WSCSE-2026

Simone Sala is the Executive Director of the Varda Foundation and works at the intersection of agricultural sciences and digital infrastructure for sustainable agriculture. He holds a BSc and MSc in Computer Science and a PhD in Crop Sciences, with research focused on the application of digital technologies and data systems to food security, climate change adaptation, and agricultural resilience. His academic and applied work has spanned both research and practice, including collaborations with the University of Milan, Columbia University, the MIT International Development Initiative, and research labs working on agriculture, environment, and data science. Simone has also worked with international organizations such as FAO and IFAD, governmental institutions, and NGOs, supporting applied research, policy design, and capacity building initiatives across Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Asia. In his current role as Executive Director of the Varda Foundation, he leads the development of the organization’s digital products, focusing on responsible data sharing, interoperability, and collaboration to improve access to soil and agricultural data for crop science research and sustainable food systems.