Maria Amélia Martins-Loução received a Ph.D. in Ecology and Systematics from the University of Lisbon in 1985, followed by a habilitation in Ecology from the same university in 1995. Later in 2014, she obtained a Master's degree in Science Communication from the New University of Lisbon. She has been Vice-Rector of the University of Lisbon for 6 years (2006 - 2012), and was previously Director of Botanic Garden, National Museum of Natural History (2002-2009). She has been coordinator, consultant and reviewer of national and international project agencies such as FCT, NATO, ADI, COST, EU-FP-5, EU-FP-7, ANRS, PRIMA and ESF. Despite her retirement, she continues to work as a senior scientist at the Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Change (cE3c). Her current research focuses on the promotion of science and the communication of biodiversity and ecological principles for sustainable development education. For many years, she has been involved in and led studies on plant nitrogen (N)-use strategies, including the study of N in the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum and mycorrhizal symbioses using carob as a model plant.

Pedro José Correia is an Associate Professor in Plant Production at the Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of the University of Algarve since 2004. He is a member of the MED Research Centre of the University of Algarve. He served as the scientific coordinator of CDCTPV (Center for Scientific and Technological Development in Plant Production, FCT unit 52) between 2006 and 2009, and as the coordinator of the Center for Studies in Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (CECTA) between 2010 and 2015. He develops scientific activity in the areas of plant nutrition and the ecology of plant production in cultivated species, with a particular focus on the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua). He is the author of several scientific publications and co-inventor of a patent in the area of biostimulants obtained from plant extracts. Currently, he is the President of AIDA (Interprofessional Association for the Development of Carob Production and Valorization).

Anabela Romano is a full professor of biotechnology at the University of Algarve. She has been the director of the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory (FCT, UAlg) since 1995, the year she joined the faculty at the University of Algarve. She obtained a degree and a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Lisbon and completed the habilitation in biotechnology at the University of Algarve. Her current research interests lie in the application of biotechnological approaches to the propagation, conservation, and sustainable utilisation of plant genetic resources, as well as the biological and chemical characterisation of natural compounds. She is actively engaged in the training of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and teaches graduate and undergraduate-level courses such as Plant Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering and Plant Diversity. She is affiliated with the Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED) and the Associate Laboratory CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute. She also serves as the coordinator of the MED-UAlg. She has previously held the position of Vice-Rector of the University of Algarve and coordinator of the research Centre for Mediterranean Bioresources and Food (MeditBio).