Davide Spadaro, AGROINNOVA, University of TorinoDavide Spadaro is associate Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Torino (Italy) and researcher at Agroinnova. He has extensive research expertise on plant diseases, crop protection, postharvest pathology, biological control, mycotoxins, molecular diagnostics, and plant-pathogen interactions. He has been visiting at Thammasat University, University of Edinburgh, University of Lleida, University of Bonn. Secretary of the Subject Matter Committee Postharvest of the International Society of Plant Pathology. Member of the Academy of Agriculture of Torino. He worked on several European and international projects. Author of 116 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 12 book chapters, 4 patents.Samir Droby, ARO, The Volcani Center, IsraelSamir Droby is a senior research scientist at the ARO, the Volcani Center and Professor of Plant Pathology and postharvest Sciences at the Division of Biochemistry and Food Science at the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Samir has extensive research expertise in developing biological and natural based control strategies for pre and postharvest diseases, studying the mode of action of yeast biocontrol agents, pathogenicity mechanisms of Penicillium species on citrus and apple fruit, resistance mechanisms of fruits against postharvest pathogens and characterization of fruit microbiome. He was pioneered the exploration and the development of commercial biological control products that are based on naturally occurring yeasts. Prof. Droby published more than 150 articles in peer-reviewed journal and 23 review articles and 25 book chapters on various topics on postharvest pathology. Maria Lodovica Gullino, AGROINNOVA, University of Torino Maria Lodovica Gullino is Full Professor in Plant Pathology, Director of Agroinnova, University of Torino. Vice-Rector for the valorization of human and cultural resources of the University of Torino. She is Immediate Past President of the Italian Society of Plant Pathology (SIPaV) and of the International Society for Plant Pathology. She obtained several awards: the Novamont Prize on Sustainable development in 2002, the Van Den Brande prize from the University of Gent (Belgium), the Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International in 2008, the 2010 UNICEF PIEMONTE Prize, the American Phytopathological Society Fellowship in 2011; the ITWIIN Special Prize Piemonte 2011 for innovation and in 2012 she received the Bogianen Prize from the Chamber of Commerce of Torino. In 2018, she was nominated Fellow of the International Society of Plant Pathology (ISPP) and in 2020 Ambassador of the excellences of Torino in the world for her research achievements. She is author of over 800 scientific papers and reviews, and 23 books in the field of disease management and biosecurity. Her research interests focus on plant disease management, biological and integrated control of diseases, seed health, crop biosecurity, effect of climate change on plant diseases, and sustainable agriculture. She has coordinated and managed hundreds of national and international research projects (including EU FP6, FP7, H2020, LIFE+ and TEMPUS grants) and High level Training Courses.
