Professional Conference

PROFESSOR OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND HEAD OF THE CANNABIS PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRONOMY LAB, VOLCANI INSTITUTE

Prof. Nirit Bernstein is a principal research scientist, Group leader, Head of the Cannabis Physiology and Agronomy Lab, at Volcani Institute. Her research focuses on cannabis physiology, and development of cultivation techniques for Cannabis sativa; and she is a global leader in cannabis plant science and cultivation. She has a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from the University of California, Davis, USA, and a B.Sc. in Agricultural Sciences from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Nirit is a senior editor of 'Journal of Cannabis Research ', and associate editor/member of the editorial board of an additional 9 international Journals. She published more than 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts, invited reviews, and book chapters. She is the former Chair, and elected chair of the ‘Hemp-Cannabis’ Group of the ‘American Society of Horticultural Sciences' (ASHS); past Chair of the 'Crops for Nutrition & Health' division of Crop Science Society of America (CSSA); and co-Chair of the Institute of Cannabis Research, University of Colorado, Pueblo, Hemp growers' association. In recognition of her global impact and leadership in cannabis research, she has recently won 9 international awards: The 'Cannabis-Hemp Distinguished achievement award', from the American Society of Horticultural Sciences (ASHS) (2026); The ‘ElSohly Award’ for excellence in cannabis chemistry, by the American Chemical Society (ACS), 2022; the ‘International Agronomy award’ by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), 2022; the ‘Outstanding International Horticulturalist Award’, by the American Society of Horticultural Science, 2023; Fellow, of the American Society of agronomy (2027), Fellow of the American Society of crop Science (2027); a ‘Woman in Agriculture Award’, by the German Agricultural Society (DLG) (2023); the ‘Groundbreaking Women in Agriculture Award’ from the National Agricultural Council of Israel, 2019; the ‘Roaring-Lion Award’ from the Association of Public Relations of Israel, 2019; she was honored, amongst the 11 most influential woman in the cannabis arena in Israel, 2022: by Keshet International, and more. Prof. Bernstein specializes in the regulation of plant-derived pharmaceuticals in medicinal plants by manipulation of environmental and agronomic treatments; optimization of agrotechniques for environmentally stressed plants; mineral nutrition of plants; and plant stress physiology.