Charles Tumuhe | Agroecology | Young Scientist Award

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Mr. Charles Tumuhe | Agroecology | Young Scientist Award

Mr. Charles Tumuhe | Uganda Martyrs University | Uganda

Tumuhe Charles Lwanga is an accomplished agroecologist and development practitioner whose work integrates agroecology, food sovereignty, and climate resilience to advance sustainable agricultural systems across Africa. His research and field engagements emphasize ecological farming, natural resource management, and community-driven approaches to food security. Through his leadership in regional advocacy programs under the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, he has contributed to strengthening agroecological networks and policy dialogues in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Senegal. His experience extends to research coordination, project evaluation, and farmer capacity-building initiatives promoting agroecological transformation and rural empowerment. With a strong academic foundation in agroecology and food systems, his scholarly output reflects a deep commitment to evidence-based practice and participatory research. His work has been cited in five academic documents, supported by four publications, demonstrating growing recognition in the scientific and policy communities. His current h-index of 1 highlights his emerging impact within the field of agroecology and sustainable food systems. Combining academic rigor with grassroots engagement, he continues to influence policy, education, and advocacy efforts that drive ecological integrity, food justice, and resilience in African farming landscapes.

Profiles:  Scopus | Orcid 

Featured Publications

Tumuhe, C. L., Katusiime, D., Ssekamatte, D., Muloi, J. M., Kamau, H., Bwambale, B. B., Kaire, S., Slivesteri, S., Naigaga, H., Mugabo, I., & Audain, K. (2025). Advancing agroecology through networking in Uganda. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.

Cecilia Dini | Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Cecilia Dini | Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Cecilia Dini | National Council for Scientific and Technical Research | Argentina

Dr. Cecilia Dini is a distinguished scientist whose research bridges chemistry, microbiology, and food technology to advance the revalorization of ancient and non-traditional crops for modern food applications. Her work focuses on unlocking the nutritional, functional, and industrial potential of underutilized Andean roots and tubers such as ahipa (Pachyrhizus ahipa), oca (Oxalis tuberosa), arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza), and Jerusalem artichoke, positioning these crops as valuable resources for sustainable food systems. Through two completed research projects and ongoing investigations on Argentinian oca, she has significantly contributed to understanding the biochemical composition, starch characteristics, and functional properties of these species. Her studies have demonstrated how root- and tuber-derived biopolymers, including fructans and resistant starches, can serve as healthy dietary fibers and versatile ingredients for gluten-free products and functional foods. Dr. Dini’s research not only enhances agricultural biodiversity but also supports local farming systems by promoting the use of resilient, climate-adaptive crops. She has published 28 peer-reviewed papers in indexed journals, with her research earning over 550 citations across 475 documents and achieving an H-index of 14 (Scopus) and 17 (Google Scholar), reflecting her strong scientific impact. Her collaborative efforts with international research institutions such as Texas A&M University (USA), IATA (Spain), and the National University of Ambato (Ecuador) have fostered interdisciplinary innovation and global knowledge exchange in crop utilization and food processing. In addition to journal publications, she has authored book chapters on non-cereal starch resources, cassava-derived ingredients, and nutritional analyses of Andean roots, contributing extensively to literature in food science and agricultural biotechnology. Dr. Dini’s body of work exemplifies excellence in research translation—bridging laboratory insights with industrial applications, supporting sustainable crop diversification, and contributing to global food security through science-driven valorization of ancient crops.

Profile:  Scopus

Featured Publications

Dini, C. (2025). Characterization of commercial olluco (Ullucus tuberosus) tubers from La Plata, Argentina: Potential as a source of starch, flour, and soluble dietary fiber. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition.

Dini, C., Garzón, R., & Rosell, C. M. (2025). Breadmaking potential of Andean roots and tuber starches from ahipa (Pachyrhizus ahipa), oca (Oxalis tuberosa), and arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza). Starch – Stärke.

Stefania Fortunato | Soil Plant | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Stefania Fortunato | Soil Plant | Best Researcher Award

Stefania Fortunato | University of Bari Aldo Moro | Italy 

Stefania Fortunato is a Senior Laboratory Technician for research and teaching in Plant Biology and Physiology at the Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment of the University of Bari Aldo Moro, where she has built a solid scientific profile grounded in multidisciplinary expertise. She earned her PhD in Agricultural Biodiversity and Environment in 2018 with a focus on Agricultural Genetics, conducting research on nitrogen metabolism in durum wheat, and complemented her academic path with a Master’s Degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology and a professional qualification as a Biologist. Her international experience includes a visiting researcher position at the Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Spanish National Research Council (EEZ-CSIC) in Granada, where she worked on ROS and nitric oxide signaling and peroxisomal dynamics in plants. Her research activity spans Plant Physiology, Agricultural Genetics, and Food Science and Technology, addressing cellular redox mechanisms, nitrogen use efficiency, thermal stress response, oxidative processes in food products, and green analytical techniques. She has authored 28 documents that collectively garnered 564 citations across 627 citing sources, reflecting the impact of her contributions, and she holds an H-index of 11. A member of the Italian Society of Plant Biology since 2021, she actively contributes to advancing plant science through both laboratory innovation and academic collaboration.

Profile: Scopus 

Featured Publications

Di Silvestre, N. J., Domingo, G., Vannini, C., Marsoni, M., Fortunato, S., de Pinto, M. C., Tamborrino, A., Negroni, Y. L., Zottini, M., Tran Hong, L., Lomagno, A., Mauri, P., Pesaresi, P., & Tadini, L. (2025). A holistic investigation of Arabidopsis proteomes altered in chloroplast biogenesis and retrograde signalling identifies PsbO as a key regulator of chloroplast quality control. Plant Cell and Environment.

Fortunato, S., Domingo, G., Davide, E., Lasorella, C., Bracale, M., Vannini, C., & de Pinto, M. C. (n.d.). Dual function plant cryptic nucleotide cyclases.