Tawffig is a seasoned Research Associate with the International Center of Agriculture Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), based in Zahle, Lebanon. Since March 2001, He has been instrumental in executing a range of responsibilities encompassing administrative tasks, breeding, agronomy, and agricultural duties at ICARDA's Lebanon stations. Their role involves coordinating and overseeing agricultural operations related to biodiversity crop improvement (BCI) programs, including field operations for chickpea trials, managing greenhouse activities, and preparing lands for various programs. In addition to these responsibilities, Tawffiqis adept at producing field books, computerizing pedigrees, and analyzing experimental data. They also supervise technicians and daily workers, ensuring smooth operation and efficiency across their projects. Tawffiq holds a PhD in Plant Breeding from the Sudan Academy of Science (2017-2020), a Master’s degree in Rural Engineering from Aleppo University (2007-2010), and a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Mechanization from Baghdad University (1993-1997). Their academic background complements their extensive hands-on experience in agricultural research and operations.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development. In legumes, low phosphate (Pi) availability limits both nitrogen fixation efficiency and thus final crop yield. However, low soil Pi triggers complex adaptive responses in plants, which are classed into Phosphorus uptake Efficiency (PupE) and Phosphorus Use Efficiency (PUE). Using the principles of omics, my research is investigating the molecular mechanisms that underpin these complex adaptive responses in cowpea. Also, my research is interested in nutrient cycling of labile and non-labile Phosphorus in agricultural soil via the investigation of root exudates and plant microbiome recruitment for phosphate solubilization and uptake.

Currently a PhD student at CSIRO and Murdoch University, thesis tittle "Unravelling seed and seed coat development to reduce seed coat thickness for lupins"

She is interested in the photoperiod and temperature mediated floral transduction of soybean.

Shanice is a PhD student at the Queensland Alliance of Agriculture and Food Innovation Institute (University of Queensland). Her PhD research focuses on using new innovative tools to increase the productivity and reliability of mungbean production for growers in Australia and Myanmar. Prior to commencing her PhD, Shanice completed a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Business with Honours at the Queensland University of Technology. Shanice is passionate about improving global food security and using her diverse background and skillset, she strives to be a part of developing solutions to sustainably feed communities in the future.

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I am Edward Asare from Ghana. I conducted a master's thesis at the Crop Science and Plant Breeding Institute of Kiel University in Germany on “Identification of allelic variations associated with flowering time within homologs of flowering time genes in quinoa”. The study identified superior haplotypes under long day conditions in 256 quinoa diversity set that could be harnessed in haplotype-based breeding strategy to develop quinoa cultivars best suited for cultivation in the northern latitudes, which are characterised by long-inductive photoperiods despite quinoa being a short-day crop. Currently, I am pursing PhD at the Research School of Biology at the Australian National University working on “Improving chickpea productivity by enhancing resistance to soil acidity”, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Ulrike Mathesius. My PhD research goal is to ameliorate chickpea productivity in acidic soils through genomics-assisted breeding approach and to understand the mechanism of acid soil resistance.

Dr Sajitha Biju is a plant scientist at the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, the Faculty of Science, the University of Melbourne. Her main research focus is plant physiology and biochemistry, where she explores possible pathways and cross-talks that lead to drought stress management in plants. She is interested in investigating the role of the mineral element Silicon in alleviating drought in lentils. She has received various awards and fellowships, including the Australia India Early Career Research Scholarship (2023), the GRDC research fellowship, The Dr. Frank Cope Scholarship in Agronomy, and the Plant Nutrition Trust Award. She has published in journals of repute and has presented her work at national and international conferences. Before starting at The University of Melbourne, she worked as a lecturer at the University of Kerala, India and was the recipient of many awards, including ‘The Best Woman Scientist Award’ and ‘Young Scientist Award’.

Khalid DAOUI obtained his diploma of agronomic engineering from the National School of Agriculture (Morocco) on 1993. He occupied the post of assistant coordinator of the Maghrebian faba ban research network from 1993 to 1998. The main objective of this project was the establishment of a research network on food legume among maghrebian countries (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia). On 1999, he joined the National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA) as researcher. He conducted researches on phosphorus use efficiency by faba bean. On 2007, he obtained his PhD from Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium). The subject of his PhD was: Research of strategies for improving phosphorus use efficiency in Vicia faba L. conducted under rainfed conditions in Morocco. Now he occupies the position of Senior Scientist at the regional center of agronomic research in Meknes (Morocco). The main subjects of interest are: agroforestry, food legume agronomy and nutrient use efficiency

Khalid DAOUI obtained his diploma of agronomic engineering from the National School of Agriculture (Morocco) on 1993. He occupied the post of assistant coordinator of the Maghrebian faba ban research network from 1993 to 1998. The main objective of this project was the establishment of a research network on food legume among maghrebian countries (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia). On 1999, he joined the National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA) as researcher. He conducted researches on phosphorus use efficiency by faba bean. On 2007, he obtained his PhD from Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium). The subject of his PhD was: Research of strategies for improving phosphorus use efficiency in Vicia faba L. conducted under rainfed conditions in Morocco. Now he occupies the position of Senior Scientist at the regional center of agronomic research in Meknes (Morocco). The main subjects of interest are: agroforestry, food legume agronomy and nutrient use efficiency. Dr. Daoui K joint the steering committee of the 7th International Food Legume Research International Conference representative of North Africa and Middle East.

i am Fatiha Sultana Eti, currently engaged in my doctoral studies focusing on abiotic stress resistance in faba bean at the Julius Kuehn Institute. i have completed my masters degree from university of göttingen. i am interested in plant breeding, with a particular focus on stress breeding as well as bioinformatics.

My research program explores basic molecular mechanisms in plants considering abiotic (drought, salt) and biotic stresses active during plant-pathogens interactions. In particular in biotic stresses research focus to virus and plant nematode diseases. Functional genomics tools are used to investigate those stresses. Furthermore, innovative technologies are used to study plant biodiversity and their gene expression, as well as for the detection and diagnosis of emerging or endemic plant diseases and nematodes. I am also involved in studies on the fungal root endophyte Pochonia chlamydosporia and on plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), either on basic and applied aspects. These microorganisms are used as microbial inoculants for plant growth and as biological disease control. The latter research is carried out through an international collaboration with researchers of La Molina University, Peru.

Alex Jose is a first-year PhD student at the Research School of Biology, Australian National University. His PhD research focuses on enhancing chickpea productivity by improving root nodulation under low-nitrogen and acidic soil conditions. His research interests include plant-microbe interactions, specifically root nodule symbiosis and plant stress tolerance. Alex completed his MSc in Microbiology from the Cochin University of Science and Technology in Kerala, India. His MSc thesis focused on the diversity of endophytic bacterial associated with chickpea root nodules and the symbiotic specificity between chickpea ecotypes and rhizobial symbionts. After that, he worked as a research assistant for a year in Montpellier, France, on the molecular physiology of root nodule formation in Aeschynomene evenia, a sub-tropical legume.

Rosy Raman is a plant geneticist with a research focus on crop resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses. Her research involved the identification of germplasm with favorable alleles, investigating genetic basis of trait inheritance, genomic regions, and candidate genes associated with traits important to Australian crop breeding programs.

lennart scheer is a phd student in the department of plant breeding at jlu, specializing in the field of drought stress adaptation in faba beans. his research primarily focuses on conducting multi-environment trials and controlled experiments using the state-of-the-art droughtspotterxxl facility. the objective of his research is to identify key physiological traits that play a crucial role in determining faba bean yield under drought conditions. to achieve this, he employs advanced high-throughput and high-resolution phenotyping techniques, such as 3d and multi-spectral scans, to obtain detailed information on the plant's response to drought stress.

Yayue Zhong is a PhD candidate in Agricultural Science at the University of Queensland, Australia. Specializing in the study of water use efficiency (WUE) under water-limiting stress in mungbean (Vigna radiata), Yayue has developed expertise in both practical and theoretical aspects of plant physiology and genetics. Their current research encompasses a range of innovative methodologies including lysimeter-based assessments and genome-wide association studies to dissect the genetic basis of WUE in mungbean. Yayue holds an MSc in Agricultural Science from the same institution, where they investigated crown rot resistance in durum wheat, contributing significant findings toward enhancing disease resistance in Australian durum varieties. Their work has been presented at major conferences, including the Australasian Plant Breeding and Tropag International Agriculture Conference. Yayue's academic journey began with a Bachelor's degree from Sichuan Agricultural University, China, focusing on stress-resistance physiology in citrus cultivars.

Dr Kedar Adhikari was borne in a remote village in Nepal. He completed BSc Hons (Agriculture) from Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar India, Master’s degree from the University of Manitoba, Canada and PhD from the University of Sydney, Australia. He currently leads the grain legume breeding program at the University of Sydney, Australia. Prior to the University of Sydney, he worked as a plant breeder for nearly 12 years at the Department of Agriculture and Food in Western Australia. He has released nine varieties of lupins and faba bean in Australia. Apart from breeding varieties, Dr Adhikari is an active academic leader involved in teaching, scientific writing, mentoring and training post-graduate students. More than ten PhD and several honours students graduated under his primary supervision and several more are continuing. Dr Adhikari has published over 80 scientific papers in international refereed journals, conference proceedings and book chapters. He is an editor and reviewer of several scientific journals.

Oumaima Chetto is a junior scientist responsible for faba bean breeding program in Morocco. She investigates biotic and abiotic tolerances in faba beans, employing methods such as mutagenesis for breeding. Integrating germplasm from gene banks further enriches the breeding efforts. Her research aims to develop resilient germplasms and improve faba bean cultivation. Furthermore, Oumaima Chetto is coordinating and actively engaging in collaborative projects within this domain.

Kristiina Laanemets is the head of Plant Biotechnology Department of the Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge (METK) since 2016. The department works in close collaboration with the Plant Breeding Department of the same institute. Our activities include genetic marker analysis, preservation of plant tissue cultures and CRISPR-Cas of barley.

Nicholas studied a Bachelor of Science majoring in Plant Science at UQ and completed an honours project on sorghum reproductive development under the supervision of Dr. Karen Massel and Prof. Ian Godwin. He went on to work as a research assistant as a part of the BMGF-funded Hy-Gain project, using biotechnology for the creation of self-reproducing hybrids in sorghum and cowpea. In his 2.5 years there he cultivated skills in cereal and legume transformation, molecular and developmental biology and cytology, as well as field and glasshouse experience. His doctoral project will centre around the use of biotechnology for the development of highly recombinant legumes which have the potential to aid in the acceleration of breeding efforts. His advisory team will include Dr Karen Massel (QAAFI), Assoc. Prof. Brett Ferguson (School for Agriculture and Food Sustainability), and Dr Sven Weber (Justus Liebig University).

Sandra Rychel-Bielska studies the regulation of flowering, which is particularly interesting in lupins. She focused on two domesticated species: Narrow-leaved lupin (L. angustifolius L.)and white lupin (L. albus L.). Currently, she works as an assistant professor at the Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Seed Production at Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, where she is the head of two research projects funded by the Polish National Science Center aimed at searching for new mechanisms of flowering regulation in wild lines of white lupin and understanding the role of miRNA in the flowering process in this species.

Since 2023, Rica-Hanna Schlichtermann has been a PhD student in the IRTG Accelerating Crop Genetic Gain program, focusing on advancing faba bean breeding. Prior to this, she earned a Master of Science in Agrobiotechnology from Justus Liebig University (2020-2023), conducting a thesis on genetic variation in wheat using Oxford Nanopore sequencing. She began her academic journey with a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Osnabrück University (2017-2020), where she studied the molecular phylogeny of bZIP TGA transcription factors in her thesis.

Dr Sharma is a Bioinformatics Research Scientist at NSW DPI with a research focus on crop genomics. With an educational background in bioinformatics and plant molecular biology, her work at DPI focuses on providing bioinformatics leadership and service around plant genomics and other high-throughput omics approaches for plant breeding. She applies high-throughput sequencing technologies, genomic methods and bioinformatics resources to disentangle the genetic basis of complex agricultural traits and identify new genetic gains.

I have over 17 years experience using a wide of molecular markers to increase the selection efficiency of our breeding program and to shorten the breeding cycles. I am presently using the common bean mid-density single nucleotide polymorphism panel for the genomic selection of rapid cooking biofortified common beans to develop accurate genomic breeding values for cooking time, seed iron and zinc, grain yield, and other traits.

Ivana Kaňovská is a PhD student in Biochemistry at Palacký University Olomouc. She possesses expertise in molecular biology and biochemistry methods, genomics, and bioinformatics. Her bachelor's thesis centered on the soybean glabrous phenotype, while her master's thesis explored tissue-specific pigmentation in soybeans. In 2022, she started her PhD studies. Her doctoral research focuses on "Modulation of a branched-chain amino acid biosynthetic pathway for protein content enhancement in soybean seed." She has actively participated in Palacký University IGA (Internal Grant Agency) projects in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Her academic achievements were recognized with a scholarship from the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (KIS), enabling her participation and presentation at the World Soybean Research Conference (WSRC11) in Vienna, Austria, in June 2023. There, she presented her poster titled "Identifying candidate genes responsible for soybean pod color using Synthetic phenotype to causative mutation strategy".

Dr Isaac Njaci is a postdoctoral research fellow at the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability (AGFS) at The University of Queensland. He has been working on agricultural crop improvement and generation of genomic resources on various species including pigeonpea, grasspea, African yam bean, lablab, Tripogon loliiformis and taro focussing on abiotic/biotic stress and enhanced carbon capture in collaboration with local and international researchers. Dr Njaci has extensive experience and skills in biotechnology, genomics, gene editing and bioinformatics.

A recent graduate of UQ's bioinformatics honours program, Ryan's niche is at the intersection of digital tool user and developer. He is a plant lover and former animator turned programmer, with a drive to find ways to support efforts towards a healthier planet.

Estelle Grundy is a lab technician working for Prof. Michael Udvardi within the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation at the University of Queensland (UQ). She is also currently completing her PhD thesis on the functional characterisation of defence genes in soybean nodulation at the Integrative Legume Research Group (School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, UQ) headed by A/Prof. Brett Ferguson. Her research is centred on understanding the genetic basis of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in different legumes. Ms Grundy hopes to further understand the molecular players underpinning partner compatibility in nodulation as well as the diversity of SNF in legume species using pan-genome approaches.

Grace Weston-Olliver is a PhD student in the Integrative Legume Research Group at The University of Queensland. She completed her undergraduate studies in 2017 at Queensland University of Technology. Grace is investigating ways to enhance legume crops in Australia using CRISPR/Cas9 editing.

Dr. Zhe Yan, Professor of Institute of Crop Science of CAAS (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences), received his Ph.D. degree in plant science from the University of Missouri-Columbia in the United States in 2012. He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at Aarhus University in Denmark and the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. In 2018, he joined the faculty of IGA of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and in 2020, he joined the Soybean Gene Resources group in the institute of Crop Science of CAAS. His primary research focuses on the evaluation and utilization of soybean germplasm resources and Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of Legume-Rhizobium symbiosis. His research, published in journals such as SCIENCE, Nature Plants, New Phytologist, and Plant Biotechnology Journal revealed the functions of small RNA and cell type specific genes in nodule development and legume autoregulation of nodulation.