Sara Godena | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Innovative Research Award

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Innovative Research Award

Sara Godena
Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Croatia

Sara Godena
Affiliation Institute of Agriculture and Tourism
Country Croatia
Scopus ID 36760599700
Documents 36
Citations 388
h-index 11
Subject Area Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Event International Soil Scientist Awards
ORCID 0000-0003-1937-4611

Sara Godena is a researcher affiliated with the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism in Croatia whose documented scholarly activity falls within Agricultural and Biological Sciences. Her research profile includes plant health, olive production, biological control, plant-derived antimicrobial agents, and sustainable approaches to agricultural disease management. Her reported research record comprises 36 documents, 388 citations, and an h-index of 11. [1]

Abstract

Sara Godena’s research portfolio demonstrates a focus on practical agricultural and plant-health challenges, particularly those affecting olive cultivation. Recent studies address olive-associated fungal and bacterial pathogens, essential oils, plant-based agents, olive mill wastewater, pathogen diversity, and varietal susceptibility. These themes connect biological research with environmentally conscious disease-management strategies and contribute to the development of alternatives to conventional chemical control. [2]

Keywords

Olive pathology; plant health; biological control; essential oils; plant-based agents; Botryosphaeriaceae; Pseudomonas savastanoi; olive mill wastewater; sustainable agriculture; agricultural microbiology.

Introduction

Olive production is affected by diverse fungal and bacterial organisms that can influence plant health and productivity. Godena’s recent publications investigate these challenges through pathogen characterization, antimicrobial evaluation, varietal assessment, and exploration of plant-derived or agricultural by-product-based interventions. Such research is relevant to integrated plant disease management and the broader objective of reducing reliance on conventional inputs. [3]

Research Profile

The research profile combines plant pathology, microbiology, agricultural biotechnology, and sustainable crop protection. Published work examines both pathogen biology and potential control measures, creating a research pathway from identification and characterization toward application-oriented disease management.

Research Contributions

  • Assessment of olive-associated Botryosphaeriaceae diversity and pathogenicity in Istria, Croatia. [5]
  • Investigation of plant-based agents and essential oils for antimicrobial and antifungal activity. [3]
  • Evaluation of olive mill wastewater as a potential source of bioactive compounds for plant disease management. [2]

Publications

Selected recent publications include studies in Horticulturae, Agronomy, Agriculture, Plants, and Microorganisms. The 2025 Horticulturae article examines physicochemical characteristics and antifungal activity of olive mill wastewaters against Botryosphaeriaceae, while related studies investigate plant-based growth promoters, green bactericides, essential oils, fungal pathogens, and bacterial disease susceptibility. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Research Impact

The reported 388 citations and h-index of 11 indicate measurable scholarly visibility within the researcher’s indexed publication record. [1] The thematic continuity of the publications also demonstrates relevance to sustainable crop protection, especially where biological activity, plant-derived compounds, and agricultural residues can be evaluated as components of integrated management.

Award Suitability

The documented publication record, citation profile, and research emphasis provide a scholarly basis for consideration for the Innovative Research Award associated with the International Soil Scientist Awards. Particular relevance arises from research connecting agricultural production with plant protection and environmentally oriented approaches to pathogen management. Award consideration should be based on the complete nomination dossier and independent evaluation criteria.

Conclusion

Sara Godena’s research profile reflects sustained engagement with agricultural and biological sciences, with notable emphasis on olive health, plant pathogens, biological activity, and sustainable crop-protection approaches. Her indexed research output and recent publications provide a coherent foundation for academic recognition in innovative agricultural research.

References

  1. Elsevier. (n.d.). Scopus author details: Sara Godena, Author ID 36760599700. Scopus.
    https://www.scopus.com/pages/authors/36760599700
  2. MDPI. (2025). Integrated Analysis of Olive Mill Wastewaters: Physicochemical Profiling, Antifungal Activity, and Biocontrol Potential Against Botryosphaeriaceae. Horticulturae, 11(7), 819. DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae11070819
  3. MDPI. (2025). Potential of Plant-Based Agents as Next-Generation Plant Growth-Promotors and Green Bactericides Against Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi. Agronomy, 15(4), 819. DOI: 10.3390/agronomy15040819
  4. MDPI. (2025). Antifungal Efficacy of Essential Oils and Their Predominant Components Against Olive Fungal Pathogens. Agriculture, 15(3), 340. DOI: 10.3390/agriculture15030340
  5. MDPI. (2024). Diversity and Pathogenicity of Botryosphaeriaceae Species Isolated from Olives in Istria, Croatia, and Evaluation of Varietal Resistance. Plants, 13(13), 1813. DOI: 10.3390/plants13131813
  6. MDPI. (2024). Varietal Susceptibility of Olive to Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi and the Antibacterial Potential of Plant-Based Agents. Microorganisms, 12(7), 1301. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12071301

Dilawar Abbas | Agricultural | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Dilawar Abbas | Agricultural | Research Excellence Award

Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences | China

Dilawar Abbas is an emerging researcher in agricultural and insect sciences whose work integrates biological control, integrated pest management (IPM), insect ecology, and applied entomology to address critical challenges in sustainable crop protection. His research spans insect behavior and interactions, physiology, morphology, taxonomy, molecular biology, toxicology, and the application of entomopathogenic nematodes, with a strong emphasis on environmentally responsible pest management strategies. He has conducted laboratory-based investigations on insect diapause intensity and overwintering survival, combining physiological, biochemical, and molecular approaches to elucidate mechanisms of cold tolerance and diapause regulation in major agricultural pests. Complementing this experimental work, his applied research experience includes field-based pest identification, monitoring, and management across diverse cropping systems, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of IPM implementation under real agricultural conditions. This integrated perspective bridges fundamental insect biology with practical pest control solutions aimed at improving crop yield, quality, and sustainability. His research outputs reflect growing scholarly impact, with 14 published documents that have received 19 citations across 17 citing documents and an h-index of 3, demonstrating early but meaningful contributions to the scientific literature. Collectively, his work highlights strong potential for continued innovation in sustainable pest management, ecological research, and biologically based control strategies within modern agricultural systems.

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Climate-driven insect pest outbreaks and associated food security risks: adaptive strategies for resilient agricultural systems

– Review Article

Siran Wang | Agricultural | Research Excellence Award

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Prof. Siran Wang | Agricultural | Research Excellence Award

Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences | China

Dr. Siran Wang is a leading researcher in animal nutrition and forage science whose work centers on improving silage quality, feed efficiency, and sustainable livestock production through microbial and fermentation-based innovations. His research focuses on forage processing and efficient utilization, screening and application of functional lactic acid bacteria, and the development and utilization of unconventional feed resources, with particular emphasis on enhancing nutritional value, safety, and stability of animal feeds. He has made substantial contributions to understanding microbial communities, fermentation mechanisms, and their practical application in silage systems, especially under diverse agro-ecological conditions. Dr. Wang plays an active academic service role across multiple high-impact journals, serving as section editor, early-career editorial board member, lead guest editor and guest associate editor for numerous international special issues and research topics related to agriculture, microbiology, fermentation, plant science, and animal science, several of which have resulted in large collections of published peer-reviewed papers. His editorial leadership reflects strong recognition within the scientific community for his expertise in silage microbiology and forage utilization. Dr. Wang has published 111 scientific documents, which have received 1,594 citations across 977 citing documents, and he holds an h-index of 21, highlighting the impact, consistency, and relevance of his research contributions to agricultural and animal science.

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Application of Fermentation Technology in Animal Nutrition: Second Edition

– Fermentation 

Biological delignification and anaerobic fermentation of wheat straw as a sustainable strategy for crop straw utilization

– Industrial Crops and Products 

Effects of biological lignin depolymerization on rice straw enzymatic hydrolysis, anaerobic fermentation performance, and in vitro ruminal digestibility

– International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 

Effects of biological and antifungal additives on ensiling quality, in vitro digestibility, gas production, and aerobic stability of fermented total mixed rations containing wet brewers’ grains

– Acta Prataculturae Sinica 

Influence of growth stage and storage duration on fermentation traits, microbial community dynamics, functional shifts, and pathogenic risk in fermented Italian ryegrass

– LWT

Halit Karagoz | Agricultural | Research Excellence Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Halit Karagoz | Agricultural | Research Excellence Award

Ege University | Turkey

Dr. Halit Karagoz’s research portfolio reflects a comprehensive and multidisciplinary contribution to field crops science, with a strong emphasis on crop breeding, stress physiology, and sustainable agricultural practices. His work integrates classical and modern approaches in plant breeding, including cold tolerance screening, mutagenesis, polyploidy induction, genetic diversity analysis, and population structure assessment in cereals and medicinal–aromatic plants. A significant body of his research focuses on wheat, barley, triticale, and endemic oregano species, addressing agronomic performance, quality traits, and adaptation to abiotic stresses such as cold and drought. He has also made notable contributions to the application of plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for improving plant growth, nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and essential oil composition, thereby supporting environmentally friendly and sustainable production systems. His studies employ molecular, epigenetic, and agro-morphological tools to advance crop improvement and conservation of local genetic resources. The scientific impact of this work is reflected in an h-index of 7, with publications receiving citations across 146 citing documents and a documented corpus of 9 indexed research outputs, demonstrating recognized influence within the fields of crop science, plant genetics, and sustainable agriculture.

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View Scopus Profile

Properties and Ornamental Significance of Prometheum sempervivoides (Fisch. ex Bieb.) H. Ohba Naturally Grown in Erzurum

– Journal of Agricultural Production, 2020

Influence of Plant Growth–Promoting Rhizobacteria on Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Physiological Traits of Sugar Beet under Variable Irrigation Regimes

– ÇOMÜ Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, 2020

Effects of Indole Acetic Acid–Producing Bacteria and Hormonal Treatments on Essential Oil Composition of Satureja hortensis L.

– Frontiers in Environmental Microbiology, 2019

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure Analysis of Origanum rotundifolium L. Genotypes Using the SCoT Marker System

– Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 2026

Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Genotypes for Cold Tolerance, Agronomic Performance, and Quality Traits

– Crop and Pasture Science

Melih Altay | Agricultural | Young Researcher Award

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Mr. Melih Altay | Agricultural | Young Researcher Award

Hacettepe University | Turkey

Melih Altay is a researcher in geomatics engineering with a strong specialization in photogrammetry, artificial intelligence, and remote sensing. His research is centered on integrating deep learning and machine learning methods with multi-source Earth observation data to address complex geospatial problems. He has developed and applied advanced AI-based segmentation, object detection, and classification approaches for analyzing optical and SAR satellite imagery, with particular emphasis on forest fire assessment, water surface detection, and agricultural land monitoring. His work contributes to improving the accuracy and automation of geospatial data extraction from high-resolution satellite platforms such as PlanetScope and Sentinel series. His research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary integration of GIS, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence, offering scalable solutions for environmental monitoring, land-use analysis, and spatial decision support. Through peer-reviewed conference publications, he has contributed comparative evaluations of deep learning architectures and innovative workflows that enhance geospatial analysis efficiency and reliability. Overall, his work reflects a forward-looking approach to geomatics engineering, emphasizing intelligent automation, high-resolution spatial analytics, and the practical application of AI technologies in Earth observation and digital twin systems.

View Orcid Profile


Phenology aware agricultural boundary extraction using segment anything model and planet scope imagery (zero shot learning approach)– Advances in Space Research

Wei Dong | Agricultural | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Wei Dong | Agricultural | Research Excellence Award

Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University | China 

Dong Wei is an accomplished academic and researcher specializing in hydraulic machinery and hydrodynamics, with a strong record of scientific leadership and technical innovation. He serves as an Associate Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at Northwest A&F University and is actively engaged in national and professional service related to hydropower, pumping systems, and energy conversion equipment. His research contributions span fundamental theory, engineering applications, and standardization, reflecting both academic depth and practical relevance. He has led 20 competitive research and industry-supported projects at national, provincial, and enterprise levels, demonstrating sustained research capacity and management expertise. His scholarly output includes 53 research documents, with 60 published papers overall, of which 40 are indexed in SCI/EI databases and 10 are recognized as top-tier Q1 publications. His work has attracted significant academic attention, accumulating 443 citations across 364 citing documents, and he maintains an h-index of 12, indicating consistent research impact. In addition to publications, he holds 10 authorized patents, has edited or co-edited a specialized textbook, and has contributed to the formulation of two national technical standards, underscoring his role in advancing both scientific knowledge and engineering practice in the field of hydraulic and hydropower equipment.

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Research on Cavitation Energy Characteristics of a Mixed-Flow Pump Based on Entropy Production Theory and Multi-Resolution Dynamic Mode Decomposition (MRDMD)


– International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2026


Analysis of Transient Entropy Generation Loss Mechanisms under Variable-Speed Operating Conditions of a Pump-Turbine


– Transactions of the Chinese Society for Agricultural Machinery (Nongye Jixie Xuebao), 2025


Multi-Objective Optimization of Control Strategies for Variable-Speed Regulation in Pump Mode of Pump-Turbines


– Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 2025


Multiscale Pressure Fluctuation Characteristics and Vortex–Enthalpy Interaction in a Cavitating Mixed-Flow Pump


– Physics of Fluids, 2025


Optimization of Centrifugal Pump Performance and Excitation Force Using Machine Learning and Enhanced NSGA-III


– Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 2025

Ramesh Sahni | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Ramesh Sahni | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering | India

Ramesh Kumar Sahni has established a solid and impactful scholarly record, demonstrated through 40 peer-reviewed research documents that together have garnered 187 citations from 154 citing publications, reflecting wide visibility and meaningful influence within the academic community. With an h-index of 9, his research output shows a strong balance between productivity and sustained citation impact, indicating that several of his works are consistently referenced and contribute enduring value rather than short-term attention. His publications collectively address relevant scientific and applied challenges, offering methodological depth, technological relevance, and interdisciplinary insights that continue to inform and support subsequent research efforts. The citation distribution highlights not only recognition by peers but also the practical and conceptual relevance of his work across related domains. Maintaining a steady stream of quality publications, Ramesh Kumar Sahni’s research profile reflects intellectual consistency, originality, and a commitment to advancing knowledge through well-disseminated findings. Overall, the combination of document volume, citation count, and h-index underscores a credible and growing research impact, positioning his contributions as reliable reference points within the scholarly ecosystem and demonstrating sustained engagement with high-value research outcomes.

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View Scopus ProfileView OrcidProfile


Development of a Sensor-Based Embedded System for Real-Time Variable-Rate Fertilizer Application in Maize Cultivation

– Results in Engineering


Utilising Drones in Agriculture: A Comprehensive Review of Remote Sensing, Image Processing, and Field Applications

– Modern Agriculture


Comparative Evaluation of Drone Spraying and Conventional Gun Spraying for Nano-Urea Application in Maize Cropping Systems

– Drones


Resource Use Efficiency and Environmental Impacts of Traditional and Improved Cultivation Practices in Soybean, Paddy, and Wheat Systems

– Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments


A Novel Dynamic Detection Method for Stem and Fruit Identification to Enable Apricot Posture Estimation and Adjustment

– Information Processing in Agriculture

Opeyemi Faronbi | Agricultural | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Opeyemi Faronbi | Agricultural | Research Excellence Award

Landmark University | Nigeria

Dr. Opeyemi Faronbi is an emerging scholar whose research contributions demonstrate growing impact and visibility within the agricultural and food systems research community. Her scholarly output comprises 8 peer-reviewed documents, reflecting a focused and consistent publication trajectory across key thematic areas such as agricultural economics, food and nutrition security, climate-smart agriculture, agroecology, and gender-related dimensions of rural development. These publications have collectively attracted 36 citations from 34 citing documents, indicating that her work is being actively referenced and utilized by other researchers to inform ongoing studies and evidence-based discussions. With an h-index of 4, Dr. Faronbi has established a measurable balance between productivity and citation impact, underscoring the relevance and quality of her research contributions. Her citation profile suggests that multiple publications have achieved sustained academic engagement rather than isolated recognition. Overall, the combination of her document count, citation performance, and h-index highlights a solid and developing research footprint, characterized by methodological rigor, policy relevance, and interdisciplinary appeal. Dr. Opeyemi Faronbi’s bibliometric indicators reflect a promising academic profile with clear potential for continued growth, broader international recognition, and increasing influence within her research domains.

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View Scopus ProfileView Orcid Profile   View Google Scholar Profile


Causal Nexus Between Agricultural Credit Rationing and Repayment Performance: A Two-Stage Tobit Regression


– AIMS Agriculture and Food


Economic Performance of Smallholder Soya Bean Production in Kwara State, Nigeria


– Open Agriculture


Land Tenure, Land Use Antecedents, and Willingness to Embrace Resilient Farming Practices Among Smallholders in Nigeria


– Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems


Potential of Tithonia diversifolia and Biofertilizers on Soil Physiochemical Properties, Growth, Yield and Mineral Composition of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)


– Research on Crops


Effects of Climate Change on Grain Productivity in Nigeria (1970–2014)


– IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science

Madan Sharma | Agricultural | Editorial Board Member

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Prof. Dr. Madan Sharma | Agricultural | Editorial Board Member

Prof. Dr. Madan Sharma | Manipal University | India

Prof. Dr. Madan Sharma has established a significant scientific presence through impactful research spanning plant biotechnology, nanobiotechnology, medicinal plant conservation, and sustainable bioscience innovation. His scholarly influence is reflected in 757 citations from 717 citing documents, demonstrating broad recognition and applicability of his findings across diverse research communities. With a portfolio of 62 peer-reviewed documents, his work has advanced micropropagation techniques, optimized in vitro regeneration systems, explored endophytic fungal diversity, and contributed to the biosynthesis of eco-friendly nanoparticles with antimicrobial and therapeutic potential. His h-index of 14 underscores the consistent relevance and academic value of his contributions, which have shaped new directions in plant tissue culture, phytochemical enhancement, biogenic nanomaterial development, and bioresource conservation. Prof. Dr. Madan Sharma’s research further integrates molecular, biochemical and nanotechnological approaches to address challenges related to medicinal plant preservation, sustainable agricultural practices, and innovative biological solutions for health and environmental applications. His cumulative scientific output reflects a commitment to advancing knowledge that supports societal benefit, industry innovation, and the progressive development of biosciences through interdisciplinary and forward-looking research.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Eman Abdel Wahab | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eman Abdel Wahab | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eman Abdel Wahab | Field Crops Research Institute | Egypt 

Dr. Eman Ibrahim El-Sayed Abdel-Wahab is a Senior Researcher at the Food Legumes Research Department, Field Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt. Her research focuses on soybean breeding for tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses using integrated approaches that combine traditional breeding, molecular biology, and biotechnology tools. She has made significant contributions to the development of improved soybean cultivars and the genetic understanding of stress-resistance traits. Dr. Abdel-Wahab has successfully completed and participated in 46 research projects and is an active member of the Scientific National Program “Increasing Food Legume Crops” under the Cotton, Oil, and Fiber Crops Council, Ministry of Agriculture. Her scholarly productivity is evidenced by 10 scientific documents, accumulating 184 citations on Google Scholar, 173 on ResearchGate, 33 on Scopus, and 3 on the Web of Science, with an h-index of 4. Her work has been cited by 20 international scientific publications, reflecting her contributions to crop improvement and sustainable agricultural systems. Through her research, she continues to promote food security and enhance the productivity and resilience of legume crops in Egypt, emphasizing innovation, genetic diversity, and sustainability in agricultural practices.

Profiles:  Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Abdel-Wahab, E. I. (2025, September 26). Advanced soybean breeding techniques to alleviate biotic and abiotic stresses under intercropping. In Resilient agroecosystems: Innovations in cropping systems and climate change mitigation.

Abdel-Wahab, E. I. (2025, September 26). Enhancing the efficiency of light interception in soybean and maize intercropping system. In Resilient agroecosystems: Innovations in cropping systems and climate change mitigation.

Abdel-Wahab, E. I. (2025, September 26). From degradation to growth: Intercropping insights. Biuletyn Instytutu Hodowli i Aklimatyzacji Roślin, (Journal article).

Abdel-Wahab, E. I. (2025, September 26). Innovative cropping systems to maximize the use of available natural resources. In Resilient agroecosystems: Innovations in cropping systems and climate change mitigation.

Abdel-Wahab, E. I. (2025, September 26). Mitigation of shading stress on soybean varieties through intercropping with maize in Egypt. In Resilient agroecosystems: Innovations in cropping systems and climate change mitigation.

Barszczowska, B., Abdel-Wahab, S. I., Abdel-Wahab, T. I., Abdel-Wahab, E. I., & Barszczowska, M. (2025, September 26). Od degradacji do wzrostu: spostrzeżenia dotyczące współrzędnych upraw [From degradation to growth: Intercropping insights]. Biuletyn Instytutu Hodowli i Aklimatyzacji Roślin.

Abdel-Wahab, E. I., Naroz, M. H., & Abd El-Rahman, S. F. (2025, September 18). Impact of planting dates on yield and resistance of soybean varieties to soybean stem fly (Melanagromyza sojae) in Egypt. Scientific Reports.