Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers [DVEG]

ISHS Elections – Chairperson – Candidates
Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers [DVEG]

[1] Dr. Ferdinando Branca (Italy)

Ferdinando Branca earned the PhD in 1991 on “Studies of wild species of interest as vegetables”, and from March 2025 he is full professor of “Vegetable and Ornamental Crops” of the Catania University. He has studied aspects related to the innovation of vegetable crops by analysing the variation of plant bio-morphology, of primary/secondary metabolites, and of genetic profiles of several species. His research includes the agrobiodiversity of vegetable specie, and of underutilized and wild ones. He has been involved in several EU projects, and he was the coordinator of the EU H2020 BRESOV project (www.bresov.eu); he published more than 160 mostly of them indexed in Scopus. During the last four years he dedicated his activity to regenerate two Working Groups (Vegetable Nutrition and Fertilization and Root and Tuber Crops) that were silent since more than one decade, and to organise their related symposium. The new symposium on Legume Crops will be of great interest for many farmers worldwide for supporting innovative sustainable and resilient vegetable farming systems. Dr. Branca is Chair of the Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers (2022-2026)

[2] Dr. Emmanuel Geoffriau (France)

Dr. Geoffriau is a full Professor in Vegetable Sciences since 2000 at Institut Agro in Angers, France. I am deputy director of the joint research unit “Research Institute in Horticulture and Seeds” (280 pers) and I lead a research team focusing on “Quality and resistance to diseases in vegetable crops”. I have been coordinating masters on fruit and vegetables. I have experience in the private sector for 6 years (French and US seed company) and I promote public private collaborative projects. With my experience in sciences, vegetable chain and event organization, I am happy to candidate as Chair of the Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers for the development of the Division. Dr. Geoffriau is Chair is of the ISHS Working Group Carrot and other Apiaceae and representative for France on ISHS Council. He was Vice-President of the XXXI International Horticultural Congress (IHC2022).

[3] Dr. Masayoshi Shigyo (Japan)

Prof. Masayoshi Shigyo is a distinguished scientist specializing in horticultural genetics and the breeding of vegetable crops. He has a long-standing history of leadership within the ISHS, most notably serving as the former Chair of the Working Group Edible Alliums. His research focuses on the conservation of genetic resources and the development of innovative production technologies to enhance vegetable supply chains. Currently, he plays a pivotal role in the Japanese Society for Horticultural Science (JSHS) and is instrumental in the internationalization of horticultural research in preparation for the XXXII International Horticultural Congress (IHC2026) in Kyoto.