AGENDA
09:00am - 09:15 am
Welcome and Outline of the conference (M. McCabe, M. Tester, H. Hirt)
Session 1. The global perspective
09:15 am - 09:50 am
Yoshi Wada (KAUST)
09:50 am - 10:25 am
Claudia Ringler (IFPRI, Washington, USA)
10:25 am - 10:40 am
Selected talks from abstracts
10:40 am - 11:10 am
Coffee Break
11:10 am - 11:25 am
Selected talks from abstracts
11:40 am - 12:15 pm
Carole Dalin (UCL London, UK)
12:15 am - 13:30 pm
Lunch
Session 2. Terrestrial and Marine Systems
13:30 pm - 14:05 pm
Fernando Maestre (KAUST)
14:05 pm - 14:40 pm
Paolo D’Odorico (UC Berkeley, USA)
14:40 pm - 14:55 pm
selected talks from abstracts
14:55 pm - 15:25 pm
Coffee Break
15:25 pm - 15:40 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
15:40 pm - 15:55 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
15:55 pm - 16:30 pm
Susan Chomba (WRI Nairobi, Kenia)
16:30 pm - 17:00 pm
Coffee Break
17:00 pm - 18:30 pm
Round Table 1: Terrestrial Food Systems – Challenges and Opportunities
(Moderator, Yoshi Wada, Claudia Ringler, Carole Dalin, NN)
18:30 pm
Welcome Dinner and Poster Session 1
Session 3. Food System Challenges
09:00 am - 09:35 am
Carlos Duarte (KAUST)
09:35 am - 10:10 am
Harro Boumeester (Amsterdam Univ., NL)
10:10 am - 10:25 am
Selected talks from abstracts
10:25 am - 10:55 am
Coffee Break
10:55 am - 11:10 am
Selected talks from abstracts
11:10 am - 11:25 am
Selected talks from abstracts
11:25 am - 12:00 pm
Caroline Gutjahr (MPI Golm, Germany)
12:05 pm - 13:30 pm
Lunch Break
Session 4. Food System and Science Solutions
13:30 pm - 14:05 pm
Jonathan Jones (Sainsbury Labs, UK)
14:05 pm -14:40 pm
Christine Raines (Essex Univ., UK)
14:40 pm - 15:00 pm
Hannes Kollist (INRAe; Tartu Univ)
15:00 pm - 15:15 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
15:15 pm - 15:45 pm
Coffee Break
15:45 pm - 16:00 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
16:00 pm - 16:15 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
16:15 pm - 16:50 pm
Corne Pieterse (Univ. of Utrecht, NL)
16:50 pm - 17:20 pm
Coffee Break
17:20 pm - 18:50 pm
Round Table 2: Scientific Solutions and Translation Bottlenecks
(Moderator, Mark Tester, Jonathan Jones, Harro Bouwmeester,…)
18:50 pm
Dinner and Poster Session 2
Session 5. Future Food Systems Perspectives
09:00 am - 09:35 am
Mark Tester (KAUST)
09:35 am - 10:10 am
Abdulaziz Al-Harbi (King Saud Univ., Ryadh, SA)
10:10 am - 10:25 am
Selected talks from abstracts
10:25 am - 10:55 am
Coffee Break
10:55 am - 11:10 am
Selected talks from abstracts
11:10 am - 11:25 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
11:25 am - 12:00 pm
Ndjido Kane (CERAAS, Senegal)
12:00 pm - 13:30 pm
Lunch Break (Campus Dinner)
Satellite Session: Nature-based Carbon Sequestration Technologies
13:30 pm - 14:05 pm
Presentation by Heribert Hirt (KAUST)
14:05 pm -14:40 pm
Khaled Al Rohily (Estidamah, Riyadh, SA)
14:40 pm - 14:55 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
14:55 pm - 15:10 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
15:10 pm - 15:45 pm
Ueli Niinemets (Estonian Univ. Tartu, EE)
15:45 pm - 16:00 pm
Conclusions and End of Conference
AGENDA
09:00am - 09:15 am
Welcome and Outline of the conference (M. McCabe, M. Tester, H. Hirt)
Session 1. The global perspective
09:15 am - 09:50 am
Yoshi Wada (KAUST)
09:50 am - 10:25 am
Claudia Ringler (IFPRI, Washington, USA)
10:25 am - 10:40 am
Selected talks from abstracts
10:40 am - 11:10 am
Coffee Break
11:10 am - 11:25 am
Selected talks from abstracts
11:40 am - 12:15 pm
Carole Dalin (UCL London, UK)
12:15 am - 13:30 pm
Lunch
Session 2. Terrestrial and Marine Systems
13:30 pm - 14:05 pm
Fernando Maestre (KAUST)
14:05 pm - 14:40 pm
Paolo D’Odorico (UC Berkeley, USA)
14:40 pm - 14:55 pm
selected talks from abstracts
14:55 pm - 15:25 pm
Coffee Break
15:25 pm - 15:40 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
15:40 pm - 15:55 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
15:55 pm - 16:30 pm
Susan Chomba (WRI Nairobi, Kenia)
16:30 pm - 17:00 pm
Coffee Break
17:00 pm - 18:30 pm
Round Table 1: Terrestrial Food Systems – Challenges and Opportunities
(Moderator, Yoshi Wada, Claudia Ringler, Carole Dalin, NN)
18:30 pm
Welcome Dinner and Poster Session 1
Session 3. Food System Challenges
09:00 am - 09:35 am
Carlos Duarte (KAUST)
09:35 am - 10:10 am
Harro Boumeester (Amsterdam Univ., NL)
10:10 am - 10:25 am
Selected talks from abstracts
10:25 am - 10:55 am
Coffee Break
10:55 am - 11:10 am
Selected talks from abstracts
11:10 am - 11:25 am
Selected talks from abstracts
11:25 am - 12:00 pm
Caroline Gutjahr (MPI Golm, Germany)
12:05 pm - 13:30 pm
Lunch Break
Session 4. Food System and Science Solutions
13:30 pm - 14:05 pm
Jonathan Jones (Sainsbury Labs, UK)
14:05 pm -14:40 pm
Christine Raines (Essex Univ., UK)
14:40 pm - 15:00 pm
Hannes Kollist (INRAe; Tartu Univ)
15:00 pm - 15:15 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
15:15 pm - 15:45 pm
Coffee Break
15:45 pm - 16:00 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
16:00 pm - 16:15 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
16:15 pm - 16:50 pm
Corne Pieterse (Univ. of Utrecht, NL)
16:50 pm - 17:20 pm
Coffee Break
17:20 pm - 18:50 pm
Round Table 2: Scientific Solutions and Translation Bottlenecks
(Moderator, Mark Tester, Jonathan Jones, Harro Bouwmeester,…)
18:50 pm
Dinner and Poster Session 2
Session 5. Future Food Systems Perspectives
09:00 am - 09:35 am
Mark Tester (KAUST)
09:35 am - 10:10 am
Abdulaziz Al-Harbi (King Saud Univ., Ryadh, SA)
10:10 am - 10:25 am
Selected talks from abstracts
10:25 am - 10:55 am
Coffee Break
10:55 am - 11:10 am
Selected talks from abstracts
11:10 am - 11:25 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
11:25 am - 12:00 pm
Ndjido Kane (CERAAS, Senegal)
12:00 pm - 13:30 pm
Lunch Break (Campus Dinner)
Satellite Session: Nature-based Carbon Sequestration Technologies
13:30 pm - 14:05 pm
Presentation by Heribert Hirt (KAUST)
14:05 pm -14:40 pm
Khaled Al Rohily (Estidamah, Riyadh, SA)
14:40 pm - 14:55 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
14:55 pm - 15:10 pm
Selected talks from abstracts
15:10 pm - 15:45 pm
Ueli Niinemets (Estonian Univ. Tartu, EE)
15:45 pm - 16:00 pm
Conclusions and End of Conference

Professor Heribert Hirt
Plant Science, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division

Professor Carlos M. Duarte
Ibn Sina Distinguished Professor , Marine Science, Executive Director, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division

Professor Fernando T. Maestre
Professor, Environmental Science and Engineering, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division
- Claudia Ringler (IFPRI, Washington, USA)
- Susan Chomba (WRI Nairobi, Kenia)
- Harro Boumeester (Amsterdam Univ., NL)
- Caroline Gutjahr (MPI Golm, Germany)
- Jonathan Jones (Sainsbury Labs, UK)
- Christine Raines (Essex Univ., UK)
- Corne Pieterse (Univ. of Utrecht, NL)
- Abdulaziz Al-Harbi (King Saud Univ., Ryadh, SA)
- Ueli Niinemets (Estonian Univ. Tartu, EE)
PLAN YOUR VISIT
To help you prepare for your upcoming visit, we encourage you to review the key information and travel advice below.
Before travelling, please check the latest travel guidelines from your country’s embassy and consult your primary care provider about vaccinations or other health preparations.
King Abdullah University of Science & Technology
4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Thuwal 23955-6900
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
We cannot accept responsibility for visa applications. If a delegate is unable to attend due to visa issues, our usual cancellation policy will apply. We recommend obtaining travel insurance for the duration of your visit.
GCC citizens
Do not need a visa. Passport must be valid for at least six months after your planned entry date.
eVisa
Available to many countries in Europe, North America, Oceania, and parts of Asia.
By plane
Fly into King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah (approx. 1-hour drive).
- Email: HancoTransport@kaust.edu.sa, Tel: 012 808 5647
- Email: saptco.taxi@kaust.edu.sa, Tel: 012 808 5616
By car
Use the KAUST Visitor Center Parking with prior approval
Without car access, use Visitor Centre (Gate 1).
*Note that Uber does not operate within KAUST campus, but can drop you off at the entrance gate.

PLAN YOUR VISIT
Boulevard, 7729 Bayt Al Hikma Blvd, Thuwal
5-min walk from KAUST

Bay La Sun Hotel Bay La Sun Hotel & Marina
7682 Hijaz Blvd, KAEC
30-min drive

Views Hotel Views Hotel & Residences
Bay La Sun, KAEC
30-min drive
- Dress code: Conservative. Business or business casual. No abaya/headscarf required.
- Language: Arabic (official); English widely spoken.
- Weather: Around 35°C. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a light jumper for indoors.
- Currency: Saudi Riyal (SAR). Credit cards widely accepted. ATMs available.
- Power sockets: Type G & C, 230V / 60Hz. Bring a universal adapter.
- Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi across KAUST campus.
- Water: Safe to drink from fountains. Tap water not recommended.
- Alcohol: Strictly prohibited.
More travel info: Visit Saudi
- Keep valuables out of sight
- Use reliable transport
- Travel with others, especially at night
- Stay alert in crowded public areas
- Shield your PIN when using ATMs
Emergency services: If you are within the KAUST campus and are in need of emergency services, call 911. For a full list of emergency numbers, visit this link HERE.
Related Posts
PlantACT! 2025 successfully concludes and consolidates an international network of plant scientists to devise climate change mitigation solutions and secure food production
More than 300 experts from 17 countries shared…
Revealed: Big tech’s new datacentres will take water from the world’s driest areas
Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are rapidly…
Experts’ Workshop: Plantact! Plants for Climate Action – Growing a Resilient Society
This recording shows the introductory…




