J. C. Tarafdar, PhD, is former Emeritus Scientist and National Fellow of the ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, India. A prolific author, researcher, and lecturer, he successfully developed biosynthesized nanonutrients and nano-induced polysaccharide powder for agricultural use, having developed new techniques now used in soil biology. He holds four patents and has 73 new organisms to his credit. Dr. Tarafdar has been included on the list of Top 2% of Scientists Worldwide 2023 by Stanford University and has received many awards for his work. Deepak Kumar, PhD, is the Executive Director of R&D at Nextnode Bioscience Pvt. Ltd., India, and Director of R&D at Shri Ram Solvent Extractions Pvt. Ltd. He is a certified farm advisor and also worked as a technical expert member (biofertilizer) to start the ICAR-IISR Agribusiness Incubation Centre, Madhya Pradesh. He has completed and guided indigenous and externally funded research projects and developed and licensed a neem endophytic mycoflora-based mycofertilizer. He is also a technical consultant for more than a dozen companies, providing customized technical support. Sanjay K. Singh, PhD, is a Scientist and In-Charge at the Biodiversity and Paleobiology Group, Agharkar Research Institute, India. He was instrumental in establishing the National Facility for Culture Collection of Fungi, affiliated with the World Federation for Culture Collection. He received specialized training with the world-renowned researcher Prof. Gary A. Strobel on the biology of endophytes. Dr. Singh has operated research projects; published research papers, book chapters, and several books; delivered invited lectures; and organized conferences and capacity-building national-level workshops. Krishna Pal Singh, PhD, Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, India. His earlier roles included Director of the Uttarakhand Council for Biotechnology, Vice-Chancellor of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Vice-Chancellor of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, and Associate Professor of Biophysics at G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, India. Dr. Singh has operated projects, published research papers and book chapters as well as books, and delivered invited lectures at symposiums,seminars, and workshops.
