Announcements

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 Tu Youyou Award has been conferred upon Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller, in recognition of their significant contributions to natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Richard DiMarchi Indiana University, USA	Prof. Richard DiMarchi is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University, USA. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Dr. DiMarchi is a former Group Vice President at Eli Lilly and later at Novo Nordisk. He is recognized for his contributions to the discovery and development of rDNA-derived Humulin®, Humalog®, rGlucagon®, and Forteo®. His academic research has broadened the understanding of glucagon and incretin physiology and pioneered the discovery of single-molecule multi-mechanism agonists for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. The central element to success has been the chemical vision and technology to install within single molecules simultaneous agonism at related G-protein coupled receptors, coupled to the counter-intuitive discovery that glucagon and GIP agonism could synergize the therapeutic efficacy of GLP-1. These peptides and their conceptual approach have transformed the management of excessive body weight to a condition comparable to how hypertension, adult-onset diabetes, and excess cholesterol are medicinally managed.
“Professor DiMarchi was recognized by the 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members as being an exceptional leader in the medicinal chemistry of peptides and proteins of natural origin, and as a pioneer in the field of chemical biotechnology. His very important discoveries have led to breakthroughs in new drugs related to the therapy of diabetes and obesity. He has been named as an inventor on a very large number of patents, and he has had initially a highly successful scientific and administrative career in industry, which was followed by over two decades in academia as a distinguished professor.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee
Rolf Müller Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Infections Research (HZI), Germany; Saarland University, Germany	Prof. Rolf Müller is the Founding and Managing Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and Professor of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Saarland University, Germany. Having received his training from the University of Bonn, he held research positions at the University of Washington, USA, and Braunschweig University of Technology, Germany, prior to his appointment as professor to Saarland University. His laboratory has dedicated itself to the exploration of bacterial natural-product biosynthetic pathways for more than 20 years and has extensive experience in working with myxobacteria and other microbial producer strains. Starting from the isolation and characterization of new microorganisms, the scope of work includes microbiology-, biotechnology-, bioinformatics-, and chemistry-based approaches to exploit these isolates as sources of new drugs with a special focus on novel anti-infectives. Müller and his team apply a variety of state-of-the-art analytical methods and biological assays to perform biological and chemical characterizations of the identified compounds. Prof. Müller has received several awards, including the prestigious Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, the PHOENIX Pharmacy Research Award, the DECHEMA Prize, and the Inhoffen Medal, as well as being an elected member of acatech, Leopoldina, and the German Academy of Sciences and Literature.
“The 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members were highly impressed by the truly outstanding past and ongoing contributions of Professor Müller in both microbial natural products isolation chemistry and in biosynthesis, as well as in the development of lead compounds for their potential in treating human diseases, through his global connections with various major funding agencies. He is also a dedicated teacher who has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and he has lectured on his research in countries all over the world.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee

The achievements of Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller highlight the transformative impact of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. We congratulate them and invite the global academic community and public to join us in celebrating their significant contributions.

2024 Award Committee
Committee Chair:

• Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Ohio State University, USA.
  

Committee Members (listed in alphabetical order):

• Prof. Angelo Fontana, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy;
• Prof. Binghe Wang, Georgia State University, USA;
• Dr. Diana Pinto, University of Aveiro, Portugal;
• Prof. Hideaki Kakeya, Kyoto University, Japan;
• Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel, University of Strathclyde, UK;
• Prof. Thomas Prisinzano, University of Kentucky, USA
• Prof. Wei Li, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA.

About the Tu Youyou Award:
The 2024 Tu Youyou Award includes a total monetary prize of 100,000 Swiss Francs and a medal for each recipient. Established in 2016 to honor the pioneering spirit of Nobel laureate Tu Youyou, the Tu Youyou Award is an international award honoring exceptional scholars dedicated to the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

For further information about the award and the winners, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website.

World Bee Day, commemorated annually on the 20th of May, was established to raise public awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators, as well as to promote the coordinated development of sustainable agriculture and ecological protection. This year's theme is “Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all”. As the most critical pollinator in nature, bees directly influence global crop yields and have a profound impact on food security, biodiversity, and economic value chains. The contributions made by bees and other pollinators are closely connected to all of us. However, due to factors such as habitat destruction, the widespread use of pesticides, and climate change, global bee colonies and other pollinators are experiencing a significant decline in population. 

MDPI encourages the use of open academic exchange platforms offered by journals from Biology & Life Sciences subject such as Agriculture,  Animals, Biology, Conservation, Ecologies, Foods, Insects and Life to promote innovation and practical application in the field of pollinator protection. Research published in these journals is freely accessible to the public. We look forward to leveraging scientific knowledge to help safeguard this fragile link that sustains the Earth's life-support network. 

“Climate Change Influences on Central European Insect Fauna over the Last 50 Years: Mediterranean Influx and Non-Native Species”
by Attila Haris, Zsolt Józan, Péter Schmidt, Gábor Glemba, Bogdan Tomozii, György Csóka, Anikó Hirka, Peter Šima and Sándor Tóth
Ecologies 2025, 6(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies6010016 

“Comparative Study of the Effect of Pollen Substitute Diets on Honey Bees during Early Spring”
by Hyunjee Kim, Olga Frunze, Abdulkadir Yusif Maigoro, Myeong-Lyeol Lee, Jeong-Hyeon Lee
and Hyung-Wook Kwon
Insects 2024, 15(2), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15020101 

“Decoding the Behavior of a Queenless Colony Using Sound Signals”
by Dimitrios Kanelis, Vasilios Liolios, Fotini Papadopoulou, Maria-Anna Rodopoulou, Dimitrios Kampelopoulos, Kostas Siozios and Chrysoula Tananaki
Biology 2023, 12(11), 1392; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12111392 

“Conservation of Local Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in Southeastern Turkey: A Preliminary Study for Morphological Characterization and Determination of Colony Performance”
by Atilla Oztokmak, Gonca Ozmen Ozbakir and Oznur Çaglar
Animals 2023, 13(13), 2194; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132194 

“Survey Results of Honey Bee Colony Losses in Winter in China (2009–2021)”
by Jiao Tang, Congcong Ji, Wei Shi, Songkun Su, Yunbo Xue, Jinshan Xu, Xiao Chen, Yazhou Zhao and Chao Chen
Insects 2023, 14(6), 554; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14060554 

“Application of a Quality-Specific Environmental Risk Index for the Location of Hives in Areas with Different Pollution Impacts”
by Daniel Signorelli, Luigi Jacopo D’Auria, Antonio Di Stasio, Alfonso Gallo, Augusto Siciliano, Mauro Esposito, Alessandra De Felice  and Giuseppe Rofrano
Agriculture 2023, 13(5), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13050998 

“Expression Profile, Regulatory Network, and Putative Role of microRNAs in the Developmental Process of Asian Honey Bee Larval Guts”
by Xiaoxue Fan, Wende Zhang, Sijia Guo, Leran Zhu, Yiqiong Zhang, Haodong Zhao, Xuze Gao, Haibin Jiang, Tianze Zhang, Dafu Chen et al.
Insects 2023, 14(5), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14050469 

“Pollen as Bee Medicine: Is Prevention Better than Cure?”
by Maryse Vanderplanck, Lucie Marin, Denis Michez and Antoine Gekière
Biology 2023, 12(4), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12040497 

Special Issues:

“The Impact of Environmental Factors and Pesticides on Bee Behavior” Guest Editor: Dr. Agnieszka Murawska Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2025	“Losses, Health and Wellbeing of Honey Bees Across the World” Guest Editor: Dr. Alison Gray Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025

“Pollen Production and Nutrient Composition in Two Northern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars: Implications for Pollinator Nutrition”
by Priyadarshini Chakrabarti, Lauren Baugus, Ethan Eaton, Nathalie A. Steinhauer and Ramesh R. Sagili
Agriculture 2025, 15(5), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15050461 

“Further Insights on Honey and Propolis from Gerês (Portugal) and Their Bioactivities: Unraveling the Impact of Beehive Relocation”
by Ana Sofia Freitas, Rui Oliveira, and Cristina Almeida-Aguiar
Life 2024, 14(4), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14040506

“Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Melittin Peptides Derived from Apis mellifera and Apis florea Venom”
by Pichet Praphawilai, Thida Kaewkod, Sureeporn Suriyaprom, Aussara Panya, Terd Disayathanoowat and Yingmanee Tragoolpua
Insects 2024, 15(2), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15020109 

“Chemical and Functional Characterization of Propolis Collected from Different Areas of South Italy” 
by Aliki Kapazoglou, Maria Gerakari, Efstathia Lazaridi, Konstantina Kleftogianni, Efi Sarri, Eleni Tani and Penelope J. Bebeli
Foods 2023, 12(18), 3481; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12183481 

“Exploring Consumers’ Preferences and Attitudes to Honey: Generation Approach in Slovakia”
by Peter Šedík, Martina Hudecová and Kristína Predanócyová
Foods 2023, 12(10), 1941; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12101941 

“Linking Beekeepers’ and Farmers’ Preferences towards Pollination Services in Greek Kiwi Systems”
by Elie Abou Nader, Georgios Kleftodimos, Leonidas Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Christina Kleisiari, Nicola Gallai, Salem Darwich, Tristan Berchoux, George Vlontzos and Hatem Belhouchette
Animals 2023, 13(5), 806; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13050806 

Special Issues:

MDPI is excited to collaborate with Toronto Metropolitan University to host an engaging Scientific Publishing Workshop aimed at empowering scholars with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in academic publishing. This workshop will delve into the key aspects of MDPI’s open access publishing framework, offering an in-depth exploration of journal selection, the editorial workflow, and the essentials of publication ethics. Participants will also gain practical advice on improving their scientific writing and effectively addressing reviewer comments, with guidance from an experienced professional. This session promises to equip attendees with valuable skills to elevate their publishing journey.

Workshop Highlights:

• Learn How to Better Write and Structure a Research Article;
• How to Choose Where to Publish Academic Work;
• How to Respond to Reviewer Comments;
• Reasons for Rejection During Pre-Check;
• How to Navigate Through Ethics and AI Use.

Date: 15 May 2025
Time: 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Venue: Toronto Metropolitan University

Program:

On the International Day of Plant Health, we recognize the vital role that healthy plants play in securing food, sustaining livelihoods, and protecting biodiversity. Plant health is fundamental to global food security, environmental sustainability, and economic development. As the world faces the increasing threat of plant pests and diseases, exacerbated by climate change, global trade, and unsustainable practices, this day serves as a call to action for stronger phytosanitary systems and international collaboration.

Aligned with this year’s theme of “The Importance of Plant Health in One Health”, we invite you to explore selected articles, Special Issues, and journals that span fields such as biology, biosciences, agriculture, and plant science. Healthy plants are the foundation of food security, ecosystems, and global biodiversity. By sharing research that addresses plant pests and diseases, we aim to inspire action and foster collaboration to strengthen plant protection, ultimately supporting a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

Keynote speakers:

Prof. Dr. Horacio Heinzen University of the Republic, Uruguay	Dr. Azucena González Coloma Institute of Agricultural Sciences, CSIC, Spain
Prof. Dr. Assunta Bertaccini Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Italy	Prof. Dr. Hikmet Budak Arizona Western College, United States

Feel free to register for the webinar here!

“Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Two Species of Oak: Quercus sartorii and Quercus rysophylla”
by Elizabeth Coyotl-Martinez, Juan Alex Hernández-Rivera, José L. Arturo Parra-Suarez, Sandra Raquel Reyes-Carmona and Alan Carrasco-Carballo
Appl. Biosci. 2025, 4(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/applbiosci4010013

“Flavonoids as Insecticides in Crop Protection—A Review of Current Research and Future Prospects”
by Verónica Pereira, Onofre Figueira and Paula C. Castilho
Plants 2024, 13(6), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060776

“The Function of Root Exudates in the Root Colonization by Beneficial Soil Rhizobacteria”
by Lin Chen and Yunpeng Liu
Biology 2024, 13(2), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13020095

“A New Gonolobus Species (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) from Sinaloa, Mexico”
by Leonardo O. Alvarado-Cárdenas, Juan F. Pío-León, Gilberto Morillo and Carla Sofía Islas-Hernández
Taxonomy 2024, 4(1), 1-9; https://doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy4010001

“Zamia magnifica (Zamiaceae, Cycadales): A New Rupicolous Cycad Species from Sierra Norte, Oaxaca, Mexico”
by Miguel Angel Pérez-Farrera, José Said Gutiérrez-Ortega, Mauricio Gerónimo Martínez-Martínez and Michael Calonje
Taxonomy 2023, 3(2), 232-249; https://doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy3020017

“Manipulation of the Cellular Membrane-Cytoskeleton Network for RNA Virus Replication and Movement in Plants”
by Rongrong He, Yinzi Li, Mark A. Bernards and Aiming Wang
Viruses 2023, 15(3), 744; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15030744

“Tissue Culture—A Sustainable Approach to Explore Plant Stresses”
by Akila Wijerathna-Yapa and Jayeni Hiti-Bandaralage
Life 2023, 13(3), 780; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030780

“Geometric Morphometric Versus Genomic Patterns in a Large Polyploid Plant Species Complex”
by Ladislav Hodač, Kevin Karbstein, Salvatore Tomasello, Jana Wäldchen, John Paul Bradican and Elvira Hörandl
Biology 2023, 12(3), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12030418

“Identification and Characterization of Neofusicoccum stellenboschiana in Branch and Twig Dieback-Affected Olive Trees in Italy and Comparative Pathogenicity with N. mediterraneum”
by Giuliano Manetti, Angela Brunetti, Valentina Lumia, Lorenzo Sciarroni, Paolo Marangi, Nicola Cristella, Francesco Faggioli, Massimo Reverberi, Marco Scortichini and Massimo Pilotti
J. Fungi 2023, 9(3), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9030292

“Plants as Biofactories for Therapeutic Proteins and Antiviral Compounds to Combat COVID-19”
by Corbin England, Jonathan TrejoMartinez, Paula PerezSanchez, Uddhab Karki and Jianfeng Xu
Life 2023, 13(3), 617; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030617

“Epichloë Endophytes Shape the Foliar Endophytic Fungal Microbiome and Alter the Auxin and Salicylic Acid Phytohormone Levels in Two Meadow Fescue Cultivars”
by Suni Anie Matthew, Marjo Helander, Kari Saikkonen, Radomira Vankova, Petre I. Dobrev, Serdar Dirihan and Benjamin Fuchs
J. Fungi 2023, 9(1), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9010090

“Molecular Basis of Seed Germination and Dormancy” Guest Editors: Dr. Yifeng Wang, Prof. Dr. Jiezheng Ying, Dr. Xiaohong Tong and Dr. Yu Cheng Submission deadline: 31 August 2025	“Diversity and Taxonomy of Scarabaeoidea” Guest Editor: Dr. Frank-Thorsten Krell Submission deadline: 31 October 2025
“The Silent Players of Forest Ecosystems: Viruses, Viroids, and Beyond” Guest Editor: Dr. Leticia Botella Sánchez Submission deadline: 31 December 2025	“Plant–Insect Interactions—3rd Edition” Guest Editor: Dr. Francisco Rubén Badenes-Pérez Submission deadline: 31 December 2025

Conference: Chinese Society of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology 2025 Annual Meeting
Organization: Chinese Society of Plant Biology
Date: 28 July–01 August 2025
Place: Heilongjiang, China

MDPI journals will be present as exhibitors at the Chinese Society of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology 2025 Annual Meeting, which will be held at the Sheraton Harbin Xiangfang Hotel, Heilongjiang, China, from 28 July to 1 August 2025.

This conference will cover the following topics:

1. Plant metabolism and nutritional health;
2. Plant development and cell fate;
3. Plant carbon sink and physiological ecology;
4. Phytoremediation biology and sustainable agriculture;
5. Plant adversity perception and trait plasticity;
6. Plant–microbe symbiosis and nutrition;
7. Crop molecular design breeding;
8. Plant–biotic interactions and crop disease and pest resistance;
9. Plant epigenetics;
10. Interdisciplinary forum;
11. Young scholars forum;
12. Youth forum on natural product biosynthesis;
13. Young scholars’ growth and journal development forum.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Plants;
• Current Issues in Molecular Biology (CIMB);
• Agriculture;
• International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS);
• Horticulturae;
• Agronomy;
• International Journal of Plant Biology (IJPB);
• Epigenomes;
• Cells;
• BioTech;
• Phycology;
• Metabolites;
• Microorganisms;
• Methods and Protocols.

If you will be attending this conference, please feel free to visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

Conference: The 9th International Symposium on Dairy Cow Nutrition and Milk Quality
Date: 9–11 May 2025
Location: Beijing, China

MDPI will be attending the 9th International Symposium on Dairy Cow Nutrition and Milk Quality, which will be held from 9 to 11 May 2025 in Beijing, China.

The International Symposium on “Dairy Cow Nutrition and Milk Quality” has been held continuously, with eight sessions over 15 years since its first event in 2009. Renowned international experts from 13 developed dairy countries including the United States, the Netherlands, and New Zealand have delivered over 200 keynote speeches at the conference, with more than 4,000 people attending on-site. It has become an important scientific platform for understanding the latest progress in international dairy science and technology, strengthening domestic and foreign dairy exchanges, and promoting cooperation in dairy science and technology between China and foreign countries. The purpose of this symposium is to exchange the latest progress in domestic and international dairy science theories and technologies and jointly discuss strategies for the high-quality development of the global dairy industry, with the aim of developing new high-quality technology for productivity and promoting the stable and healthy development of the dairy industry, which is of vital importance.

The conference topics cover:

• Progress in key efficient and high-quality technologies for the entire dairy industry chain;
• Progress in milk quality and safety;
• Research progress on the nutritional quality of special livestock milk.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Animals;
• Agriculture;
• Beverages;
• Foods;
• Ruminants.

If you are planning to attend the conference, we encourage you to visit our booth and speak to our representatives. We are eager to meet you in person and assist you with any queries that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the official website: http://www.dairymeeting.com/cn2025/default.htm.

We are honored to introduce the award committee for the 2024 Tu Youyou Award, composed of distinguished scientists from around the world whose research covers diverse areas of natural product chemistry, pharmacognosy, and drug discovery. Their broad expertise and pioneering contributions have significantly advanced medicinal and natural products research.

Through their collective insights, rigorous evaluation, the committee has carefully selected this year’s award recipients, recognizing exceptional achievements in the field.

We sincerely thank these distinguished scholars for their efforts and dedication to upholding the standards of the Tu Youyou Award.  Below is the list of committee members. For more information about the Tu Youyou Award, please visit https://tuyouyouprize.org/. 

Chair:

Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn Ohio State University, USA

Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn is a leading expert in pharmacognosy and natural products research. He is recognized for his key contributions to discovering bioactive compounds from plants, especially in anticancer, cancer chemopreventive, and substances with a sweet taste and taste-modifying agents. His prolific contributions include over 590 peer-reviewed works and book chapters and edited or co-edited 40 scientific volumes.

Prof. Angelo Fontana University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy	Angelo Fontana is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Naples “Federico II” in Italy and serves as Director of the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry at the National Research Council (CNR). His research focuses on bioactive small molecules derived from marine eukaryotes, with a particular interest on their pharmaceutical applications in immunology and oncology. He also explores their potential as molecular tools for probing and modulating complex biological systems. Prof. Fontana is a co-founder of BioSEArch SRL and has been recognized with numerous grants and honors, including the Apivita Award from the Phytochemical Society of Europe.
Prof. Binghe Wang Georgia State University, USA	Prof. Binghe Wang’s lab works on drug design, drug delivery, click chemistry, chemical biology, new diagnostics, and gaseous signaling molecules such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. His interdisciplinary research supports advances in cancer, infectious diseases, organ protection, inflammation, and other areas.
Dr. Diana Pinto University of Aveiro, Portugal	Dr. Diana Pinto, an Associate Professor at the University of Aveiro, specializes in organic synthesis of bioactive heterocyclic compounds, sustainable catalysis (organo-, heterogeneous, and biocatalysis), and natural product research, including isolation, characterization, and total synthesis.
Prof. Hideaki Kakeya Kyoto University, Japan	Prof. Hideaki Kakeya conducts cutting-edge research in chemical biology, high-throughput screening, and biosynthesis of bioactive natural products for system chemotherapy and other therapeutic applications.
Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel University of Strathclyde, UK	Prof. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel heads the Natural Products Metabolomics Group (NPMG), specializing in marine natural products discovery and metabolomics-driven drug development. A recognized expert in bioactive metabolites, she collaborates with industry and academia to address antimicrobial resistance and sustainable bioprospecting. She serves on the Editorial Board of Marine Drugs and holds two patents in the field.
Prof. Thomas Prisinzano University of Kentucky, USA	Prof. Thomas Prisinzano combines medicinal and natural product chemistry to explore neurotransmitter systems and develop treatments for drug abuse and pain. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Innovator Award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence.
Prof. Wei Li University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA	A distinguished professor and Director of the Drug Discovery Center, Prof. Wei Li is also the founder of SEAK Therapeutics, and the 2025 Chair-Elect of the Drug Discovery and Development Division of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). His work focuses on medicinal chemistry and small molecule drug discovery, with over 200 publications and 15 issued US patents.

MDPI will be attending the 11th World Conference of the Ecosystem Services Partnership in Darwin, Australia, which will take place from 23 to 27 June 2025. The Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP) is one of the largest network organizations in the field of ecosystem services worldwide. The 11th ESP World Conference will explore pathways to Nature-based Solutions (NbS), with a special focus on the insights that local and Indigenous peoples and their value systems can offer.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Diversity;
• Land;
• Sustainability;
• Urban Science;
• Agriculture;
• Conservation;
• Ecologies;
• Environments;
• Forests;
• Hydrology;
• Pollutants.

If you are attending the conference, we welcome you to visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://www.espconference.org/esp11/homepage.

In order to further enhance the international influence of the journal Agriculture (ISSN: 2077-0472), promote the academic exchange of young scientists, and support the Editorial Board with additional talent, the first Early Career Editorial Board of Agriculture is being set up, and outstanding young scholars are encouraged to apply to join.

Recruitment:
A total of 50 Early Career Editorial Board Members are planned to be recruited.

Application eligibility:

• Significant research achievements in the fields of crop and animal production, biosecurity, and postharvest handling of produce, agricultural technology, management of the natural resource base for agricultural production (land, soil and water), rural management and agricultural development, and agriculture in changing environments;
• Willingness to spend enough time to contribute to the development of the journal with passion and enthusiasm;
• Scholars who preside over national-level scientific research projects and have overseas experience will be preferred;
• Within 10 years of achieving their Ph.D.

Benefits of Early Career Editorial Board Members:

• An Early Career Editorial Board Member certificate will be provided. The Early Career Editorial Board membership term is two years and can then be renewed;
• The resumes of Early Career Editorial Board Members will be publicized on journal media platforms to improve academic visibility;
• The opportunity to be promoted to an Editorial Board Member based on contributions;
• The journal will regularly acknowledge those who participate in the peer review process on the journal’s website;
• Opportunities to exchange ideas with internationally influential researchers in this field; opportunities to participate in or host annual meetings and online seminars organized by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board Members.

Responsibilities of Early Career Editorial Board Members:

• Publicizing and promoting the journal at academic conferences and among peers;
• Selecting high-quality articles and preparing media content for promotion;
• Reviewing at least four manuscripts per year;
• Identifying potential reviewers for specific papers, and assessing any potential ethical or policy-based questions that might arise due to the papers’ content;
• Supporting the development of the journal through various means, such as providing suggestions, promoting the journal via academic networks, academic conferences, and new media channels, etc.;
• Inviting submissions from world-leading scientists in their respective research fields through both local and global networks;
• Learning about the scholarly publishing landscape, including gaining an awareness of the manuscript review process, ethical considerations, and the strategies used by publishers.

Applications:
Please send your academic resume to agriculture@mdpi.com with the subject “Agriculture Early Career Editorial Board Application + Name + Institute + Research Expertise”.

Application deadline: 31 October 2025.