Simion Matsvai | Agribusiness | Best Researcher Award

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Dr Simion Matsvai |  Agribusiness |  Best Researcher Award

Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Walter Sisulu University, South Africa

Simion Matsvai is a distinguished academic with over 10 years of experience in teaching, research, and community engagement. His areas of expertise include Applied Economics, with a focus on Financial Economics, Agricultural Economics, Environmental & Natural Resources Economics, Development Economics, and Health Economics. Matsvai has contributed to various national and international research projects, showcasing adaptability and a commitment to excellence. Skilled in analytical tools such as Excel, R, E-Views, STATA, and SPSS, he is dedicated to advancing research and consultancy within his field.

Profile:

Academic Qualifications:

  • PhD in Agricultural Economics (University of Fort Hare, 2016-2020)
  • Master of Commerce in Industrial Strategy and Trade Policy (Great Zimbabwe University, 2011-2012)
  • BSc (Hons) in Economics (University of Zimbabwe, 2003, 2006)

Work Experience:

Current Employment

  • Senior Lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University, Faculty of Commerce (Feb 2013 – Present)
    • Specializes in advanced modules including International Finance, Macroeconomics, Environmental Economics, and Econometrics.
    • Dissertation supervision and research mentoring.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Walter Sisulu University, 2024-2025)

Agribusiness Development Specialist (Intercountry Peoples Aid, 2010–2013)

Consultancy Experience:

Simion Matsvai has co-researched a variety of impactful studies for national and international organizations, including work on economic development, youth empowerment, agricultural policies, and financial systems.

Conferences & Workshops:

  • International Conference on Time Series and Forecasting (2023, Gran Canaria, Spain) – Presented on ICTs and Economic Growth.
  • 19th African Finance Association Conference (2023, Cape Town, RSA) – ICTs and Agricultural Total Factor Productivity Change in South Africa.
  • Beef Enterprise Strengthening Workshop (2023, Masvingo) – Discussed Agricultural Financing Models.

Skills & Expertise:

  • Statistical Software: Excel, R, E-Views, STATA, SPSS, FRONTIER, N-Logit, etc.
  • Research: Extensive experience in data analysis, methodology development, and report writing.
  • Teaching: Strong academic background in economics, with experience across postgraduate and undergraduate programs.

Publication Top Notes:

  1. Sustainability Reporting Strategy and Its Determinants Among Resource-Based Companies
    Corporate and Business Strategy Review, 2025
    DOI: 10.22495/cbsrv6i1art9
    Contributors: Leward Jeke, Sanderson Abel, Kudakwashe David Chitaukire, Julius Mukarati, Pierre Le Roux, Simion Matsvai

  2. Determinants of Microfinance Demand (Evidence from Chiredzi Smallholder Resettled Sugarcane Farmers in Zimbabwe)
    Sustainability, 2024-11-08
    DOI: 10.3390/su16229752
    Contributor: Simion Matsvai

  3. Technical Efficiency Impact of Microfinance on Small Scale Resettled Sugar Cane Farmers in Zimbabwe
    Cogent Economics & Finance, 2022-01-05
    DOI: 10.1080/23322039.2021.2017599

  4. Characterisation of Smallholder Resettled Sugarcane Farmers and Their Perceptions Towards Microfinance in Zimbabwe (Chiredzi)
    Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development, 2021-10-11
    DOI: 10.17306/J.JARD.2021.01308
    Contributors: Simion Matsvai, Abbissynia Mushunje, Simbarashe Tatsvarei

 

Shefali Boonerjee | Agriculture Economics | Best Researcher Award

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Dr Shefali Boonerjee | Agriculture Economics | Best Researcher Award

Principal Scientific Officer at  Bangladesh Tea Research Institute,  Bangladesh

Dr. Shefali Boonerjee is a Senior Scientific Officer at the Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI), specializing in plant tissue culture, molecular biology, and statistical interpretation of laboratory results. With over 20 years of research experience, she has made significant contributions to tea plant genetics, micropropagation, and clonal development. Dr. Boonerjee earned her Ph.D. in Plant Tissue Culture and Molecular Biology from the University of Dhaka, focusing on genetic diversity analysis and in vitro regeneration of tea clones. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and actively participates in scientific training and collaborations. Her expertise includes Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation, RAPD analysis, and hybridization techniques. In addition to her research, she has received international training in tea quality assurance and genetic resource conservation.

Profile:

🎓 Education:

  • Ph.D. in Plant Tissue Culture & Molecular Biology (2019) – University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
    Research: Genetic diversity & in vitro regeneration of tea (Camellia sinensis L.)
  • M.Sc. in Botany (1997) – University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh
    Focus: Micropropagation & somatic embryogenesis in onion (Allium cepa L.)
  • B.Sc. in Botany (1996) – University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh

🔬 Research & Expertise:

  • 20+ years of experience in plant tissue culture, molecular biology & statistical analysis
  • Specialized in tea plant micropropagation, genetic diversity analysis, and breeding
  • Skilled in in vitro culture, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and RAPD analysis

👩‍🔬 Professional Experience:

  • Senior Scientific Officer (2015–Present), BTRI – Statistics & Economics Division
  • Scientific Officer (2005–2015), BTRI – Botany Division
  • Research Fellow (2004–2005), Bangladesh Council of Scientific & Industrial Research

📚 Notable Publications:

  • Co-authored several research papers on tea cultivation, micropropagation, and genetic diversity in reputed journals like Journal of Agriculture and Food Research and Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology.

🌍 International Training & Visits:

  • Tea Tasting & Quality Assurance – India 🇮🇳 (2015)
  • Tea Culture & Industry Development – China 🇨🇳 (2021)
  • Scientific Writing Training – Thailand 🇹🇭 (2014)

🛠️ Technical & Computer Skills:

  • Plant Tissue Culture: Media prep, micropropagation (tea, onion, orchid, potato)
  • Molecular Techniques: PCR, RAPD, DNA isolation
  • Software: MS Office, R Programming, BLAST

Publication Top Notes:

  • Analysis of Growth Trends in Area, Production, and Yield of Tea in Bangladesh
    JK Saha, KMM Adnan, SA Sarker, S Boonerjee
    Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, Vol. 4, 100136 (2021) – 32 citations
  • Genetic Diversity Analysis of Eighteen Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) Clones of Bangladesh Through RAPD
    S Boonerjee, MN Islam, MI Hoque, RH Sarker
    Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology, Vol. 23(2), pp. 189-199 (2013) – 14 citations
  • Endogenous Bacterial Contamination of Plant Tissue Culture Materials: Identification and Control Strategy
    M Ali, S Boonerjee, MN Islam, ML Saha, MI Hoque, RH Sarker
    Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology, Vol. 28(1), pp. 99-108 (2018) – 11 citations
  • Development of In Vitro Micropropagation System in Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis L.) Using Shoot Tip and Nodal Segment Explants
    S Boonerjee, MI Hoque, RH Sarker
    Tea Journal of Bangladesh, Vol. 42, pp. 21-30 (2013) – 5 citations
  • Genetic Diversity Analysis and Development of In Vitro Regeneration System in Selected Clones of Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) Plant
    S Boonerjee
    Ph.D. Thesis, University of Dhaka (2019) – 1 citation
  • In Vitro Clonal Propagation of Onion (Allium cepa L.) Through Shoot Tip Culture
    S Boonerjee, PK Sen, MF Alam, SMM Rahman
    Khulna University Studies, pp. 49-53 (2006) – 1 citation
  • Micropropagation of Onion (Allium cepa L.) Through Bulblet Formation
    S Boonerjee, PK Sen, MF Alam, SMM Rahman
    Khulna University Studies, pp. 55-58 (2006) – 1 citation
  • Consumption and Export Potential of Tea in Bangladesh: A Field Study
    S Boonerjee, MA Islam, SM Islam, SK Paul, MT Uddin, MS Alamgir
    Shah, Consumption and Export Potential of Tea in Bangladesh: A Field Study

 

Dinesh Sharma | Agriculture | Best Innovation Award

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Dr Dinesh Sharma |  Agriculture |  Best Innovation Award

Associate Professor at  Manipal University Jaipur,  India

Dr. Dinesh Sharma is an accomplished Associate Professor in Data Science and Engineering at Manipal University Jaipur. With over 14 years of experience in technical and engineering education, he has contributed extensively to academia, research, and software development. His expertise spans artificial intelligence, precision agriculture, and wireless sensor networks.

 

Publication Profile

🎓 Academic Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in Computer Science & Engineering – Uttarakhand Technical University, Dehradun (2021)
  • M.E. in Computer Science & Engineering – R.G.P.V., Bhopal (2007)
  • B.E. in Computer Science & Engineering – R.G.P.V., Bhopal (2006)
  • C-DAC Certification in Software Development – ACTS, Pune (2007)

💼 Professional Experience:

  • Associate Professor at Manipal University Jaipur (Aug 2023 – Present)
  • Assistant Professor at Amity University, Madhya Pradesh (2015 – 2023)
  • Assistant Professor at IMS Unison University, Dehradun (2013 – 2015)
  • Head of Department & Assistant Professor at Amardeep College of Engineering, Agra (2012 – 2013)
  • Guest Lecturer at Rustamji Institute of Technology, Gwalior (2008 – 2010)
  • Software Designer & Developer (Freelancer) at D-Sys Data Solution, Gwalior (2008 – 2012)

📚 Research & Innovations:

  • Published multiple patents, including systems for intelligent animal welfare, waste composting, and assistive devices for the visually impaired.
  • Authored research papers on AI applications in agriculture and soil monitoring.
  • Contributed book chapters on enterprise service buses and data mining in agriculture.
  • Current research interests include AI in cybersecurity, precision agriculture, and energy-efficient wireless networks.

🏆 Achievements & Skills:

  • Proficient in C#, ASP.Net, PHP, Java, and Android app development.
  • Coordinated academic initiatives, including KPI management, coding clubs, and entrepreneurship cells.
  • Extensive experience in organizing and attending FDPs and workshops on cutting-edge technologies and pedagogy.

Publication Top Note:

  • A New Energy-Efficient Multitier Deterministic Energy-Efficient Clustering Routing Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks
    Symmetry, 12(5), 837, 2020.
  • Energy-Efficient Multitier Random DEC Routing Protocols for WSN in Agriculture
    Wireless Personal Communication, 2021.
  • Factors Affecting E-Waste Management: An Interpretive Structural Modeling Approach
    2015 Fifth International Conference on Communication Systems and Network Technologies, 2015.
  • Comparative Energy Evaluation of LEACH Protocol for Monitoring Soil Parameters in Wireless Sensor Networks
    Materials Today: Proceedings, 29, 381-396, 2020.
  • Enhanced PEGASIS Algorithm for Increasing the Lifetime of Wireless Sensor Networks
    Materials Today: Proceedings, 29, 372-380, 2020.
  • Face Mask Detection Analysis for COVID-19 Using CNN and Deep Learning
    2022 IEEE 11th International Conference on Communication Systems and Network Technologies, 2022.
  • Comparative Analysis of Skin Cancer Detection Using Classification Algorithms
    2023 IEEE 15th International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Communication Networks, 2023.
  • Prognosis for Crop Yield Production by Data Mining Techniques in Agriculture
    Applications of Image Processing and Soft Computing Systems in Agriculture, 2019.
  • A Survey on Energy-Efficient Hierarchical-Based Routing Protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks
    International Journal of Wireless and Mobile Communication for Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2019.
  • A Role of Enterprise Service Bus in Building Web Services
    Exploring Enterprise Service Bus in the Service-Oriented Architecture Paradigm, 2017.
  • A New Approach for Wireless Communication Security Protocol by Using Mutual Authentication
    Advanced Computing, 3(3), 31, 2012.
  • Neural Network-Based Soil Parameters Predictive Coordination Algorithm for Energy-Efficient Wireless Sensor Networks
    Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 2024.
  • Deep Learning Approach to Analyse, Detect, and Classify COVID-19 Patients
    New Trends in Mathematical Science, 1, 2021.
  • Effect of Contention Windows Size in Binary Exponential Backoff Algorithm
    2015 Second International Conference on Advances in Computing and Communication Engineering, 2015.
  • Energy-Efficient Clean and Green IT: Concepts and Approaches
    International Journal of Smart Home, 9(6), 65-70, 2015.
  • Soil Nutrient Analysis and Automatic Monitoring in Precision Agriculture
    Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 2024.
  • Identification of Personality Traits by Machine Learning Analysis of Signatures and Handwriting
    SN Computer Science, 5(5), 497, 2024.
  • Enhancing Feature Extraction in Plant Image Analysis through a Multilayer Hybrid DCNN
    International Journal of Intelligent Systems and Applications in Engineering, 2023.
  • Increasing Growth of Agriculture Using Efficient Wireless Sensor Network Systems
    (Details missing; please provide the publication venue and year for completion).

 

Américo Ferraz Dias Neto | Agriculture | BioAgri Innovator Excellence Award

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Dr Américo Ferraz Dias Neto |  Agriculture |  BioAgri Innovator Excellence Award

Executivo agrícola at  UNICAMP,  Brazil

Dr. Américo Ferraz Dias Neto is an accomplished Agricultural Engineer with over 20 years of experience in the bioenergy sector, specializing in agroindustrial processes, supply chain optimization, and sustainable agricultural operations. His expertise spans controlled traffic agriculture, digital agriculture, and predictive models for production improvement. Dr. Dias Neto has led large-scale projects and managed significant agricultural operations, gaining recognition through awards like the Outstanding Alumnus Award from UNICAMP and the Norman Joseph King Award.

Publication Profile

Education:

  • Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering, FEAGRI-UNICAMP (2021)
  • M.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering, FEAGRI-UNICAMP (2000)
  • B.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering, FEAGRI-UNICAMP (1997)

Professional Experience:

  • Américo Ferraz Consult (2017–Present): Consulting in bioenergy, specializing in agricultural production management and sustainability.
  • Novo Milênio Distillery (2023–2024): Managed agricultural production over 28,000 hectares, enhancing productivity.
  • UMOE Bioenergy (2017–2020): Oversaw agro-industrial operations for a 42,000-hectare unit producing ethanol and energy.
  • Atvos (2007–2016): Led digital agriculture and logistics projects, implementing technologies for crop monitoring and cost reduction.

Publications & Patents:

Dr. Dias Neto has contributed to numerous publications focused on mechanized sugarcane harvesting, soil management, and digital agriculture. His notable patent includes “Soft Cana,” an innovative technology for sugarcane agriculture (2022).

Awards:

  • Norman Joseph King Award, ISSCT Congress (2023)
  • Outstanding Alumnus Award, UNICAMP (2023)

Publication Top Notes

  • Advancements of Agriculture 4.0 in Mechanized Sugarcane Harvesting: A Review
    Ciência Rural (2024)
    DOI: 10.1590/0103-8478cr20220562
    Contributors: Américo Ferraz Dias Neto, Jenyffer da Silva Gomes Santos, Raffaella Rossetto, João Domingos Biagi, Daniel Albiero
  • Use of Vegetation Activity Index for Evaluation of L-Alpha Amino Acid Treatment in Sugarcane Agriculture
    Agriculture (2024)
    DOI: 10.3390/agriculture14111877
    Contributors: Américo Ferraz Dias Neto, Ivan Bazo Bergamim, Flavio Roberto de Freitas Gonçalves, Raffaella Rossetto, Daniel Albiero
  • Use of Vegetation Activity Index for Evaluation of L-Alpha Amino Acid Treatment in Sugarcane (Preprint)
    (2024-09-22)
    DOI: 10.20944/preprints202409.1603.v1
    Contributors: Américo Ferraz Dias Neto, Ivan Bazo Bergamim, Flavio Roberto de Freitas Gonçalves, Raffaella Rossetto, Daniel Albiero
  • Strip Soil Tillage and Traffic Over the Soil on Sugar Cane Compared to Conventional Tillage Systems
    Sugar Tech (2023)
    DOI: 10.1007/s12355-023-01267-y
    Contributors: Américo Ferraz Dias Neto, Daniel Albiero, Raffaella Rossetto, João D. Biagi, Jenyffer Gomes da Silva
  • Modeling of Mechanized Sugarcane Harvesting to Support Decision-Making on Asset Management
    Sugar Tech (2022)
    DOI: 10.1007/s12355-022-01126-2
    Contributors: Américo Ferraz Dias Neto, Daniel Albiero, Raffaella Rossetto, João D. Biagi