Division Sustaining Horticulture in a Changing World [DSUS]

ISHS Elections – Chairperson – Candidates
Division Sustaining Horticulture in a Changing World [DSUS]

[1] Dr. Maria Claudia Dussi (Argentina)

Prof. Claudia Dussi is a full professor of Agroecology and Temperate fruit physiology and culture at the Dep. of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Comahue, Patagonia, Argentina. She led the Study group in Sustainability of Agroecosystems (GESAF) in which she does research and extension. She trains graduate students in Indicators of Sustainability, energy flux and efficiency, carbon footprint in agroecosystems, plant bioregulators in fruit production and organic fruit tree management and culture. She had worked as a private consultant in the organic industry. She managed grants for research and human resources training. She was part of the International Advisory Board of the AGROMIX PROJECT – GA n.862993 (AGROforestry and MIXed farming systems to drive the transition to a resilient and efficient land use in Europe). 2021-2024 http://agromixproject.eu/. Speaker in the ISOFAR Int. Sci. workshops. IFOAM 50th Conference, 2022. South Korea. Evaluator of Research projects between South Africa and China “National Research Foundation” and “Research and Innovation Support and Advancement (2013), among others. Board member of the Latin America Scientific Soc. of Agroecology (SOCLA) since 2017. Board Member of the Argentinean Soc. of Agroecology (SAAE) since 2019.

[2] Dr. Melinda Knuth (USA)

Dr. Knuth’s research priorities are on business management and consumer behavior research. She historically has estimated the economic impact of the U.S. green industries and national compost industry and evaluated consumer acceptance of retail garden center messaging. She is an Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University (NCSU). Dr. Knuth received her PhD from Texas A&M University in Horticulture and was a postdoctoral research associate at University of Florida in the Food & Resource Economics Department. She currently serves as the ISHS Division Chair of Horticulture for Development. She was awarded the Early Career Innovator Award in 2025 by North Carolina State University.