The 2024 GAP Report™, “Powering Productivity – Scaling High Impact Bundles of Proven & Emerging Tools”, builds on the foundations laid by the 2023 GAP Report by considering how barriers to access and adoption of proven sustainable productivity-enhancing tools resulting from the enabling environment, behavioral factors, and external shows can be tackled by rethinking our approach to bundling.
It will also examine timely means of tailoring bundles based on context and need. The 2024 GAP Report™ will feature the learnings from our partner organizations on innovative bundles of tools, science-based policies, socio-economic interventions, and/or dissemination pipelines that creates productivity growth and returns to the producer, society, the economy, and the environment.
October 3rd, 2024
7:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. EST
National Press Club
Washington, D.C.
Virtual Participation Available
AGENDA
7:30 am Continental Breakfast
8:00 am Welcoming Remarks
Dr. Tom Thompson, Associate Dean and Director, CALS Global, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences / / Executive Editor, GAP Report / / Virginia Tech
8:05 am Keynote Address
Dr. Simeon Ehui, Director General, IITA // CGIAR Regional Director for West Africa
8:15 am 2024 Global Agricultural Productivity Analysis // South Asia Spotlight
Dr. Tom Thompson
8:30 am Off the Shelf & Into the Field Through High Impact Bundles
Panel Discussion
This panel will explore successful examples of bundling to cross the divide between R&D and widespread adoption of proven and emerging productivity-enhancing tools. Perspectives from government, private sector, researchers, and donors will be shared. Opportunities for advancing our scaling strategies will also be discussed.
Moderator: Dr. Jessica Agnew, Associate Director, CALS Global // Managing Editor, GAP Report // Virginia Tech
Panelists
Excellency Efa Muleta, State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Ethiopia
Dr. Rob Bertram, Chief Scientist, U.S. Agency for International Development
Dr. Alejandra Castro, Global Head of Partnerships-International Organizations, Bayer Crop Science
Mr. Arun Baral, CEO, HarvestPlus
5th speaker to be confirmed
9:15 am Coffee Break
9:40 am Fireside Chat
Dr. Basil Gooden, Under Secretary for Rural Development
10:00 am View from the Field
Panel Discussion
This panel amplifies the farmer’s voice, exploring the opportunities and challenges in adopting productivity-enhancing tools. It will highlight the importance of agricultural productivity growth and discuss how bundling can reduce risks and streamline the adoption of sustainable technologies, practices, and knowledge to improve both productivity and farmer livelihoods.
Moderator: To be confirmed
Panelists
Tebila Nakelse, GAP Initiative Research Lead, CALS Global, Virginia Tech (Small-scale cash crop production, Côte d’Ivoire)
Jose Luis Gonzalez Chacon (Poultry farmer, Climate Smart Agriculture, Colombia (Virtual))
Marcus Holtkötter (Swine farmer, Germany (Virtual))
4th and 5th speakers to be confirmed
10:45 am Closing Remarks
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Full list of speakers will be released soon.
Subject to change
EVENT HOSTS
The Global Agricultural Productivity Initiative at Virginia Tech (GAP Initiative) mobilizes and advocates for action and investment to accelerate agricultural productivity growth at all scales of production to create returns to farmers, society, the economy, and the environment. The GAP Report™ is the heart of the GAP Initiative. This annually produced report is the premier source for productivity data, analysis, and policy recommendations that inspire action.
GAP REPORT & INITIATIVE SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Supporting Partners provide financial support for the GAP Initiative, GAP Report, and related activities. They offer important perspectives on critical issues facing agriculture in the U.S. and around the world.
GAP INITIATIVE TECHNICAL PARTNERS
Technical Partners contribute their knowledge of productive, sustainable agriculture, including the role of agricultural R&D and extension, natural resource conservation, human nutrition, international development, gender equity, and the needs of small-scale farmers.
