Prof. António M. Cardoso Monteiro is a prominent figure in agricultural higher education in Portugal. He currently serves as Coordinating Professor at the School of Agriculture of the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (ESAV-IPV). His academic career reflects a deep specialisation in agricultural sciences, with a degree in Zootechnical Engineering, a Master's in Animal Production and a PhD in Agricultural Sciences, specialising in Animal Science. His academic excellence was recognised early on, and he was awarded the D. Dinis Prize for Agronomy. His research career has been supported by prestigious grants from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the National Board for Scientific and Technological Research. Professor António Monteiro has extensive experience in academic management, having played crucial roles in the leadership of ESAV. Of particular note is his eight-year term as President of the Higher Agricultural School of Viseu, after serving as Vice-President for four years. As a researcher at CERNAS (Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society), Professor Monteiro focuses his scientific activity on small ruminants and precision agriculture. His participation in R&D projects is extensive and diverse in the areas of Technology and Innovation, Sustainability and Circular Economy, and Valorisation of Endogenous Products. His recognition as an expert extends to the European level, as he is the (co)author of several national and international publications, a member of editorial boards of academic journals, a supervisor of numerous students and a frequent member of academic juries, consolidating his position as a reference in Animal Science.Prof. Chittaranjan Kole is an internationally renowned academician with a spectacular professional career spanning over 40 years. His life-time original scientific contributions, specifically in the fields of Plant Genomics and Biotechnology have been globally appreciated. His scholarly publications include 170 research articles mostly published in peer-reviewed international journals, 35 book chapters, and over 200 books with globally-reputed publishers. His academic contributions have been profusely appreciated by seven Noble Laureates. His research contributions have been recognized with several international awards and fellowships. Prof. Kole has worked as a faculty member, Head of Department, Dean or Vice Chancellor in three universities in India and as Visiting Professor in three universities in the USA. Currently, Prof. Kole is acting as the Founding President of the Genome India International and also of two other international organizations including International Climate Resilient Crop Genomics Consortium and International Consortium on Phytomedomics and Nutriomics.