Edible Biodiversity in Global Food Systems: Nutrition, Sustainability and Resilience

Author Biography

Dr. Nikita Patel is currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the C.G. Bhakta Institute of Biotechnology, Uka Tarsadia University, Bardoli, Gujarat, India, and has previously served as a Research Associate at the Kishorbhai Institute of Agriculture Sciences and Research Centre, Uka Tarsadia University. She completed her PhD at the C.G. Bhakta Institute of Biotechnology (CGBIBT) at the same university, where she also earned her Bachelor’s and Master's degree in Biotechnology with first-class honors. With experience as a Lecturer at the Dollyben Desai Institute of Computer and Allied Science, Dr. Nikita has actively contributed to the academic community. She also serves as Faculty at the Department of Health Science, University of the People, Pasadena, USA. In addition, she works as an AI Trainer and Biology and STEM Expert with Turing and Mercor, USA, contributing her subject-matter expertise to AI training and evaluation. She has presented her research at various national and international conferences and has attended several workshops and training programs. She is also serving as an editorial and review board member of many national and international journals. Her research findings have been published in international journals, including those by Springer, Elsevier, and Taylor & Francis. She has edited the book Controlled Environment Horticulture: Where Plant Biotechnology Meets Sustainable Future (Bentham Science) and has authored Future of Foods: Exploring Edible Plants for a Sustainable Diet published by Springer. She also holds two Indian design patents and one process patent. In recognition of her contributions to the field, Dr. Nikita was conferred with the Young Scientist Award in 2022. Her primary research interests include Agricultural Biotechnology, Microbial Biotechnology, Plant Biotechnology, and Molecular Biology, highlighting her commitment to advancing knowledge in these vital fields. Dr. Hemant Bagul is currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the Polytechnic in Agriculture, Waghai (Dangs), Gujarat. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Horticulture, an M.Sc., and a Ph.D. in Fruit Science from the ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Gujarat, and has qualified the ICAR National Eligibility Test (NET). During his doctoral studies, he was awarded a National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education in recognition of his research in Fruit Science. In recognition of his academic and research contributions, Dr. Bagul received the Young Horticulturist Award in 2024. He serves as an editorial and review board member for several national and international journals and has published numerous research papers, articles, and book chapters in reputed journals. He has edited the book Controlled Environment Horticulture: Where Plant Biotechnology Meets Sustainable Future (Bentham Science) and has also co-authored the book Future of Foods: Exploring Edible Plants for a Sustainable Diet published by Springer. His primary research interests include fruit science, crop production, and tribal agriculture. Dr. R. Krishnamurthy is currently a Professor, Research Director, Uka Tarsadia University, Former Director C G Bhakta Institute of Biotechnology & Dean of Faculty of Science at Uka Tarsadia University (UTU), Bardoli, Gujarat, India. He was conferred Man of Excellence by Indian Achievers’ Forum in 2022 and Fellow status award by Chartered Institute of Environmental and Public Health Management of Nigeria (CIEPHM) in April 2017 at Lagos. He is a great visionary, research mentor and a very meticulous administrator. He impeccably executes multidimensional responsibilities viz. teaching, research and associated administrative activities with enthusiasm. He is a Visiting Professor to University of Ilorin (Unilorin), Nigeria and an Associate Research Mentor for Nigerian students in their academic research work since March 2013. He has facilitated over 18 Academic staff of Unilorin from various department to visit Uka Tarsadia University with granted research fellowships, including N G Patel Research Fellowships (from Lagos), and collaborated as mentor to complete their project. Currently (2023-2024) 3 academic faculties from Unilorin are conducting research and academic activities under the mentorship of Prof. Krishnamurthy. Prof. Krishnamurthy has published over 35 research articles along with Unilorin academic staff and published 8 book chapters published by leading international publisher. He has also guided a Unilorin staff to receive PhD from UTU and other 4 staffs to complete their PhD work at UTU and submitted their thesis to Unilorin. In addition to these, Prof. Krishnamurthy has facilitated and arranged inter universities faculty lecture earlier where Vice Chancellor of Unilorin and various departments Professors and HODs including former CREDIT and CIE directors had lectured in the event. He has completed his Master degree in Botany from University of Madras and Ph.D. (Botany), M.S. University, Baroda. He is a recipient of several Research Fellowships Awards and grants. He served as member of academic bodies in Universities in India. He has a vast research experience on medicinal plants for decade with Industry as Director of Research and over 18 Years with Academic Institutions. He has technologically helped Indian and Overseas Industries and Universities including Unilorin, to set-up commercial scale Plant Tissue Culture Laboratories for quality planting materials of Plants. Dr. Krishnamurthy helped Unilorin to cultivate and develop upland rice farming at Unilorin campus and same project is still in progress. He has organized (as Chairman) several National and International Seminars/Conference on Medicinal Plants and Food Security Plants. He has to his credit an European Patent, written and edited several book chapters on Medicinal Plants and more than 140 research publications and review articles in the areas of Medicinal and Food Plants. He is a reviewer of many international journals and member of scientific societies. He collaborates with overseas Universities for research work. Expanding his horizon & not keeping himself limited to the Academia, he ventures in helping farmers in cultivating medicinal plants