Salvatore Ceccarelli | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Salvatore Ceccarelli | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Bioversity International | Italy

Dr. Salvatore Ceccarelli is a distinguished agricultural scientist and plant breeder recognized globally for his pioneering contributions to participatory and evolutionary plant breeding. With an illustrious career spanning several decades, he has been instrumental in developing innovative breeding strategies tailored for marginal environments and resource-poor farmers. From 1984 to 2008, he served as Director of the Barley Breeding Program at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), where he designed and implemented breeding approaches that emphasized farmer participation, sustainability, and adaptability to local conditions across Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. His leadership at ICARDA helped transform traditional breeding methodologies into more inclusive and resilient systems that addressed the challenges of climate change and food security. Following his tenure as program director, he continued as a consultant and later as a freelance expert, collaborating with international and Italian organizations on research, project design, scientific reporting, and training programs focused on participatory and evolutionary genetic improvement. Dr. Ceccarelli has been deeply involved in international initiatives such as the European SOLIBAM project, promoting biodiversity, agroecology, and genetic resilience through farmer-led experimentation. His work seamlessly integrates scientific rigor with social engagement, empowering farming communities to take an active role in crop improvement. Over the years, he has authored numerous scientific papers and reports, contributing significantly to the global discourse on sustainable agriculture and genetic diversity. Through his lifelong dedication to participatory research, Dr. Ceccarelli has established himself as a leading advocate for farmer-centered innovation, bridging the gap between science and society while advancing agricultural systems that are both equitable and ecologically sound.

Profile: Orcid 

Featured Publications

Raggi, L., Negri, V., & Ceccarelli, S. (2016, August 1). Morphological diversity in a barley composite cross-derived population evolved under low-input conditions and its relationship with molecular diversity: Indications for breeding. Journal of Agricultural Science, 154(8), 1210–1224.

Shakhatreh, Y., Baum, M., El Haddad, N., Alrababah, M. A., & Ceccarelli, S. (2016, June 1). Assessment of genetic diversity among Jordanian wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) genotypes revealed by SSR markers. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 63(6), 927–937.

Rahmanian, M., Razavi, K., Haghparast, R., Salimi, M., & Ceccarelli, S. (2016, January 1). Evolutionary plant breeding: A method for rapidly increasing on-farm biodiversity to support sustainable livelihoods in an era of climate change. Journal of Crop Improvement, 30(1), 1–17.

Raggi, L., Ceccarelli, S., & Negri, V. (2016, January 1). Evolution of a barley composite cross-derived population: An insight gained by molecular markers. Journal of Agricultural Science, 154(1), 23–39.

Dwivedi, S. L., Ceccarelli, S., Blair, M. W., Upadhyaya, H. D., Kumar, A. A., & Ortiz, R. (2015, November 7). Landrace germplasm for improving yield and abiotic stress adaptation. Trends in Plant Science, 21(1), 31–42.

Campanelli, G., Acciarri, N., Campion, B., Delvecchio, S., Leteo, F., Fusari, F., Angelini, P., & Ceccarelli, S. (2015). Participatory tomato breeding for organic conditions in Italy. Euphytica, 204(1), 179–197.

Saad Hussein | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Excellence in Citation Achievement Award

Published on by Citation Awards

Saad Hussein | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Excellence in Citation Achievement Award

Mansoura University | Egypt

Prof. Dr. Saad Farouk Mohamed Hussein is a distinguished Egyptian scholar and Full Professor at the Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt. He earned his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Agricultural Botany from Mansoura University, with research focused on plant physiological responses to salinity and osmoregulation, following his B.Sc. in Horticulture, where he graduated first in his class with distinction. Over his extensive academic career, Prof. Hussein has held several key leadership and academic positions, including Head of the Agricultural Botany Department at Mansoura University, Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Science and Art, Sinop University, Turkey, Agricultural Expert at the National Organic Agriculture Center, Qassem, Saudi Arabia, and Head of the Plant Production Department at Sirte University, Libya. He has also contributed significantly to higher education quality assurance, serving as both Manager and Deputy Manager of the Quality and Accreditation Unit at Mansoura University. Prof. Hussein’s scientific portfolio includes over 63 research papers published in high-impact international and national journals, covering Q1 to Q4 categories, and numerous conference contributions. His research excellence is complemented by his active role as a reviewer for international journals, and his mentorship in over 15 MSc and Ph.D. theses as supervisor and examiner. Recognized for his scholarly impact, he received multiple awards, including the Mansoura University Encouragement Award, the Best M.Sc. Thesis Award , and several undergraduate excellence awards. His professional affiliations include memberships in the Egyptian Horticulture Society and the Mansoura University Journal of Agricultural Sciences editorial board. Prof. Hussein’s expertise encompasses plant physiology, stress biology, quality assurance in education, and statistical analysis, reflecting his deep commitment to advancing agricultural science and education.

Profile: Scoups | Orcid | Google  Scholar             

Featured Publications

  • Farouk, S., & Amany, A. R. (2012). Improving growth and yield of cowpea by foliar application of chitosan under water stress. Egyptian Journal of Biology, 14, 14–16.

  • Farouk, S., Mosa, A. A., Taha, A. A., Ibrahim, H. M., & El-Gahmery, A. M. (2011). Protective effect of humic acid and chitosan on radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. sativus) plants subjected to cadmium stress. Journal of Stress Physiology & Biochemistry, 7(2), 99–116.

  • Farouk, S. (2011). Ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol minimize salt-induced wheat leaf senescence. Journal of Stress Physiology & Biochemistry, 7(3), 58–79.

  • Farouk, S., Elhindi, K. M., & Alotaibi, M. A. (2020). Silicon supplementation mitigates salinity stress on Ocimum basilicum L. via improving water balance, ion homeostasis, and antioxidant defense system. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 206, 111396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111396

  • Farouk, S., & Al-Amri, S. M. (2019). Zinc and paclobutrazol mediated regulation of growth, upregulating antioxidant aptitude and plant productivity of pea plants under salinity. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 180, 349–359.