Nikos Tzortzakis is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology & Food Science, at Cyprus University of Technology. He graduated in 1999 after majoring in the field of ‘Horticulture’, Division of Agricultural Sciences at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He continued his post-graduate studies [(Specialized Post-University Diploma -DSPU) and MSc degree] in the field of ‘Horticulture Quality Management’ specialized in Soilless Cultivation, at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh-CIHEAM) and awarded his PhD degree in 2005 in Postharvest Science at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. His post-doctoral research was carried out in the Laboratory of Oliviculture and Postharvest Physiology, Institute of Olive Tree and Subtropical Plants, NAGREF, as well as in the Dept. of Organic Greenhouse Crops & Floriculture, Technological Educational Institute of Crete. He is visiting professor at the Postgraduate Program of MAICh-CIHEAM. His main research interests include issues in hydroponics and substrate determination for vegetables and aromatic plants, exploitation of plant wastes in greenhouse and open field crops as well as the use of natural sanitizers with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties for fresh produce preservation under pathogenic, physiological and biochemical/molecular approaches.