Speakers

Plenary speakers

He has dedicated his career to pioneering solutions that enhance communication and collaboration to create socio-economic impact at scale and speed. His passion for operationalising ideas drove his success in senior roles at Digital Equipment Corporation, AT&T, Bell Labs, and IBM, giving him a unique perspective on technology and human interaction. He excels at learning, mentoring, and fostering collaboration. Over the past two decades, he has founded several Innovation and Talent Management companies, utilising the SMRT.BIO platform to implement cutting-edge solutions. As a leader at SMRT.BIO, he sets strategic direction and ambitious goals, cultivating a culture of creativity where every team member is empowered. His journey is one of innovation and growth, and he is excited to continue driving evidence-based socio-economic impact at scale.

Gabrijel Ondrašek is a full professor at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, with over 25 years of experience in teaching and mentoring, as well as in research and academic leadership. His teaching and scientific work has been focused on sustainable soil and water management in agroecosystems, with particular emphasis on soil salinization, metal contamination, and their impacts on soil–plant–water systems. Throughout his career, he established extensive international and interdisciplinary collaboration, spending almost 40 months at leading research and academic institutions worldwide. During last several years, in collaboration with industry, his research has focused on the circular bio-economy and the transformation of different waste streams into value-added products for sustainable and resilient agri-food production. This includes the development and evaluation of innovative growing media, combined organo-mineral fertilizers, and advanced soil amendments, designed to improve soil fertility, crop productivity, and agro-environmental resilience. His scientific achievements have been recognized through multiple prestigious international awards, medals, and protected intellectual property rights. Since 2023, he has been continuously listed among the top 2% most cited scientists worldwide, reflecting the global impact and visibility of his research and home institution.

Prof. Atak works at Bursa Uludağ University, Agriculture Faculty, Department of Horticulture, in Bursa, Türkiye. He studies mainly with table grapes, kiwifruit, and some berry fruits. He was a project coordinator for international projects, especially the development of new grape varieties with superior characteristics. He developed and registered new table grape varieties. Also, give lectures on viticulture (including smart and organic viticulture), some berry fruits, and kiwifruit growing at the University. He also participated in kiwifruit breeding projects and played an essential role in commercialising and internationally selling a fruit species (kiwifruit) first developed in Türkiye. It also cooperates with growers and foreign companies to grow new grape and kiwifruit varieties in Türkiye that have been developed by various foreign breeding organizations. He is currently the Vice President of the Vine and Berry Fruits Division of the International Society of Horticultural Science (ISHS). He convened the X. International Symposium on Kiwifruit as an ISHS organisation. He was the Convener of the “XIII. International Conference on Grapevine Breeding, Genetics and Management” 21-24 August 2023, Türkiye (ISHS organisation). He also co-convened the Viticulture and Winemaking between Tradition and Innovation Symposium at ISHS European Horticulture Congress, 12-16 May 2024, in Romania.

Ivana Majić is Full Professor of Entomology and Nematology at the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, University of Osijek, where she teaches at all study levels. She serves as Head of the Doctoral Programme in Agricultural Sciences (Plant Protection) and was Vice Dean for International Cooperation and English-taught programmes (2021–2025). At the intersection of sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and biodiversity science, her research focuses on biological and chemical pest control, host–parasite relationships, and multitrophic interactions among invertebrates, with an increasing emphasis on digital approaches to biodiversity monitoring and conservation. She has participated in many international and national research projects, and has led projects in biological control and biodiversity monitoring, such as the Tech4All (Huawei) programme on acoustic monitoring of wetlands and wildlife. She has coauthored a substantial body of scientific publications in entomology, nematology, ecotoxicology, and environmental sciences.

Ph.D. Ivan Plaščak, a full professor at the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences in Osijek, serves as a dynamic bridge between traditional agronomy and cutting-edge technology. After earning his PhD in agricultural mechanization, he channeled his expertise into precision farming, GNSS navigation, remote sensing, and geoinformation systems. As Head of the Department of Agricultural Technology and Renewable Energy Sources, he shapes future generations through cross-disciplinary teaching and has authored or co-authored seven university textbooks. His academic journey was marked by early recognition of excellence, underscored by the Rector’s Award, the Osijek Lions Club prize, and a prestigious scholarship in California. Today, as a certified drone operator (C1/C3 category), he transforms unmanned aerial vehicles into everyday tools for high-resolution field analysis. On the scientific stage, he has left a lasting impact with over 200 published papers, 59 of which are indexed in the prestigious Web of Science Core Collection. He plays a standout role in the ERDF-funded “AgroAI 360” project, which leverages artificial intelligence to automate decision-making and optimize agricultural workflows. Through his research, he continuously develops digital solutions that help producers manage resources efficiently, adapt to climate variability, and minimize their environmental footprint. His mission is clear: to make advanced technology practical and accessible for the family farms that form the backbone of Croatian agriculture. Prof. Plaščak doesn’t just follow the digital farming revolution—he actively shapes it, seamlessly connecting laboratory innovation, real-world fields, and academic classrooms.

Nikolina Kelava Ugarković is an Associate Professor at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia. Her research focuses on the integration of technological innovations in beef and dairy production systems, with particular emphasis on factors affecting meat and milk quality. Her expertise includes the application of modern technologies in dairy and beef production, as well as advanced analytical approaches for evaluating quality-related traits and production performance. In recent years, her research has expanded to include game meat quality assessment, exploring its physicochemical characteristics, nutritional value, and factors influencing variability. She has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications and actively participates in national and international research initiatives. She has been involved in projects such as Innovative Models for a Sustainable Future of Mediterranean Pastoral Systems and research focused on sustainable production systems of autochthonous cattle breeds. Her work contributes to improving sustainability, product quality, and competitiveness in contemporary livestock production systems.

Keynote speakers

With over 15 years of experience in the agriculture sector, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, an MBA in Agribusiness, and a PhD in Agricultural Sciences from the faculty of Agronomy, University of Zagreb. She currently serves as the Head of the Department for Agricultural Policy, Innovation, and International Relations at the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture. She has been the Vice President of the Copa-Cogeca Rural Development Committee for the past six years. Her responsibilities include participating in the development of legal acts and other key documents at both national and international levels within the agricultural sector. Additionally, she is a member of numerous working groups within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery, as well as within Copa-Cogeca, the European Commission (Civil Dialogue and Forecast groups), CBE JU Primary Producers, AKIS, and the RefreSCAR working groups of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR). She possesses extensive experience in coordinating and implementing projects financed by European Union funds, particularly under Horizon 2020, IMCAP, Interreg programs, as well as the EU CAP NETWORK – EIP-AGRI. Her expertise covers innovation, international relations, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and project management. She is actively involved in shaping national frameworks for stakeholder dialogue within the agricultural sector, working to align these with the standards of dialogue practiced at the European Union level.

Round table “Fostering Innovation in Agriculture: Conceptualization Through Collaboration”