Dr. Diana Patricia Molina Delgado | Digitalization in Agroecology | Best Researcher Award

Technician at FCAC, Spain

Diana Molina Delgado is an experienced agrifood specialist whose professional mission centers on optimizing organizational processes through innovative, sustainable, and analytical methods. With a strong foundation in agricultural engineering and food technology, she integrates technical acumen with managerial insight to support agribusiness development and cooperative projects. Her diverse career spans research, advisory roles, project management, and international collaboration. Diana is known for her dedication to R+D+i, cooperation, and sustainability in the agricultural sector, particularly in fruit postharvest optimization, quality assessment, and the advancement of practical solutions tailored to producers’ needs.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Diana holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Science and Food Technology from Universitat de Lleida, where she specialized in non-destructive, biochemical, and consumer-based quality assessment technologies for apples. Her doctoral work focused on determining optimal harvest periods and preserving fruit quality through technological innovations. She also earned a Master’s in Business Administration from IMF Business School (2020–2023), enhancing her ability to manage agribusiness projects with strategic and administrative competence. Earlier, she completed her degree in Agricultural Engineering at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, where she gained fundamental skills in optimizing agricultural productivity and generating technological responses to sectoral challenges. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor’s in Social Sciences from Universidad Distrital, providing her a multidisciplinary perspective on social and organizational systems.

Experience

Over the past two decades, Diana has amassed extensive experience in agribusiness and food quality management. She currently works at the Federació de Cooperatives Agràries de Catalunya, focusing on grant and project management to bolster R+D+i initiatives among cooperatives. Previously, at IRTA – Mas Badia (2017–2019), she served as a postharvest management advisor, optimizing apple storage and handling processes while coordinating regional application services for Agrofresh®. From 2009 to 2017, she was a fruit production advisor at ACTEL GRUP, bridging scientific knowledge with field application in fruit production management. Diana’s early research career included a visiting researcher role at École Supérieure d’Agriculture d’Angers in France and a Ph.D. researcher post at Universitat de Lleida, where she explored postharvest technologies and participated in international collaborations. Her earlier professional engagements in Colombia included roles as an assistant manager in agro-food development organizations, university lecturer, and greenhouse operations manager.

Research Interest

Diana’s research interests lie at the intersection of agrifood innovation, postharvest technology, resource optimization, and sustainable practices. Her work emphasizes non-destructive quality assessment tools, sensory evaluation, and the application of acoustic and biochemical techniques in fruit quality analysis. She is particularly passionate about integrating consumer preference metrics with physiological indicators to guide optimal harvest timing and enhance storage strategies. Diana has also contributed to European and national research projects focused on digitalization and circular agriculture, underlining her commitment to agroecological transitions and sustainability.

Award

While specific named awards are not documented, Diana’s recognition is evident in her active involvement in over 21 international congresses, her contribution to more than 17 scientific publications, and her participation in significant EU-funded projects like PATH2DEA and AGRILOOP. Her scientific visibility and collaborative reach highlight her respected status in the postharvest and agrifood research community.

Publication

Diana Molina Delgado’s impactful research is reflected in several peer-reviewed and edited volumes. Notable publications include:

1. Aportación del cooperativismo agrario y agroalimentario en la producción y el desarrollo sostenible (2022, Editorial Aranzadi) – cited in sustainability and cooperative management literature.

2. “Determinación de la firmeza en melocotón mediante técnicas acústicas y tradicionales” (2008, Zaragoza: Acribia) – referenced in studies comparing mechanical and acoustic quality assessment methods.

3. “Addressing potential sources of variation in several non-destructive techniques for measuring firmness in apples” (2009, Biosystems Engineering, Vol. 104) – cited for methodological insights in firmness evaluation.

4. “Antioxidant activity determines on-tree maturation in Golden Smoothee apples” (2009, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, Vol. 89) – cited in works on antioxidant metrics and fruit maturity.

5. “Relationship between acoustic firmness and Magness Taylor firmness in apples” (2009, Food Science and Technology International, Vol. 15) – widely referenced for acoustic firmness calibration.

6. “Quality indexes for Golden Smoothee apple in relation to consumer evaluation” (2006, Journal of Fruit and Ornamental Plant Research, Vol. 14) – cited in research linking sensory data with harvest indicators.

7. “Seasonal trends in harvest indices for Golden Smoothee apples in Spain” (2006, Fruit and Ornamental Plant Research, Vol. 14) – noted for its practical application in seasonal harvest planning.

Conclusion

In summary, Diana Molina Delgado exemplifies a research-practitioner model, uniting academic excellence, field expertise, and a collaborative spirit. Her work enriches the agrifood sector through data-driven innovations in postharvest management, consumer-centric quality evaluation, and cooperative development. Through her contributions to national and European projects and her commitment to sustainability and innovation, Diana continues to be a valuable figure in the global dialogue on agricultural modernization and food system resilience.