Our External Expert Advisory Board (EEAB) unites leading experts in plant health, agroecology, and EU policy, alongside specialists in biotechnology, agronomy, and sustainability. The Board provides independent guidance, reviews progress, and verifies milestones to ensure the project stays scientifically robust and policy-relevant. By aligning innovation with the real needs of citrus growers and stakeholders, the EEAB helps maximize the project’s impact across Europe.
Dr. Viviane Cordovez is a senior scientist in the Department of Microbial Ecology at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW). Her research focuses on the diversity and functions of plant-associated microorganisms, particularly those inhabiting the phyllosphere of native and cultivated plants. She integrates culturomic, metabolomic, and genomic approaches to understand how these microorganisms influence plant growth and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. Her broader goal is to promote sustainable land use through microbiome-based strategies.
Diego Orzaez is a researcher at the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) and leader of the Plant Synthetic Biology Lab at the Institute of Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMCP, Valencia, Spain). He created the GoldenBraid cloning system and co-proposed the first DNA assembly standards for plant synthetic biology. He has co-authored over 90 scientific papers, co-invented several patents, coordinated two large EU projects, led multiple industry collaborations, and co-founded the spin-offs Madeinplant SL and Naplatech SL in plant biofactories and metabolic engineering.