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 est co-fondateur et CEO d’IC Green, une société axée sur l’innovation spécialisée dans la robotique écologique appliquée à l’entretien des terrains de sport. Basée à Crolles, près de Grenoble, IC Green conçoit des robots de désherbage autonomes, zéro-phyto et hautement performants, répondant à la demande croissante des gestionnaires d’espaces verts et de terrains sportifs pour des solutions durables et efficaces.
Issu de formations littéraire et commerciale mais doté d’une vaste expérience dans des industries technologiques variées — automobile, biotechnologie, logiciel et conseil — David Weber a développé une approche transversale du management et de l’innovation. De plus, il a travaillé à l’international – Europe, Asie, Amérique du Nord et Afrique – ce qui lui confère une vision globale des marchés et des enjeux technologiques.
Chez IC Green, il pilote la stratégie globale, de la conception produit à la levée de fonds, en passant par le développement commercial et les relations investisseurs. Son leadership se caractérise par une grande ouverture d’esprit, une capacité à naviguer dans l’incertitude, et un fort engagement pour des solutions ayant un impact positif sur l’environnement.
