The TFP Growth Frontier: Plateaus and Progress in Agricultural Productivity Growth

Keynote speaker

Ben Riensche runs a large grain farm that operates high on the technology curve.  His Blue Diamond Farming Company raises corn and soy in Iowa, and operations in Idaho and Washington grow white wheat, pulse crops and canola. The company focuses on land conservation and improvement; sustainability has been the ultimate goal for the past 170 years. Data is critical to smart decision-making on the farm, and the enterprise is constantly refining its production model to improve margins and maximize profitability and return on investment. New technologies and improved methods are always being analyzed for their impact on the farm’s prosperity.

Ben serves in leadership roles on the boards of several agricultural organizations and trade groups. He is member of the grower boards for Crop Life America, Indigo Agriculture, The Aspen Institute, Innerplant, and Silent Shade Planting Company. He is also a member of the Farm Foundation, contributing to the advancement of the agricultural industry.

Panelists and Speakers

Jessie Alt serves as the Global Wheat Lead for Corteva Agriscience, bringing deep expertise in both varietal and hybrid crop breeding. With advanced degrees in plant genetics from Iowa State University and a background in agronomy from South Dakota State University, she has built a distinguished career in plant breeding, product development, and trait introgression. Alt began her professional career as a soybean breeder in 2005 and later made significant contributions at Pioneer, where she advanced multi-crop research programs and led insect tolerance initiatives. Since 2018, she has led Corteva’s global wheat efforts, driven by her passion for advancing farmer success through improved plant genetics.  

In addition to her technical leadership, Alt is a committed advocate for agricultural education and community engagement. She regularly represents the industry through communication and outreach efforts with the American Seed Trade Association and volunteers with youth science programs. She believes deeply in investing in the next generation and fostering collaboration within her community. 

Kanlaya Barr (pronounced Ga-li-a) is the Director of Corporate Economics at John Deere, where she leads a global team of economists in delivering insights that shape the company’s global industry outlook. With deep expertise in economics, Barr provides thought leadership on macroeconomic trends and oversees comprehensive analyses of agriculture and construction fundamentals. Her team’s forecasts—spanning both short- and long-term horizons—inform critical decisions across market development, product planning, and investment strategy. 

Barr brings over a decade of experience at John Deere, having held progressive roles in forecasting, analytics, and economic analysis. Prior to joining Deere, she built a strong foundation in the finance industry in both the United States and Thailand. She holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics and a Master’s in Accounting from Iowa State University, equipping her with a unique blend of sector-specific insight and financial acumen. Her leadership continues to drive a forward-looking, data-driven approach to navigating global trends in agriculture and construction. 

Alejandra Castro is Vice President of International Affairs & Sustainability Strategy at Bayer, where she leads engagement with international organizations and sustainability platforms to advance regenerative agriculture and global business transformation. With more than 25 years in the life sciences sector, she brings deep expertise in international trade, public affairs, and sustainability, and serves on the Board of the U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB). 

Dr. Castro holds a PhD in Constitutional and IT Law, a Master’s in IT from Universidad Complutense in Madrid, and specialization in Intellectual Property from Michigan State University. A former General Counsel and award-winning executive, she is also a published author and poet with seven poetry collections and numerous honors recognizing her leadership, diversity advocacy, and contributions to international policy and agriculture. 

Lucie L’Hopital Million is the Global Head of Advocacy for Syngenta Group’s Crop Protection business, a leading provider of agricultural technology and innovation. With an interdisciplinary background in law, economics, sustainable development, and an MBA, her global perspective is informed by studies across Europe and professional experience in Brussels and the US. 

 Driven by a commitment to tackling climate change and the biodiversity crisis, she specializes in building bridges between stakeholders and cultures. Her work focuses on supporting the development of policies that support game-changing innovations and close the critical gap between new solutions and their on-the-ground adoption, fostering the international collaboration necessary to meet global food security challenges. 

Gabriele Massimo Onorato is an agronomist with more than 40 years of international experience in large-scale agriculture, farm management, and agronomic research. Before joining International Farming in 2008, he worked with the Ferruzzi Group, managing farms in the US, South America, and Russia, including a 52,000 acres farm, the largest contiguous property in the United States east of the Mississippi River.  

At International Farming, he served as Partner and Chief Agronomist, overseeing farm management and agronomy programs across 20 U.S. states and more than 500,000 acres. He is now a senior adviser for International Farming and President of Agriterra Consulting LLC, advising on sustainable and regenerative farming systems worldwide. 

Ben Pratt was named Vice President, Public Affairs in 2024 and has served as President of The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems since its founding. Now leading global communications and corporate social responsibility, previously, he held the position of VP – Corporate Public Affairs, leading U.S. Federal Government relations, corporate communications and corporate social responsibility activities.

Pratt serves on several boards, including The Florida Aquarium, Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, the Tampa Bay Partnership and Streamsong Resort. In addition, he is a member Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s Resilience and Sustainability Task Force. Prior to joining Mosaic in February 2012, Pratt was SVP, Corporate Communications at Ameriprise Financial, Inc., in Minneapolis. Earlier in his career, he worked in a variety of communications and investor relations capacities at The PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh, and at Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns, both in New York. Pratt is a graduate of Duke University.

Tom Thompson is Associate Dean in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Virginia Tech, Director of CALS Global, and Professor of Agronomy. Thompson earned BS, MS, and PhD degrees in agronomy and soil science and served as Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Arizona and Professor and Department Head at both Texas Tech University and Virginia Tech before assuming his current position. Thompson has published more than 65 refereed journal articles and garnered more than $87 million in extramural competitive funding and more than $11 million in philanthropic support. His expertise is in soil, water, and nutrient management and climate-smart agriculture. Thompson is also Executive Editor of the Global Agricultural Productivity Report (GAP Report). The annual GAP Report is a global thought leader in agricultural productivity growth and engages audiences around the world.