PD Dr. Thomas Streifeneder has been working as the head of the Institute for Regional Development of Eurac Research in Bolzano/Bozen (Italy) since 2009. After studying economic geography at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich (LMU), he got his PhD and habilitation at the Department of Geography of the LMU. In his research, he deals with agricultural and socio-economic transformation processes in rural areas, focusing especially on mountain and Alpine regions. In 2018 and 2024, he and his team organized the First and Second World Agritourism Congress in Bolzano and he has since then been actively involved in research concerning this topic. Also, he is particularly interested in literary geography and spatial literary studies. His research focuses on how rural lifestyles and economies are portrayed in prose, how exactly literature perceives them and what statements emerge from them.

Annemarie Gerards is project manager at NBTC, the national destination management organisation of and for the Netherlands, where she focuses on destination development and sustainable tourism. She works to drive innovation and stimulate sustainable development across Destination Netherlands. NBTC provides a national vision for tourism based on knowledge and insights, connecting cities, regions, businesses and governments to ensure tourism contributes to prosperity and well-being for all Dutch residents. As part of this work, she is involved in developing agro-tourism initiatives that connect agriculture and tourism, strengthening rural economies and creating meaningful experiences around the Dutch landscape and food culture. Previously, Annemarie was team manager for marketing/sales and pr at Keukenhof Flower Exhibition and International Horticultural Exhibition Floriade Expo 2022. She studied Management and Public Relations at Breda University of Applied Sciences.

Bastiaan Overeem is a Program Manager for Destination Development at NBTC. In this role, he is responsible for stimulating agro-tourism initiatives. NBTC brings together stakeholders from the tourism and agricultural sectors to share knowledge, strengthen initiatives, and develop agro-tourism in a sustainable way. The focus is on experience, education, and appreciation of the Dutch countryside, as well as creating new perspectives for agricultural entrepreneurs. Bastiaan was born on the Staverden estate in the province of Gelderland and successfully combines hospitality, farm life, and on-farm sales. He studied Hotelmanagement at Hotelschool The Hague and Business Administration at Rotterdam University.

With over 15 years of professional experience in rural development, agricultural policy, and food systems, I have combined academic, governmental, and NGO roles to advance sustainable practices. As President of Kislépték Association (National Association of Interest Representations for Small-scale Producers and Service Providers), I support small-scale producers through advocacy, training, and short food supply chain (SFSC) development. At the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture, I serve as a scientific advisor, contributing to national and EU-level policy processes. As Associate Professor at John von Neumann University, I teach and research rural development and CAP issues. Internationally, I have engaged with EIP-AGRI, EU Nitrogen Expert Panel, and ENRD, bridging research, practice, and policy.