Scientific Council
An independent scientific body composed by 15 scientists, experts and professors from across the globe, to equip WFO with the best scientific advice to enhance further the science-sound perspectives of the farmers’ voice in the international debate around agriculture and food systems.

DANIEL BERCKMANS
Daniel Berckmanns

Daniel is worldwide considered as the spiritual father of the field of Precision Livestock Farming: real-time monitoring of animals with technology: microphones, camera’s, and sensors. He co-started the European Committee for Precision Livestock Farming that organizes since 2003 the 2-yearly European Conference for Precision Livestock Farming ECPLF. Today the conference is organized in agreement with the “Asian Conference for PLF” (ACPLF) and the “US Conference for PLF” (USCPLF).
He co-initiated the first European Master’s in Human Health Engineering at the KU Leuven: technology for monitoring healthy people. Daniel is co-founder of 3 spin-off companies: BioRICS NV in 2006, BioRICS INC in San Francisco in 2016 and SoundTalks in 2011. KU Leuven was named the seventh most innovative university worldwide in 2020 with 135 spin-off companies started so far. This makes KU Leuven the most innovative university outside of the United States.

JAMES NELSON BLIGNAUT
James Nelson Blignaut


MASHID DEHGHAN
Mashid Dehghan


SANDRO DERNINI
Sandro Dernini


PEER EDERER
Peer Ederer


MARGARET FLAHERTY
Margaret Flaherty
Margaret Flaherty has spent the last 25 years building coalitions of leading companies around sustainable development.
For 20 years she was the Chief Operating Officer/Chief of Staff at the Geneva-based World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Before that, she was with the International Chamber of Commerce / World Industry Council for the Environment in Paris, France.
She is currently on the faculty of IÉSEG (Paris) and the Business School Lausanne (BSL), teaching at the undergraduate, Master’s and MBA levels, covering courses on business and sustainability including supply chain management, scenario planning, ecosystems valuation and reporting and accountability.
Margaret Flaherty is a member of the Citizenship Advisory Boards of Abbott (USA) and held similar roles with Caterpillar (USA), Areva (France), AccountAbility (UK) and FSG (US & CH).
She has an MSc from Tufts University (Boston), a Juris Doctorate from Northeastern University School of Law (Boston) and she is a UCONN Huskie, from the University of Connecticut. She has also completed Executive Education Programs at both Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard Business School.

ROB JACKSON

FREDERIC LEROY
Frederic Leroy


SUSAN MACMILLAN
Susan MacMillan


SIDI OSHO
Sidi Osho

With specialization in Agriculture, Food Science, Technology, Food safety and all levels (primary, secondary and higher) education. Prof. Sidi Osho is a successful scientist whose achievements have propelled her into several leadership positions nationally, internationally, and globally. Some of these leadership positions include The Pioneer & Past Vice-Chancellor, Afe Babalola University; Chairperson of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Network for Africa (FANRPAN); President/Founder of Sidi Osho Foundation, Nigeria; Special Adviser (Higher Education) to the Governor of Ogun State, Nigeria; Honourable Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Ogun State, Nigeria; Board Member of St Teresa’s College Old Girls Association Alumni – STCOGA; President/Founder of Sidi Osho Foundation, Nigeria; Founder SEEEED Academy; Member Advisory Council The Commonwealth Entrepreneur CLUB, UK; Patron Worldwide International Summit of Leaders; Member of Scientific High-Level Commission, World Farmers’ Organisation; Promoter, of University for Women.
As a Board Chairperson for FANRPAN where she represents women’s seat, she works with women in agriculture, food systems and value chain promoting adequate, safe and nutritious food, and climate-smart agriculture in over 17 countries in Africa.
An International Scientist that graduated from Michigan State and Ohio State University in the USA worked with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Olabisi Onabanjo University, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti State, National Open University of Nigeria and in several African countries in the area of Agriculture and Rural Development.

GENEVIÈVE PARENT
Geneviève Parent


ANGELO RICCABONI
Angelo Riccaboni

Previously he was Chair of the CRUI Foundation, the operating body of CRUI (the Association of Italian Rectors), Member of the Board of the International Association of Universities (IAU), Head of the IAU Working Group on sustainability. He was Dean of the Richard Goodwin Faculty of Economics and Management, Chair of the Association of Deans of Italian Faculties of Economics, Management and Statistics and President of SIDREA (Italian Society of Accounting and Business Administration Scholars).

DAWIE ROODT
Dawie Roodt

Dawie is a nationally renowned economist, with over 30 years’ experience. He specialises in monetary-, fiscal policy and is currently doing extensive research on the possible impact of “crypto” currencies on monetary policy. He is closely involved with the management of client asset portfolios. His interest in international and local politics has grown, and he has become knowledgeable in the field of politics as well. Dawie is ranked the most referenced economists in the country and received the prestigious Economist of the year award by Sake 24, a media house. He has been the anchor presenter of the television program Ontbytsake for the past 17 years.

NINA TEICHOLZ
Nina Teicholz

SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL COMMUNITY
RELATED DOCUMENTS