Speakers
Ismail Y. Rabbi
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
Dr. Ismail Y. Rabbi is a Molecular Geneticist and Clonal Crop Breeder at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). His research leverages cutting-edge molecular tools, quantitative genetics, and genomic selection to accelerate genetic gain and dissect the genetic architecture of key traits in cassava. His work focuses on developing high-yielding varieties with enhanced disease resistance, climate resilience, and nutritional quality. Dr. Rabbi is deeply involved in modernizing breeding programs through the integration of high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping pipelines, collaborating extensively with global initiatives and partner institutions like Cornell University to advance sustainable root and tuber crop production.
Emmanuel Geoffriau
Institut Agro
Emmanuel Geoffriau is Professor at Institut Agro, and deputy Director of the Institute of Research in Horticulture and Seeds (IRHS / INRAE) in Angers, France. With an extensive career dedicated to vegetable crop science, his research focuses primarily on genetic resources, biodiversity conservation, and the genetic and ecophysiological bases (GxExM interactions) of metabolites involved in product quality and disease resistance, with a special emphasis on root crops such as carrots (Apiaceae). Prof. Geoffriau has led numerous national and international projects aimed at leveraging agrobiodiversity to develop sustainable and resilient crop production systems.
Vania Azevedo
CGIAR
Brazilian scientist focused on plant genetic resources conservation, with 19+ years of experience advancing biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and innovation. From leading the CGIAR Genebanks at the International Potato Center (CIP) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), to coordinating Brazil’s national network of 140+ genebanks at EMBRAPA, my work has connected science, policy, and farmers across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. At CIP, I spearheaded the use of AI in genebank management, scaled cryopreservation capacity, and supported countries in safeguarding their collections at the new Cryo Vault. I became a TEDx speaker in 2023 and was recognized by the Global Crop Diversity Trust as a “seed hero” in 2025. Currently, I am the CGIAR Genebanks Director, leading the Genebanks Accelerator Program, as part of the CGIAR Science Portfolio 25-30. The Accelerator is composed by 10 international Genebanks committed to safeguarding the diversity of our food and forage crops, making them accessible to users globally, supporting food security by promoting the use of the collection and the capacity development of partners across the globe. I hold a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and dual bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Business Administration, and have authored 80+ peer-reviewed publications. I serve, since 2021 as a technical advisor to the Brazilian Government on Access and Benefit-Sharing policy.
Luan P. Oliveira
University of Georgia
Assistant Professor and Precision Agriculture Extension Specialist in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Georgia, where he leads the Precision Horticulture Lab. Oliveira’s Extension and research program focuses on precision agriculture, robotics, UAV-based sensing, artificial intelligence, mechanization, and digital decision-support tools for specialty crop production. His work bridges horticultural science, engineering, computer vision, and stakeholder-driven Extension to evaluate emerging technologies under real-world production conditions and translate them into practical tools for growers, county Extension agents, researchers, and industry partners. Dr. Oliveira has contributed to more than $6 million in competitive and industry-supported grants as PI and Co-PI, with nearly $1 million directed to his program. Oliveira's recent accomplishments include the 2026 Tifton Campus Gary A. Herzog Award of Excellence for Junior Scientist and first place in the 2025 Farm Robotics Challenge.