Voices Behind the RISE-SWC 2025 Conference
Our speakers bring decades of expertise in agriculture, climate resilience, and sustainable land management. Explore their profiles to learn about the leaders driving innovation across Africa and beyond.
Dr. Rattan Lal
Professor and Director, CFAES Rattan Lal Center, Ohio State University – USA
Dr. Rattan Lal, Professor and Director at Ohio State University’s CFAES Rattan Lal Center, has authored 1000+ journal articles and 100+ books. He holds honorary degrees from nine universities and has received major awards, including the World Food Prize (2020) and India’s Padma Shri (2021). He has led global soil science organizations and served on the 2021 UN Food Security Summit Science Committee.
Dr. Kaushik Majumdar
Director General, African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI), Benguerir – Morocco
Dr. Kaushik Majumdar is the Director General of the African Plant Nutrition Institute based in Morocco. He was the Vice President and Coordinator of the Asia and Africa Programs of the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) before joining APNI.
Dr. Majumdar has a Ph.D. in Soil Mineralogy/Soil Chemistry from Rutgers University, U.S.A. His current research interest is in precision crop nutrition for climate resilience and soil health in smallholder production systems, and how better plant nutrition can translate to better human health outcomes. Dr. Majumdar has co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, scientific and popular articles.
Dr. Manyweu Mutamba
Acting Head of Agriculture, AUDA-NEPAD, Johannesburg – South Africa
Dr. Manyweu Mutamba leads the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) at AUDA-NEPAD, advancing food security, land restoration, and climate-smart agriculture. With 20+ years across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, he has shaped policies and investments that strengthen climate resilience and rural development.
Dr. Shamie Zingore
Director of Research & Development, African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI), Benguerir-Morocco
Dr. Shamie Zingore is Director of Research and Development at the African Plant Nutrition Institute. An internationally recognized expert in soil fertility, he pioneered the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program in Africa. With over two decades of research, he has advanced innovations in nutrient management, use efficiency, and smallholder farming systems, shaping major R&D investments and policies on food security, land restoration, and climate resilience.
Previously Regional Director at the International Plant Nutrition Institute and scientist at CIAT, he holds a PhD from Wageningen University. He has published 60+ peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and extension resources.
Larry Umunna
Executive Director, Coalition of Implementors for Fertilizers and Soil Health, Abidjan – Ivory Coast
Larry Umunna leads the Coalition of Implementors for Fertilizers and Soil Health. Formerly West Africa Regional Director at TechnoServe and Country Director for Nigeria, he has over two decades of experience building public–private partnerships that improve agricultural markets, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Rachid Mrabet
Research Director, INRA Morocco, Rabat.
Dr. Rachid Mrabet is Research Director at Morocco’s National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA). With 30+ years in conservation agriculture and dryland agronomy, he has led national and international collaborations on soil health, water conservation, and climate-smart farming, including contributions to the IPCC AR6 WGIII on Agriculture and Land Use.
Dr. José Alfonso Gómez Calero
Research Scientist, CSIC – Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Córdoba – Spain
Dr. Gómez Calero specializes in soil and water conservation for Mediterranean systems, especially olives and vineyards. He has coordinated major EU research programs on erosion control, hydrology, and sustainable land management and authored 130+ peer-reviewed publications.
Dr. James Mutegi
Senior Scientist, African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI), Kenya – Nairobi
Dr. James Mutegi is an agronomist focused on soil fertility, nutrient management, and climate change. He has coordinated regional soil health and fertilizer initiatives across Eastern and Southern Africa and co-authored numerous scientific papers, manuals, and training resources for sustainable agriculture.
Dr. Sudarshan Dutta
Lead Agronomist (India), Agoro Carbon Alliance
Dr. Dutta leads carbon farming implementation and sustainable nutrient management in India. Formerly at APNI and IPNI, he has 15+ years working with smallholder systems across Africa and Asia, translating research into best practices and capacity building for improved soil health and productivity.
Dr. Ngonidzashe Chirinda
Assistant Professor, UM6P; Coordinator, Africa Carbon Flagship Programme, Benguerir – Morocco
Dr. Chirinda’s work centers on soil carbon, greenhouse gas mitigation, and climate-smart agriculture. He contributes to international expert panels, including IPCC processes, and has published widely on sustainable land management and emissions reduction in agriculture.
