Logos of the event hosts.

Accelerating Agricultural Productivity Growth for a Sustainable, Resilient World

Including the launch of the 2022 GAP Report

October 4, 2022  |  Washington, D.C. and Online

Accelerating Agricultural Productivity Growth for a Sustainable, Resilient World

Including the launch of the 2022 GAP Report

October 4, 2022  |  Washington, D.C. and Online

The world’s food and agricultural systems are under severe stress from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, climate change, and COVID-19, with devastating impacts on food security.  Accelerating agricultural productivity growth is fundamental to meeting today’s challenges and building more sustainable, resilient systems to withstand challenges in the future.

At this hybrid event hosted by the Global Agricultural Productivity Initiative at Virginia Tech (GAP Initiative), the Coalition on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation (SPG Coalition), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, policymakers, private-sector innovators, and research leaders will discuss the need to accelerate agricultural productivity growth and concrete actions to do so. The event will include the release of the 2022 Global Agricultural Productivity Report.

AGENDA

  • 7:30: Continental breakfast available
  • 8:00: PART I: Global Agricultural Productivity (GAP) Report and the Case for Agricultural Productivity begins with welcoming remarks
  • 8:10: Global Agricultural Productivity Report – Presentation and discussion of data
  • 8:35: Panel Discussion – Strategies for reversing productivity trends and recovering from agricultural system shocks
  • 9:30: PART II: Mobilizing Inclusive, Broad-Based Action to Accelerate Sustainable Productivity Growth begins
  • 9:40: The Sustainable Productivity Growth Coalition Showcase – Concrete action to increase sustainable productivity growth for food security, resource conservation and climate change mitigation
  • 11:00: Program concludes

Featured Speakers

Dr. Jewel Bronaugh

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture

Read Bio

Dr. Cyril R. Clarke

Executive Vice President and Provost, Virginia Tech

Read Bio
tomthompson

Dr. Tom Thompson

Associate Dean and Director CALS Global, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Read Bio

Dr. Wei Zhang

Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Tech

Read Bio
jessagnew

Dr. Jessica Agnew

Associate Director, CALS Global, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Read Bio

Stewart Leeth

Chief Sustainability Officer, Smithfield Foods, Inc.

Read Bio

Andrés Rodríguez

Agricultural Attaché of Chile to the United States and Canada

Read Bio

Dr. Canisius Kanangire

Executive Director, African Agricultural Technology Foundation

Read Bio

Robert Fries

Chief Technical Officer, ACDI/VOCA

Read Bio

Keith Fuglie

Senior Economist, USDA Economic Research Service

Read Bio

Elise Golan

Director of Sustainable Development, Office of Chief Economist, USDA

Read Bio

Jocelyn Brown Hall

Director, Liaison Office for North America, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Read Bio

François Chrétien

Director, Living Labs Division, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Read Bio

Sarah Brown

Head of Public Affairs, Agricultural Solutions, North America, BASF Agricultural Solutions

Read Bio

Nikki Dutta M.S.

Scientific Program Officer, Advanced Animal Systems, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research

Read Bio

Matthew Worrell

Minister-Counsellor (Agriculture), Australian Embassy, Washington DC, USA

Read Bio

Mr. Pierre Petelle

President & CEO, CropLife Canada

Read Bio

Christina Zola Peck

Strategic Communications Manager, International Fertilizer Development Center

Read Bio

Paul JG Rennie OBE

Counselor, Global Issues, Economic and Trade, British Embassy, Washington, DC

Read Bio

Dr. Tek B Sapkota

Senior Scientist (Agricultural Systems/Climate Change), International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

Read Bio

Key Topics

What is the outlook for agricultural productivity growth in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other conflicts, COVID-19, and climate change?

Where is agricultural productivity stagnating or falling? What are the repercussions for food security and the environment?

How do we accelerate sustainable productivity growth at all scales of production? What would be the impacts if we did?

DATE:
October 4, 2022

LOCATION:
National Press Club in Washington, D.C. and Online

TIME:
In-person: 7:30 – 11:00 a.m. EST
Buffet breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. Program starts at 8 a.m.
Online: 8:00 – 11:00 EST

COST:
Free and open to the public

*A photo ID is required for entry into the National Press Club.

Event Hosts

GAP Initiative

The Global Agricultural Productivity Initiative at Virginia Tech (GAP Initiative) advocates for accelerating sustainable agricultural productivity growth at all scales of production for food and nutrition security, economic development, and environmental stewardship. The GAP Initiative collaborates with partners in the private sector, NGOs, conservation organizations, universities, and global research institutions to provide a roadmap for progress through the Global Agricultural Productivity Report (GAP Report) and engagements with partners worldwide.

SPG Coalition

The Coalition on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation (SPG Coalition) is a voluntary coalition composed of almost 100 members from national governments, private sector organizations, academic and research institutions, and foundations. The objective of the SPG Coalition is to accelerate the transition to more sustainable food systems through a holistic approach to productivity growth that considers impacts and tradeoffs among multiple objectives, including, but not limited to, food security and nutrition, food affordability and accessibility, farmer and farmworker incomes and wellbeing, resource conservation, biodiversity, soil health, water quality, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

GAP Report Supporting Partners

The GAP Report is supported by investments from the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. GAP Report Supporting Partners provide financial support for the GAP Report and related activities. They offer an important perspective on critical issues facing agricultural systems in the US and around the world.

Technical Partners

Our work is enhanced by contributions from Consultative Partners who share their knowledge and experience in agriculture, conservation, nutrition and the needs of small-scale farmers.

Partner Case Study: Partner Name
Close