Zoltán Lakner is a Professor and head of the Department of Food Economics at the Faculty of Food Science and Technology at Budapest Corvinus University. He earned his MSc in farm management (1987, Budapest University of Horticulture and Food Industry), chartered accountant (1987, Hungarian Ministry of Finance) MSc in innovation management (1991, Budapest University of Economic Sciences and Public Administration), Ph.D. 1990 (Logistical modeling of fruit sector: Thimirjazev Agricultural Academy, Moscow); habilitation (2010). He was awarded the 1978 Leading Soldier of the Regiment (Hungarian People's Army), the 2002 Louis de Saint-Rat Literature Prize (Hungarian Food Industry Scientific Association), and the 2018 Pro Alimentis Hungariae (Ministry of Agriculture). His areas of research and activity include econometrics, economic statistics, operations research, the use of artificial intelligence in decision-making, and system dynamic modeling.