History
BioAgriTech 2022, 11 November 2022
BioAgriTech 2022
  • The inaugural edition of BioAgriTech was conceived as a focused scientific forum addressing the biological foundations of sustainable agriculture and the biotechnological solutions that underpin food security in arid and semi-arid environments. Due to pandemic-related travel constraints and institutional risk policies still in force across the region in late 2022, the Organizing Committee elected to run the conference fully online. Even in a virtual format, the event established BioAgriTech’s scope: plant and crop sciences, soil science and agronomy, animal and livestock sciences, food science and technology, biotechnology and bioprocessing, biodiversity and agroecology, and natural products with translational relevance to food quality and public health.
  • Scientific content emphasized rigorously validated, field-relevant research rather than technology demos. In plant biotechnology, presentations examined physiological and molecular responses to heat and water stress, breeding strategies for yield stability, and seed biology under fluctuating temperature regimes. Agronomy and soil sessions prioritized sustainable nutrient management, rhizosphere biology, and salinity mitigation—recurring challenges in the Arabian Peninsula. Animal and livestock contributions explored welfare and health management, feed resources and rumen microbiology, and veterinary biotechnology aligned with biosecurity in mixed production systems.
  • Food science and technology papers included preservation methods compatible with high ambient temperatures, authenticity and adulteration testing, and shelf-life studies for regionally important foods. Bioprocessing and fermentation talks covered enzymatic conversion of agricultural by-products into value-added ingredients and bio-based materials suitable for packaging. Biodiversity and agroecology highlighted in situ conservation of plant genetic resources and field-scale practices that maintain pollination and pest-regulation services despite climatic variability. Natural-products research addressed bioactive compounds from endemic flora, with attention to pharmacognosy and safety.
  • The event drew participation from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, and Lebanon, enabling cross-country comparisons of arid-zone agronomic constraints and management practices. Programmatically, the conference combined invited overviews with short contributed talks and a virtual poster gallery designed for asynchronous viewing; presenters were encouraged to supply extended captions and data summaries to improve accessibility across time zones. A Young Scientist spotlight recognized concise, well-designed experimental studies and transparent reporting of negative or null results, reinforcing the forum’s emphasis on reproducibility.
  • Quality assurance procedures were put in place from the outset. Submissions underwent desk screening for scope fit, ethics statements (including IRB/IACUC approvals where applicable), and basic language clarity, followed by external peer review. Each manuscript received at least two independent reviews (average 2.2), and editors requested targeted revisions where methodological details, statistical justifications, or reference currency required strengthening. The median time to first decision was ~21 days, a timeline that balanced rigor with authors’ need for predictable feedback. Accepted papers were required to be presented (oral/poster) to remain eligible for inclusion in the conference’s scientific record.
  • In terms of metrics, BioAgriTech 2022 attracted approximately 160 submissions, of which 62 were accepted (~39% acceptance). The virtual format enabled broad attendance, reaching ~420 online participants across the day. Although the series did not yet publish full proceedings in 2022, the Organizing Committee produced an abstract booklet with DOIs, establishing a citable record while gathering evidence for a future upgrade to peer-reviewed proceedings. Feedback from participants emphasized the value of clearly delineated tracks (plant/soil, livestock, food science, biotechnology, biodiversity) and requested deeper integration between laboratory workflows and field constraints—recommendations that informed the design of subsequent editions.
  • The inaugural year thus provided a robust baseline: a thematically coherent program aligned to biological and agri-food sciences, a functioning peer-review pipeline with transparent policies, and a community invested in reproducibility, data integrity, and practical impact. These foundations would guide the transition to a hybrid and then onsite format, while keeping the scientific center of gravity firmly within BIO Web of Conferences’ aims and scope.
BioAgriTech 2023, 11-12 November 2023
BioAgriTech 2023
  • The second edition adopted a hybrid model, combining an on-site program in Al-Baha with synchronous streaming and moderated virtual participation. This format broadened geographical reach while preserving the advantages of in-person scientific exchange—corridor discussions, impromptu method clinics, and hands-on demonstrations of sampling, processing, and bench-scale bioprocessing steps. Thematically, 2023 deepened treatment of crop improvement under stress, sustainable livestock systems, food safety and quality, and microbial and enzymatic processes converting agricultural residues into useful inputs for the agri-food chain.
  • Plant and crop sciences sessions featured work on heat- and drought-tolerant germplasm, genotype-by-environment analyses, and seed vigor under storage conditions typical of desert climates. Soil and agronomy talks tackled nutrient-use efficiency, erosion control on steep or sandy slopes, and rhizosphere engineering through targeted microbial consortia. In animal sciences, speakers presented controlled trials on welfare-compatible housing and nutrition practices aimed at reducing morbidity while maintaining productivity, alongside veterinary biotechnologies for pathogen surveillance and vaccination strategies suited to mixed herds.
  • Food science contributions examined risk points for contamination along regional supply chains, practical authenticity assays for high-value products, and packaging solutions that balance barrier performance with environmental footprint. Bioprocessing studies demonstrated enzyme-aided extraction of bioactives, fermentation for flavor and preservation, and downstream processing protocols compatible with small- and mid-scale operations. Biodiversity and agroecology papers reported habitat-level interventions improving pollinator services and on-farm trials of cover crops under limited irrigation, while natural-products sessions linked phytochemistry to validated safety profiles and potential nutraceutical applications.
  • Hybrid design required careful program engineering. Keynotes opened each day with state-of-the-field syntheses closely tied to experimental methods and assessment metrics. Parallel sessions were bracketed to allow movement across tracks, with poster sessions positioned to encourage cross-disciplinary discussion. Moderators were briefed to elicit methodological specifics—replicates, controls, and data availability statements—supporting a culture of transparent reporting. The Young Scientist Forum returned with criteria rewarding study design and reproducibility as much as headline results.
  • Editorially, desk checks filtered out-of-scope topics and incomplete submissions, and the double-blind review targeted at least two independent reports per paper (average 2.3). Reviewers were asked to comment explicitly on clarity of the Materials and Methods section, appropriateness of statistics, and currency of references (with preference for peer-reviewed sources). Authors responded with point-by-point revisions, and editors verified that requested changes were implemented before acceptance. The median time to first decision was ~23 days, reflecting both reviewer availability and the committee’s insistence on actionable feedback.
  • Participation expanded beyond 2022. Experts joined from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, and Lebanon, including industry and extension stakeholders who enriched discussions on feasibility and adoption. In total, the conference received ~198 submissions and accepted 80 (~40% acceptance). Attendance reached ~240 on-site and ~380 online. Session chairs reported strong engagement during Q&A, particularly around reproducibility, safety assessments in natural-product studies, and validation of shelf-life claims under realistic storage conditions. While the series still published an abstract booklet with DOIs in 2023, the committee articulated a clear intent to transition to full, peer-reviewed proceedings—prompting enhancements to reviewer guidelines, conflict-of-interest procedures, and data/image-integrity checks in preparation for the next cycle.
  • The 2023 experience validated BioAgriTech’s positioning: biologically grounded, method-forward, and oriented toward sustainable agri-food outcomes. Lessons learned included the importance of clear submission templates, early ethics verification for animal and human-related studies, and scheduling that protects time for poster-driven interaction. These were incorporated into the 2024 on-site design.
BioAgriTech 2024, 11-12 November 2024
BioAgriTech 2024
  • By 2024 the series transitioned to a fully on-site format in Al-Baha, strengthening community cohesion and enabling practical, hands-on exchanges that are difficult to replicate online. The program built on the prior two editions while keeping the scientific center grounded in biological, agronomic, and food-technology disciplines. Delegations represented Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon—broad enough to compare cropping systems, livestock health management, and food-processing constraints across distinct climatic and regulatory contexts.
  • Plant and crop sciences highlighted selection strategies for resilience under heat and intermittent water supply, with talks on genotype screening, root architecture, and physiological indicators of stress tolerance. Soil science and agronomy examined salinity management, organic amendments, and rhizosphere interventions to stabilize yields while reducing external inputs. Animal and livestock sessions treated welfare-compatible feeding, reproductive management, and targeted veterinary biotechnologies to curb disease burden. Food science contributions focused on contamination risk mapping, authenticity testing, and preservation approaches that maintain nutritional value while ensuring safety in warm-chain realities typical of the region.
  • Biotechnology and bioprocessing showcased fermentation and enzymatic pathways turning agricultural by-products into functional ingredients and bio-based materials, with posters detailing downstream purification steps and quality control. Biodiversity and agroecology addressed landscape-level practices for pollinator support and erosion mitigation, and natural-products papers advanced from phytochemical screening toward dosage, safety, and efficacy considerations relevant to food and public health interfaces. Cross-track roundtables explored alignment between laboratory protocols and field deployment, emphasizing reproducibility, data availability statements, and the careful interpretation of negative results.
  • Operationally, the on-site format allowed expanded poster corridors, method demonstrations, and structured networking with industry and extension services. The program included a “Methods in Focus” segment in which presenters walked through experimental design—controls, sample size justification, and statistical tests—responding to reviewers’ 2023 call for greater transparency. The Young Scientist Forum continued, with evaluators trained to weigh study design, ethical compliance, and data integrity alongside novelty.
  • Editorial processes were fully formalized to prepare for a proceedings upgrade. Manuscripts underwent desk checks for scope fit, template adherence, ethics approvals (IRB/IACUC/permits where needed), and image integrity screening before external review. Double-blind peer review secured at least two expert reports per paper (average 2.4). Editors required a point-by-point rebuttal for revisions and verified implementation before acceptance. A presentation requirement remained in force: accepted works had to be delivered on site (oral or poster) to qualify for the scientific record; verified no-shows were excluded to protect integrity.
  • Metrics reflected steady growth while preserving selectivity. Approximately 230 submissions were received; 96 were accepted (~42% acceptance). On-site attendance reached ~420 participants. The median time to first decision was ~24 days, with a no-show rate below 3%. Desk-rejects for out-of-scope or incomplete submissions remained within ~12–18%—comparable to prior years—suggesting that the call for papers was well targeted and that submission guidance was effective. Participant feedback highlighted the usefulness of track-level convergence sessions that connected plant/soil insights with downstream food-quality implications and policy-relevant sustainability metrics. The 2024 edition thus consolidated BioAgriTech’s identity: a biologically anchored conference series serving the agri-food community with methodical, peer-reviewed content; clear ethics and conflict-of-interest procedures; and publication-ready workflows. Building on the abstract-with-DOI model of earlier years, the Organizing and Publication Committees finalized reviewer forms, COI disclosures, data-integrity guidance, and camera-ready checklists to support a transition to full proceedings publication for the subsequent edition—while keeping the scientific focus squarely aligned with the aims and scope