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Although organic farming is still not widely practiced, it has grown remarkably since the COVID-19 pandemic because of changes in consumer tastes, government assistance, and advancements in technology. To sustain this momentum, concerted efforts are needed to overcome existing challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities. Embracing organic farming practices not only fosters resilience in the face of future crises but also contributes to building a more sustainable and equitable food system. CONTENTS: About the Authors / Editors: Editors: Deepak Kumar, PhD Executive Director, Nextnode Bioscience Pvt. Ltd., Kadi, Gujarat, India; Director, Shri Ram Solvent Extractions Pvt. Ltd., Jaspur, Uttarakhand, India Deepak Kumar, PhD, is presently working as Executive Director (R&D) at Nextnode Bioscience Pvt. Ltd., Kadi, and Director (R&D) of the DSIR-recognized laboratory of Shri Ram Solvent Extractions Pvt. Ltd. He is the author or co-author of 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, four books, one patent, and 20 book chapters. He has been involved in the quality production of biofertilizers and biopesticides for the last 12 years. Dr. Kumar is a Certified Farm Advisor (organic farming, certified by MANAGE, GOI) and a Food Safety Mitra (certified by FSSAI, GOI). He also worked as a technical expert member (biofertilizer) to start the ICAR-IISR Agribusiness Incubation Centre (ABI), Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Additionally, Dr. Kumar was selected as an AYE mentor by IFCI Venture Capital Funds Limited (an Indian government undertaking) for SC/ST mentorship under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. In addition, Dr. Kumar is also working as guest faculty for the course "PG Diploma in Biotechnology Law and Policy" at Gujarat National Law University. He has received many prestigious awards from different scientific and market research organizations for his work and has completed and guided six indigenous and externally funded (DSIR and DST) research projects. Dr. Kumar recently developed and licensed a neem endophytic mycoflora-based mycofertilizer, namely “AsperPhos”, which showed potential in mineral solubilization. He is also a technical consultant for more than a dozen companies, providing customized technical support. He is an active member of several professional associations and bodies. Dr. Kumar earned his MSc (Biotechnology) from C.C.S. University, Meerut; his MBA (Human Resource Management) from Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar; and his PhD (Ag Biotechnology) from Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. K. Narendran, PhD Assistant Professor, Plantation Technology and Extension, Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India K. Narendran, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM), Bengaluru, India. His research interests include plantations, agribusiness, farmer organizations, business plans, feasibility studies, organic business, and agripreneurship. He has authored several papers in popular international and national journals, which include Scopus, WoS, and ABDC-indexed journals. Serving as an expert consultant to the Karnataka State Marketing Board, Karnataka State Agriculture Produce Processing & Exports Corporation Limited (KAPPEC), and Commodity Boards of India, he has conducted projects and management development programs in different parts of the country, with special reference to organic clusters in northeast India. He has experience guiding many PGDM students at national and international institutes. He holds a PhD in Agripreneurship from Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI), Dindigul, Tamil Nadu; an MSc in Agricultural Extension; and a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru, India. Anupama Panghal, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Food Business Management and Entrepreneurship Development, National Institute of Food Technology and Management (NIFTEM) Campus, Kundli, Sonipat, India Anupama Panghal, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Sonipat, India. She has more than 18 years of academic and industrial experience, primarily at NIFTEM Kundli. Dr. Panghal earlier worked at Thapar University, Patiala, as an assistant professor, and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India, New Delhi, as an assistant manager. She was also selected by the Government of India, under the Faculty Secondment Scheme of MHRD, as a visiting professor at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand. Her research interests include agri-business management, supply chain and logistics management, entrepreneurship management, etc. She has authored one book on the topic of futures trading of agricultural commodities, edited four books, and authored or co-authored several papers in international and national journals of repute, including in indexed journals. Also, she has contributed chapters to a few edited books. She has worked as PI in a Ministry of Food Processing Industries (India) funded research project titled “Blockchain-based traceability solution for agri-food supply chains in India,” among other research projects. For her work, she has travelled to Australia, Cambodia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Thailand. She has been called for expert lectures several times and is a reviewer for many reputed journals. She is a lifetime member of the Agricultural Economics Research Review (AERA) and the Asian Productivity Organization (APO). Dr. Panghal has a PhD in business management, an MBA, and a BSc. |
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New Book Series: AAP Series on Waste Biomass Valorization will explore the transformation of biomass resources into valuable products, addressing the growing need for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels and non-renewable resources. This series sits at the intersection of environmental science, renewable energy, and sustainable development, highlighting the potential of biomass conversion technologies to mitigate climate change, reduce waste, and foster economic growth. By converting biomass waste streams into biofuels, bioproducts, and bio-based materials, this series seeks to offer innovative solutions to pressing environmental and societal challenges. For more information and to propose a book, please visit: Click here
Congratulations to Hafiz Ansar Rasul Suleria, PhD, for receiving the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research from the University of Melbourne, Australia, in recognitation for his exceptional performance and strong commitment to advanced research in food science. Dr. Suleria is editor of AAP’s book series Innovations in Plant Science for Better Health: From Soil to Fork. For more information, visit: Click here Congratulations to Dr. Christian Mancas. His book Conceptual Data Modeling and Database Design: A Fully Algorithmic Approach was one of the 6 Best Data Modeling ebooks for Beginners by BookAuthority, a leading site for book recommendations. For more information, visit: Click here Announcing a new book series: AAP Insights in Women’s and Gender Studies: Reshaping Identities is on a mission to revolutionize the conversation around gender, identity, and societal dynamics. The series aims to bridge the gap between academic rigor and practical application, providing tools that empower educators, researchers, students, and activists to spark change and advance the cause of gender equality around the world. For more information, visit: Click here AAP Editor & Author Dr. Wasim Siddiqui to Lead the World Food Preservation Center, USA AAP congratulates Professor Mohammed Wasim Siddiqui on this new and prestigious appointment. In this role, he directs the planning, development, and implementation of plans within the organization, which is dedicated to reduction of postharvest food loss and wastage. Dr. Siddiqui will also originate and promote existing initiatives of the sister universities and institutes of the World Food Preservation Center® LLC. Dr. Siddiqui is editor of two book series with AAP. For more information, visit: Click here Announcing a new AAP book series: Perspectives and Anthropology in Tourism and Hospitality (PATH) For more information, visit: Click here The new AAP book series Innovations in Microbiology welcomes book proposals. For more information, see: Click here COMMENTS FROM AAP EDITORS AND AUTHORS AAP book title: Advances in Audiology and Hearing Science (2-volume set) “I have collaborated with AAP during the process of bringing my two-volume editing work " Advances in Audiology and Hearing Science" to a final publishing phase. Despite the fact that the book brought together 41 different authors (with very different writing styles), AAP support has been truly important throughout the initial and final stages of the book. While the majority of the publishing work is done at the early stages, the final touches that include the last-minute corrections of the authors are extremely crucial to the quality the book tries to convey. 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Ameta, Professor of Eminence (Distinguished Professor), Faculty of Science, PAHER University, UDAIPUR, India AAP book title: New Frontiers in Nanochemistry, 3-volume set, plus many others "Publishing a book, either as author or editor, is a journey from the initial vibration to the piece of knowledge towards the present future of humanity at large. Such a journey is about climbing and tunneling, about diving and driving through, about inspiration and tuning, about hard working in every instance; and it is also about time. Very few Global Publishers have the wisdom and patience and kindness and openness to authors, contributors, and readers while being truly crafting oriented as Apple Academic; yet all is about people and their education, vision and assumed mission; the Apple Academic Team heartily succeed that in achieving the world class scholarly acclaim by the quality involvement in all chain of plus value added with each publishing event. Hearty Compliments! 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