Arthur Kwena, PhD
   Professor of Medical Biochemistry
   Department of Medical Biochemistry
   School of Medicine
   College of Health Sciences
   Moi University, Eldoret
   Kenya

Arthur Kwena is Professor of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Kenya. He holds BSc (University of Nairobi), PG certificate (King’s College, London), MSc (University of Liverpool, UK) and PhD (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology, Kenya). He first worked as a Research Scientist before joining Moi University as a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and Professor in the Department of Medical Biochemistry later renamed Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry. He was Head of Department for a period of 7 years, Acting Dean School of Medicine, Moi University for a period of 7 months and currently Associate Dean, School of Medicine He has coordinated the Community Based Education and Service (COBES) for second year students in the college of Health Sciences for a period of ten years. He has supervised many postgraduate students (Master’s and PhD) and has externally examined in several Universities including Makerere, in Uganda, Masinde Muliro, University of Eldoret and University of Nairobi in Kenya. He has also assessed promotion for Professors for Kwame Nkurumah University in Ghana, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Nigeria, Kenyatta University in Kenya and Addis Ababa University in Ethopia. He has published many articles in National and International Journals. He was accorded various awards among them the Dr. Charles C. Shepard Award for the CDC/KEMRI malaria Insecticide Treated bed-nets programme and the Seeding labs Instrumental award Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He is a reviewer and sub editor in several journals, both nationally and internationally. He is currently a member of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and a founder member of the Biochemical Society of Kenya. He was also a member of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, UK.

   
   Charlotte Atsango Serem, PhD
   Head, Family and Consumer Sciences Department
   University of Eldoret
   Kenya

Dr. Charlotte Atsango Serrem received her PhD in Food Science/Nutrition from the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 201I, a combined Food Science and Human Nutrition MSc from the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow respectively, in UK, 1996. She also holds BEd Home Economics from Nairobi University Kenya, 1985. Currently, Dr. Serrem is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology at the University of Eldoret in Kenya and Head of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. She has over 30 years of teaching Food Science, Nutrition and Microbiology related courses in Moi, Eldoret and Eastern Africa Universities. She has also participated in the development of BSc, MSc and PhD curricula in Food Science, Human Nutrition and Food Security. Dr Serrem has supervised and examined PhD and MSc theses in Kenyan Universities, Uganda and Japan in addition to guiding over 80 undergraduate honours research projects. Dr. Serrem has special interest in Cereal Science, Sensory Evaluation and Dietary Assessment. Most research has focused on food quality (fortification and safety) and product development with special focus on utilization of staple foods to improve food security and solve malnutrition problems in developing countries. Research funding has been provided by AICAD, VLIR, GL-CRSP and UNICARSSA (European Union and NRF)in addition to University of Eldoret and Moi University research funds, for studies on indigenous milk processing and preservation, sorghum and maize protein quality, hence nutritionally optimized therapeutic foods for HIV, young children and school feeding have been developed. These works alone have generated over 25 articles in high impact peer reviewed journals in addition to her other publications. Dr Serrem has also reviewed and served on Editorial board for both local and international journals. In the past she was a member of the South African Association of Food Science and Technologists, and is now a member of the Kenya Nutrition and Dietetics Institute and Food Science and Technology Platform of Kenya.

   
   David Kwah-Mensah, PhD
   Associate Teaching Professor
   Iowa State University
   USA

Dr. David Kwaw-Mensah is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University, USA. His degrees include a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education (Extension Education), with a Ph.D. minor in Environmental Science (Soil and Water Quality), Iowa State University, 2008, M.S. in Soil Science (Soil Management), Iowa State University, 2005, M.S in Agricultural Land-use Planning, University of Pretoria, South Africa, 1996, and B.Sc. (Hons) in Agriculture (Agronomy), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, 1982. He joined the Agronomy Department in 2012 as a Research Associate in Soil Management and Environment, focusing on tillage systems and residue management research. In 2017 he joined the Master of Science Agronomy Program as Assistant Teaching Professor and currently teaches the following courses in the Master of Science Agronomy Program: Agronomy 5320 (Soil Management), Agronomy 5120 (Soil-Plant Environment), Agronomy 5920 (Current Issues in Agronomy), and Agronomy 5990M (Creative Component). Dr. Kwaw-Mensah also teaches a section of the undergraduate course Agronomy 3420 (World Food Issues: Past and Present). He is an enthusiastic teacher who believes in a respectful and inclusive learning environment. His teaching philosophy is grounded in the theory of transformative learning and constructivism. He shares in the thoughts of the 450 BC Philosopher, Confucius who once said, “Tell me, and I will forget; Show me, and I may remember; Involve me and I will understand.” He believes learning is an active lifelong biological process, which teachers must objectively evaluate using both formative and summative methods. He believes in engaging his students by telling, showing, and actively involving them in the learning and discovery process.

   
   Elijah Obayelu, PhD
   Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management
   Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
   Ogun State
   Nigeria

Professor Obayelu, Abiodun Elijah started his educational career in University of Ilorin, Kwara State Nigeria where he obtained Bachelor Degree in Agriculture (Agricultural Economics and Farm Management) and Master in Business Administration (MBA). He has Master of Science degree and Ph.D in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and presently an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Ogun State, Nigeria. His areas of interest include Food and Consumer Economics, Households Welfare, Agricultural Development and Policy. He has over 11 years’ experience in African Agricultural Research and Development and contributing extensively to emerging issues in agriculture as part of his research and consultancies for international and national organizations. He is endowed with a pleasant personality and capability to work effectively in multi-cultural environments and has participated in funded research projects. Professor Obayelu is astute in research which has resulted in publication of over 90 scholarly articles, and he has participated in conferences/workshops/short courses across the world. Professor Obayelu is a member of many International Learned Societies/Professional Associations, one of these is the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE). Professor Obayelu has editorial experience as a reviewer for many journals (both local and foreign) and published edited books. Prominent among the books edited are: Developing sustainable food systems, policies and securities, Food Systems Sustainability and Environmental Policies in Modern Economies, both published by the IGI-Global, USA.

   
   Fanuel Kapute, PhD
   Faculty of Environmental Sciences
   Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science
   Mzuzu University
   Malawi

Professor Fanuel Kapute holds a PhD and an MSc in Aquaculture & Fisheries Science; BSc and Diploma in Agriculture from the University of Malawi. He also has a two-year Certificate in the Principles of Fisheries Management from the Natural Resources College of Malawi. He is a senior academic member in the Faculty of Environmental Sciences (Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science) at Mzuzu University, northern Malawi but now serving as the university’s Director of Research. Prof. Kapute has over 19 years of experience in the academia teaching, conducting research, outreach and supervision of academic research projects (University of Malawi and Mzuzu University). He has for four years headed the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science and coordinated the Postgraduate programme in the department including the Intra-Africa Academic mobility Project: Collaborative Training in Fisheries and Aquaculture in East, Central and Southern Africa (COTRA) programme. He was part of the team that championed the first postgraduate programme in the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at Mzuzu University with funding from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM). Prof. Kapute has published and co-published over 60 papers in peer reviewed journals including a manual published by VDM Verlag, in Germany (ISBN 978-3-639-33844-7) which is used in the teaching of Fish Processing and Quality Management at Undergraduate level. He has supervised several postgraduate (PhD and MSc) studies (over 30) and over 90 undergraduate students in the fields of aquaculture, capture fisheries, fish quality management, extension and several inter-related fields in fisheries science. Apart from AJFAND, Prof. Kapute is also a reviewer to several local and international journals. He is also an external examiner for the University of Malawi, the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), the Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA), University of Venda (RSA), University of Namibia (Namibia) and University of Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe). Prof. Kapute has travelled extensively attending training courses in fisheries science and aquaculture such as Israel (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), Philippines (GIFT Foundation), Taiwan (National Taiwan Ocean University), South Africa (Rhodes University and University of Stellenbosch), and China (Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre in Wuxi). He completed a six months course in fish quality management in Iceland under the United Nations University Fisheries Training Programme (UNU-FTP) in 2009. Prior to joining the academia at the University of Malawi in 2005, Prof. Kapute worked with the Malawi Department of Fisheries from 1993 serving at different levels such as Fisheries Research Officer, District Fisheries Officer etc. He has also carried out several consultancy assignments with several organizations such as UNIDO, UNDP, GIZ, SMEC, Oxfam, World Vision International, Songwe River Basin Development Programme (SRBDP) in Tanzania to mention but a few. He has also been the Principal Investigator to several projects e.g. the three-year competitive grant scheme funding from the government of Norway to implement an integrated fish farming project in southern Malawi and the Capacity Building for Management of Climate Change (CABMACC) project. Prof. Kapute’s academic and professional background is in fisheries (capture and aquaculture) and agriculture although he now specializes in fish processing and quality management.

   
   George Ooko Abong’, PhD
   Associate Professor
   Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology
   University of Nairobi
   Immediate Past President: FoSTeP-K
   Kenya

George Ooko Abong’ holds a bachelor, masters and doctorate degrees in Food Science and Technology (BSC, MSc, PhD [University of Nairobi], ITPDip. FS [Ghent University]). He currently works as an Associate Professor at the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and chairs the Department. He is a researcher in safe processing of foods and human nutrition-related issues where he has published 139 peer-reviewed publications, 1 book and 7 scholarly book chapters. He has supervised 80 post graduate students: 9 PhDs, 69 MScs and 2 Post-graduate Diploma. He is a trained food safety expert with vast knowledge in quality assurance and risk analysis from the University of Ghent, Belgium and he was a co-chair of the communication working group of the Global Food Safety Partnership, an initiative championed by the World Bank to ensure food safety worldwide for the year 2015. He has also been recognized as the best-performing lecturer in the Faculty of Agriculture-UoN and the best researcher at the University of Nairobi (2022 and 2023). He has made a noticeable contribution to food standards development since 2009 to date in several national, regional and global technical committees (TC) and sits in a number of Codex committees engaged in development of food safety standards and international level.

   
   Gertrude Were, PhD
   Associate Professor
   Department of Family & Consumer Sciences
   University of Eldoret
   Kenya

University of Eldoret recently promoted Gertrude Were to Associate Professor in nutrition. Prof. Were has a wide experience in teaching and research spanning 30 years now. She has undertaken various research in the area of nutrition and has mentored several students both at M. Sc and Ph. D levels. She has published scientific papers in international peer reviewed journals and has co-authored three books. Prof. Were is currently a Technical Reviewer for the Africa Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND) and also a reviewer for the Journal of Nutrition & Dietetics. She is a member of the Planetary Health Alliance, East Africa Hub, is a registered nutritionist with the Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute (KNDI) and a member of the National Quality Institute (NQI). In addition, Prof. Were is currently the Director, Directorate of Quality Assurance at the University of Eldoret.

   
   Gabriel Adegoke , PhD
   Department of Food Technology
   University of Ibadan
   Nigeria

Professor Adegoke obtained his PhD degree (Veterinary Microbiology) in 1984 from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria and was promoted to the grade of Associate Professor (Reader) in 1996 and full professor in October 1,1999 in the Department of Food Technology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Professor Adegoke has successfully supervised 14 PhD students and has over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals with reasonable impact factors. In 2010, Professor Adegoke was appointed Chairman, Committee for the Review of Nigeria's Food Safety Policy, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria. Professor Adegoke was invited as a Consultant by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1996, 1999, 2002 and 2007 on issues relating to Healthy Food Market, acrylamine and food safety (FERG). He was on the WHO's Mission that introduced Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system to Nigeria in 1996. He was nominated as an expert for FAO's JECFA meetings on food additives, contaminants and natural toxicants (2012-2016). Professor Adegoke is an online reviewer for several professional journals and he is on the Editorial Board of 6 international journals with reasonable impact factors. He is the Editor-in-Chief, Current Bacteriology (USA). Professor Adegoke's competencies are in the areas of food safety, food additives and natural toxicants.

   
   Henry Gadaga, PhD
   Associate Professor (Food Science)
   Department of Environmental Health Science
   University of Eswatini
   Eswatini

Tendekayi Henry Gadaga is an Associate Professor in Food Science at the University of Eswatini. Currently, he is the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic). He has been in the academic field for the past 20 years. Previously he was Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eswatini; Deputy Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, National University of Lesotho; and Chairman of the Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Family Sciences at the University of Zimbabwe. He holds a PhD (Food Science) degree from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences; MSc (Food Science) from Reading University, UK; and BSc (Chemistry and Biological Sciences) from the University of Zimbabwe. His main research area is in Food Biotechnology. He has published 27 articles in peer reviewed journals, and 4 book chapters. He is a reviewer for several journals including the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development.

   
   Isaac Oluwatayo, PhD
   Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness
   University of Venda
   South Africa

Prof Isaac Oluwatayo holds a PhD from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He is a professor of agricultural economics with extensive experience in achieving tangible results through cross-team collaboration. Isaac is proactive in partnering with like-minded individuals and organizations to achieve goals. As an analytical educator and researcher, he is versed in the rigors of balancing research with classroom and administrative responsibilities. Isaac is currently a Full Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Venda, South Africa. Isaac has conducted research and published over 100 papers on poverty and food security issues, production economics, climate change, vulnerability, gender financial inclusion issues. He has supervised over sixty (60) postgraduate dissertations and theses. Isaac is also a consultant to a number of national and international organisations. He is an editor and currently an Editorial Advisory Board Member to the World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development (WJSTSD).

   
   Joe Regenstein, PhD
   Professor Emeritus, Food Science
   College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
   Cornell University
   USA

Joe M. Regenstein is a Professor in the Department of Food Science. He received a B.A. in chemistry from Cornell`s College of Arts and Sciences, an MS in dairy chemistry from CALS, and a PhD in biophysics from Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. He joined the faculty in 1974 and is a member of the Field of Food Science and the Field of International Development. He is an Adjunct Professor in Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences in the Vet School, a member of the Governing Board of the Science of Natural and Environmental Systems (SNES) program, and a member of the Program of Jewish Studies. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Food Industry Program at Kansas State University.

   
   Judith Kimiywe, PhD
   Professor Human Nutrition Sciences
   Nutritionist, Researcher and Consultant
   Kenyatta University, School of Health Sciences
   Department of Food, Nutrition and dietetics
   Kenyatta University
   Kenya

Judith is a Professor and a Certified Nutrition Specialist in the Department of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics at Kenyatta University. Her main goal is to bring about transformational change in livelihoods through translating nutritional science into sustainable action. Her research has centered on use of locally available resources and support systems to enhance food and nutrition security of individuals and communities to mitigate hunger, malnutrition and poverty. She has worked as a consultant for various international and UN agencies on development programs for informing policy for Kenya, Regional and internationally, and has made a significant contribution to formulation of country policies, strategic plans and guidelines. She is currently the Director of Center for Research ethics and chairperson Institutional Science Research Ethics Committee and a champion for NACOSTI/STI at Kenyatta University.

   
   Michael Lokuruka, PhD
   Associate Professor (Food Science)
   Department of Food Science and Nutrition
   Karatina University
   Kenya

Prof. Lokuruka is the Director of Research, Innovation and Extension at Karatina University and an Associate Professor of Food Science in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University, Kenya. He holds a Ph.D. Food Science (Cornell University, USA), a M.Sc. Food Science (University of Reading, UK), a Postgraduate Diploma in Fishing and Fish Processing Technology (University of Trondheim, Norway), a Postgraduate Certificate in Food Technology (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) and a B.Sc. Food Science and Technology (University of Nairobi, Kenya). He worked in the Food Industry for over 10 years, with 2 of them in Canada. He has taught and done research cumulatively at Egerton, Reading, Cornell and Karatina Universities for over 31 years. His areas of research interest include: Food/Fish Quality Assurance and Toxicology; Food Quality Systems; Food Law and Standards; Food Culture and Nutrition; Food Security, Safety and Nutrition; Postharvest Systems and Food Industry Management; He has published 40 peer-reviewed articles, 2 books and 2 book chapters in Food Science. He is a Professional Member, Trustee and former Honorary Secretary of the Kenya Institute of Food Science and Technology (KIFST), a Current Associate Member of the Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute (KNDI) and Co-opted Member of the Human Resources (HR) Committee of Council of the Kenya School of Government. He is a long-time Technical Reviewer and Member of the Editorial Board of AJFAND and an Academic Editor for the European Journal of Nutrition and Food Safety.

   
   Obed Lungu, PhD
   Professor of Soil Chemistry & Soil Fertility
   Department of Soil Science
   School of Agricultural Sciences
   University of Zambia
   Zambia

Obed Isaac Lungu is a Professor of Soil Science in the Department of Land Management of the School of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Zambia (UNZA). Lungu received his B. Agric.Sci. degree from UNZA in 1975 and his MSc. in Soil Science from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK in 1977. He received his Ph.D in Soil Science in 1983 from the University of California, Davis, USA. Lungu was born in 1949 and raised at a farm in Guruve, Zimbabwe where his parents worked as migrant workers from Zambia. He completed school in Zambia upon repatriation of his parents to Zambia where they continued to work on commercial farms in the then newly opened Mkushi Farming Block in central Zambia. Lungu began his teaching career at the University of Zambia in 1975, first serving as an academic Staff Development Fellow in the Department of Soil Science and rising through the academic ranks to eventually become Professor of Soil Science in 2009. He served many terms as head of the Department of Soil Science and also chaired many committees such as the Senate Curriculum and Examinations Committee and Special Committee Appointed by the Vice-Chancellor to assess the suitability of senior academic staff for promotion to the ranks of Associate Professor and Professor. His long and illustrious career service culminated in his appointment as Dean of the School of Agricultural Sciences in 2002 and served until 2004 when he reached the normal retirement age. As dean, he forged close collaboration between the School of Agricultural Sciences and the agricultural sector in the country, focusing on capacity-building and infrastructure development to enhance experiential training in the five disciplines of the School: Animal Sciences, Agricultural Economics and Extension Education, Agricultural Engineering, Plant Sciences and Soil Science. Lungu served a 4-year tour in South Africa as an Associate Professor of Soil Science at the University of Limpopo and as Vice-Rector and then Rector at the Madzivhandila College of Agriculture in Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province. Upon his return to the University of Zambia in 1996, he was seconded to and served at the Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust (GART) as Soil Management Specialist. He conducted numerous field trials on-station and on-farm focusing on improvement of soil fertility and engaged with smallholder farmers in promoting Conservation Agriculture technologies to improve productivity. These activities also involved collaboration with researchers in Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia. Whilst at GART he also served as editor of the GART Yearbook, an annual publication where research results from proven practices were published and disseminated to stakeholders. Lungu’s research in Soil Chemistry and Fertility is focused on developing and evaluating soil amendment products for improved soil health and fertility. He investigated soil acidity and liming; phosphorus fertilization and micronutrient nutrition. Among his contributions is breakthrough research that elucidated plant adaptation mechanisms of uptake of phosphorus from sparingly soluble sources such as ground phosphate rock (GPR) and partially acidulated phosphate rock (PAPR). He is also recognized for his contribution to agronomic bio-fortification of crops to mitigate micronutrient deficiency in human diet, focusing on selenium and zinc malnutrition. Lungu has published widely and extensively. Publications range from refereed journals, peer-reviewed proceedings of international conferences, abstracts, course manuals, public education/extension briefs, chapters in books and consultancy reports. His work features in indexed journals and reports (ORCID, Researchgate and Google Scholar—Publish or Perish). Lungu is a member of several professional bodies including the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) and fellow of the Zambia Academy of Science (ZaAS).

   
   Patrick Mathenge, PhD
   Professor of Agriculture
   School of Agriculture and Biotechnology
   Karatina University
   Kenya

Prof. Patrick W. Mathenge is Professor of Agriculture in the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology at Karatina University, Kenya. He holds a PhD in Crop/plant Physiology from London University and MSc. in Crop Physiology, Reading University and a BSc. in Agriculture, University of Nairobi. He has a wealth of experience in Agronomy, Crop Physiology and Seed Science and Technology. He also has a postgraduate certificate in crops for dry land agriculture from Ben Gurion University, Israel. He was the Director, Board of Postgraduate Studies at Karatina University. Previously, he served as a founder Dean of the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology at Karatina University. He has also chaired the departments of Crop Science and Horticulture at Moi Universty. He has held other key positions in his career life at the University. He has also coordinated several donor funded community oriented projects in On Farm Seed Production. He has also trained and guided many postgraduate research projects culminating in productive findings and award of postgraduate degrees. He has consulted in areas of Seed Science and technology and Environmental Crop Physiology. He has also spearheaded training programme in tea Science and Technology at Karatina University. He is currently involved in studies involving Climate Change, crop production and food security. He is a member of African Crop Science Society, Soil Science Society of East Africa, Kenyan Horticultural Society, Kenyan dry land agriculture consortium and Kenyan plant genetic Resources Consortium. He is a reviewer for several journals including AJFAND, Discovery and Innovation several Crop Science related publications. Awards during his career include: FAO/UNDP Scholarship for MSc degree, ODA/ British council doctoral scholarship, Government of Israel- Postgraduate Scholarship, The Royal Dutch Government Project and research funds; and Rockefeller Foundation Project and research funds.

   
   Richard Douglass, PhD
   Emeritus Professor
   Eastern Michigan University
   USA

Richard L. Douglass, MPH, PhD is a social epidemiologist with broad experience in research, teaching, health policy and public health advocacy since 1968. He earned the PhD from the University of Michigan (1974) after studying at Alma College in Michigan and (then)) Haile Selassie I University in Addis Ababa (1964-1968). He has served on the faculties of The University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and Eastern Michigan University. Professor Douglass has taught and conducted research through Fulbright grants and visiting professorships at the University of Ghana-Legon and Ashesi University in Ghana. He has also taught a short course on professional writing at the Great Lakes University of Kisumu. He has received three Fulbright scholar awards for his work in Africa, as well as academic recognition for teaching, research and community service. Richard Douglass was awarded Distinguished Faculty status by Eastern Michigan University and the State of Michigan's Governing Board of State Universities. He continues to contribute in research and advocacy for improving healthcare delivery in rural Michigan through the Rural Health Group that he helped organize in 2021. Richard Douglass currently has a working partnership with the Rural Health Equity Institute of the College of Medicine, Central Michigan University. His publications include two books since partial retirement: Field Spirits of the Fante (2021) and The Evolution of the US Healthcare System: A Legacy of Opportunism and Greed (2023). He serves on several public health and aging public policy commissions and task forces in Michigan, non-profit boards of directors, and has published in and served with enthusiasm on the Editorial Board of The African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development since 2006.

   
   Rotimi Aluko, PhD
   Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair
   Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences
   Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
   University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
   Canada

Dr. Rotimi Aluko is a Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada where he also serves as Director of the Richardson Centre for Food Technology and Research. He holds a PhD (Food Science) degree from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada as well as MSc (Biochemistry) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Nigeria) and BSc (Biochemistry) from the University of Lagos (Nigeria). After the doctoral program, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Guelph from 1996-1998. From 1998 to 2001, he was a Research Scientist with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon. In 2001 he joined the University of Manitoba as an Assistant Professor and became a Full Professor in 2010. Dr Aluko has a globally recognized research program in food proteins and bioactive peptides, especially the development of antihypertensive and taste-modifying peptides. In addition to 325 peer-review journal article publications, he holds two patents on bioactive peptides, one of which was licensed to a Canadian nutraceutical company for the purpose of commercialization. He has produced over 100 trainees in all categories, including undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers. Dr. Aluko has been recognized in multiple years (6 of the past 8 years) by Clarivate Analytics as a Highly Cited Researcher (Top 0.1% of world scientists) with published scientific journal article citation record in the top 1% globally. The American Chemical Society has featured novel scientific discoveries from his lab twice in 2009 and 2018 as global press releases, including the discovery of novel antihypertensive peptides and bitter taste blocking peptides. He has received the University of Manitoba Merit Award in six different years for outstanding achievements in Research & Service. Dr. Aluko served as the National President of the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology (CIFST) from 2011-2012. In 2015, he received the CIFST William J. Eva Award for outstanding research and service to the Food Industry. In 2022, he received the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding research work in proteins. He is a Fellow of several professional organization, including the CIFST, Institute of Food Technologists, AOCS, International Society of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, International Academy of Food Science and Technology, and Royal Society of Canada. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Functional Foods.

   
   Silvenus Konyole, PhD
   Associate Professor
   Food Science and Nutrition
   Department of Nutritional Sciences
   School of Public Health, Biomedical Sciences & Technology
   Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology
   Kenya

Prof. Silvenus Konyole is Food and Nutrition Scientist and currently an Associate Professor of Food Science and Nutrition at the Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, Biomedical Sciences and Technology, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kenya. He holds a BSc in Food Science and Technology (First Class Honours) from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. MSc in Food Technology and Nutrition from an inter-university program involving Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Ghent University in Belgium and a PhD in Human Nutrition from the university of Nairobi and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. He has over 25 years cumulative experience on matters Food Science and Nutrition. He has had collaborative researches with Universities in Kenya an abroad touching on maternal and child nutrition, body composition of complementary feeding children and those on treatment from severe acute malnutrition and moderate acute malnutrition, traditional foods, locally available foods for complementary feeding, Insects as food and feed, Community nutrition $ security, Mushroom and spirulina as foods and composites, food processing and preservation, body composition and gut health studies in humans, micronutrients, Breast milk production and intake and use of stable isotopes for nutrition and health research. He has also collaborated with and consulted for Danish Development Agency (DANIDA), USAID, The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), Flemish Inter-University Council (VLIR), Bioversity International and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) among others with over 60 academic publications. Silvenus is a member of the African Nutrition Society, American Society for Nutrition, Member of Kenya National Academy of Sciences, Board member of the Journal of Insects as Food and Feed (JIFF), Board member, African Journal of Foods, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), Board member, African Journal of Bioethics, Board member, Journal of Advances in Health and Medicine, Faculty member, Kenya Nutritionist and Dieticians Institute (KNDI). Prof Konyole is a reviewer for several scientific journals, has been a member of several scientific committees and given key note addresses in many scientific conferences and other meetings.

   
   Sokona Dagnoko, PhD
   Executive Assistant
   to the RUFORUM Executive Secretary
   and
   Head of Strategic Partnerships
   RUFORUM Secretariat, Kampala
   Uganda

Dr. Sokona Dagnoko is an agricultural scientist with a PhD in plant breeding and genetics and an impressive multidisciplinary background. She is currently the Executive Assistant to the RUFORUM Executive Secretary and Head of Strategic Partnerships. Since joining RUFORUM, she has been leading strategic partnerships involving universities and multiple stakeholders in both the Global South and Global North to strengthen research, teaching and outreach services in universities. She has a wealth of experience in partnerships, management, communication, resource mobilization, research and training and agricultural extension and advisory services. Dr. Dagnoko draws this experience from working as Professor of Higher Agricultural Education, international researcher, international consultant, and country manager of an international Non - Governmental Organization that has a global footprint. Her work exposed her to various levels of management of science, education, institutional strengthening and policy engagement. Dr Sokona represents RUFORUM in the Consortium Europe-Africa for Research and Innovation on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (CEA FIRST) project steering Committee. She is a member of the AfricaSeeds Governing Board, the African Seed Sector Development Organization.

   
   Susan Horton, PhD
   Fellow, Canadian Academy of Health Sciencesr
   Fellow, Royal Society of Canada
   Professor Emeritus
   University of Waterloo
   Canada

Susan Horton is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and Professor Emeritus from University of Waterloo. She has held faculty appointments at University of Toronto, Wilfrid Laurier University, and University of Waterloo in the area of global health economics. Her earlier work on the economics of nutrition is well known, and currently she is focusing on non-communicable disease in low- and middle-income countries, including the impact of diet quality. She has also worked on the economic issues related to cancer, was one of the three lead authors of the Lancet Commission on diagnostics (2021), and currently serves on the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on medical devices, among other advisory committees. Sue has worked in more than twenty low- and middle-income countries including Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana, and consulted for over a dozen UN organizations, international development banks and international research organizations. According to Google Scholar, November 2024, there have been more than 32,000 citations of her work to date.

   
   Susan Whiting, PhD
   Professor Emerita, Nutrition
   University of Saskatchewan
   Canada

Susan Whiting is a distinguished professor of Nutrition. She received her PhD in nutrition from the University of Guelph and had postdoctoral training at the University of British Columbia. After teaching at Mount Saint Vincent University for 6 years, she moved to the University of Saskatchewan, where she has been working for the past 28 years. Susan contributes her knowledge and expertise to a wide range of national and international professional associations, expert committees, journals, and initiatives. She currently sits on the steering committee of the Canadian Health Measures Survey, the Scientific Advisory Board of Osteoporosis Canada, and the International Institute for Bone Health. She also serves on editorial boards of international journals such as the British Journal of Nutrition and the Journal of Nutrition. As testament to her service, in 2012 she was awarded the Canadian Nutrition Society’s McHenry Award for Distinguished Service in Nutrition in Canada.

   
   Tatien Masharabu, PhD
   Principal Officer
   Innovation, Technology Acquisition and Development
   East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO)
   Rwanda

Prof. Tatien Masharabu is at the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) as the Principal Officer in charge of Innovation, Technology Acquisition and Development. He was the Permanent Executive Secretary for the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) - Republic of Burundi and Professor at the University of Burundi, Biology Department. He started an academic career at the University of Burundi in October 2003, rose through the ranks to Senior Lecturer in October 2011, to Associate Professor in January 2016, and to Full Professor in April 2020. He has been involved in several multidisciplinary collaborative research and innovation projects over the last ten years. He is involved in disseminating results to wider audiences and in science outreach. He holds a sound Research-Development (RD) & Innovation management experience. He is a Member of the Governing Board of the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO). Prof. Masharabu also received a number of certificates of merit and recognition amongst them a Certificate of appreciation in recognition of his professional, dedication, commitment and integrity during his tenure as EALAN (Eastern Africa Land Administration Network) Chairman during the period 2019-2023, and a Diploma in Innovation, Transformation and Resilience for sustainable development from Lund University, Sweden (2023). Prof. Masharabu holds a doctorate degree in Science from the Interfaculty School of Bioengineering, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium (2011), a Master’s degree in Life Sciences (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, 2007), a Master’s degree in Applied Biology (University of Burundi, Burundi, 2004), a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences (University of Burundi, Burundi, 2002). He has, so far, authored and co-authored several scientific papers in peer-reviewed as well in Conference proceedings in the fields of Botany, Landscape Ecology, Climate change and Biodiversity conservation, Land and Natural Resources Administration, and STI outlook.

   
   Thomas Gill, PhD
   Smith Chair in International Sustainable Agriculture
   Director, Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture
   Associate Professor, Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications
   University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
   USA

Dr. Thomas (Tom) Gill is an international, interdisciplinary development professional who has worked in agriculture and rural development for the past 21 years. Gill currently serves as the Smith Chair in International Sustainable Agriculture and Director of International Programs at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, leading strategic vision and global program development across the institute. Gill has served as President of the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) and as Chair of the International Agriculture Section for the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU). His experience and research interests include smallholder household decision-making in sustainable agroecosystems and participatory approaches to capacity development, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

   
   Victor Olusegun Okoruwa, PhD
   Distinguished Fellow,
   African Association of Agricultural Economists
   Fellow, Nigerian Association of Agricultural Economists
   Department of Agricultural Economics
   University of Ibadan
   Nigeria

Victor Olusegun Okoruwa holds a bachelor, masters and doctorate degrees in Agricultural Economics (BSc., MSc., PhD, University of Ibadan) He his a full Professor lecturing in the Department of Agricultural Economics, at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria and was once the chair of the department and the Director of academic planning University of Ibadan. His areas of research includes agricultural policy, resource/development economics, and impact evaluation/assessments where he has published over 130 peer-reviewed publications, 2 book and 10 scholarly book chapters. He has supervised 80 post graduate students: 20 PhDs, 100 MScs and 1 Post-graduate Diploma. He has participated in several multidisciplinary research work with both International and Local research organizations/institutions and has been a regular visiting scientist to several international research organizations and Universities such as AfricaRice, IITA, ILRI, University of Pritoria, and has contributed immensely to AERC’s training and research programmes between 2006 till date. He is a member of several international and local associations/networks including the International Association Agricultural Economists (IAAE), Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA), African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE), Africa Australia University Network (AAUN), Nigerian Association of Agricultural Economics (NAAE) and African Economic Research Consortium (AERC). He is a Distinguish Fellow of the African Association of Agricultural Economists (DFAAAE), and Fellow of the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Economics (NAAE).