Prof. Adel El-Beltagy, Chairman, IDDC; President, CIHEAM; Chair, Food and Agricultural Research Council, Egyptian Academy of Science; Chairman, ARDC, Egypt (2007-2011), Vice Chair/Member of the GDTF (2007-2011); Chairman, GFAR (2006-2010); Board member, TWAS. Member of the FAO High Level Committee, Board Member of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (2006-2012), Member of the Supreme Council of Science & Technology chaired by the Prime Minister of Egypt (2008-2011) and Professor of Agriculture, Arid Lands Research Institute, Ain Shams University, Egypt. He has been awarded "2008 State Recognition Prize in Sciences", Egypt. He has authored/co-authored more than 160 scientific publications.