Researcher (2019) UF Research Foundation Professor (2016-2019) Grants & Leadership: Led interdisciplinary projects like AgMIP-Wheat, SECC, and FAO advisory roles. Active in editorial roles for journals like Global Change Biology and Environmental Research Letters . Labs/Teams: Chair of Digital Agriculture at TUM, collaborating on projects like Smartfield and Proteins4Singapore , focusing on automation, controlled environment agriculture, and climate-smart solutions.
Prof. Dr. Johannes Sauer is a Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), holding dual affiliations with the TUM School of Management and the TUM School of Life Sciences . His academic focus is on production and resource economics, with expertise in agricultural sustainability, policy evaluation, and circular economy strategies in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Education: Bachelor’s/Master’s in Agricultural Economics from Universities of Tübingen, Hamburg, and Imperial College London. Doctorate (summa cum laude) in Agricultural Economics from the University of Bonn (2004). Research Interests: Prof. Sauer’s work spans productivity and resilience in agricultural systems, adoption of sustainable technologies, water resource valuation, and bioeconomic trends. He emphasizes smart technologies and circular economy applications in developing regions. His research employs econometric methods to analyze policy impacts and environmental-economic trade-offs. Key Trends in Publications: Recent articles highlight climate-smart agriculture, ICT adoption in rural China, and agroforestry’s role in reducing ecological-economic trade-offs. He explores behavioral drivers of policy participation and innovative tools like the IoFarm decision support system. Awards: 2021 Honorary Professorship at ANU OECD Fellow Awards (2010, 2016) Best Paper Awards (2008–2015) Consulting & Roles: OECD and Asian Development Bank consultant, ESRC Peer Review College member, and liaison lecturer for the German National Academic Foundation. He advises on agri-environmental policies and international development. Labs/Teams: Active in collaborative projects such as PONDERFUL Framework and IPM Popilia , focusing on nexus research and pest management strategies.
Thomas Berger is a Professor at the University of Hohenheim , affiliated with the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and leading the Department of Economics of Land Use . He also contributes to the Computational Science Hub and Hohenheim Tropics initiatives. Focus Areas: Climate change adaptation, land-use modeling, biodiversity-productivity trade-offs, agent-based simulation, and machine learning in agricultural systems. Key Projects: Simulation frameworks for smallholder resilience in Ethiopia, bioeconomic modeling in the Amazon, and hybrid intelligence applications in European agricultural policy. Recent Publications: 2025 study on climate change effects on insecticide reduction in Germany, 2024 work on reconciling biodiversity with productivity via hybrid models, and 2023 methodological contributions to surrogate modeling and seasonal forecast integration. Research Trends: Interdisciplinary integration of climate science, agricultural economics, and computational modeling, with increasing emphasis on AI-assisted decision support systems and sustainability policy validation. Teaching & Outreach: Offers Agricultural Economics seminars and Hohenheim Tropics discussions, requiring advance email registration for office hours.
Prof. Ingo Grass is a Full Professor at the University of Hohenheim, heading the Department of Ecology of Tropical Agricultural Systems (490f) and serving as Deputy Head of the Department of Crop Production in the Tropics and Subtropics (490e). He is Director of the Hans Ruthenberg Institute for Tropical Agricultural Sciences and an Equal Opportunities Officer within the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. His research focuses on agroecology, tropical agricultural systems, and biodiversity conservation in human-modified landscapes. Education: PhD in Biology from Philipps-Universität Marburg (2014). PostDoc at University of Göttingen (2014-2019) before moving to Hohenheim. Research Interests: Agroecosystem biodiversity, pollination ecology, land-use impacts on ecosystems, and sustainable farming practices. His work emphasizes reconciling productivity with biodiversity preservation, with a focus on tropical regions and temperate grasslands. Articles Trends: Recent work explores pesticide impacts on non-target insects, agroecological strategies to enhance pollination and biocontrol, and biodiversity benefits of diversified crops. He frequently collaborates on global studies involving tropical landscapes and urban agriculture dynamics. Awards: Maria Sibylla Merian Award (2013), Teaching Excellence Awards (2016 & 2018). Labs/Teams: Leads interdisciplinary teams in tropical agroecology, collaborating with institutes in Indonesia, Madagascar, and South Africa.
Professor Georg Guggenberger is a distinguished academic at Leibniz University Hannover, where he serves as Professor of Soil Chemistry within the Department of Soil Science at the Institute of Earth System Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences. In addition to his research and teaching responsibilities, he holds several significant administrative positions including Vice Dean for Research in the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Executive Management at both the Institute of Soil Science and Department of Soil Science levels, and Chair of the Selection Committee for the M.Sc. Landscape Sciences program. Prof. Guggenberger's research program focuses on fundamental processes governing soil organic matter dynamics across diverse ecosystems worldwide, from Arctic to tropical regions. His work investigates biotic and abiotic factors influencing the formation, transport, and stabilization of soil organic matter, with particular emphasis on soil fertility maintenance. He employs advanced methodologies including stable isotope approaches, biomarker analyses, microspectroscopic techniques (XPS, ESEM, NMR, NanoSIMS), and molecular biological methods to study biogeochemical interactions on mineral surfaces, dissolved organic matter dynamics, plant-mycorrhizal-soil interactions, permafrost soil organic matter, and impacts of land use and climate change on soil organisms. Analysis of Prof. Guggenberger's recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary research program spanning soil biogeochemistry, carbon cycling, soil microbiology, and climate change impacts. His work integrates field experiments along environmental gradients with laboratory manipulation studies to identify underlying mechanisms. The research shows particular strength in understanding organic matter stabilization mechanisms, microbial contributions to soil processes, and development of sustainable soil management practices that address climate change challenges. Prof. Guggenberger actively contributes to academic service through his leadership roles in examination boards and committees, including the Examination Board for Geosciences programs and the Selection Committee for Landscape Sciences. His administrative responsibilities as Vice Dean for Research demonstrate his commitment to advancing research within the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Leibniz University Hannover.
Prof. Stefan Wrobel is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Bonn and Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS). He holds leadership roles, including Co-Director of the Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence and Managing Director of the Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology (b-it). His research focuses on AI, machine learning, and big data applications in industry and society. He earned his PhD from the University of Dortmund and has held academic positions at Magdeburg University and Berlin Technical University. Active in national/international AI initiatives, he chairs the Fraunhofer Strategic Research Field on Artificial Intelligence and co-leads the Machine Learning Rhine-Ruhr (ML2R) Competence Center. Education: Master's (Georgia Tech), PhD (University of Dortmund). Research emphasizes intelligent algorithms, data analysis, and AI ethics. Awarded GI-Fellow (2022) and honored by the German Computer Science Society for contributions to AI history. Key roles include Editorial Board member of Machine Learning journals and advisory roles in AI ethics and certification. Scientific contributions span over 100 publications in machine learning, data mining, and visual analytics. Advised numerous PhD students on topics like graph mining and trustworthy AI. Leadership in institutions like Fraunhofer Technology Hub for Machine Learning and the German Computer Science Society's Special Interest Group on Knowledge Discovery.
Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and BioeconomyGermany
Ahmed Elbeltagi is an Assistant Professor in the Agricultural Engineering Department at Mansoura University's Faculty of Agriculture. His work focuses on hydrology, agricultural water management, and climate change adaptation. Specializes in data-driven modeling for water resource optimization Integrates machine learning with traditional hydrological models Active in climate change impact assessments on agricultural systems Recent research trends include: Developing open-source tools like Aqua-MC for irrigation simulation Applying hybrid deep learning models for evaporation prediction Advancing water quality assessment through multivariate analysis Exploring economic applications of wetlands in arid regions He collaborates with institutions across Egypt, India, China, and Saudi Arabia, with a focus on sustainable water management solutions.
Max Planck Institute for Marine MicrobiologyGermany
Shengjie Li is a Researcher in the Department of Biogeochemistry at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (MPI-Bremen), Germany. Their postdoctoral research focuses on microbial ecology and biogeochemical processes in marine oxygen minimum zones, particularly linking particle properties, microbial communities, and nitrogen-loss dynamics. Li holds a PhD from Peking University (2017-2022) and conducted a guest PhD at the University of Calgary (2020-2021). Research interests include microbial responses to environmental change, nitrogen cycling in aquatic systems, and the interplay between organic carbon, sulfur, and iron in driving nitrate reduction. Key projects explore isotopic signatures of N₂O production, methane dynamics in groundwater, and the role of biochar in stress resistance. Publications highlight contributions to understanding N₂O emissions, cold seep nitrogen-loss mechanisms, and microbial adaptations in fluctuating environments. Ongoing work bridges microbial community analysis with biogeochemical modeling to address global climate impacts.
Prof. Arndt Feuerbacher is a Junior-Professor (W1) at the University of Hohenheim, leading the Ecological-Economic Policy Modeling Research Group within the Institute of Agricultural Policy and Markets. He specializes in analyzing agricultural and environmental policies, with a focus on sustainability, biodiversity, and computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling. His research explores policy impacts on rural livelihoods, land-use transitions, and climate change adaptation. Education: PhD in Agricultural Economics (Humboldt University of Berlin, 2019) MSc in Agricultural Economics (University of Hohenheim, 2014) MBA in Finance (Portland State University, 2010) Research Interests: Policy modeling for biodiversity-friendly agriculture Economic impacts of pollinator declines and climate change Organic farming and agro-ecological transitions Agrivoltaic systems and dual land-use efficiency Awards & Grants: Recipient of the 2022 Best Paper Prize at GEWISOLA Lead investigator for the BMBF-funded BEATLE project (€1.2M) Joachim Herz Foundation Fellowship (2020) Teaching & Service: Developed the top-ranked 'Advanced Policy Analysis Modeling' course Serves on the University of Hohenheim's Senate Research Committee Supervised multiple master's theses and led three PhD candidates Professional Activities: World Bank consultant on green growth and environmental policy Organized international workshops in Bhutan and Germany Referee for journals including Nature Communications and Food Policy
Peter Breunig is a Professor at the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf (HSWT), working within the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition. His academic focus centers on agricultural marketing, market theory, and sustainable food systems. As Coordinator specializing in "Marketing and Management in Agribusiness" and Public Relations lead for the Agriculture department, he plays a significant role in shaping the institution's engagement with industry and the public. His educational expertise is reflected in his comprehensive teaching portfolio covering: Agricultural markets Fundamentals of Agricultural Marketing Marketing and Management of Regional Value Chains (Master) Market theory and market policy Regional marketing Strategies of International Agricultural Marketing (Master) Processes and economics of crop/animal production Professor Breunig's research bridges theoretical market concepts with practical applications in agriculture, with particular emphasis on sustainability transitions. His work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration across agricultural economics, food science, environmental studies, and technology fields. Recent publications reveal a clear trend toward addressing sustainability challenges in food systems, particularly regarding consumer acceptance of alternative proteins, climate impacts of agricultural practices, and digital transformation in agriculture. Among his notable scientific contributions are studies on: Media portrayal of new genetic technologies in agriculture Consumer acceptance of animal-free dairy products Climate change mitigation potentials in agricultural systems Digital transformation frameworks for agricultural ecosystems Professor Breunig has supervised numerous master's theses across diverse topics in agricultural marketing and management, and currently mentors doctoral candidates including Tanja Strobel-Unbehaun and Hanno Koßmann. His research projects include "Mastering opportunities yourself - scouting, career guidance and key qualifications in Agriculture" where he serves as project lead, demonstrating his commitment to developing future agricultural professionals.
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine ResearchGermany
Professor Bela Buck is a Marine Biologist and Head of the Unit for Marine Aquaculture within the Shelf Sea System Ecology department at the Alfred Wegener Institute. He also holds a professorship for Applied Marine Biology at the University of Applied Sciences Bremerhaven, has the right to award doctorates at the University of Bremen, and serves as an Affiliated Professor at Klaipeda University. His leadership extends to chairing the ICES Working Group on Open Ocean Aquaculture (WGOOA). Professor Buck's research focuses on applied marine biology and maritime technologies , with particular expertise in offshore and exposed aquaculture systems . His work addresses critical challenges in multi-use of offshore wind farms , shellfish and seaweed cultivation , culture techniques and system design , and site selection for marine aquaculture operations. His research bridges biological sciences, engineering, and policy development to advance sustainable marine resource utilization. An analysis of his recent publications (2022-2024) reveals a clear trend toward standardizing terminology and metrics for exposed aquaculture environments, developing integrated multi-use platforms combining renewable energy infrastructure with aquaculture, and optimizing cultivation techniques for shellfish and seaweed. His work increasingly addresses sustainability challenges, focusing on circular economy principles, resource efficiency, and climate change adaptation in marine food production systems. Professor Buck leads the AWI-Working Group 'Marine Aquaculture' and collaborates extensively with international research teams across Europe and beyond. His work has significant implications for marine spatial planning, sustainable food production, and blue economy development. He maintains strong connections with both academic institutions and industry partners to ensure practical applications of research findings. His laboratory and field work focuses on developing and testing aquaculture systems for exposed environments, with particular emphasis on site assessment methodologies, structural design for high-energy marine environments, and optimizing cultivation protocols for various marine species. The research group maintains close ties with offshore energy developers, aquaculture operators, and policy makers to ensure research addresses real-world challenges.
Professor Stefan Siebert is Head of the Department of Crop Sciences at the Agricultural Faculty of the University of Göttingen, a position he has held since October 2017. His academic career spans multiple prestigious institutions including the University of Bonn, University of Frankfurt, and University of Kassel, where he completed his doctoral studies. University of Göttingen (2017-present): Professor and Head of Crop Science/Agronomy University of Bonn (2016-2017): Temporary Head of Chair Crop Science University of Bonn (2009-2015): Habilitation in Crop Science and Resource Conservation University of Frankfurt (2004-2009): Postdoctoral Scientist University of Kassel (2002-2005): Ph.D. Student and Scientist Professor Siebert's research focuses on sustainable resource use in crop production, climate change impacts on plant growth, plant growth modeling, and drought risk assessment. His work integrates large-scale data analysis with modeling approaches to understand the complex interactions between resource use, crop management, and productivity. He has developed comprehensive datasets on water, soil, and nutrient use in agriculture and pioneered methods for analyzing irrigation systems globally. His recent publication trends reveal a strong emphasis on irrigation systems, climate change impacts on agriculture, and advanced crop modeling techniques. The analysis of his 15 most recent articles shows consistent focus on water resource management, spatial analysis of agricultural systems, and the effects of climate variability on crop production. His work frequently combines remote sensing data with ground-based measurements to create high-resolution datasets for agricultural decision-making. Professor Siebert leads several significant research projects including ZERN (Future of Nutrition in Lower Saxony, 2024-2029), Collaborative Research Center 1502 on Regional Climate Change (2022-2025), and OUTLAST (Development of a global drought hazard forecasting system, 2022-2025). He has been continuously developing and maintaining a global dataset on irrigated areas since 1997, establishing himself as a leading authority in agricultural water management. His teaching portfolio is extensive, covering scientific writing, field production exercises, general crop production, methodical work, plant biology, crop production and breeding, sustainability of production systems, and applications of data analysis to agronomy. Professor Siebert's work bridges theoretical research with practical applications in sustainable agriculture, making significant contributions to our understanding of how to maintain food security in the face of climate change.
Dr. Friedrich Longin is an Adjunct Professor and Group Leader of the Wheat Research Group at the State Seed Breeding Institute of the University of Hohenheim, Germany. He leads research on wheat breeding, alternative wheat varieties, and increasing biodiversity in wheat cultivation. University of Hohenheim: Habilitation in Plant Breeding (2016), Adjunct Professor (2019) University of Hohenheim and China Agricultural University in Beijing: Doctorate in a German-Chinese graduate program University of Hohenheim: Studied agricultural biology, specializing in biotechnology and plant breeding Dr. Longin's research focuses on breeding alternative wheat varieties, pre-breeding in wheat, processing and nutritional quality of wheat varieties, nutrient use efficiency in wheat species, and increasing biodiversity and sustainability in wheat cultivation. His breeding research into alternative crops has led to the resurgence of traditional varieties such as spelt, emmer, and einkorn. His work bridges fundamental plant breeding science with practical applications for sustainable agriculture and food systems. He has made significant contributions to understanding the genetic basis of wheat quality traits, disease resistance, and nutritional properties. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on genomics-based approaches to wheat improvement, with particular attention to grain quality, nutritional properties, disease resistance, and the relationship between wheat varieties and human health. There is a clear trend toward integrating molecular breeding techniques with traditional approaches, and an increasing emphasis on understanding the health implications of wheat consumption, particularly regarding inflammatory responses and food sensitivities. Active participant in numerous national and international research projects related to wheat breeding and genetic resources Regularly invited to speak at national and international conferences on wheat breeding and sustainable agriculture Volunteers on several professional committees related to plant breeding and agricultural research Dr. Longin heads the Wheat Research Group at the State Seed Breeding Institute of the University of Hohenheim, which focuses on developing improved wheat varieties with enhanced nutritional quality, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability. His team works closely with farmers, millers, and bakers to ensure that new varieties meet the needs of the entire production chain from farm to fork.
Dr. Hans Oechsner is a leading academic in agricultural engineering and bioenergy, holding multiple leadership positions including Head of the State Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy (Landesanstalt für Agrartechnik und Bioenergie), Managing Director of the Baden-Württemberg Working Group on Agricultural Engineering and Rural Construction (ALB), and Project Leader for the International Graduate College focused on maize-based agricultural systems adaptation to limited phosphate reserves. He teaches advanced courses on biogas technology and bioenergy infrastructure at the Department of Agricultural Engineering in the Tropics and Subtropics. His research centers on optimizing bioenergy systems and sustainable resource management, with key interests in: Advanced biogas production techniques (e.g., mechanical pretreatment, two-stage digestion) Phosphorus recovery from organic waste streams Valorization of agricultural residues and livestock manure Development of circular bioeconomy models for crop systems Dr. Oechsner's recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on enhancing biogas plant efficiency, nutrient recycling from digestate, and sustainable biomass utilization. His work consistently integrates full-scale applications with fundamental research, particularly in pretreatment optimization and waste stream valorization. He leads research infrastructure at the State Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, coordinating teams working on large-scale biogas optimization and agricultural waste management. His projects frequently involve international collaborations and industry partnerships.
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact ResearchGermany
Dr. Christoph Müller is a leading scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany, where he has served as working-group leader of the Land Biosphere Dynamics group since 2012. He also co-leads the Global Biosphere and Water Modeling team and acts as the scientist-in-charge for the internationally renowned LPJmL global vegetation and crop model. Additionally, he is Co-lead of the Ag-GRID initiative within the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) and serves as Topical Editor for Geoscientific Model Development . Education Diploma in Geoecology, University of Potsdam (2002) PhD in Geoecology, University of Potsdam & International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) (2007) Research Interests Dr. Müller’s research centres on understanding and modelling the interactions between climate, land use, and the biosphere to support sustainable food-system transformations. His work integrates global-scale vegetation and crop models with climate projections, socio-economic scenarios, and observational data to assess: Impacts of climate change and extreme events on crop yields and food security Carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles in managed and natural ecosystems Land-based climate-mitigation strategies and their co-benefits or trade-offs Adaptation options for agriculture under global change He promotes open science and reproducible modelling workflows, exemplified by the LPJmL open-source ecosystem model and associated toolkits. Publication Profile & Trends Since 2014 he has authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed articles. Recent work (2024-2025) highlights three dominant themes: (1) quantifying underestimated negative impacts of climate extremes on crop yields, (2) assessing the sustainability of large-scale land-based mitigation measures, and (3) advancing model intercomparison frameworks (e.g., AgMIP, ISIMIP) to reduce uncertainty in global yield projections. His studies increasingly integrate economic and health perspectives, examining how dietary shifts and food-system transformations can achieve climate, environmental, and social co-benefits. Scientific Awards & Recognition While no formal awards are explicitly listed, several publications have received notable recognition: “Soil quality both increases crop production and improves resilience to climate change” (Nature Climate Change, 2022) – listed among China’s top ten major advances in agricultural science in 2023. “Large potential for crop production adaptation depends on available future varieties” (Global Change Biology, 2021) – top-downloaded article. “Climate change impacts on global agriculture emerge earlier in new generation of climate and crop models” (Nature Food, 2021) – widely cited in IPCC AR6. Leadership, Grants & Collaboration Dr. Müller leads or co-leads multiple international projects and working groups: Working Group Leader – Land Biosphere Dynamics, PIK Research Department 2 Co-Lead – Ag-GRID, Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) Scientist-in-Charge – LPJmL model development and application Topical Editor – Geoscientific Model Development journal These roles involve coordinating multi-institutional consortia, securing competitive grants, and mentoring early-career researchers. Laboratory & Data Resources Dr. Müller’s “team” is essentially the LPJmL modelling group at PIK, comprising post-docs, doctoral researchers, and software engineers who maintain and extend the LPJmL code-base, develop satellite-data fusion products, and provide model-driven policy support to governments and international organisations such as the IPCC, FAO, and World Bank.
