KEYNOTE SPEAKERS



Young Min Kwon
University of Arkansas, USA
Dr. Young Min Kwon received his training as a microbiologist in poultry science through his B.S. & M.S. in animal science at Seoul National University, and his Ph.D. in poultry science at Texas A&M University. ##MORE## Dr. Kwon had a postdoc experience in USDA ARS before joining the Department of Poultry Science as a faculty member at the University of Arkansas in 2021. Since then, Dr. Kwon has developed a research program focused on understanding the interactions between bacteria and chicken hosts through diverse research approaches including microbiology, genetics, genomics, next-generation sequencing, and bioinformatics. Currently, his major research interests are to understand (1) Salmonella for its genome-wide capacity and mechanisms to infect and colonize chickens and (2) the gut microbiome and its connection to the health and disease in poultry. At this symposium, Dr. Kwon will give a presentation with the title “Toward modulation of the gut microbiome for improvement of poultry meat and eggs”. Dr. Kwon will discuss the updated overview of the current understanding of the topic and future directions of the field for the improvement of poultry meat and egg qualities.
Koen De Reu
ILVO, Belgium
Dr. ir. Koen De Reu is senior researcher and group leader on microbiological food safety at the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Melle, Belgium. His research activities focus on microbiological quality and safety in the agro-food chain. ##MORE## With a  focus on the primary animal production and the control of zoonotic pathogens. His research group has special attention for Salmonella contamination in the meat and egg processing chain, Listeria monocytogenes contamination in the food industry, cleaning and disinfection in the agro-food chain, biofilms, disinfection susceptibility and antibiotic resistance. He is author of more than 70 peer review papers and is promotor of different PhD students.
Valerie Lechevalier
INRAE, France
Valérie Lechevalier, 45 years old, is lecturer in food science and technology at L’Institut Agro Rennes-Angers. She got a PhD in Food Science and technology in 2005 and since then she carries her researches in the mixed research unit with INRAE “Science and technology of milk and egg”.  ##MORE## Her key research interests focused on the effects of raw material variability and food processes on the denaturation/aggregation of egg white proteins and the consequences on their interfacial behavior. More recently, she developed research programs on the characterization of interactions between egg and plant protein in mixed systems. Up to now, Valerie Lechevalier supervised 7 MSc and 12 PhD students and co-authored 40 publications in peer-review journals, 65 communications in international conferences and 17 book chapters.


Saskia van Ruth
Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Saskia van Ruth is full professor of Food Supply Chain Integrity at University College Dublin in Ireland in the School of Agriculture and Food Science from 1-8-2023. She deals with food authenticity and integrity issues on a daily basis and is particularly interested in the prevention and comprehension of food fraud as well as the development of novel food authentication technology. ##MORE## After having taken her PhD in food chemistry at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, she worked on flavour science in industry and the academic world for nine years. She was affiliated for seven years with University College Cork in Ireland. In 2005 she returned to the Netherlands and took up the position of head of the food authenticity and nutrients group at RIKILT Wageningen University and Research. She was appointed professor in the Food Authenticity domain at Wageningen University in the Netherlands in 2012 and at Queen’s University Belfast in the UK in 2018, whereas she continued to work part-time at RIKILT Wageningen University and Research as well. In 2023 she joined University College Dublin in Ireland as full professor on Food Supply Chain Integrity. She has (co-)authored over 300 scientific publications, taught in over 30 different modules, and supervised over 170 thesis students.
Wim Tondeur
Tondeur VTCA, The Netherlands
Wim Tondeur is veterinarian by profession, with specialisation in poultry health and production. For 12 years he ran his own independent consultancy company under the name of TONDEUR VTCA, providing training, consultancy and advice. For seven years he advises regularly in various poultry abattoirs on carcass quality aspects, like in the Netherlands, Belgium, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Russia, Middle East and South Africa. During many years he has trained veterinarians and meat inspectors on ante- and post mortem inspection, especially in the Netherlands and for international participants.##MORE##  Recently he developed a visual guide for scoring of broiler carcass lesions and started a monitoring programme in various abattoirs. This is an excellent tool for benchmarking and calculating the economic impact of B-grades in poultry abattoirs. He was for 21 years a senior trainer at PTC+, Barneveld College in the Netherlands. This training centre offers national and international practical training courses on poultry production, pig production and animal feed technology. He was coordinator of various training courses for persons involved in poultry meat quality and inspection. Wim Tondeur has extensive international working experience: was for 5 years the project manager of a joint Dutch-Vietnamese training and research centre on pig and poultry production in Ho Chi Minh City. He started his career as a veterinary practitioner for 5 years in an area with many intensive livestock farms in the southern part of the Netherlands. He is regularly an invited speaker on poultry seminars and congresses in Europe, Asia and Africa. Dr. Wim Tondeur is an active member of the World Poultry Science Association (WPSA) in the Netherlands and was secretary of the Dutch branch of the World Poultry Veterinary Association (WVPA). He is a regular speaker at WPSA congresses and gives presentations at poultry seminars.
Michael Grashorn
University of Hohenheim, Germany
Dr. Michael Alexander Grashorn was the head of the Working Group Poultry Science at the Department of Population Genomics, Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany, until 2019 and is looking back on a 35 years’ experience in this field. ##MORE## His research involved all areas of poultry science like breeding, husbandry, nutrition, health, quality of products and behaviour. In recent years, his main interest was on amino acids digestibility of organic feeding stuffs for meat-type chicken, on investigating the effects of extensive production conditions on product quality (eggs and meat), and on quality assessment in the production of eggs and poultry meat. Michael Grashorn is a member of WPSA since 1986. He was a member of Working Groups 4 ‘Quality of Eggs and Egg Products’ and 5 ‘Poultry Meat Quality’ of the European Federation of WPSA branches from 1991 to 2019, and chairperson of WG 5 from 2002 to 2010. He organized the EggMeat Symposia 2011 in Leipzig, Germany. Since 2010 he is the Secretary and Treasurer of the European Federation of WPSA branches, since 2020 President of the German Branch of WPSA and since 2022 junior vice-president of WPSA.


Roel Mulder
Spelderholt Poultry, The Netherlands
Dr Roel Mulder graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands (1969) and completed his PhD in Agricultural Sciences at Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands (1982). He worked for 30 years at the Spelderholt Centre for Poultry Research, Beekbergen, The Netherlands, in several positions from scientist, head of department to acting Director. ##MORE## Main subjects of research: technology of the processing of poultry and egg products, hygiene, epidemiology and food safety, quality control, Salmonella and Campylobacter in poultry and poultry products, alternatives to antibiotics in poultry nutrition, re-use of poultry waste. After 3 years at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium at the Research Directorate, he started Spelderholt® Poultry Consulting and Research, a consulting company in The Netherlands (2002). He was Secretary General of the World’s Poultry Science Association (WPSA) from 2008-2022.
Malgorzata Gotz
Cedrob S.A.,Poland
In 2011 Malgorzata Gotz graduated from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn as a Master of Science in Bioengineering in Animal Production, specialising in Animal Husbandry and Breeding. In 2020 she obtained the title of Veterinary Technician and in 2022 she completed post-graduate studies in the field of Veterinary and Sanitary Law at SWPS University in Warsaw. ##MORE## For 12 years she has been working in CEDROB S.A. Chick Production Department as the hatchery manager of the hatchery in Skarzynek (Ciechanow, Poland), which is one of the chains in the Company's integrated poultry production systems. Has many years of practical experience in managing one of the largest single-stage broiler hatcheries in Poland and Europe, with an annual capacity of 181 million eggs. Experienced in egg incubation and chick hatching, technological analyses related to hatchery specifics and process organisation.Responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the day-to-day activities of incubating and hatching day-old chicks. Managing staff, processes and budget. Participates in training, courses and conferences on hatching and poultry, always willing to broaden her horizons.
Matthias Corion
BIOSYST-MeBioS Biosensors group, Belgium
Matthias Corion is a Ph.D. student from the faculty of Bioscience Engineering at KU Leuven in the division of MeBioS. There, he performs research on the development of in ovo sexing approaches based on optical and non-optical techniques. ##MORE## His goal is to create a reliable solution that answers the poultry industry’s needs. Together with his colleague Simão Santos, he has been extensively reviewing both patent and scientific literature to provide a full overview of the existing techniques for solving the issue of the day-old chick culling.


Lorenzo Siroli
University of Bologna, Italy
Lorenzo Siroli is Junior assistant professor (fixed-term) at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Bologna University, since November 2019. His Academic discipline is AGR/16 AGRICULTURAL MICROBIOLOGY. His research activities are on food microbiology and mainly concern the use of non-conventional natural antimicrobials, the study of traditional and innovative technologies for increase the safety, the quality and shelf-life of food products, including dairy, meat, fruit and vegetables products. ##MORE## He currently focuses his research on the valorization of food waste and by-products through biotechnologies. Involved in national and international research projects, he collaborates with several Italian and international research institutes. Author or coauthor of over 50 printed publications in scientific journals with an international review committee.
José Henrique Stringhini
UFG, Brasil
Prof. José Henrique Stringhini, aged 59, holds a degree in Agronomic Engineering from the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil (1985). He completed his master's degree in Animal Science at the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil (1989) and obtained his doctorate in Animal Science, specializing in Animal Production, from the Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences at the Paulista State University Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Jaboticabal Campus, Brazil (1998). For the past 31 years, he has served as a Full Professor at the Federal University of Goiás, Brazil, working at the Department of Animal Science within the School of Veterinary and Animal Science.##MORE## Prof. Stringhini has extensive experience in Animal Science, with a primary focus on monogastric production and nutrition, specifically poultry and swine. He has mentored numerous undergraduate, specialization, master's, PhD, and post-doctoral students, many of whom have received accolades at regional, national, and international events. His expertise has led to his participation as a consultant for various scientific journals in the field, both in Brazil and abroad. He has published research papers in indexed journals, presented abstracts at scientific conferences, and delivered lectures on poultry production and nutrition in America, Europe, and Asia. Given his profound knowledge of poultry nutrition, Prof. Stringhini has developed a lecture titled 'Nutrition of Laying Hens and Egg Quality: The Brazilian Experience.' The lecture aims to provide an overview of the egg quality standards in Brazil and highlight the research advancements in laying hen nutrition that have contributed to the scientific progress in avian studies within the country.
Joanna Kobus-Cisowska
Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poland
Professor Joanna Kobus-Cisowska was born in 1980. In 2009 she received her Ph.D. in Food Technology from Poznan University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, where she has worked as a Professor since 2018. She also graduated from Poznan School of Banking – Project Manager studies. She has a Certificate of Internal Auditor training program on  HACCP (DEKRA Certification) and she is a member of the Polish Society of Food Technologists (PTTŻ), and a member of The European Federation for the Science and Technology of Lipids.##MORE## Since 2018, she has been a member of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Civilization Diseases and since 2022 she is a member of VERUS organization. She also supports innovative initiatives and represents the National Center for Research and Development as a Fund Member of the Bridge Alfa Investment Committee. Moreover, since 2017 she has been actively participating in the substantive evaluation of projects as an expert at the National Center for Research and Development. She also supports the region's operation in this respect and, since 2016, she has been a member of the Forum Working Group Bio-based raw materials and food for conscious consumers of the Department of Economy of the Marshal's Office of the Wielkopolska Region.Research areas include fundamental scientific research as well as development works, including work on technological solutions for the valorization of sustainable closed-loop food production  and the use of raw materials from natural sites that do not require agrotechnical treatments. Research and work include the integration of sustainable processes and the use of raw materials from the natural environment leading to obtaining functional products in the value chain. The results of the work lead to developing waste-free solutions limiting climate change in a circular bioeconomy. She is involved in the work of teams both at home and abroad. Her main research area is food technology, mainly focusing on the composition and antioxidant activity of plant extracts in bulk oil and emulsified lipid systems. Professor Joanna Kobus-Cisowska conducts research on natural antioxidants and bioactive food. Professor Joanna Kobus-Cisowska implements projects with the industry developing new technologies and the composition of new products with programmed health-promoting properties, including, above all, fruit and vegetable products as well as eggs, milk and confectionery products. She is an author of 11 patents and 6 patent applications and over 300 scientific publications.


Avigdor Cahaner
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Professor (Emeritus) of Genetics and Breeding, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, ISRAEL. He  obtained his PhD at the Faculty of Agriculture in 1977, and has been a faculty member since 1979. Cahaner's main research interests are: 1. Breeding broilers against negative consequences of rapid growth (heat susceptibility, breast muscle myopathies, ascites, excessive fatness). 2. Breeding chickens for dual-purpose production (eggs and meat). 3. Breeding for eggshell colors (measurements, genetic parameters, selection).4. Experimental design and statistical analyses of controlled-research data and of 'big data'. ##MORE## Some of his research projects were conducted outside Israel (e.g. Turkey, USA, Vietnam, Nigeria, Ecuador, Ethiopia, China) in collaboration with local poultry scientists and industry organizations. In recent years, Cahaner has been mentoring poultry researchers (academia and industry) in Israel and globally, helping them in all research aspects, from definition of objectives and experimental design, to data analysis and to publishing scientific articles in leading international journals. Cahaner was Vice-President of the World Poultry Science Association (WPSA) for 3 terms (1996-2008), and since 2022 he is the Editor of WPSA's Newsletter. Since 2015 he is the President of  the Israeli branch of WPSA.
Katarzyna Połtowicz
National Research Institute of Animal Production, Poland
Katarzyna Połtowicz is an Associate Professor in the National Research Institute of Animal Production in Krakow, at the Department of Poultry Breeding. Her research activities involve many aspects of poultry breeding and management. Her key research interest focused on genetic and non-genetic factors affecting the quality of poultry products. In her previous scientific work, she focused on the possibilities and methods of modifying the physicochemical and health-promoting properties of eggs and meat obtained from modern, fast-growing and high-productive birds in conventional and alternative housing systems, as well as the use of native poultry breeds for egg and meat production. ##MORE## Professor Katarzyna Połtowicz has conducted research on the meat quality of slow-growing chicken breeds, as well as work on crossbreeding and evaluating new genetic varieties of chickens developed with native populations. Much of her research attention focuses on the negative effects of intensive selection on the physicochemical properties and meat defects in fast-growing broilers. Currently, she also involved in the health and welfare in poultry production. More recent, she conducts the study on using of natural antibacterial preparations in poultry  management and providing antibiotic-free production. Professor Katarzyna Połtowicz is a member of Polish Society of Animal Production (PTZ), Working Group on Poultry Genetic Resources, and a member of Local Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. She is an (co)author  of over 400 publications.
Damian Konkol
Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
Damian Konkol is a researcher in animal science at the Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (Poland). Damian obtained his PhD at the same University in 2022 defending a dissertation entitled: 'The use of rapeseed meal biotransformation products in poultry nutrition'. ##MORE## His current research interest includes the elimination or significant reduction of the use of antibiotics and coccidiostats in poultry production, and search for alternative protein sources for soybean meal. He is also the Prime Investigator of a project funded by the National Science Center (NCN) entitled Determination of the immunomodulatory properties of levan as a feed additive for poultry.




Bas Timmers
Kipster, The Netherlands
FOUNDATION RESPECT - We founded Kipster to find a way to feed the world’s population in an honest way – while showing respect for all living beings, and not passing any cost to future generations. We opened our first farm in October 2017. WE HAVE A DREAM Our dream is a sustainable and healthy world in which all people and animals can live with dignity – not in captivity. In our view, animal-friendly commercial farming is a contradiction in terms. We keep on dreaming and… WE BELIEVE - There's a role for only a few farm animals, and only under certain strict conditions: ##MORE## Farm animals should contribute to a sustainable and healthy food system and environment – not a burden.Humans must respect the emotions and instincts of farm animals by giving them the best life possible. Competition for food between humans and farm animals is out of the question. Crops should be about food not feed. Plant-based alternatives are preferred above livestock. Okay, this is just a start. We know that we can always do better and be better.
Evelyne Delezie
ILVO, Belgium
Dr. Ir. Evelyne Delezie graduated as Master of Science in Bio-Engineering (option Animal Production) at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven in July 2002. After she obtained her PhD at the same university in 2006, she joined the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Animal Sciences Unit.  ##MORE## As a senior researcher and research group leader of the small livestock husbandry she performs fundamental as well as practical research for Flemish agriculture. Main topics of interest are dealing with nutrient requirements, relationship between nutrition and climate (emissions and excretions), product quality and poultry health, investigating alternatives for crude protein sources, antibiotics and general production problems with poultry. Furthermore, she is also president of the WPSA Belgium and active in different European WPSA working groups.
Ilias Chantziaras
University of Ghent, Belgium
Ilias Chantziaras is a veterinarian and has been a member of the Department of Population Medicine (Veterinary Epidemiology Unit) of Ghent University since 2012. Since 2022, he is an Associate Professor and the Chair of Biosecurity of Animal Production. He has conducted research on Biosecurity, Antimicrobial Use, Antimicrobial resistance and Production diseases. ##MORE## Besides Ghent University, he also worked for the Flanders Research Institute of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (ILVO) on the department of Animal and Social Science and in numerous animal/public health institutions in Greece. He is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Public Health with a specialization on Population medicine. He is a member of numerous scientific networks on Biosecurity, Bacteriology and One Health. He is the co-Chair of the EU funded COST action CA20103 titled “Biosecurity Enhanced Through Training Evaluation and Raising Awareness”.



Alice Cartoni Mancinelli
University of Perugia, Italy
Alice Cartoni Mancinelli is a researcher in animal science at the Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences of the University of Perugia (Italy). Alice obtained her PhD at the same University in 2019 defending a dissertation entitled: 'Adaptability and nutritional quality of poultry meat and egg in alternative systems: response to different genetic strains and management strategies'. ##MORE## Her current research interest includes the evaluation of poultry adaptability to different husbandry systems such as free range, organic and agroforestry. Alice is also involved in studies aimed at assessing the lipid metabolism and the quality traits of poultry meat and eggs.
Daniele Asioli
University of Reading, United kingdom
Dr. Daniele Asioli is an Associate Professor in Agri - Food Economics and Marketing at the Department of Agri-Food Economics and Marketing - School of Agriculture, Policy, and Development at the University of Reading (United Kingdom). His research spans a wide range of topics in the agrifood system, and focuses on understanding producer, consumer, and agribusiness decision-making to better inform agribusiness strategies and food policies. ##MORE## He has research experience in different countries including Canada, Italy, Norway, United States, and Vietnam. He has published more than 40 articles in peer-reviewed journals including the Annual Review of Resource Economics, Food Policy, Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Food Quality and Preference, Journal of Agricultural Economics, and Trends in Food Science and Technology.



"The Symposia supported by The European Federation of WPSA Branches (EF-WPSA)"






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