International Conference on Artificial Intelligence
and Machine Learning for Agro-Ecosystems

Michael Testani is the Senior Director of Outreach and Engagement at the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Binghamton University, New York, USA. He leads industrial outreach and professional workforce development initiatives, connecting university expertise with the needs of startups, small businesses, industry professionals, engineers, alumni, and students. At Binghamton University, he directs the Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence (SPIR) program, which supports innovation, technology adoption, and business growth through collaboration with faculty, staff, and students. He also oversees continuing education and professional development programs focused on market-relevant skills and emerging industry needs. Before joining Binghamton University, Mr. Testani had a distinguished career at IBM, where he served as a Master Black Belt and Learning Consultant, leading global initiatives in Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Agile, Design Thinking, and business transformation. He has also held leadership roles in engineering, product management, and advanced electronics manufacturing. With extensive experience in strategic leadership, change management, business transformation, learning design, problem solving, and organizational culture development, Mr. Testani brings a strong blend of industry insight and academic engagement to his work.

Dr. S.D. Ramteke is a distinguished Principal Scientist at the ICAR–National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune, with over 25 years of dedicated research experience in plant physiology and crop production. He holds a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, and has built an eminent career in advancing grape productivity and quality through scientific innovation. His core expertise lies in plant growth hormones and their management in grapes, abiotic stress management, weed management, and the control of physiological disorders. Dr. Ramteke’s current research focuses on standardizing hormone protocols for promising grape varieties, managing emerging physiological disorders, and conducting residue studies on plant growth regulators. Over the years, he has contributed significantly to improving export-quality grape production through bio-regulators, drought- tolerant rootstock evaluation, and optimized canopy architecture design. He has guided 10 M.Sc. students and is currently supervising Ph.D. research. Dr. Ramteke has received several prestigious awards, including the Scientist of the Year Award (2004) by the National Environmental Science Academy, along with multiple recognitions for academic excellence and societal contributions. He has also been recognized as a Ph.D. guide by the University of Pune and Shivaji University, Kolhapur. His extensive contributions continue to support sustainable and high-quality grape production in India.

Mr. Jason Krohn is the Head of Data and AI Technology at Syngenta Digital, where he leads the development and scaling of advanced AI-driven solutions to enhance agricultural productivity. With over a decade of experience in technology leadership, he specializes in software engineering, AI/ML implementation in agriculture, DevOps excellence, and digital transformation. At Syngenta, he plays a pivotal role in strengthening the Cropwise platform, leveraging automation, DORA metrics, and modern engineering practices to improve software delivery speed, reliability, and quality. He has extensive experience managing global engineering teams and architecting scalable, resilient digital solutions. Mr. Krohn is widely recognized for aligning engineering innovation with measurable business value, ensuring that technology initiatives directly contribute to farmers’ productivity and sustainable agricultural outcomes.

Mr. Salil Bongale is an accomplished technology leader and currently serves as the Head of IT & Digital at Syngenta’s Pune Center. With extensive experience in enterprise IT strategy, digital transformation, and product engineering, he plays a pivotal role in driving large-scale digital initiatives that support global agricultural innovation. He leads cross-functional teams focused on delivering robust, scalable, and data-driven digital solutions that enhance operational efficiency and business impact. His expertise spans enterprise systems, technology modernization, digital platforms, and innovation management within complex global environments. At Syngenta, Mr. Bongale is instrumental in strengthening digital capabilities that enable smarter decision-making and sustainable agricultural practices. His leadership reflects a strong commitment to aligning technology strategy with business value, ensuring measurable impact across the organization.