Speakers

Speech Title : Perspectives on Agricultural Heritage Systems and Food Heritage

Dr. Parviz Koohafkan is an Iranian Nationality with a Ph.D. in Terrestrial Ecology from the University of Montpellier France, and an Engineering Degree in Watershed Management from the University of Teheran, Iran. He was professor of Ecology and Natural Resources management in Iran and Montpellier, France and worked as Chief Technical Advisor for Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Haiti and Ecuador. He moved in 1992 to FAO headquarter in Rome and held several Senior positions in Sustainable Development Department. of FAO in Rome. He was the Director of Land and Water Division, Director of Climate Change and Bioenergy Division and Director of the Rural Development Division of Sustainable Development Department of Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO). He was also the Task Manager of several Chapters of Agenda 21 from 1992 to 2012 particularly chapter 14 on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD). He conceptualized the UN Global Partnership Initiative on “Conservation and Adaptive Management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)” and submitted to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002. He retired from FAO at the end of 2012. Since his retirement, he has been working as the Founder and President of the World Agricultural Heritage Forum as well as Senior Research Fellow in Bioversity international, Senior consultant for FAO, IFAD, Norwegian International Cooperation, etc. providing guidance and conceptualization of programs and projects, technical assistance and capacity development in Sustainable Food Systems; Water Food and Energy Nexus, Climate Change adaptation and mitigation and mobilizing bilateral and multilateral funding resources from institutions such as Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, EU and other funding institutions. He was the member representing the Middle East Region to the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Farmers’ Rights (2019-2020).

Speech Title : Mangrove ecosystem health assessment using Geo-ai Assesment and remote sensing techniques

Dr. Ahsan Ali is an associate researcher with research experience in the fields of water resources management, remote sensing, and GIS. He researched the estimation of evapotranspiration using satellite imagery and surface energy balance algorithms. His PhD research developed a model to estimate evapotranspiration for hot and hyper-arid regions. He has researched precision agriculture, AI, machine learning, and managing water resources through remote sensing data and satellite imagery. He also has vast experience in research in vegetation detection, monitoring, and disaster and impact assessment using AI algorithms and machine learning models.

Speech Title : Enhancing agricultural resilience in west africa: Integrating submergence-tolerant rice varieties and dual-purpose stay-green sorghum systems

Firmin Magloire Oteyami is an Agricultural Engineer, Geneticist-Breeder, and the Founder and CEO of VARTLAB (Variety Agritech & Resilience Technologies Lab) based in Abomey-Calavi, Benin. With over ten years of international experience in agricultural development, climate resilience, and sustainable value chain governance, he has established himself as a leading voice in the transformation of African agrifood systems. His professional footprint spans multiple countries across West Africa and the Sahel (including Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Togo, Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Nigeria), complemented by strategic institutional collaborations in Europe and North America. He has driven high-impact initiatives for major organizations such as the PAM (WFP), IFAD, GIZ, COLEAD, and CORAF, and contributed to regional policy frameworks, including IUCN biodiversity integration programs. Recognized by the European Union (LEAP4FNSSA program) as an African Young Innovator in agroecological transition, his expertise encompasses climate-resilient crop breeding, participatory agronomic trials, ESG supply chain audits, and the deployment of data-driven agricultural technologies (such as the OTRESYL risk-monitoring framework). Fluent in French and English, Firmin Oteyami is deeply committed to bridging science, digital innovation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to foster sustainable, competitive, and future-proof agricultural systems.

Speech Title : Potential Use of Edible Flowers as Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals: A Source of Bioactive-Enriched Commodities

Dr. K. D. Prasanna Priyantha Gunathilake is a Professor of Food Science & Technology at the Department of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries & Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. He has served as Head of the Department since February 2024. Dr. Gunathilake earned his PhD from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, focusing on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of under-utilized green leafy vegetables in Sri Lanka. He also holds an MSc by Research from Dalhousie University, Canada, and an MSc from the University of Peradeniya. With over two decades of academic and research experience, he has published extensively in high-impact journals and received numerous awards, including the Most Outstanding Senior Researcher at Wayamba University in multiple years. His research spans functional foods, antioxidant properties, and sustainable food innovations. In addition to his academic contributions, Dr. Gunathilake has held key administrative roles, including Chair of the Faculty Higher Degree Committee and Academic Coordinator for the B.Sc. Food Quality Management (External) program. He is also a member of the Sectorial Committee of Food Products at the Sri Lanka Institute of Standards.