Fang-Jie Zhao is a professor of Environmental Science at Nanjing Agricultural University, China. He received his PhD at Newcastle University, U.K. Prior to taking up the current position in 2012, he worked at Rothamsted Research, U.K. for over 20 years. His research focuses on the biogeochemistry of essential trace elements and toxic metals/metalloids in soil-plant systems, molecular mechanisms of trace element uptake by plants, biofortification of essential micronutrients and bioremediation of contaminated soils. He has co-authored two books and published over 400 peer-reviewed journal papers, which have been cited >47,000 times (H index = 122, Web of Science). He is a Highly Cited Researcher designated by Clarivate Analytics (2017 - 2023). He received The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Award in Agricultural Science and the International Fertilizer Association's Norman Borlaug Plant Nutrition award in 2022. He is a section editor for Plant and Soil, associate editor for European Journal of Soil Science, editorial advisor for New Phytologist and Environmental Pollution.

Peng Wang is a professor at Nanjing Agricultural University in China. He earned his PhD in July 2011 from the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Following the completion of his doctoral studies, he pursued a postdoctoral position focusing on plant nutrition at The University of Queensland, Australia. Since January 1, 2013, he was appointed as ARC DECRA research fellow and Lecturer in Plant Physiology and Soil Chemistry. In March 2016, he was appointed as a full professor at Nanjing Agricultural University. Professor Wang's research centers on the biogeochemistry of trace elements, particularly their implications for food safety, production, and human health. He has co-authored 140 articles in peer-reviewed international journals and three book chapters since 2008. Notably, over 70% of these articles have been published in the top 10% of journals ranked by ISI in terms of impact factor. He has a total of citations of 7500 with a H-index of 43. He has been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics since 2022.

Steve P. McGrath was awarded a BSc and PhD in Plant Sciences by the University of Sheffield, U.K. He was a Programme Leader and Head of Department and is now Discovery Leader at Rothamsted Research, U.K. His research includes biogeochemistry, environmental science, soil science, soil microbiology, biofortification, plant and crop science. His focus is on nutrients and contaminants in relation to agriculture, addressing food security and human dietary implications across the both the developed and developing world. He has published >380 peer reviewed works, with an average of 116 citations per paper, total 44,105, and his H-index is 111. He has been designated as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics since 2003. In the U.K. he was awarded the Society of Chemical Industry's Environment Medal and the Royal Agricultural Society's Research Medal. He was elected as President of the International Society of Trace Element Biogeochemistry, Honorary Fellow of the International Society for Selenium Research and Honorary Member of the International Society of Trace Element Biogeochemistry.