Rodney Tatenda Muringai | Data Analysis | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Rodney Tatenda Muringai | Data Analysis | Research Excellence Award

University of Johannesburg | South Africa

Dr. Rodney Tatenda Muringai is a climate change and food security scholar with over six years of experience spanning teaching, postdoctoral research, and applied policy work. He holds a PhD, MSc, PGDip, and BSS from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, with additional training in sustainability from Beijing Normal University. His professional experience includes roles as Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Ad Hoc Lecturer at the University of Johannesburg, Research Assistant, and Ecosystem Services Analyst. Dr. Rodney Tatenda Muringai’s research interests focus on climate change adaptation, fisheries and aquaculture, livelihoods, and socio-ecological resilience, supported by strong skills in policy analysis, GIS, stakeholder engagement, and data analysis. He has received NRF, SARChI, and LIMA awards and continues to contribute impactful, policy-relevant research that advances sustainable development in Africa.

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Featured Publications

Vulnerability of inland small-scale fishing communities to climate change and variability: Insights from the Zambezi River Basin, Zimbabwe

Rodney T. Muringai, Paramu L. Mafongoya, Romano Lottering – Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2025
Living in the wild: The bidirectional impacts of human–wildlife interaction in Binga and Nyaminyami rural districts, Zimbabwe

Rodney T. Muringai, Walter Musakwa, Phindile Mthembu, Takafara Gozo – Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 2025
Sub-Saharan Africa freshwater fisheries under climate change: Impacts, adaptation, and mitigation measures

Rodney T. Muringai, Paramu Mafongoya, Romano T. Lottering – Fishes, 2022
Climate change perceptions, impacts and adaptation strategies: Insights from fishers in the Zambezi River Basin, Zimbabwe

Rodney T. Muringai, Paramu Mafongoya, Romano T. Lottering – Sustainability, 2022
Unlocking the potential of fish to improve food and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Rodney T. Muringai, Paramu Mafongoya, Romano T. Lottering et al. – Sustainability, 2021

Habibullah Rezaei | Agricultural Economics | Research Excellence Award

Mr. Habibullah Rezaei | Agricultural Economics | Research Excellence Award

Samangan University | Afghanistan

Habibullah Rezaei is an Assistant Professor specializing in agricultural economics with a strong academic background in farm management and production economics. He has extensive experience in teaching, research, and applied economic analysis related to agricultural systems. His research interests include agricultural productivity, resource use efficiency, rural development, and food security, with a focus on sustainable agriculture. He has published in recognized international and regional journals and contributed to evidence-based agricultural policy discussions. His scholarly work and mentorship support capacity building in agriculture and economics, positioning him as a promising candidate for research excellence and best researcher recognition.

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Featured Publications


Assessing the efficiency of wheat producers in Dihdadi District

– Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Studies, 2023

Authors: H. Radmand; S.M. Akbai; J. Akbari; H. Rezaei


Evaluating Agricultural Sustainability in Afghanistan (Case Study: Nijrab District)

– Process Integration and Optimization for Sustainability, 2024

Authors: H. Rezaei; A. Rezaee; H. Radmand; A.J. Safdary


Assessing the Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Agricultural Sustainability (Case Study: Rural Areas of Gorgan County)

– 2021

Authors: H. Rezaei; F.S.B. Abadi; A. Rezaee; R. Joolaie; A.A. Sarvestani


Analysing Technical, Pure Technical, Scale, and Economic Efficiency: A Case Study of Potato Producers in Khinjan District

– Potato Research, 2025

Authors: H. Radmand; H. Rezaei; R. Joolaie


Efficiency Analysis of Wheat Production in Baghlan Province: A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) Based Approach

– Discover Food, 2025

Authors: H. Radmand; F. Eshraghi; A. Keramatzadeh; H. Rezaei

George Vlontzos | Agricultural Data Analysis | Research Excellence Award

Prof. George Vlontzos | Agricultural Data Analysis | Research Excellence Award

University of Thessaly | Greece

Prof. George Vlontzos is a distinguished agricultural economist and Full Professor at the University of Thessaly, Greece, where he directs the Laboratory of Agricultural Economics and Consumer Behavior. He holds a Ph.D. in Planning and Regional Development (University of Thessaly), an MBA in Agribusiness (University of Wales, Aberystwyth) and a BSc in Agriculture (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). With a strong international academic profile, he has served as a visiting professor at the University of Florida and contributed to graduate programs at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Montpellier. Prof. Vlontzos has authored 62 documents indexed on Scopus with 952 citations by 886 documents and an h‑index of 17, reflecting significant research impact in agricultural economics, efficiency and sustainability analysis, consumer behavior, optimization and AI applications in agriculture. His research employs advanced quantitative and behavioral models—such as Data Envelopment Analysis, Stochastic Frontier Analysis, the Theory of Planned Behavior and Artificial Neural Networks—to address economic and environmental efficiency, consumer decision processes, and sustainable agri‑food systems. He has published extensively in refereed journals, participated in major international conferences, and contributed to multiple competitive projects co‑funded by the EU, national and private sources. His leadership in research and education underscores his influence in shaping sustainable agricultural policy and practice.

Profile : Scopus

Featured Publications

Assessing the economic impact of insect pollination on the agricultural sector: A department-level case study in France

– Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 2025

Emerging Technologies for Investigating Food Consumer Behavior: A Systematic Review

– Review, 2025

A hybrid remotely operated underwater vehicle for maintenance operations in aquaculture: Practical insights from Greek fish farms

– Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2025

Digital Transformation of Food Supply Chain Management Using Blockchain: A Systematic Literature Review Towards Food Safety and Traceability

– Business and Information Systems Engineering, 2025

Variable RTS in hierarchical network DEA: Enhancing efficiency in higher education systems

– Socio Economic Planning Sciences, 2024

Xinyu Liu | Regression Analysis | Young Innovator Award

Dr. Xinyu Liu | Regression Analysis | Young Innovator Award

Peking University | China

Dr. Xinyu Liu is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in Microeconomics, Development Economics, and Finance, with a particular focus on e-commerce, consumption behavior, entrepreneurship, housing demolition, and cross-shareholding in China. Dr. Liu earned a Ph.D. in Management (Agricultural Economics and Management) from Peking University, with a dissertation examining the impact of e-commerce on rural residents’ sales and consumption, and a B.E. in Economics from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics. Currently, Dr. Liu is a postdoctoral fellow at the China International Capital Corporation (CICC) Global Institute and Fudan University, exploring cross-shareholding and firm innovation under the guidance of senior economists. Dr. Liu also served as a short-term consultant at the World Bank, analyzing fertility preferences. With five publications, including in Economic Development and Cultural Change, Cities, and PNAS Nexus, Dr. Liu’s work has been cited 30 times across 30 documents, achieving an h-index of 2. Recognized for academic excellence, Dr. Liu has received multiple awards, including the Peking University Second-Class Scholarship and Best Paper Awards at international conferences. Current research explores digital transformation in agriculture, rural e-commerce expansion, and the economic consequences of housing demolition. Dr. Liu’s research contributes to sustainable and inclusive economic development in China and beyond.

Profile : Scopus

Featured Publications

Wang, X., Ren, Y., Yamauchi, F., Huang, J., & [Author]. (2025). “The power of the anti-corruption campaign: Evidence from cigarette and alcohol consumptions in China.” Economic Development and Cultural Change, 73(2), 941–977.

He, Z., Shi, X., Sun, X., & [Author]. (2024). “Housing demolition and entrepreneurship: Evidence from China.” Cities, 152, 105201.

Wang, X., Min, S., Jin, S., Huang, J., & [Author]. (2025). “The influence of improved wheat and maize varieties on infant mortality in China.” PNAS Nexus, 4(2), pgaf048.

Huang, J., Su, L., Huang, Q., & [Author]. (2022). “Facilitating inclusive ICT application and e-commerce development in rural China.” Agricultural Economics, 53(6), 938–952.

XiaoQi LI | Qualitative Research | Best Researcher Award

Ms. XiaoQi LI | Qualitative Research | Best Researcher Award

Ms. XiaoQi LI | Qualitative Research – huazhong agriculture university | China

Professional Profile

SCOPUS

Education

Ms. LI XiaoQi is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Landscape Architecture at Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China, where she focuses on spatial and ecological planning. She previously earned her Master of Landscape Architecture from South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, where she engaged in cultural landscape studies and planning strategies. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Geography from Hengyang Normal University, laying the foundation for her expertise in environmental systems and terrain analysis.

Experience

Ms. Li has actively contributed to multiple national and institutional research projects. Notably, she participated in a project on the spatial planning and organic renewal of rural ecological livability, funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China, where she conducted historical image interpretation, rural settlement analysis, and development strategy formulation. She was also involved in a National Natural Science Foundation project focused on the landscape zoning and spatial structure of traditional settlements in the Wuling Mountains. In addition, she has been an invited speaker at national conferences, including the 12th Landscape Architecture Conference in Henan and the Conference on National Parks and Landscape Recreation in Shanghai, presenting on topics related to agricultural landscape change and public health-oriented park design.

Research Interests

Her primary research interests lie in agricultural landscape change assessment, sustainable landscape management, and the ecological dynamics of karst mountainous regions. She specializes in the use of geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing image analysis, and historical landscape interpretation, integrating both qualitative and quantitative data approaches. Her work seeks to enhance the understanding of land use transitions, rural revitalization, and ecological planning under environmental stressors such as drought.

Awards

Ms. Li has received numerous recognitions for her academic and project excellence. She was honored with the Three Good Graduate Student Award and the Excellent Student Cadre Award at the school level in 2023. During her master’s program, she was a recipient of the First Class Scholarship. Her design and planning capabilities have earned her the Third Prize in the Excellent Urban Planning Competition of Guangdong Province, the Silver Prize in the International Ai Jing Landscape Design Competition, and First Prizes in both the Science and Technology Innovation Competition and the Hunan Urban-Rural Planning Design Competition. Additionally, she was acknowledged as an Excellent Communist Youth League Member during her undergraduate studies.

Publications

Li, X.Q., & Li, C.F. (2024). “Changes in agricultural landscape patterns and their influencing factors in karst mountainous areas under drought stress” in Ecological Indicators (In Revision).
Li, X.Q., & Yang, Q.C. (2024). “Scientometric insights into human settlements in karst landscape areas: Trends, challenges, and future directions” in Journal of Cleaner Production (In Revision).
Li, X.Q., Yang, Q.C., Lyu, X., Ye, Y., & Zhang, B. (2023). “Multidimensional framework for analyzing the distribution patterns of traditional villages in the karst landscape regions of China” in Ecological Informatics, 77, 102184.
Li, X.Q., & Zhao, J.H. (2023). “Study on the revitalization and protection of the Southern Guangdong Ancient Post Road from the perspective of study tourism—Taking the Xijing Ancient Road as an example” in Modern Urban Research, 04, 49–54.
Zhao, J.H., & Li, X.Q. (2022). “Public participation in the construction of Auckland Botanic Garden in New Zealand” in Chinese Landscape Architecture, 38(10), 44–49.

Tuyen Chan Kha – Agricultural Data Analysis – Best Researcher Award 

Assoc Prof Dr. Tuyen Chan Kha - Agricultural Data Analysis - Best Researcher Award 

Nong Lam University Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam

Author Profile

Early Academic Pursuits

Assoc Prof Dr. Tuyen Chan Kha commenced her academic journey with a Bachelor of Food Science and Technology from Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, graduating in 2003. Building upon this foundation, she pursued her Master of Philosophy and later her Ph.D. in Food Science at the University of Newcastle, Australia, completing them in 2009 and 2014, respectively. These formative years honed her expertise in food science and laid the groundwork for her illustrious career in academia and research.

Professional Endeavors

Assoc Prof Dr. Kha's professional journey reflects a commitment to academic excellence and a passion for advancing food science and technology. She began her career as an Assistant Lecturer at Nong Lam University in 2003 and progressively ascended the ranks to her current positions of Associate Professor, Vice Dean, and Head of the Department of Food Microbiology and Product Development.

Throughout her tenure, Dr. Kha has not only imparted knowledge to her students but has also spearheaded numerous research projects aimed at addressing pressing issues in food safety, preservation, and processing. Her contributions extend beyond the classroom, with active involvement in international workshops and training courses, further enriching her expertise and fostering global collaborations.

Contributions and Research Focus

Assoc Prof Dr. Kha's research interests span a wide array of topics within the realm of food science, with a primary focus on thermal processes, extraction of bioactive compounds, and encapsulation technologies. Her work encompasses both fundamental research and practical applications, aiming to enhance the quality, safety, and nutritional value of food products.

Through her leadership in various research projects, Dr. Kha has made significant strides in developing innovative technologies for food preservation, processing, and valorization of agricultural by-products. Her expertise in thermal processing, encapsulation, and extraction techniques has led to the development of novel solutions for enhancing food quality and extending shelf life.

Accolades and Recognition

Assoc Prof Dr. Kha's contributions to the field of food science have garnered recognition both nationally and internationally. Her prolific research output, including publications in esteemed journals and book chapters, underscores her standing as a respected authority in her field. Additionally, her active engagement in academic activities, including teaching, mentoring, and knowledge dissemination, has earned her accolades from peers and students alike.

Impact and Influence

Assoc Prof Dr. Kha's work has had a tangible impact on both academia and industry, with her research findings informing policy decisions and driving innovation in the food sector. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, she has facilitated the translation of scientific knowledge into real-world applications, ultimately benefitting society at large.

Legacy and Future Contributions

As a trailblazer in the field of food science and technology, Dr. Kha's legacy is defined by her relentless pursuit of excellence and her dedication to advancing scientific knowledge for the betterment of humanity. Looking ahead, she remains committed to pushing the boundaries of research, mentoring the next generation of scholars, and collaborating with stakeholders to address emerging challenges in food security and sustainability. Dr. Kha's visionary leadership and unwavering passion continue to inspire those around her, shaping the future trajectory of food science for generations to come.

Notable Publication