Kasuni Vidanagamachchi | Agricultural Technology | Research Excellence Award

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Ms. Kasuni Vidanagamachchi | Agricultural Technology | Research Excellence Award

Ms. Kasuni Vidanagamachchi | Western Sydney University | Australia

Kasuni Vidanagamachchi is an accomplished academic, researcher, and industry professional in Operations and Supply Chain Management, known for her expertise in designing data-driven, digitally enabled, and resilient supply chain systems. She has completed her doctoral research at Western Sydney University, where she modelled viable agri-food supply chains using system dynamics and explored adaptation strategies for long-term supply chain sustainability. With extensive experience across both academia and industry, Kasuni has taught a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate subjects, including Supply Chain Management, Digital Transformation, ICT applications in supply chains, Operations Management, Systems Thinking, Social Computing, Project Management, and Research Methods. She has contributed to curriculum development, designed assessments, supervised student research, managed e-learning activities, and coordinated industry mentorship and internship programs. Kasuni is a productive researcher with peer-reviewed publications, contributing to domains such as digital supply chain ecosystems, Industry readiness, food system resilience, sustainability, agricultural market intelligence, and data-driven decision-making. She has collaborated with research partners across Australia, India, and Sri Lanka, supporting projects in digital agriculture and supply chain innovation. Her work extends beyond academia through her role as a principal innovator developing AgriShift, a digital platform designed to support agri-food supply chain resilience. Her industry background includes roles in logistics analysis and procurement, where she supported multinational clients by designing warehouse layouts, optimising distribution processes, improving operational efficiency, developing key performance indicators, and delivering logistics training. Kasuni has been recognised through multiple awards for research excellence, innovation, leadership, and academic performance. She is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and actively contributes to professional communities such as Women in Logistics and Transport and the System Dynamics Society. In addition to her academic and industry achievements, she is deeply engaged in volunteer initiatives, conference organisation, mentoring, and community-focused activities.

Profile: Orcid | Google Scholar | LinkedIn

Featured Publications

Vidanagamachchi, K., Kumarathunga, M., Pathirage, S., Buhary, R., & Ginige, A. (2024). A systems thinking approach to achieve food security through agricultural market intelligence. Australasian Conference on Information Systems, Canberra.

Vidanagamachchi, K., Ginige, A., & Nakandala, D. (2024). Digitally enabling viable agri-food supply chain ecosystems for climate change adaptations. Amplify.

Vidanagamachchi, K., Ginige, A., & Nakandala, D. (2024). Spatial ecologies in viable agri-food supply chains: Insights from iceberg model and causality analysis. Australasian Conference on Information Systems, Canberra.

Vidanagamachchi, K., & Ginige, A. (2023). Consumer-centred viable agri-food supply chain ecosystem and potential digital enhancements: An exploratory study. Australasian Conference on Information Systems, Wellington, New Zealand.

Karunarathna, N., Vidanagamachchi, K., & Wickramarachchi, R. (2020). A calibrated model of critical success factors for Industry 4.0 warehousing performance improvement: Insights from multiple case studies. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Sciences and Advanced Technology.

Gamini, L., Vidanagamachchi, K., & Wickramarachchi, R. (2020). A knowledge transfer model to implement lean practices for apparel industry based multi-stakeholder 3PLs. Proceedings of a conference.

Chandrasekara, S., Vidanagamachchi, K., & Wickramarachchi, R. (2020). A literature-based survey on Industry 4.0 technologies for procurement optimization. Proceedings of a conference.

Shiv Kumar Lohan | Agricultural Technology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Shiv Kumar Lohan | Agricultural Technology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Shiv Kumar Lohan | Punjab Agricultural University | India

Dr. Shiv Kumar Lohan is an accomplished Associate Professor at the Department of Farm Machinery & Power Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, working under the ICAR–AICRP on Ergonomics and Safety in Agriculture. His research focuses on ergonomics and artificial intelligence applications in agricultural mechanization, including the development of immersive virtual reality environments, AI-based ergonomic systems, and remotely controlled farm machinery. With over 50 research publications in leading international journals, three books, and multiple patents, he has made significant contributions to enhancing agricultural efficiency and safety. His work has received extensive academic recognition, reflected in 31 Scopus-indexed documents, 910 citations across 799 citing papers, and an h-index of 11, highlighting his impactful and sustained scholarly contributions to the field.

Profile: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Hongyan Meng | Agricultural Technology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Hongyan Meng | Agricultural Technology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Hongyan Meng | Fujian Institute of Subtropical Botany | China

Hongyan Meng, Ph.D., is an Associate Researcher at the Fujian Institute of Subtropical Botany, Xiamen, China. Her research focuses on plant molecular biology, metabolic biology, folate metabolism, nitrogen assimilation, and plant stress physiology. Dr. Meng earned her Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing. She has made significant contributions to understanding the interplay between folate metabolism and nitrogen assimilation in plants, particularly under stress and nitrate-limited conditions. Her recent publications include studies on folate disorders triggering compensatory nitrogen starvation responses (Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications), metabolic network changes during skotomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana, and the critical role of plastidial folylpolyglutamate synthetase in seed reserve accumulation and nitrogen metabolism (Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications; Dr. Meng’s work has been cited over 197 times across 178 documents, reflecting her impact in the field, and she holds an h-index of 8.

Profiles:  Scopus

Featured Publications

Meng, H., Huang, B., Li, X., Wang, W., Zheng, M., & He, E. (2025). Folate disorder in the atdfb mutant triggers a compensatory nitrogen starvation response by altering nitrate transport and assimilation. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. https://doi.org/

Xiao-Yong Zhao | Agricultural Technology | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Xiao-Yong Zhao | Agricultural Technology | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Yong Zhao | Zhejiang University | China

Dr. Xiaoyong Zhao is an Associate Professor at the College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, specializing in fruit science, horticultural chemistry, and glycochemical biology. His research focuses on the function and application of glycocodes in horticultural quality biology, particularly the molecular mechanisms governing fruit quality through protein glycosylation and mass spectrometry–based glycomic analysis. Dr. Zhao has made significant contributions to understanding the biochemical regulation of fruit ripening, chilling injury tolerance, and the structural elucidation of plant polysaccharides. He has published influential papers in high-impact journals such as Plant Communications, Analytical Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Postharvest Biology and Technology, and Journal of Proteome Research. His scholarly work has earned wide recognition, reflected by over 1,100 citations across 41 publications and an h-index of 21, underscoring his growing international impact in plant glycoscience. Beyond research, he actively serves as a peer reviewer for leading SCI journals, contributing to the advancement of analytical and plant biochemical sciences.

Profiles:  Scopus

Featured Publications

Liu, Y., Wu, C., Liu, Y., Pan, Y., Pan, Y., Li, X., Chen, J., Li, X., & Zhao, X. (2025).  An integrated method for efficient isolation and structural elucidation of two homologous polysaccharides from medicinal loquat leaves. Separation and Purification Technology.

Liu, Y., Wang, R., Zhou, J., & Lyu, Q. (2025). Myricetin alleviates high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− mice by regulating bile acid metabolism involved in gut microbiota remodeling. Food & Function.

Wang, H., Cui, T., Wang, J., Ou, R., Liu, Y., Zhang, B., Xu, C., Zhu, C., Chen, M., Shi, Y., Pan, Y., Chen, K., Zhao, X., & Li, X. (2025). Integrative N-glycomics and N-glycoproteomics landscape reveals up-regulation of complex-type N-glycosylation in the tolerance of peach fruit to chilling injury

Wang, H., Cui, T., Wang, J., Ou, R., Liu, Y., Zhang, B., Xu, C., Zhu, C., Chen, M., Shi, Y., Pan, Y., Chen, K., Zhao, X., & Li, X. (2025). Genome-wide identification of UDP-glycosyltransferases involved in flavonol glycosylation induced by UV-B irradiation in Eriobotrya japonica. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.

Sowmiya Chandrasekar | Agricultural Technology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Sowmiya Chandrasekar | Agricultural Technology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Sowmiya Chandrasekar | National Bee Board | India

Dr. Sowmiya Chandrasekar has consistently integrated traditional practices with modern scientific approaches to address pressing challenges in pollinator health, pesticide risk assessment, and sustainable beekeeping. Her contributions span impactful publications, books, fellowships, awards, and training programs, reflecting both academic excellence and societal relevance. By bridging research, teaching, and outreach, Dr. Sowmiya Chandrasekar, has strived to empower farmers, students, and the beekeeping community while contributing to food security and ecological resilience.  Dr. Sowmiya Chandrasekar, humbly submits her nomination for the Best Researcher Award, believing this recognition will further inspire her to expand her contributions to global pollinator conservation and sustainable agriculture.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Sowmiya, C., Srinivasan, M. R., & Saravanan, P. A. (2018). Diversity of pollinators in drumstick, Moringa oleifera Lam. ecosystem.

Banumathi, K., Murugan, M., Jeyarani, S., Mohankumar, S., Balasubramani, V., … (2020). Prevalence of invasive Aleyrodidae harbouring horticultural host plants in different ecosystems of Tamil Nadu. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 8(6), 886–890.

Elanchezhyan, K., Sowmiya, C., Agilesh, S., & Venkatesh, M. (2017). Diversity of odonates at agricultural college campus, Killikulam, Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 5(5), 935–940.

Sowmiya, C., Srinivasan, M. R., & Saravanan, P. A. (2019). Bowl trap sampling to study pollinator diversity in moringa ecosystem. Innovative Farming, 4(3), 167–173.

Sowmiya, C., Murugan, M., Saravanan, P. A., Suganthi, A., & Bhuvaneswari, K. (2022). Impact of neonicotinoid insecticides on the foraging preference of Indian honey bee, Apis cerana indica (Fab.) (Hymenoptera, Apidae) visiting sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Current Journal of Applied Plant and Soil Sciences, 34(10), 85–96.

Chandrasekar, S., Murugan, M., Saravanan, A., Suganthi, A., & [others]. (2022). Impact of neonicotinoid insecticides on the foraging activity of Indian honey bee, Apis cerana indica (Fab.) in the cotton ecosystem. Journal of Current Crop Science and Technology, 109(4–6), 1–10.

Chandrasekar, S., Murugan, M., Mannu, J., Saravanan, A., & [others]. (2025). Indian honey bees (Apis cerana indica) detoxify imidacloprid and clothianidin: In silico and in vivo analyses of key detoxifying enzymes. Journal of Apicultural Research. Advance online publication.

Shweta, K., Saminathan, V. R., Sowmiya, C., Preetha, G., Srinivasan, M. R., … (2025). Flying sperm: The indispensable component of the instrumental insemination of honey bees: A review. Indian Journal of Animal Research, 1, 10.

Chandrasekar, S., Murugan, M., Suganthi, A., Saravanan, A., & [others]. (2025). Effects of neonicotinoid residues in Apis cerana indica bees and bee products: LC-MS/MS analysis and dietary risk assessment in a sunflower field study. Ecotoxicology. Advance online publication.

Shanthi, M., Saminathan, V. R., Srinivasan, M. R., Ravivarman, S., Preetha, G., Murugan, M., … (2025). Success stories of Tamil Nadu beekeepers (Tamil). Coimbatore: TNAU Press.

Saminathan, V. R., & Sowmiya, C. (2025). Profitable beekeeping. Chennai: New Century Book House.

Krishnamoorthy, S. V., Sowmiya, C., Preetha, G., Saminathan, V. R., & Srinivasan, M. R. (2025). Know more entomology. Coimbatore: TNAU Press.

Sowmiya, C., & Srinivasan, M. R. (2024). Beekeeping: An element of entomology. New Delhi: Kalyani Publications.

Sowmiya, C., Srinivasan, M. R., Vasanthakumar, S., & Saravanan, P. A. (2020). Foraging activity of Indian honey bee at the hive entrance. In Multi-dimensional approaches in transforming agriculture (p. 179).

Sowmiya, C., Srinivasan, M. R., Saravanan, P. A., & Kumaran, K. M. (2017). Foraging behaviour of Indian honey bee, Apis cerana indica (Fab.) (Hymenoptera, Apidae) based on activity at hive entrance in moringa, Moringa oleifera (Lam.).