FARIYA ABUBAKARI | Agriculture | Young Scientist Award

Dr.  Fariya Abubakari  l Agriculture
| Young Scientist Award

Murdoch University | Australia

Dr. Fariya Abubakari, the research focuses on soil fertility, nutrient dynamics, and sustainable agricultural productivity, particularly examining potassium behavior in sandy soils of Southwest Western Australia. Through glasshouse, laboratory, and field experiments, the studies investigate potassium supplying capacity, release kinetics, and leaching behavior under varying soil conditions and management practices. The work evaluates the impact of soil pH, plant presence, and soil texture on potassium losses and employs predictive modeling using Hydrus 1D to simulate potassium leaching patterns. This research provides valuable insights into nutrient availability, soil-plant interactions, and the development of management strategies to enhance nutrient retention and crop yield sustainability in sandy agricultural systems. Additional investigations explore the effects of soil chemical and physical properties on copper distribution and sorption, nitrogen fixation in legume-based systems, and the impact of fertilizer subsidies on productivity in African agricultural zones. The findings contribute to understanding nutrient cycling, soil amendment techniques, and efficient fertilizer use in both tropical and temperate environments. By integrating experimental data with modeling approaches, the research supports evidence-based recommendations for mitigating nutrient leaching, improving soil health, and promoting sustainable resource management in diverse agroecosystems.

Featured Publications

Abubakari, F., & Abubakari, F. (2015). Determinants of household food security and climate change impacts on agriculture in Ghana. Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research, 3(7), 178–183.

Abubakari, F., Tetteh, F. M., Abubakari, F., Tuffour, H. O., & Aduwu, A. (2016). Strategies for improving nodulation and nitrogen fixation of leguminous crops to enhance production in smallholder farming systems. Journal of Global Agriculture and Ecology, 4(4), 185–190.

Abubakari, F., & Abubakari, F. (2015). Effects of climate changing on food crop production system in Ghana. Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research, 3(4), 76–79.

Abubakari, F., & Abubakari, F. (2014). Analysis of production and marketing constraints of tomato among rural farmers in Talensi Nabdam District of Upper East Region of Ghana. IJASRT in Environmental and Earth Sciences, 4(1).

Abubakari, F., & Abubakari, F. (2015). Effects of fertilizer subsidy on the yield of crops among rural farmers in Sudan Savannah and Guinea Savannah zones of Ghana. Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research, 3(4), 80–85.

Abubakari, F., & Abubakari, F. (2014). Effects of awareness of fertilizer subsidy on the yield of crops among rural farmers in Ghana. [Unpublished manuscript].

Abubakari, F., & Abubakari, F. (2015). Farmers’ perception on soil erosion problems and conservation methods among rural farmers in Talensi-Nabdam Districts of Upper East Region of Ghana. Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research. (Forthcoming).

Gidado M. J | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Young Scientist Award

Dr. Gidado M. J. l Agricultura l and Biological Sciences
| Young Scientist Award

University Malaysia Perlis | Nigeria

Dr. Gidado M. J. is a distinguished researcher in postharvest technology, food innovation, and nanotechnology, with a focus on developing sustainable solutions for fruit quality preservation and food safety. His work integrates green chemistry, biopolymer-based coatings, and hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent nanoemulsions to extend shelf life, control postharvest pathogens, and improve the physiological and biochemical quality of horticultural produce. By combining experimental, computational, and AI-driven approaches, he has advanced understanding of fruit physiology, microbial inhibition, and smart packaging systems. His research contributions include the design of nanobiocomposite films, edible coatings functionalized with bioactive compounds, and intelligent sensing platforms for real-time monitoring of postharvest quality. With over 20 publications in high-impact journals, one patent, and multiple awards for scientific excellence, Dr. Gidado has demonstrated significant impact on sustainable agriculture, circular food systems, and postharvest innovation. His interdisciplinary work bridges academia and industry, fostering eco-friendly technologies, digital biotechnology integration, and knowledge transfer for enhanced food security and preservation practices worldwide.

Profile:  Google Scholar  | Scopus | Orcid | Researchgate | LinkedIn 

Featured Publications

Gidado, M. J., Gunny, A. A. N., Gopinath, S. C. B., Ali, A., Wongs-Aree, C., … (2024). Challenges of postharvest water loss in fruits: Mechanisms, influencing factors, and effective control strategies–A comprehensive review. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 101249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101249

Gidado, M. J., Gunny, A. A. N., Gopinath, S. C. B., Wongs-Aree, C., Yusoff, N. H. A., … (2024). Effect of hydrophobic deep eutectic oil-in-water nano coating on the quality preservation of postharvest ‘Harumanis’ mango. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 691, 133818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.133818

Gidado, M. J., Gunny, A. A. N., Gopinath, S. C. B., Wongs-Aree, C., Makhtar, M. M. Z., … (2023). Formulation of selective hydrophobic deep eutectic oil-in-water nanoemulsion as green fungicides for mitigating anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Process Biochemistry, 135, 40–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2023.01.010

Gidado, M. J., Gunny, A. A. N., Sankari, R. S. A., Gopinath, S. C. B., … (2023). Delaying the ripening of banana fruit and increased storage shelf-life using hydrophobic deep eutectic oil (Menthol–Thymol)-In-Water nanoemulsion coating. International Conference on Biomass Utilization and Sustainable Energy, 13–22.

Gidado, M. J., Gunny, A. A. N., Gopinath, S. C. B., Devi, M., Jayavalli, R., Ilyas, R. A. (2025). Challenges in selecting edible coating materials for fruit postharvest preservation and recent advances in edible coating techniques: A review. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-025-07015-4

Pavlo Lykhovyd | Agriculture | Young Scientist Award

Dr. Pavlo Lykhovyd | Agriculture | Young Scientist Award

Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine | Ukraine

Dr. Pavlo Lykhovyd is a distinguished agricultural scientist and leading researcher at the Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. With a Doctorate in Agricultural Sciences, he specializes in land reclamation, irrigated and precision agriculture, agroecology, GIS/remote sensing, and AI/ML applications in agriculture. Over the course of his career, he has published more than 400 articles, including over 50 in WoS/Scopus-indexed journals, and contributed to highly cited works in the field. As head of the Council of Young Scientists, Pavlo has led numerous innovative projects on crop production, adaptive technologies, and digital agriculture, including GIS-based remote sensing applications and predictive modeling for irrigation and yield optimization. His work integrates scientific research with practical applications, providing consultancy to private farms and collaborating internationally on crop adaptation studies. Pavlo has authored books on neural networks in agriculture and crop production on reclaimed lands, and holds multiple patents and copyrights for agricultural software, including the Ukraine Crop Production Map and AI-driven irrigation tools. His contributions have advanced agricultural digitalization, resource-efficient irrigation, and agroecological zoning, directly enhancing productivity and sustainability in Ukraine’s steppe regions. Recognized with the President of Ukraine Prize for Young Scientists, he continues to pioneer AI and remote sensing solutions for large-scale crop monitoring, yield prediction, and climate-smart agriculture. Pavlo actively participates as a guest reviewer and editorial board member in international journals, promoting scientific rigor and innovation in modern agronomy. His research bridges traditional agricultural practices with cutting-edge technology, shaping the future of precision farming, sustainable land management, and climate-resilient agricultural systems across Ukraine and beyond.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  • Vozhehova, R. A., Lavrynenko, Y. O., Kokovikhin, S. V., Lykhovyd, P. V., … (2018). Assessment of the CROPWAT 8.0 software reliability for evapotranspiration and crop water requirements calculations. Journal of Water and Land Development, 147–152.

  • Lykhovyd, P. (2020). Sweet corn yield simulation using normalized difference vegetation index and leaf area index. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 21(3), 34.

  • Lykhovyd, P. (2021). Irrigation needs in Ukraine according to current aridity level. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 22(8), 30.

  • Tyshchenko, O., Tyshchenko, A., Piliarska, O., Kuts, H., & Lykhovyd, P. (n.d.). Evaluation of drought tolerance in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) genotypes in the conditions of osmotic stress. AgroLife Scientific Journal, 9(2).