Speakers

An economist and Director of the Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IRWiR PAS). His research focuses on political economy, rural and agricultural policy, the analysis and strategic design of food systems transformation pathways in Poland and the European Union, as well as European integration.

He coordinates the Polish Food Systems Laboratory (PL Food Systems LAB), a platform bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. He represents Poland in the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR Food Systems), where he chairs the Strategic Working Group on Food Systems, responsible for defining research and infrastructure priorities for the European Union. Since 2018, he has been actively involved in the development of the European Partnership on Sustainable Food Systems, working in close cooperation with the European Commission and the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD).

Since 2012, he has served as President of the European Rural Development Network (ERDN). He also leads the Food Systems Thematic Working Group within the BIOEAST Initiative, coordinating research activities across 11 Central and Eastern European countries. He is a member of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute (IUNG-PIB).

He has participated in, co-authored, and led research teams in numerous international projects funded under Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, Interreg, and other international programmes. He is the author of more than 120 scientific publications on food systems, rural development, regional policy, and entrepreneurship. He also serves as an expert evaluator for the European Research Executive Agency (REA).