Dr. Jan Ellenberger is an agronomist by training. He received his doctorate from the University of Bonn for his work on sensor-based drought stress detection in tomatoes and other crops. Here at Irristaud, Jan leads the communication and outreach work package, including maintaining the homepage, our linkedIn account, and writing publications about our work. He is also responsible for communication with the co-creation group. Apart from that, Jan is responsible for an international Master's program at the University of Bonn. When he's not working, you might find him in the home stand of Bayer Leverkusen, or out in nature, hiking or surfing.

Job Derks studied Plant Sciences at Wageningen University. During his studies, he became interested in how sustainable land use, plant health and productivity can go hand in hand. With this mindset, he started working as a researcher for Compas Agro in 2023 and became involved in Irristaud. In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it's hiking, running, or tending to his garden, where he grows a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Youri Timmermans studied Business Administration & Agri-Food Business at HAS University of Applied Sciences in Venlo. Following this, he has supervised various projects and is active as a crop advisor for field crops. ‘The Irristaud project gives me a lot of energy because we are working together to reduce leaching.’ Additionally, he is involved in various innovation projects with his company Agrovation and grows Paulownia trees with his girlfriend Anne-Claire. When Youri can relax by exercising in the evening and then end his day by cooking or barbecuing with friends, he is truly happy.

John van Helden was born among mushrooms and asparagus and raised among plants, vegetables and fruit. John's greatest dream is that the rich nature of our globe becomes part of our society again. A society where people live and work together naturally. As director of Yookr, he provides growers with data that they use to make their decisions in areas such as watering and nutrient administration. The collaboration in the pioneering Interreg project Irristaud 2.0 fits perfectly with John's and Yookr's vision: Working together on nutrition, energy and climate transition for a healthier and sustainable green world. In his spare time, John can be found in his own vegetable garden and the food forest is under construction. Ancient knowledge of soil and plants as well as modern science go hand in hand here. This combination not only delivers an abundance of healthy vegetables and fruits but is also a paradise for people and animals.