Speakers
Natasha Sant'Anna Iwanicki
Her research focuses on insecticidal fungi and non-spore-forming bacteria, with a particular interest in liquid fermentation, mechanisms of action, and the development of bioproducts for agricultural use. She is currently conducting postdoctoral research on anhydrobiotic engineering applied to insecticidal microorganisms and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Germany in 2025.
Christian Huyghe
His work focuses primarily on crop improvement and management, particularly field crops and legumes, with a constant focus on the interactions between agricultural practices, economic performance, and environmental impacts. He has made a decisive contribution to renewing approaches to crop production by integrating systemic and territorial dimensions and by promoting crop rotation diversification strategies as a lever for sustainability.
Throughout his career, Christian Huyghe has played a central role in bridging the gap between scientific research, collective expertise, and public policy. He has led or contributed to numerous expert assessments and foresight studies aimed at informing strategic decisions regarding agriculture, food, and the environment, both at the national and European levels. As such, he is regularly called upon to provide scientific insight into possible pathways for the transformation of agricultural systems.
His commitment is also marked by a strong involvement in scientific coordination and the structuring of interdisciplinary research groups. Convinced that agricultural challenges can only be addressed at the intersection of life sciences, economic and social sciences, and technical innovation, he has worked to strengthen dialogue between disciplines and among stakeholders in research, development, and public policy.
Author of numerous scientific publications and seminal reviews, Christian Huyghe is also recognized for his skills as an educator and science communicator. He is dedicated to making complex knowledge accessible and to fostering public debate through a rigorous, data-driven approach that is open to a diversity of viewpoints.
Richard Bélanger
His work focuses primarily on the interactions between plants, pathogens, and the environment, with a particular interest in developing innovative and sustainable crop protection strategies. By exploring the biological mechanisms underlying plant resistance and the action of biocontrol agents, he contributes to the emergence of credible alternatives to conventional approaches, within a context of reduced inputs and a transition toward more sustainable agricultural systems.
Throughout his career, Richard Bélanger has played a pivotal role in the development and recognition of plant protection as an integrated scientific discipline. He has led and coordinated numerous large-scale research projects, mobilizing multidisciplinary teams and international partnerships, and fostering dialogue between academic research, technological innovation, and the needs of agricultural sectors.
His commitment extends beyond the strict confines of research. He has held leadership and scientific coordination roles that demonstrate his ability to steer complex organizations, define strategic directions, and promote a long-term vision for research in agriculture and the environment. In this capacity, he has helped enhance the visibility and influence of Canadian research on the international stage.
At the same time, Richard Bélanger places a central emphasis on training the next generation of scientists. He has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, guiding them in the development of a rigorous, critical, and open approach to research. His teaching reflects a commitment to imparting not only knowledge but also a scientific culture grounded in ethics, interdisciplinarity, and societal impact.
The author of numerous scientific publications and a regular guest speaker at international events, Richard Bélanger is recognized for the clarity of his analyses and his ability to contextualize scientific advances in light of major contemporary agricultural challenges.
Eric Liégeois
© Eric Liégeois
Éric Liégeois works at the European Commission, in the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG Health). His work focuses on the development and implementation of European policies aimed at ensuring a high level of protection for human, animal, and plant health, as well as the safety of food systems within the European Union. Drawing on his background as a bioengineer, he has spent his career in the risk assessment and management of numerous agricultural inputs, ranging from plant protection products to GMOs and fertilizers, and more recently in the innovative sectors of biotechnology applied to plant protection through biocontrol products, as well as precision farming techniques and digital decision-support tools for farmers.
Within DG Health, he contributes to defining regulatory frameworks based on scientific risk assessment and the principles of proportionality, consistency, and transparency. His work involves, in particular, ensuring the alignment of scientific expertise, regulatory requirements, and public policy objectives in areas where health, economic, and societal issues are closely intertwined.
He is involved in decision-making processes involving multiple institutional actors, including Member States, European agencies, the scientific community, and relevant stakeholders. This role requires in-depth knowledge of European governance mechanisms, as well as the ability to coordinate diverse positions within a common regulatory framework.
Éric Liégeois’s work takes place in a context marked by rapidly evolving scientific knowledge, the emergence of new health risks, and the need to continuously adapt regulatory frameworks. In this capacity, he helps anticipate regulatory changes and support ongoing transitions in the health, food, and agriculture sectors, ensuring that European policies align with sustainability and resilience objectives.
Fundamentally impartial, its approach is based on decision-making grounded in available scientific data, supplemented by a rigorous analysis of regulatory and operational impacts. It aims to ensure both a high level of health protection and a stable, predictable framework for the stakeholders involved.
David Weber
David Weber is the co-founder and CEO of IC Green, an innovation-driven company specializing in eco-friendly robotics for sports field maintenance. Based in Crolles, near Grenoble, IC Green designs autonomous, chemical-free, high-performance weeding robots to meet the growing demand from green space and sports field managers for sustainable and effective solutions.
With a background in literature and business but equipped with extensive experience across various technology industries—automotive, biotechnology, software, and consulting—David Weber has developed a cross-functional approach to management and innovation. Additionally, he has worked internationally—in Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa—which gives him a global perspective on markets and technological challenges.
At IC Green, he leads the overall strategy, from product design to fundraising, including business development and investor relations. His leadership is characterized by great open-mindedness, an ability to navigate uncertainty, and a strong commitment to solutions that have a positive impact on the environment.
Sébastien Weykmans
Trained as an agricultural engineer, Sébastien Weykmans is a well-known figure in Wallonia’s smart farming sector. He serves as managing director and manager of the non-profit organization WalDigiFarm, whose goal is to facilitate the adoption of digital technologies in the agricultural sector among farmers, agri-digital stakeholders, and institutions.
Under his leadership, WalDigiFarm brings together more than a hundred members around clear objectives: reducing barriers to the integration of digital technologies in agriculture, enhancing the interoperability of tools, and supporting farmers in their digital transitions. He is dedicated to building bridges between the worlds of traditional agriculture and digital innovation, with a focus on cooperation, data ownership, and user training.
Sébastien Weykmans is particularly committed to the development of WALLeSmart, a Walloon collaborative platform—of which he is a partner—born from a collaboration between Elevéo, UMONS, CRA-W, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, ARSIA, the Milk Committee, and WalDigiFarm. This interoperable digital solution aims to securely and consensually share agricultural data—from both animal and plant production—to simplify farmers’ digital lives, reduce duplicate data entry, and ensure secure and controlled access to essential everyday applications.
Viviane Planchon
With a Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences and Biological Engineering from the University of Liège – Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Viviane Planchon has established herself as an expert in data management, particularly in geodata within the fields of agriculture, agrometeorology, and territorial analysis. She currently serves as Scientific Director of the Agriculture, Territory, and Technological Integration Unit and Acting Head of the Agricultural Production Department at the Walloon Agricultural Research Center (CRA-W), a public agricultural research center serving Walloon agriculture.
There, Viviane Planchon leads a multidisciplinary team of researchers and computer scientists who design and develop observation and decision-support tools (OAD) to optimize agricultural practices and advise farmers. The research covers the use of satellite and airborne data, agrometeorological modeling for the development of disease and pest warnings, as well as advanced statistical analysis to extract insights useful for production and the forecasting of agricultural and environmental risks.
Deeply involved in the digital revolution in agriculture, she contributes to collaborative projects such as WALLeSmart, a Walloon interoperable platform for centralizing agricultural data, facilitating the use of digital technologies for farmers.
Her work also extends to the public and scientific spheres. She is regularly invited to present her research at conferences, debates, and podcasts on connected agriculture.
Patrizia Zamberletti
Patrizia Zamberletti is an Imaging Solutions Specialist at Hiphen, where she supports stakeholders in agricultural research and digital agriculture in the design and deployment of advanced imaging and data analysis solutions for crop phenotyping.
At Hiphen, she leads projects that combine data from drones, satellites, and ground-based imaging platforms to transform complex datasets into actionable agronomic indicators for decision-making, evaluating crop performance, and optimizing agricultural practices.
With a Ph.D. in agricultural sciences, Patrizia draws on an international scientific background in environmental engineering, agricultural systems modeling, and landscape ecology, gained in Italy, Canada, and France (INRAE). This dual scientific and operational expertise enables her to bridge the gap between technological innovation, methodological rigor, and the concrete needs of end-users.
She also contributes to promoting Hiphen’s work through the production of technical and scientific content dedicated to agricultural imaging and digital phenotyping.
Philippe Jacques
Philippe Jacques is a professor at the University of Liège, specifically within the Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech faculty, where, alongside his teaching activities, he develops research projects in the fields of microbial biotechnology, applied biochemistry, and bioprocesses. In this capacity, he has led the Terra (Teaching and Research Centre) research unit since its inception. His work is part of an integrated approach to industrial microbiology, combining basic research and technological applications.
More specifically, his research focuses on the study and utilization of microorganisms and metabolites of microbial origin, particularly lipopeptides and biosurfactants of interest to the phytosanitary, agri-food, environmental, and industrial sectors. He is interested in the biosynthetic mechanisms of these compounds, the optimization of their production processes, as well as their purification and functional characterization. Part of his work also aims to explore more sustainable production pathways, notably through the use of alternative substrates and by-products.
At Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Philippe Jacques teaches in several bioengineering programs. He teaches courses related to microbiology, biotechnology, and industrial processes. He is also involved in entrepreneurship-related training.
He is one of the two co-founders of Lipofabrik, a company specializing in the production of lipopeptides for the plant protection market, which is now part of the Eléphant Vert group.
Naturally, his scientific work leads him to participate in numerous collaborative research projects, conducted in partnership with universities, research centers, and industry partners, both nationally and internationally. These collaborations aim to translate research findings into practical applications, while taking into account technical, economic, and regulatory constraints. It is with this in mind that Philippe Jacques is one of the two leaders of the Digibiocontrol Strategic Innovation Initiative (IIS).
