Maria-Eleni Dimitrakopoulou | Food Science | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Maria-Eleni Dimitrakopoulou | Food Science | Best Researcher Award

TELESTO | Greece

PUBLICATION PROFILE

Scopus

👩‍🔬 INTRODUCTION

Maria-Eleni Dimitrakopoulou is a dedicated and innovative professional with extensive experience in the agrifood sector, focusing on food safety, authenticity, traceability, and sustainability. With a solid academic background and a passion for cutting-edge research, Maria-Eleni has played a pivotal role in advancing food safety practices within EU projects and beyond, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and contributing to impactful research in the field.

🎓 EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS

Maria-Eleni’s academic journey began with a BSc in Agricultural Sciences from the Agricultural University of Athens (2013). She then pursued an MSc in Integrated-Organic Production and Certification Standards in 2016. Her academic journey culminated in a PhD from the Medical School, University of Patras (2022), focusing on food traceability and its role in public health risk assessments for processed foods.

đź’Ľ PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS

Maria-Eleni has gained significant experience in various roles throughout her career. She currently serves as a Research Project Manager at Agroknow, where she oversees large-scale EU projects focused on food safety, sustainability, and innovation. Previously, she worked as a Traceability Coordinator at Modus Ltd., where she was instrumental in developing and managing traceability systems for Greek supermarkets, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

🔬 CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESEARCH FOCUS

Throughout her career, Maria-Eleni has contributed to groundbreaking research in food safety, authenticity, and traceability. She has designed experimental protocols, coordinated research initiatives, and authored key scientific publications. Her work focuses on creating predictive models, conducting meta-analyses, and assessing risk factors in food supply chains, all aimed at improving food safety standards and practices.

🌍 IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Maria-Eleni has significantly impacted both academia and industry through her leadership in EU-funded research projects. Her efforts have driven innovations in food safety, sustainability, and traceability, ensuring that research findings are applied in real-world settings. She is highly regarded for her ability to foster partnerships and drive collaboration among academic institutions, policymakers, and industry leaders.

đź“š ACADEMIC CITATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

Maria-Eleni’s contributions to scientific literature include several peer-reviewed publications in food safety and traceability. Her work has been cited by fellow researchers, further solidifying her reputation as a leading expert in the agrifood sector. These publications highlight her contributions to advancing methodologies in food safety and improving public health risk assessments.

🏆 HONORS & AWARDS

Although specific awards are not mentioned, Maria-Eleni’s professional achievements and the recognition she has earned within her field reflect the impact of her work. Her involvement in high-profile research projects and her role in shaping industry practices have garnered her respect from colleagues and peers.

đź”® LEGACY AND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS

Maria-Eleni’s legacy lies in her unwavering commitment to advancing food safety and traceability. Her work has influenced food safety policies and practices, particularly in Europe. Looking ahead, she is expected to continue her impactful contributions, with a focus on sustainable practices and predictive models to enhance food safety and traceability for the future.

🌟 FINAL NOTE

Maria-Eleni Dimitrakopoulou is a distinguished professional in the agrifood sector whose work has significantly shaped food safety, traceability, and sustainability practices. Through her leadership, research, and ongoing contributions, Maria-Eleni will continue to be a driving force in the evolution of the global agrifood industry.

📚 TOP NOTES PUBLICATIONS 

Article Title: Comprehensive analysis of PFAS presence from environment to plate

Authors: Dimitrakopoulou, M.E., Karvounis, M., Marinos, G., et al.
Journal: npj Sci Food
Year: 2024

Article Title: Food-borne pathogens and sources of contamination

Authors: Dimitrakopoulou, M.E., Kotsiri, Z., Vantarakis, A.
Journal: Biosensors for Food-borne Pathogens Detection
Year: 2024

Article Title: Emulsion Polymerase Chain Reaction coupled with Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis for Microbial Diversity Studies

Authors: Dimitrakopoulou, M.E., Tzimotoudis, D., Vantarakis, A.
Journal: PCR: Methods and Protocols
Year: 2023

Article Title: Microbiological Factors of Food Quality for Risk Assessments in Europe: A Systematic Review

Authors: Dimitrakopoulou, M.E., Vantarakis, A.
Journal: FSQM Journal
Year: 2022

Article Title: Hepatitis A and E in the Mediterranean: a systematic review

Authors: Chatziprodromidou, I.P., Dimitrakopoulou, M.E., Apostolou, T., Katopodi, T., Charalambous, E.
Journal: ScienceDirect
Year: 2022

Asmiro Abeje Fikadu | Food security | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Asmiro Abeje Fikadu | Food security | Best Researcher Award

Kyushu University, Japan

Author Profiles đź“š

Scopus

Orcid

Google Scholar

Early Academic Pursuits 🎓

Mr. Asmiro Abeje Fikadu’s academic journey began in Ethiopia, where he earned his foundational qualifications before advancing to a Ph.D. program in Agricultural and Resource Economics at Kyushu University in Japan. His early academic pursuits included teaching roles at Debre Tabor University, where he fostered a strong interest in agricultural economics, particularly focusing on agricultural commercialization and its relationship with climate change. His passion for applying econometric methods to agriculture and food security led him to work with international organizations like JICA, contributing to research on sustainable agriculture.

Professional Endeavors đź’Ľ

As a Ph.D. candidate at Kyushu University, Mr. Fikadu’s professional path blends rigorous research with impactful collaborations. His work with the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development has enabled him to explore critical areas such as smallholder farmers’ livelihoods, gender-based decision-making in agriculture, and the impact of climate-smart practices. In addition to his academic work, Mr. Fikadu served as an econometrics trainer at the Ararat Research Data Management and Analysis Training Center in Ethiopia, sharing his expertise in STATA software and econometric techniques with fellow researchers and professionals.

Contributions and Research Focus 🔬

Mr. Fikadu’s research focuses on agricultural commercialization, climate change, and gender dynamics in farming communities. His major contributions include empirical studies on the impacts of horticulture commercialization and the role of women in agricultural decision-making. Through quasi-experimental studies, he evaluates the effects of these factors on smallholder farmers’ income and livelihood strategies in Ethiopia’s Oromia and Sidama regions. He is particularly interested in impact evaluation using econometrics, data analysis, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with a specific focus on how climate-smart agricultural practices can improve food security in East Africa.

Impact and Influence 🌍

Mr. Fikadu’s work has gained significant recognition in the academic community. His research on horticulture commercialization and gender-based decision-making has been presented at major conferences such as the International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE2024) and the Japan Society for International Development (JASID). His studies, which bridge the gap between gender equity, agricultural economics, and climate adaptation, are contributing to policy discussions on sustainable farming practices. With a growing citation index (h-index: 7 on Google Scholar), his research continues to influence both academic and policy circles focused on improving agricultural productivity and resilience.

Academic Cites đź“š

Mr. Fikadu’s work has led to a growing number of citations, showcasing its importance and relevance. With an h-index of 7 on Google Scholar, his research has made significant contributions to understanding the socio-economic dynamics within farming communities. The practical implications of his work on climate-smart agriculture, gender decision-making, and smallholder income growth are being cited in academic journals and used to inform policy decisions in East Africa and beyond.

Technical Skills 🛠️

Mr. Fikadu possesses advanced technical skills in data management and econometrics, making him highly proficient in using statistical tools such as STATA, R, and Python for data analysis. He has expertise in designing and managing field survey data collection, utilizing Survey Solutions software for both tablet and smartphone-based data collection. In addition, Mr. Fikadu is skilled in using ArcGIS for mapping and geographic data analysis. His proficiency with these tools allows him to conduct sophisticated analyses of agricultural commercialization, climate change, and gender-based economic activities.

Teaching Experience 🍎

Throughout his academic career, Mr. Fikadu has gained valuable teaching experience. He served as a lecturer at Debre Tabor University in Ethiopia, where he taught agricultural economics and related subjects. Additionally, his role as an econometrics trainer at the Ararat Research Data Management and Analysis Training Center provided him with the opportunity to teach data analysis techniques using STATA, empowering students and researchers with the skills needed for high-quality impact evaluation in agricultural research.

Legacy and Future Contributions đź”®

Mr. Fikadu is positioned to make lasting contributions to the field of agricultural economics, especially in the areas of climate change adaptation, gender dynamics in agriculture, and the economic transformation of smallholder farmers. As he progresses in his Ph.D. research, his work on evaluating the effectiveness of climate-smart practices and gender-sensitive policies will continue to influence agricultural policies and practices in East Africa. His future research aims to refine methodologies for impact evaluation, contribute to sustainable agricultural development, and provide insights into improving farmers’ welfare in regions affected by climate change.

Top Noted Publications đź“–

Technical efficiency of teff farms in Ethiopia: Do neighborhood effects matter? A copula stochastic frontier and spatial Durbin regression
    • Authors: Fikadu, A.A.; Gebre, G.G.
    • Journal: Heliyon
    • Year: 2024
 Analysis of the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (“SHEP”) Intervention on Income and Food Security in Ethiopia
    • Authors: Asmiro Abeje Fikadu
    • Journal: JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development (Working paper)
    • Year: 2024
Farmers’ use of climate change adaptation strategies and their impacts on food security in Kenya
    • Authors: Girma Gezimu Gebre; Yuichiro Amekawa; Asmiro Abeje Fikadu; Dil Bahadur Rahut
    • Journal: Climate Risk Management
    • Year: 2023
 Food safety knowledge, attitude, and practice among male and female food handlers: Evidence from fruit and vegetable producers in Ethiopia
    • Authors: Girma Gezmu Gebre; Tibebu Legesse; Asmiro Abeje Fikadu
    • Journal: Heliyon
    • Year: 2023
Do climate change adaptation strategies improve farmers’ food security in Tanzania?
    • Authors: Girma Gezmu Gebre; Yuichiro Amekawa; Asmiro Abeje Fikadu; Dil Bahadur Rahut
    • Journal: Food Security
    • Year: 2023