1. Integrated Management for Sustainable Natural Resources and Mitigation of Climate Change

Dr. Khaled Makkouk

Formerly ICARDA; American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

Lecture: Integrated Pest Management

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Former senior scientist at ICARDA and professor of plant pathology at the American University of Beirut, specializing in plant virology. Author of over 170 papers in refereed journals and past president of the Arab Society for Plant Protection and the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union.

Dr. Zouheir Masri

Michigan State University, Michigan, USA

Lecture: Integrated Management for Conserving Soils and Improving Their Productivity

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Agronomist with 45 years of experience spanning drylands of the Middle East, Central Asia, and the US. Has led national soil-health and nutrient-management programs and mentored graduate students at Michigan State University, GCSAR, and ICARDA.

Dr. Ghufran Kattach

Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria

Lecture: Integrated Management for Sustaining and Developing Natural Steppe and Rangeland

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Specialist in rangeland and forage management in arid regions, working with ACSAD and ICARDA on desertification control and rangeland rehabilitation across Arab countries. Has supervised numerous Master's and PhD theses on field, forage, and medicinal crops.

Dr. Ali Shehadeh

ICARDA

Lecture: Conservation and Utilization of Agro-biodiversity in Syria (with Dr. Ahmed Amri)

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Specialist in agriculture, rural development, and post-conflict recovery, with a focus on Syria. Works on policy analysis and reform frameworks that strengthen institutions, cooperatives, and the private sector in rebuilding resilient agricultural systems.

Dr. Fares Asfary

Independent Consultant

Lecture: Integrated Approach for Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

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Held research and advisory roles at ICARDA, the Syrian Atomic Energy Commission, and ACSAD before becoming an independent consultant for UNEP, the Arab League, and UNDP. Expert in environmental isotopes, land degradation, and sustainable land management.

Dr. Ahmed Amri

Retired from ICARDA

Lecture: Conservation and Utilization of Agro-biodiversity in Syria (with Dr. Ali Shehadeh)

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Former Head of Genetic Resources and Deputy Director for Biodiversity and Crop Improvement at ICARDA. Released 27 barley and wheat varieties, published over 200 papers, and advised 57 Master's and PhD students on genetic resource conservation.

Dr. Ahmed Haj Asaad

Geo Expertise

Lecture: Integrated Management for Sustaining and Developing Water Resources

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Senior researcher on the geopolitical and socio-economic dimensions of water resource management, including transboundary river basins. Has consulted for the Geneva Graduate Institute, EPFL, and King Saud University, with fieldwork across Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

Prof. Dr. Zuheir Shater

University of Latakia, Latakia, Syria

Lecture: Integrated Management for Sustaining and Developing Natural Forests and Woodlands

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Professor of Forestry and Environment at the University of Latakia, also teaching Integrated Natural Resource Management at the Syrian Virtual University. Research centers on plant biodiversity conservation within Mediterranean forest ecosystems.

Dr. Manhal Al Zuobi

Using Suitability Maps for Agricultural Planning

Dr. Soleman Salhab

Integrated Management of Livestock Resources

2. Agricultural Systems for Sustainability, Improving Productivity, and Mitigation of Climate Change

Dr. Fares Asfary

Independent Consultant

Lecture: Conservation Agriculture System and Other Systems

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Held research and advisory roles at ICARDA, the Syrian Atomic Energy Commission, and ACSAD before becoming an independent consultant for UNEP, the Arab League, and UNDP. Expert in environmental isotopes, land degradation, and sustainable land management.

Dr. AbdAlkareem Barakat

ACSAD

Lecture: Management of Fruit Orchards (Olives, Pistachio)

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Full-time expert at ACSAD, heading its Fruit Trees Program and Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory. Has published widely and contributed to fruit-tree development projects across the Arab world.

Dr. Safoh Rihawi

Integrated Crop/Livestock Production Systems

MSc. Rahaf Shakko

Irrigated Agriculture Rationalization, Sustainability and Increasing Productivity

Dr. Abdul Mohsen Almerie

Protected Agriculture (Green Houses)

3. The Role of New Technologies in Sustaining and Increasing Agricultural Production

Dr. Eddy De Pauw

PAVOCARTO, Belgium

Lecture: Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing

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Geologist specializing in land resource mapping, soils, climate change, and risk analysis. Worked for over 35 years across Africa, Asia, and Syria with FAO, IBSRAM, and ICARDA, and now consults on soil science and climate-related land assessments.

Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Charideh

Syrian Atomic Energy Commission, Syria

Lecture: Environmental Isotopes — Water Isotopes

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Research Director and Head of the Isotope Hydrology Department at the Syrian Atomic Energy Commission. Has led three decades of research using isotope technologies to study groundwater resources across Syria's water basins with the IAEA, EU, and Arab Atomic Energy Agency.

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Nur Istanbuly

University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Lecture: Case Study: Integrating Landscape Metrics into Environmental Impact Assessments for Sustainable Land Management

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Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning and Environmental Impact Assessment at Aleppo University, integrating landscape metrics into EIA systems. Recipient of the EcoWorld 2024 Award, with research spanning GIS, remote sensing, and climate resilience.

Dr. Mosab Halwani

Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany

Lecture: Modeling Crop Production Systems (APSIM & MONICA Models)

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Research assistant at ZALF's Resource-Efficient Cropping Systems group, working on field experiments and the agro-ecological and socio-economic assessment of farming systems. Contributes to EU projects on legume cultivation for sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Michael Baum

Biotechnology

Dr. Fawaz Kird Ali

Environmental Isotopes — 15N

Dr. Ahmad Shaaban

Environmental Isotopes — 13C

Dr. Jafar Al-Muhammad

Artificial Intelligence

4. Management of Agricultural Production

Prof. Dr. Abboud Alsaleh

ACSAD / Syrian Private University, Syria

Lecture: Packaging, Transport, Storage, Marketing and Processing of Plant Products

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Founder of Al-Furat University and former president of Al-Jazeera Private University. Currently an expert in grain production and quality at ACSAD, with extensive published research on food and grain quality.

Mohammed Anis Khudari

Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria

Lecture: Using the Internet of Things and AI in Predicting and Diagnosing Plant Diseases

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Agricultural engineering student specializing in plant protection, focused on IoT sensors and AI for early diagnosis of plant disease. Currently developing a low-cost field system for early detection of potato blight through microclimate monitoring.

Dr. Huzaifa Maznouk

Idlib University, Idlib, Syria

Lecture: AI Use in Managing Diseases of Farm Animals

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Associate Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Idlib University. Published researcher on poultry production, supervising Master's and PhD theses in veterinary medicine.

Dr. Muhyeddin Hilali

Packaging, Transport, Marketing and Processing of Animal Products (also represents ICARDA, Session 6)

5. Human Development and Income Diversification

Prof. Dr. Mohamad Nayouf

University of Hama, Hama, Syria

Lecture: Linking Agricultural Graduates to the Labor Market

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Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering at Hama University, specializing in quality management for food manufacturing. Combines academic leadership with industrial application of quality systems.

Joud Nahhas

German-Syrian Initiative, Germany

Lecture: Case Study: Women's Role in Conflicts

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Syrian-German social and political scientist focused on labour-market integration, youth empowerment, and women's participation in the economy and political life. Supports dialogue and cooperation between Syrian and German communities as a trainer with the German-Syrian Initiative.

Scarlet Dayoub

COOPI, Hama, Syria

Lecture: Developing Skills of Women and Youth

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Agricultural engineer and project-management trainer coordinating development and training programs for organizations in Hama. Focuses on youth empowerment and building partnerships for sustainable livelihoods.

Dr. Osmat Bawabi

Promoting Small, Medium and Large Enterprises

Eng. Aya Asfari

Case Study: Advantages and Challenges of Small Projects in Rural Syria

Eng. Abdulaziz Almohammad

Case Study: Job Opportunities and Difficulties for Agricultural Graduates

6. The Role of Universities, Research Centers, and Regional, International and Civil Organizations in Agricultural Development

Dr. Safaa Kumari

ICARDA, Lebanon

Lecture: ASPP — Capacity Building of Plant Quarantine

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Head of the Seed Health Laboratory and plant virologist at ICARDA, working on legume and cereal virus detection and seed-borne pest management. Named to the BBC's 100 most influential women of 2020 and former President of the Arab Society for Plant Protection.

Prof. Ahmad Katbeh-Bader

The University of Jordan, Jordan

Lecture: ASPP — Role of the Society

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Professor of Insect Taxonomy and Curator of the Insect Museum at the University of Jordan, and President of the Arab Society for Plant Protection. Research focuses on insect biodiversity and pest identification supporting practical agricultural applications.

Prof. Dr. Noureddin Mona

Former Syrian Minister of Agriculture; former Professor, Aleppo University, Hama, Syria

Lecture: International Organizations' Activities in Syria

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Former Syrian Minister of Agriculture and Reform (2001-2003) and former Head of the Agricultural Economics Department at Aleppo University. Later served as an FAO Representative in Iran, Zambia, China, and Mongolia, and has authored several university textbooks on food and water security.

Layla AlHaj Younes

Al Tatweer Foundation

Lecture: Civil Society Organizations

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Executive Director of Al Tatweer Foundation and community activist specializing in integrated natural resource management. Trainer in governance, entrepreneurship, and peacebuilding with organizations including the Aga Khan Foundation.

Dr. Yasin Alnaasan

Syrian Directorate for Agricultural Research

Dr. Walid Alfares

Syrian Faculties of Agriculture

Eng. Soleman Karzone

FAO — Food and Agriculture Organization

GIZ Representative (name TBD)

GIZ — German Agency for Cooperation and Development

Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jboory

ASPP — Application of Integrated Management

Dr. Muhyeddin Hilali

ICARDA — International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas

7. The Smart Village

Dr. Nadine El Kahil

Arab Academics Parliament, Beirut, Lebanon

Lecture: Case Study: The Smart Village in the Syrian Jazeera

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Lebanese researcher and writer in international relations, conflict management, and strategic studies, and Secretary-General of the Arab Academics Parliament platform. Author of three books and numerous papers, with wide participation in regional and international conferences.

Mohammad Amin Ali

ponturo consulting AG, Germany

Lecture: Digitization and Automation of Administrative and Service Activities

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Senior AI engineer and researcher specializing in machine learning, deep learning, and multi-agent systems, with experience building enterprise AI solutions. Also publishes on the intersection of technology and society.

Feras Alkhatib

At Telekommunikation, Germany

Lecture: Digitization and Automation of Agriculture Machinery, Irrigation Systems and Protected Agriculture

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IT specialist whose Master's research focused on system architectures and real-time data integration through an IoT lab setup. Experienced with flow-based automation tools such as Node-RED and protocols like MQTT.

Dr. Manar Bakro

Aptiv Automotive, Germany

Lecture: Using Artificial Intelligence for Comprehensive Village Management

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Engineer with three years of antenna research at Nokia and fifteen years as technical lead in antenna and radar development for the automotive sector in Germany.

Mhd Taher Alrajoula

T-Consulting, Germany

Lecture: Automated Monitoring of Crop and Livestock Performance for Resolving Constraints

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Environmental and water resources consultant specializing in sustainability.

Ibrahim Alsawaf

WTM Engineers, Germany

Lecture: Adoption of Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Biogas)

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Civil engineer specializing in water resources management, currently a project planner in urban water management in Germany. Research interests include smart, sustainable water management to support Syria's future reconstruction.

Dr. Samer Hussam Eddin

Damascus University / Syrian Private University, Damascus, Syria

Lecture: Digitization and Automation of Agricultural Products Management, Marketing and Processing

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Researcher in AI applications for industry, training, and education, and lecturer in the Faculty of Robotics Engineering and Intelligent Systems at the Syrian Private University. Specializes in smart products and digital-twin technologies.

Dr. Saad Kayali

The Smart Village Project, a Solution for Rural Development in Syria (also Conference Chair)