Katia Gindro is the Head of the ‘Mycology and Pathology’ Research Group at the Swiss Federal Agronomic Research Station, Agroscope. She completed her Master’s thesis in Biology and her PhD (Dr ès Science) on Botrytis cinerea at the University of Lausanne between 1994 and 2000. With extensive expertise in mycology and the biochemistry of vine-fungi interactions, K. Gindro has made significant contributions to understanding secondary metabolites and phytoalexins of the vine. Her work in monitoring the epidemiology of fungal diseases using optical and electron microscopy has solidified her reputation, leading to numerous collaborative research projects with both public and private sector partners. K. Gindro is also a lecturer in mycology at the University of Geneva, serves on the Board of the Swiss Mycology Society, and has authored over two hundred scientific, technical, and extension publications, in addition to several books and book chapters on phytopathology, biochemistry, and mycology.
Olivier Viret, currently Director of Vitiviniculture for the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, has also had a distinguished career at Agroscope, where he has served as Head of Mycology, Plant Protection, and Viticulture-Oenology at the national level. He began his career as an apprentice winemaker-cellarer, completed a Master’s in Agronomic Engineering, and earned a PhD in Mycology at ETH Zurich, where he currently lectures in Vine Pathology. His scientific expertise and practical experience have earned him an international reputation. For over fifteen years, he has served as a national expert in the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) in the ‘Genetic Resources and Vine Breeding’ and ‘Vine Protection and Viticultural Techniques’ groups. O. Viret has authored hundreds of scientific and extension publications, as well as book chapters, and he spearheaded the development of the Agrometeo and Vitimeteo plant-protection and vineyard risk forecasting systems in partnership with the Freiburg Weinbauinstitut in Breisgau, Germany.