Welcome Prof. Rodomiro Ortiz as Founding Editor-in-Chief of Crop Quality
Crop Quality, a newly launched international, peer-reviewed and open-access journal of OAE, is honored to announce the appointment of Prof. Rodomiro Ortiz from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Alnarp, Sweden, as its Editor-in-Chief.
About the Journal
Crop Quality is dedicated to publishing high-quality research articles and reviews at the forefront of understanding and improving crop quality as a primary outcome. In an era of climate change and rising global demand for nutritious food, the journal addresses the critical challenge of enhancing quality without compromising productivity or sustainability.
The journal focuses on six major research frontiers:
1. Nutritional Enhancement and Functional Components: Genetic and physiological pathways to bolster essential nutrients, vitamins, and bioactive compounds to help address "hidden hunger."
2. Synergistic Mechanisms of Yield and Quality: Gene regulatory networks (GRNs), metabolic signaling, and molecular markers that help overcome the negative correlation between biomass yield and nutritional density.
3. Climate Resilience and Adaptive Quality Responses: The effects of CO2, rising temperatures, and water scarcity on crop biochemistry, as well as the development of climate-resilient germplasm.
4. Digital Phenotyping and Precision Quality Management: Integration of Industry 4.0 technologies, including hyperspectral imaging, remote sensing, and AI-driven predictive models for non-destructive quality assessment.
5. Advanced Breeding and Genomic Selection: Harnessing "Omics" technologies (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics), de novo domestication, and genomic selection for complex quality traits.
6. Post-Harvest Physiology and Processing Quality: Metabolic changes during storage, the molecular basis of fruit ripening, and the suitability of new cultivars for industrial food processing.
About Prof. Rodomiro Ortiz
Prof. Rodomiro Ortiz is Chair Professor of Genetics and Plant Breeding at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Alnarp, Sweden. He earned his PhD in Plant Breeding & Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA). His distinguished career spans over four decades, including senior leadership roles across the global CGIAR system. He has served as Deputy Director-General and Director of Research for Development at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA, Nigeria); Director of the Genetic Resources and Enhancement Program at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT, India); and Director of Resource Mobilization and Senior Advisor to the Director General at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT, Mexico). Earlier roles include Nordic Professor of Plant Genetic Resources at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (KVL, Denmark) and Program Leader for Plantain and Banana Improvement at IITA, where his team received the CGIAR King Baudouin Award in 1994.
Prof. Ortiz served as Principal Investigator of the SLU/ICARDA durum wheat project in the Senegal Basin, which received the 2017 Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security. In 2022, he was awarded Bertebos Prize (2022) in recognition of his contributions to advancing molecular breeding approaches for crops of major importance to food supply across America, Africa, and Europe. He is a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), a Foreign Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry (KSLA), and a Member of the Royal Physiographic Society of Lund (KFS).
He has authored or co-authored over 800 scientific publications and several books, including Plant Breeding in the Omics Era (Springer, 2015) and Plant Genetic Conservation (Cambridge University Press, 2020). His research focuses on crop improvement through the use of exotic germplasm, quantitative genetics, and efficient breeding techniques across diverse reproductive systems, from disomic to polysomic inheritance, and both annual and perennial crops.
Under the leadership of Prof. Ortiz, Crop Quality aims to serve as a valuable platform for disseminating innovative research that bridges the gap between high productivity and superior quality, while supporting the development of next-generation cultivars for a food-secure future.
The Editorial Office of Crop Quality is delighted to welcome Prof. Ortiz as Editor-in-Chief and extends its sincere appreciation for his dedication and support. Under his leadership, and with the collaborative efforts of the Editorial Board and the Editorial Office, we are confident that the journal will embark on an exciting era of growth and scientific excellence. We also warmly invite researchers, agronomists, plant breeders, and scientists worldwide to contribute their latest findings, share innovative ideas, and join us in building a vibrant academic community dedicated to advancing crop quality science.
Editor: Mahmood Ul Hassan PhD
Language Editor: Amir Khan
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Crop Quality
