Branko Sikoparija, has PhD in Biology and works as senior researcher at BioSense Institute and Quality manager at Laboratory for palynology (ISO17025). He is a highly-conscientious, self-motivated and practiced researcher with a strong background in aerobiology, environmental science, ecology, entomology, modelling & forecasting. His current interests are real-time detection and identification of bioaerosols and exploring relationships between in hive products and honey bee health status.

As commercially-aware researcher, Branko Sikoparija is skilled in raising research funding and he also acted as the coordinator and principal investigator on a number national and international research projects (Ministry of Science-Serbia,, Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, SNSF-SCOPES, INTERREG-IPA, WUS-CEP&CDP+, EC-HORIZON2020, EC-HORIZON EUROPE). He coordinated the registration of Protected Designations of Origin for “Fruska Gora Lime Tree Honey”. Dr Sikoparija utilizes excellent communication skills and is very successful in developing networks and collaborations both interdisciplinary and cross disciplinary.

Dimitar has been working in the field of rural development for 19 years. He holds a post-graduate specialty: “Economics and Management of agro-industry”. He is specialized in Strategic management, Sustainable Rural Development and Agricultural policy development. Dimitar worked for nine years at the Rural Development Directorate to the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Since 2010 Dimitar Vanev works at the Bulgarian National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS).

I’m working at the Research Centre of Animal Production in Reggio Emilia (Italy) and I am involved in national and European projects dealing mainly with crop production, soil health and reducing the environmental impacts of agricultural systems. The activity consists managing projects, planning research activities at farms, organising demonstration initiatives for both farmers and consultants. I’m the national coordinator in the ClimateSmartAdvisors project.

Master of Engineering in Energy. I work at farmers’ organisation Boerenbond, advising farmers on sustainable energy management and supporting those with innovative ideas. In projects, I often serve as an intermediary between research and the farming community addressing their specific needs. I am involved in several European projects (ATTRACTISS, modernAKIS, Climate Farm Demo, ClimateSmartAdvisors) focusing on networking and enhancing skills and competencies of advisors and other AKIS actors.