Dimitrios Tsitsigianni

Professional background: Dr Dimitris Tsitsigiannis is the President of the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union, member of the Board of Directors in Agricultural University of Athens, Greece, Director of the Postgraduate Program entitled “Integrated Plant Protection and Environmental Management Systems” and Director of the Laboratory of Plant Pathology in Agricultural University of Athens. He obtained his PhD from the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA in 2004 and he worked as a Post Doctoral Student in the Sainsbury Laboratory at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom (2024-2027).

Research Focus: Prof. Tsitsigiannis has 30 years of experience in Plant Pathology and he is currently leading a research group of 20 PhD and MSc students working on developing novel, effective and environmentally sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to control important plant diseases and mycotoxins. His IPM strategies focus on discovery and evaluation of novel biocontrol products, novel smart and artificial intelligence solutions to improve diagnosis, prognosis and epidemiology of plant diseases, development of Decision Support Systems and digital precision agriculture technologies for controlling plant diseases/mycotoxins.

Key Engagements and Contributions: Prof. Tsitsigiannis has participated in more than 50 research projects as Coordinator, Principal Investigator or Scientific Collaborator, funded by the European Union, the Greek Ministry of Development, the Greek General Secretariat for Research and Innovation, the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food, and private companies. Prof. Tsitsigiannis is Coordinator of the Horizon Europe project STELLA, the Horizon 2020-RISE project Ochravine Control and Co- Coordinator of the Horizon 2020 project OPTIMA. Dr. Tsitsigiannis has several highly cited publications in international scientific journals and books and has participated in more than 100 international and national conferences and scientific meetings, with over 250 presentations and announcements. He has been a Plenary speaker in many International and National Conferences and an Invited speaker >30 times in international meetings and in international and national Universities and Research Centers. Prof. Tsitsigiannis holds significant roles in international and national expert panels, advisory boards, and professional networks, contributing to policy development, strategic planning, rural development and addressing societal challenges in the field.

Presentation Title and Objective: Harnessing the power of digital, artificial intelligence and biocontrol technologies to protect plants and the environment.

The presentation will focus on advanced integrated pest management (IPM) strategies by leveraging smart digital technologies, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and innovative plant protection products to address plant disease management in key crops. The integration of digital, artificial intelligence and biocontrol technologies into plant protection strategies offers a transformative approach to agriculture. By enabling early and accurate disease detection, efficient use of agrochemicals, and informed decision-making, these technologies contribute to reducing crop loss, improving yield, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Our research underscores the potential of smart digital technologies in fostering regenerative, resilient, and sustainable agriculture.