09 11 2026
On 5 November 2026, the Agricultural Academy of Bulgaria hosted the 65th Day of Agricultural Science in Sofia. Prof. Dr. Nazim Gruda, President of the Union of European Academies for Sciences Applied to Agriculture, Food and Nature (UEAA), represented the Union and delivered a keynote address on the role of scientific evidence in European agricultural policy.
UEAA Participation in Bulgaria’s Day of Agricultural Science
Enver Hamiti is a Corresponding Member of the Kosova Academy of Sciences and Arts (KASA), which he represents within the UEAA, and Secretary of its Natural Sciences Section. He is also Full Professor of Telecommunications at the University of Prishtina. His research focuses on wireless communications, RF-EMF exposure and IoT systems, with recent activities extending to satellite remote sensing and environmental monitoring using Copernicus Sentinel data and Google Earth Engine for water-quality and vegetation assessment. He has authored numerous scientific publications in these fields. In 2026, he was elected Observer to the UEAA Steering Committee.
Kosova Academy of Sciences and Arts | University of Prishtina
Baiba Rivza is President of the Latvian Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences and Secretary General of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. A former Minister of Education and Science and Member of Parliament, she is a member of several royal and national academies across Sweden, Italy, and Lithuania. She is a professor at Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, focusing on digitalization, sustainability, and agrobusiness. Her extensive career includes 695 scientific publications and 17 monographs. She received the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers Award (2024), the Grand Medal (2017), and the Three Star Order (2000).
https://eppi.lza.lv/index.php/rushmore_teams/prof-dr-hab-oec-baiba-rivza/
Vilém Podrázský represents Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences (cazv.cz), Czech Republic. Full professor of Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague. Specialized in Silviculture, Forest Ecology and Forest Soil Science. Member of SC of Czech Forestry Society, former head of Department and former Dean of the faculty. At WoS 102 publications, otherwise more than 300 scientific papers.
https://wp.czu.cz/cs/index.php/?r=1071&mp=person.info&idClovek=2221
Vidmantas Stanys represent the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences and serves as the Chair of the Division of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences. Researcher Emeritus of the Department of Orchard Plant Genetics and Biotechnology Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. Expert at Lithuanian Research Council. Specialized in plant biotechnology, genetics and breeding. 500+ publications, 200+ indexed in international journals. 22 cultivars of horticultural plants. Professional link:
Prof. Juan Reca represents Spain’s Andalusian Academy of Agriculture (AAA), where he serves as Current Secretary. A Full Professor of Hydraulic and Irrigation Engineering at the University of Almería (UAL), he holds a Ph.D. from the University of Córdoba and specializes in agricultural irrigation and water management. He is the former Director of CIAIMBITAL and a member of the Andalusian Government’s Drought Expert Committee. Additionally, he coordinates UAL’s Master in Agricultural Engineering and Ph.D. in Greenhouse Technology. With over 140 publications, including 50+ peer-reviewed journal articles, he is a leading expert in Mediterranean agro-systems.
Zenonas Dabkevičius is an agronomist and General Secretary of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. A Fellow of the Swedish Royal Academy of Agriculture and Forestry and a foreign member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, he chairs the Lithuanian Science Prize Committee (2022–2028). His research focuses on plant pathology, integrated pest management, and microbiology. A recipient of the 2008 Lithuanian Science Prize, he has co-authored eight textbooks and over 200 scientific publications. He has supervised 14 doctoral students and extensively chaired both the National Plant Genetic Resources and the Board of Agricultural Sciences under Lithuania’s ministries.
Michel Thibier is a veterinarian, former President of UEAA, and representative of the Académie d’Agriculture de France. An Honorary Professor at AgroParisTech, he specializes in animal reproduction and biotechnology, with over 300 scientific publications. He is the former Past President of IETS and AETE, receiving the IETS Distinguished Service Award. His distinguished public career includes serving as Director General for Education at the French Ministry of Agriculture, President of the UN Committee on World Food Security (FAO), and Chair of the Codex Alimentarius Committee.
Professor Christos Olympios is currently President of the Greek Agricultural Academy (2026–2029). Former Director of Vegetable Production at the Agricultural University of Athens. A global expert for the FAO, UNIDO, and CIPA, he specializes in greenhouse management and hydroponics. His highly decorated career includes the Alex Laurie Award and the Cyprus Distinguished Scientist, over 100 scientific publications, and four textbooks.
https://www.aua.gr/ekk/en/homepage-gr-2/toergasthrio-gr/dr_olympios?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Maria Manuel Romeiras, represents the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, where she is a Corresponding Member. She is an Assoc. Professor at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, and an integrated member of LEAF/TERRA. Her research covers tropical biodiversity, conservation, plant genetics, and ecological modelling. A former Tropical Research Institute leader, she is widely published internationally.
Kerstin Niblaeus represents the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry of which she is a former President. She is also a former President of UEAA. She is a former General Director at the EU Council Secretariat in Brussels, Swedish State Secretary of Research and General Director of the Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate. Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences. Ph D in Quantum Chemistry and Nuclear Chemistry.
https://www.kva.se/en/contact/kerstin-niblaeus-2/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Dr.h.c. prof. Dr. Ing. Elena Horská represents the Slovak Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Professor of Management and Marketing at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Slovakia. Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management. Specialization: Marketing, International Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Food Marketing. Supervisor of PhD program Agrarian Trade and Marketing. She has published over 40 papers in WoS/Scopus journals, several monographs and textbooks for university students.
https://is.uniag.sk/lide/clovek.pl?id=1618;lang=sk
Academician Prof. Dr. Mykola Patyka represents the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine (NAAS), where he serves as Vice President. His scientific expertise covers agronomy, soil microbiology, biotechnology, and bioremediation of conflict-contaminated ecosystems. A Laureate of Ukraine’s State Prize in Science and Technology and the Cabinet of Ministers Prize, he has contributed to the European soil database EU-HYDI and leads the Horizon Europe BioRemed-UA project. He is the author of more than 450 scientific publications. Professional links: NAAS official profile | ORCID: 0000-0002-2506-8699
Prof. Dr. Ioan Jelev represent the Romanian Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (AAFS). He was the Former President of this Academy and the UEAA. He is Honorary member of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Life Sciences Timisoara and of the University of Oradea; PhD in Fluid Mechanics; Full Professor. Former Secretary of State for Environmental Protection in Romania, involved in establishing of the national institutional and legal framework in this field and Environment – UE negotiations. He has written more than 140 scientific papers and 23 books.
https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ioan Jelev; https://www.asm.md/sites/default/files/2020-01/CV Jelev.pdf
Prof. Dr. Simone Orlandini represent the Accademia dei Georgofili, Italy. Full Professor and Head of Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry at the University of Florence, Italy. Specialized in Agricultural Sciences with a PhD in Agrometeorology. President of the National Conference for University Education in AGRARIA; Vice-President of the Accademia dei Georgofili in Florence, President of the National Union of Academies for Sciences Applied to Agricultural Development, Food Security, and Environmental Protection; President of the Foundation for Climate and Sustainability and of the Italian Association of Agrometeorology. 550+ publications, 200+ indexed in international journals.
https://www.unite.it/UniTE/Engine/RAServeFile.php/f/Collaboratori/004-cv_europeo_orlandini.pdf
Prof. Dr. Nazim S. Gruda represent the Academy of Sciences of Albania. Professor at the University of Bonn, Germany; Chair of the ISHS Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture; Editor in Chief of Int. J. Veg. Sci, Taylor&Francis, and Encyclopedia of Vegetable Science, Elsevier. Specialization in Innovative and Sustainable Horticultural Production Systems. Dr. Heinrich Baur Prize – Technical University of Munich, Germany; Investigador Distinguido – Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Spain; Distinguished Scientist – Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; Honorary Membership of ISHS. Member, Honorary or Corresponding member of four European Academies of Sciences. 450+ publications, 220+ indexed in Scopus.
https://www.gartenbauwissenschaften.uni-bonn.de/en/staff/nazim-gruda