The GAP Initiative at Virginia Tech brings together expertise from leading research institutions, conservation organizations, policymakers, and private-sector innovators from across the world. Your organization can tap into our network and be a part of food security solutions that will change the world. Find out more below!
In 2020, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), through funding from the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), implemented a project for community-based climate adaptation and poverty alleviation through biodiversity conservation and ecosystems management across four vulnerable islands: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia and Tobago.i The project, entitled “Strengthening coastal and marine climate resilience though upland and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and community engagement” leveraged nature-based solutions, using ecosystem conservation, sustainable management and restoration to benefit biodiversity and local economies.
A key project focus is the use of vetiver grass production in a systems approach to achieve multiple natural and community benefits including a green engineering system. With roots that can reach 10 feet deep, vetiver grass stabilizes soils for erosion control, groundwater retention, and removal of soil and water pollutants, as well as natural crop protection. Best practices using vetiver can prevent landslides, topsoil loss, drought, and sedimentation of waterways. Vetiver grass is also a ‘C4’ plant which absorbs an extra atom of carbon from the air compared with ‘C3’ plants, providing added carbon sequestration value. Vetiver leaves and oils also provide unique material for handicrafts, skincare products and soaps.
The project began by replicating a vetiver system technology package from the IAMovement in Trinidad and Tobago and building on the familiarity and traditional knowledge of vetiver among community beneficiaries and collaborators. Involvement in project activities – training, field work, business development, and peer-to-peer sharing of experiences – led to new knowledge and was curated to create handbooks containing practical and simple guidelines for: (1) Re-engineering vetiver for geoengineering in different landscapes, (2) Growing green business from vetiver, (3) Farmer climate readiness and (4) Community-led climate resilience actions.
The project provided field-based evidence that vetiver grass is an appropriate nature-based or geoengineering solution for soil erosion and stimulus for livelihoods in rural communities.
IICA and its partners provided a bundled support package of training, networking, tools and other tangibles to community stakeholders in these four islands. This included establishing nurseries, vetiver crafting and green business development, and application of technology such as GIS and drone imagery, through the University of Florida. Progress in landscape restoration was measured and tracked. IICA also facilitated the strong involvement of communities in every phase of the project to lead to successful outcomes.
Dr. Jessica Agnew is a global food systems expert dedicated to advancing equitable, resilient agri-food systems and improving access to nutritious foods worldwide. As Managing Editor of the Global Agricultural Productivity (GAP) Report at Virginia Tech and co-lead of the GAP Initiative, she develops and executes strategies to drive investment and action in agricultural productivity growth to meet the world’s evolving agricultural needs. In her concurrent role as Associate Director of CALS Global, she leads initiatives to internationalize the talents of faculty and students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).
Drawing from her background as a former chef, Dr. Agnew brings a unique perspective to her research portfolio. Her research focuses on innovative approaches to making nutrient-rich foods more accessible to low-income populations and strengthening agri-food value chains through digital technologies, with a particular focus on blockchain applications in Kenyan agriculture. She has led international research projects, including a USAID-funded study on blockchain technology’s potential to improve food security through African Indigenous Vegetables in Western Kenya.
Dr. Agnew holds a PhD in Planning, Governance, and Globalization and a Master of Public Health from Virginia Tech, along with master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Food, Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of Guelph. Her doctoral research explored market-based approaches to addressing micronutrient malnutrition in Mozambique, reflecting her commitment to finding practical solutions to global nutrition challenges.
In her current work, she collaborates with a vibrant global community to create meaningful impact in food systems, environmental sustainability, economic development, and public health. Her expertise spans market-based nutrition solutions, agricultural innovation.
Contact JessMadison serves as Communications Manager for the GAP Initiative. Her responsibilities include design and production of the annual GAP Report, strategic communications and media relations to grow the influence of the GAP Initiative, and collaboration with more than 20 GAP partner organizations worldwide.
Madison brings with her diverse experience across the food system. Before joining the CALS Global team, she advocated for global food security policy on Capitol Hill and managed a $2 million grant program to connect farmers across 5 states to resources provided by USDA-NRCS. Madison is a proud Hokie; she holds a B.S. from Virginia Tech in Sociology and Political Science (2019). During her undergraduate studies, she participated in experiential learning in Rwanda to conduct focus groups on local public health needs, school feeding programs, and smallholder farming initiatives.
Contact MadisonDr. Tebila Nakelse serves as the GAP Initiative Research Lead for the Global Agricultural Productivity Initiative, leading the research and analysis agenda for the annual GAP Report. Originally from Burkina Faso, he earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. His prior roles include working at UN-FAO as a Policy Specialist and Senior Policy Advisor, and positions at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and the Africa Rice Center.
Tebila has extensive experience in various countries including the US, UK, Italy, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. He will bring his significant expertise in agricultural productivity and policy to the GAP Initiative, linking the GAP Report with vital food and public policy issues.
Contact TebilaThomas L. (Tom) Thompson is Associate Dean and Director of CALS Global in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech. CALS Global builds partnerships, drives thought leadership, and creates opportunities for students and faculty to serve globally.
Thompson earned BS, MS, and PhD degrees in agronomy and soil science. He was department head at Virginia Tech (2011-16) and Texas Tech University (2006-11) and professor and extension specialist at the University of Arizona from 1991 to 2006. Thompson is also Professor of Agronomy and has published more than 65 refereed journal articles and garnered more than $18 million in competitive funding and philanthropic support. His recent research and outreach have focused on adoption of conservation agriculture in smallholder farming systems in Haiti, Senegal, and Southeast Asia. He has mentored graduate students from Africa, Asia, and Central and South America.
He has been Executive Editor of the Global Agricultural Productivity Report (GAP Report) since 2019. The annual GAP Report is a thought leader in agricultural productivity and benefits from partnerships with agricultural industry leaders, conservation and nutrition organizations, and NGOs. The GAP Report is launched at the annual World Food Prize event in Des Moines, Iowa. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, the Soil Science Society of America, LEAD21, and the Food Systems Leadership Institute.
Contact TomEugenia Saini is currently FONTAGRO’s Executive Secretary. FONTAGRO is the Regional Fund for Agricultural Technology. She leads the investment fund and a portfolio of 70 international operations related to science, technology, and innovation for the Latin America and the Caribbean region. She is from Argentina and is an agronomist by training. She holds a doctorate in agricultural sciences, specializing in total factor productivity analysis. One of her seminal works in this field was the estimation of 120 years of TFP for the agricultural sector in Argentina. She is also a National Public Accountant and holds an MS in Food and Agribusiness and an MS in Applied Economics, both from Universidad de Buenos Aires. She has worked in the private and public sectors, both nationally and internationally, especially in multilateral banks. She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship at Cornell University and, more recently, with the Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy (AILA) Scholarship at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.
Jessica Agnew holds a Ph.D. in Planning, Governance, and Globalization from Virginia Tech, specializing in International Development Planning. She also holds a Master of Public Health from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science in Food, Agriculture, and Resource Economics from the University of Guelph. As the managing editor for the Global Agricultural Productivity (GAP) Report® and co-lead of the GAP Initiative at Virginia Tech, she draws on a decade of experience working in emerging agricultural sectors and developing resilient, nutritious food systems to advocate for sustainable productivity growth. In addition to her role with the GAP Initiative, she serves as the Associate Director for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Global Programs at Virginia Tech. Agnew also has an active research portfolio on innovation for improving access to safe and nutritious foods through agri-food value chains and equitable markets and deploying digital technologies for agricultural sector transformation.
Thomas L. (Tom) Thompson is Associate Dean and Director of Global Programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech. CALS Global builds partnerships, drives thought leadership, and creates opportunities for students and faculty to serve globally. Thompson earned BS, MS, and PhD degrees in agronomy and soil science. He was department head at Virginia Tech (2011-16) and Texas Tech University (2006-11) and professor and extension specialist at the University of Arizona from 1991 to 2006. Thompson is also a Professor of Agronomy and has published more than 60 refereed journal articles and garnered more than $7 million in extramural funding. His recent research and outreach have focused on the adoption of conservation agriculture in smallholder farming systems in Haiti, Senegal, and Southeast Asia. He has mentored graduate students from Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Under his leadership, the Global Agricultural Productivity Report (GAP Report) was awarded to Virginia Tech in 2019. The GAP Report tracks global trends in agricultural productivity and is launched annually in Washington, DC. Thompson has completed LEAD21 and the Food Systems Leadership Institute, two nationwide leadership development programs. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America.
Paul Spencer joined Corteva Agriscience in January 2019 and is the Global Trade Policy Advocacy Leader. He provides strategic counsel to the company’s business platforms on a range of trade policy issues, including plant breeding innovations, biotechnology asynchronous approvals, low-level presence, and pesticide maximum residue levels.
Paul represents Corteva externally on the the U.S. Grains Council’s Trade Policy Advisory Team, the National Grain and Feed Association’s Crop Technology Committee and the CropLife America Trade Steering Group. He is currently the Chairman of the BIO Innovation Organization’s Agriculture International Working Group. Mr. Spencer began his career with the Department of Agriculture in 1993. From 2010-14, he was Agricultural Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin and was responsible for USDA programs and policies in Austria, Hungary, and Germany. He has also served at U.S. Embassies in Baghdad, Tokyo, and Vienna.
Mr. Spencer holds an MBA in International Business from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a degree in Economics from Colorado State University. He is married to Sandy MacGregor and they have three children, Grace, Forrest, and John.
Brady J. Deaton was Chancellor of the University of Missouri 2004-2013 and now serves in emeritus status and as Director of the Deaton Institute for University Leadership in International Development at Missouri. He was appointed Chair of BIFAD by President Obama in 2011 and reappointed to a four-year term as a member of BIFAD in January 2016-2020 by President Obama.
He has worked in many countries to strengthen their capacity for agricultural and economic development, and has received three honorary degrees from universities in Thailand and Korea, and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Kentucky. He was elected to the Missouri Cooperatives Hall of Fame. In 2014, he received the Missourian Award and in 2015 was named to the Alumni Hall of Fame of the University of Kentucky.
Deaton served as chair of the Academic Affairs Council of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and participates in advisory roles with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He completed a two-year term as chair of the Missouri Council on Public Higher Education and was chair of the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors. He served as a Board member of the National Foundation of Credit Counselors and is currently a Board member of the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) and Board member of the Soybean Innovation Lab.
He is a recipient of the Malone Award from the APLU for furthering international education in public higher education, was a member of the board of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center throughout his time as Chancellor, and served on the International Committee of the Association of American Universities (AAU). During April, 2014 and in 2015, Deaton served as a “Distinguished Guest in Residence” at New York University.
Alexis Taylor is an Iowa native, with a career focused on U.S. agricultural and trade policy. Prior to her appointment as Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Alexis was appointed by Oregon Governor Kate Brown as director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) in December 2016. As director, she worked to promote and regulate agriculture and food, keeping the mission to ensure healthy natural resources, environment, and economy for Oregonians now and into the future at the forefront.
Prior to Alexis’ appointment, she oversaw the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS). While traveling the world she worked to open new markets and improve the competitive position of U.S. agricultural products in the marketplace. Before joining USDA, Alexis worked for several U.S. Congressman, staffing members from Montana and her home state.
Alexis is a graduate of Iowa State University and grew up on her family farm in Iowa, which has been in her family for 160 years. While still in high school, she enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves. During her junior year in college her army unit was deployed to Iraq, where she served one tour with the 389th Combat Engineer Battalion. While no longer an active reservist, Alexis continues to advocate for veterans.
With a background in industrial engineering and economic development, Sergio Rivas began his career in international development 22 years ago. His work in the industry includes roles as Contracts Officer Representative, Senior Director, Chief of Party, Country Representative, Board Member, donor, and volunteer on both public and private sector engagements.
For the past 15 years, Rivas has worked for Tanager’s parent company, ACDI/VOCA, in various senior leadership roles, most recently as Regional Managing Director in Honduras. From 2012-2016 he served as Tanager’s Country Representative in Colombia where he got to know the organization, developing an enormous admiration for its work, its people, and its clients.
Rivas assumed the role of President of Tanager in 2022.
Adam van Opzeeland has served as New Zealand’s First Secretary for Agriculture Trade to the United States since July 2022. His responsibilities include managing the bilateral agriculture policy relationship, working with US counterparts to facilitate the bilateral trade of agriculture goods, and collaborating with the US and other partners to advance common agriculture and trade objectives in regional and multilateral fora. Prior to this role, Adam spent eight years representing the New Zealand Government in Free Trade Agreement negotiations and as a delegate to a range of United Nations Conventions and Organizations. He holds a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Development from the University of Queensland.
Ruramiso Mashumba is a young female farmer from Marondera, Zimbabwe, and founder of Mnandi Africa, an organization that helps rural women combat poverty and malnutrition. She holds a BA Degree in Agriculture Business Management from the University of West England (UWE). Postgraduate Diploma in Management from Regent University, South Africa. She Is currently studying for an MBA in sustainable food and agriculture at the Royal Agriculture University in Cirencester, UK.
Rosalind (Roz) Leeck is the Executive Director for Market Access and Strategy as well as Northeast Asia Regional Director at the U.S. Soybean Export Council. She oversees strategic program development and implementation including trade and market access issues; membership and industry relations; and communications and marketing efforts. She is also the Regional Director for Northeast Asia responsible for Korea and Japan.
Roz has more than 10 years of experience in the grain trade field with previous positions at Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Demeter L.P. She has also worked for Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC), Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA), and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.
Roz has been involved in a number of industry activities and is currently serving on the Management Council of the International Grain Trade Coalition and as a cleared advisor and vice chair for the USDA and USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feeds, Oilseeds, and Planting Seeds. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Trustees at Millikin University. Roz originally hails from southern Illinois where she remains a partner in her family’s grain and livestock farm. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, a Master of Business Administration from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Chris is the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Canola Council of Canada. He is responsible for leading the efforts of the Council’s professional staff and reporting to the Board of Directors on securing the key objectives of the Canadian canola industry.
Chris first joined the Council in August 2021 as Vice President, Stakeholder and Industry Relations. Prior to joining the Council, Chris spent nearly 10 years with a global life sciences company serving as Head of Business Sustainability for North America and prior to that Head of Corporate Affairs for Canada.
Chris also spent several years on the consulting side of the agri-food industry working in government and industry relations, corporate communications and public affairs to advance issues and opportunities at the global, regional, national and sub-national levels for a diverse set of private sector and association clients.
Earlier in his career, Chris worked for the Canadian federal government on animal health, plant health, and food safety related issues in support of Canadian bilateral and multilateral trade relationships and negotiations.
Dr. Saharah Moon Chapotin joined the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) as the executive director in August 2022.
Chapotin is a plant scientist who is passionate about sharing the importance of plants and agriculture. She has more than 15 years of experience in federal leadership, using science to inform policy and advancing agriculture research. Most recently, Chapotin served as the executive director of the United States Botanic Garden (USBG), a position she held from 2018 to 2022.
Prior to her role at USBG, Chapotin worked at the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for over 11 years. She held multiple positions at USAID, serving as the deputy assistant administrator in USAID’s Bureau for Food Security. Earlier in her career, Chapotin completed fellowships at Iowa State University and the National Academies working on issues of biosafety policy, scientific communication and national security. She further conducted research on forest ecology and canopy biology throughout the United States, Madagascar and Costa Rica.
Chapotin holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Stanford University and a doctorate in plant physiology from Harvard University.
Dan Blaustein-Rejto is the Director of Food & Agriculture at the Breakthrough Institute where he leads work examining how public policy can support environmentally and socially beneficial innovation across the food system. Dan has led multi-stakeholder projects to identify technical options to decarbonize agriculture, assess federal policy gaps and opportunities, and build coalitions to advance climate-smart agriculture. Dan has written for Foreign Policy and MIT Technology Review, among other publications. He and his work have been cited in Bloomberg, LA Times, Agri-Pulse, Beef Magazine, and other outlets.
Tek Sapkota Leads the Climate Change Science group in CIMMYT and is a member of the Climate Investment Committee in OneCGIAR. His research interest includes analysis of cropping systems from food security climate change nexus. He is involved in studying management consequences on nutrient dynamics in agro-ecosystem and their effect on food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation. He has served in IPCC as Lead author as well as Review editor. He is an associate Editor of “Nature Scientific Report” and “Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems” journals. He is an Agricultural expert in the “India GHG platform” (http://ghgplatform-india.org/).
Paul Rennie was born in Edinburgh and educated at George Heriot’s School, before going on to graduate with an MA in Economics and Politics (Edinburgh University) and an MSc in Economics (York University). He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2001 as the first of a new group of Diplomatic Service Economists. He has served at the United Nations (New York), Brazil, India and Malaysia, as well as working on secondment to the Cabinet Office and the Department for International Development. Paul currently serves as the Counsellor for the Global Issues, Economics and Trade Section at the British Embassy, Washington DC. Here he leads the UK’s climate and energy, economic and trade, and science and technology networks across the United States. Paul also speaks five languages (English, French, Dutch, Portuguese and Hindi)!
Christina is a seasoned communications professional with over 30 years’ experience, including 14 in international development. Her background in business development, communications and public relations fully informs her strategic communications initiatives at IFDC.
As Strategic Communications Manager for IFDC, she regularly collaborates with IFDC’s international project staff, partners, and donors to design and implement evidence-based strategic communications campaigns. She tells big stories about the Center’s work in soil health and plant nutrition, inclusive market systems, and innovative technologies for a food-secure and environmentally sustainable world.
Prior to joining IFDC, Christina was with the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA), serving as a technical writer and proposal manager in their International Division. As communications manager at Making Cents International, she developed and implemented project-level communications strategies, especially regarding youth development activities under USAID’s flagship YouthPower Learning project. While at URC as a communications specialist, she developed, executed, and monitored communications strategies to support corporate and project objectives, including creating and facilitating #GBVChat, an annual all-day conversation about ending gender-based violence that engaged 10,000+ unique participants in its first year, while standing up the organization’s social media platforms and story-telling strategies.
As Director of Communications at the Arab American Institute, she created and executed strategies for long-term advocacy as well as for fast-breaking crisis situations, including a daily analysis of the Gaza War (Operation Cast Lead) for media and AAI membership.
Pierre Petelle is the president and CEO of CropLife Canada, the trade association that represents the Canadian manufacturers, developers and distributors of pest control products and plants with novel traits. Pierre joined CropLife Canada in 2008 and is now responsible for the strategic direction and leadership of the association.
CropLife Canada’s goals include improving public confidence in our members’ technologies, facilitating a positive regulatory environment, ensuring proper stewardship of our industry’s products and building collaborative stakeholder relationships.
Prior to joining CropLife Canada, Pierre worked in the policy office at Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency where he worked on a wide range of issues relevant to Canada’s plant science industry. Pierre holds degrees from Carleton University and the University of Guelph.
Matthew Worrell currently represents Australia’s agriculture interests in the United States and works with colleagues in the Australian High Commission in Ottawa to progress bilateral agriculture issues with Canada. Matt has extensive experience in agriculture policy development and implementation, and international representation. Matt was based in Europe from 2012 to 2016 where he represented Australia’s interests at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co–operation and Development. Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of New England and a master’s degree in public policy from the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University.
Nikki Dutta, M.S., scientific program officer, advanced animal systems, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. At the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), Ms. Nikki Dutta, is responsible for coordinating several multi- stakeholder collaborative initiatives designed to improve animal welfare and productivity, including the Greener Cattle Initiative, Egg- Tech Prize and the International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship. Nikki earned her master’s degree from American University in sustainability management and studied international business and management at Dickinson College.
Sarah Brown serves as Head of Public Governmental Affairs Agricultural Solutions North America, based in Washington, DC. Sarah previously served as an Executive Director for the American Farm Bureau Federation. Sarah is a graduate of Cornell University, where she currently serves on an advisory board for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Mr. François Chrétien received his bachelor of sciences in agriculture from McGill University and his master’s degree in Water Sciences from the National Institute of Scientific Research. Following is graduated studies he has been involved in numerous water-focused initiatives throughout Canada and around the world. Within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada he served as: Water Sourcing and Planning Specialist; Water Management Scientist; Chief of the water management team; before moving on to executive management as Director for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) living labs.
Since 2017, François has been responsible for the development of AAFC’s Living Laboratories Initiative aimed at building resilience in the agricultural landscape. François was also central to the development and implementation of AAFC’s new program, the Agricultural Climate Solutions program, that is establishing a national network of living labs right across Canada to tackle climate change issues. He has worked with multiple Canadian and international partners in order to develop this new approach to agricultural innovation, including the G20 working group on Agroecosystems living labs. Under François leadership, Canada has been paving the way to implement this user-centred approach where farmers and scientists work together from start to finish; where transdisciplinary teams, including experts from various disciplines and backgrounds, tackle a common issue together; and where projects are conducted in real life experimental setups meaning that working farms are the incubators of innovative technologies.
François has real, tangible experience in developing innovative solutions for a productive, sustainable and resilient agriculture sector.
Jocelyn Brown Hall is the Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Liaison Office for North America based in Washington, DC. Prior to this role she served as the Deputy Regional Representative for the FAO Regional Office for Africa, where she oversaw 47 FAO country offices and guided strategy and communications around food security, agriculture, climate change, agrifood trade, animal and plant health, among other topics. She has also served as the FAO Representative for Ghana, where she worked with ministries of agriculture, fisheries, social protection and trade on advancing issues such as healthy school meals, rehabilitating lands contaminated by illegal mining, sustainable aquaculture and fish smoking, and digitalization of agriculture data.
Before joining FAO, Jocelyn was Deputy Administrator in the Foreign Agricultural Service, where she led the USDA’s USD $2 billion food and technical assistance programs in low- and middle-income countries. She oversaw the world’s largest international school meals program, serving over 4 million school children globally, and numerous fellowship programs that served tens and thousands of agriculturalists.
She also served as the lead expert on USDA’s technical relationship with international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture, and various international research centers.
Dr. Elise H. Golan is the Director for Sustainable Development at the U. S. Department of Agriculture. In this role, she provides leadership in planning, coordinating, and analyzing the Department’s policies and programs related to sustainable agricultural development. Prior to taking this position, Dr. Golan served as the Associate Director of the Food Economics Division at the Economic Research Service, USDA. Before joining USDA, she did consulting work for, among others, the World Bank, the International Labor Organization, and the California Department of Finance. Elise served as a senior staff economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers from 1998-99. She received her Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Golan’s research has spanned a wide range of sustainability issues, including land tenure and sustainable land management in the Sahel and West Africa; regional and U.S. food-system modeling; food labeling and market development; food access, affordability, and security; and the distributional consequences of food policy.
Keith Fuglie is a senior economist with the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he conducts research on the economics of technological change and science policy for agriculture. While with the Federal Government, Keith has also worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau of Food Security and served as senior staff economist for the White House Council of Economic Advisors. In 2012 Keith was recognized with the USDA Secretary’s Honor Award for Professional Service, and in 2014 he received the Bruce Gardner Memorial Prize for Applied Policy Analysis from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. Earlier in his career, Keith spent ten years with the International Potato Center (CIP) stationed in Indonesia and Tunisia, where he headed CIP’s social science research program and was regional representative for CIP in Asia. Keith received his M.S. and PhD in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota and a BA from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota.
Bob Fries is chief technical officer, overseeing our technical teams as they develop programmatic approaches, share best practices and technical products with projects overseas, and apply evidence to optimize the effectiveness and impact of our work. Bob is also president of AV Ventures, ACDI/VOCA’s subsidiary dedicated to blended finance and impact investment. He has engaged in the design and governance of 10 financial institutions affiliated with ACDI/VOCA, including AV Ventures. Prior to joining ACDI/VOCA in 1989, Bob was a volunteer in Belize and researcher of seasonal labor migration in Guatemala. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Boston College and a master’s degree in economic and social development from the University of Pittsburgh. Bob is proficient in Spanish and has contributed to Value Chains and Their Significance for Addressing the Rural Finance Challenge and Nature-Centered Tourism in Ecuador, published by USAID, Basic Guidelines for Effective Rural Finance Projects, published by the World Bank, and Making Rural Financial Institutions Sustainable, published by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Dr. Canisius Kanangire is the Executive Director at AATF. He previously was the Executive Secretary of the African Ministers’ Council on Water. He has held other positions including, Executive Secretary of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission; Regional Manager for Capacity Building and Head of Strategic Planning and Management at the Nile Basin Initiative; Lecturer and Dean – Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rwanda.
He holds a PhD and MSc in Aquatic Sciences from the University of Namur (Belgium), a Degree in Biology majoring in Environmental Sciences, and an Undergraduate Certificate in Biology and Chemistry from the “Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Bukavu.
Andrés Rodríguez is the current Agricultural Attaché of Chile to the United States and Canada, based in Washington DC.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Diego Portales University (Chile), a Master’s Degree in Marketing from Griffith University (Queensland, Australia), and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Business from the University of Chile.
He has extensive experience in agribusiness. After his experience in other industries, he landed to the agriculture when he was appointed as Marketing Manager for the US and Latin America in the Chilean Fresh Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX). Within his background he also was Executive Director of the Chilean Walnut Commission, Executive Director of Chile Prunes, and Representative in Chile of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA), that currently is the International Fresh Produce Association. He was also Board Member and Counselor of the National Society of Agriculture (SNA) and was a member of the Food Export Council of Chile.
Stewart Leeth is chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods, Inc. Based at the company’s headquarters in Smithfield, Virginia, Leeth leads the company’s global sustainability strategies, which now focus on seven core pillars: animal welfare; diversity, equity and inclusion; environmental stewardship; food safety and quality; health and wellness; helping local communities and worker health and safety. He also leads Smithfield’s environmental compliance programs.
Leeth joined Smithfield Foods’ legal department in 2008 and served in a variety of legal, regulatory and government affairs roles with the company before being appointed to his current position in 2016. Under his leadership, the company has announced several industry-first carbon reduction goals, met its commitment to move pregnant sows into group housing on company-owned farms and exceeded its goal to source feed from farms utilizing precision farming techniques that reduce fertilizer use in the company’s supply chain. More recently, Smithfield has reported substantial progress toward its original GHG reduction target and has adopted even greater climate targets, including a 30% GHG reduction goal under the Science Based Targets initiative and a pledge to become carbon negative in all U.S. company-owned operations by 2030.
Prior to joining Smithfield Foods, Leeth was a partner at a major global law firm, where he represented the firm’s clients before federal and state courts and agencies in matters involving major federal and state environmental statutes, water rights disputes, cost recovery and contaminated property litigation, rulemaking and permitting. He also focused on state and local government matters and land-use disputes.
Leeth previously served as Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia, representing a variety of state agencies, and began his legal career working as a law clerk to a federal judge presiding in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Wei Zhang is an assistant professor in the department of agricultural and applied economics at Virginia Tech. Her research focuses on the environmental and resource-use implications of agricultural production and the design of agri-environmental policy. Her ongoing research projects include climate change and agricultural productivity growth, benefits and costs of the USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and on-farm loss and waste of vegetables in the United States.
A veterinarian, clinical pharmacologist, teacher, researcher, and distinguished academic leader, Dr. Cyril R. Clarke became the Executive Vice President and Provost of Virginia Tech in January 2019, after serving in an interim capacity since November 2017.
A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Clarke earned his professional veterinary degree from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, a Ph.D. in veterinary pharmacology from Louisiana State University, and a master’s degree in higher education from Oklahoma State University. He is certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology.
Clarke’s initial faculty appointment in 1987 was at Oklahoma State University, where he also served as an academic department head and associate dean for academic affairs in the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. Funded by corporate, state, and federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Institutes of Health, Clarke’s research focused on the interactions between antibacterial agents, animal patients, and infectious microbes. He is a recipient of the Pfizer Award for Research Excellence.
In 2007, Clarke was appointed to the position of Lois Bates Acheson Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University. During his time as dean, Clarke continued to teach pharmacology to veterinary students. In addition to receiving a Certificate of Excellence in Teaching, Clarke was honored with the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association’s President’s Award. He subsequently joined Virginia Tech in October, 2013, as Dean of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.
Clarke has held leadership positions in several professional organizations, including the board of directors for the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and past president of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology. He is also a past member of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board and the AVMA Council on Education, the accrediting agency for veterinary medical education in North America.
Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh was appointed the 16th Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in 2018 by Governor Ralph Northam. She previously served as the Virginia State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), appointed by Governor Terry McAuliffe and then-U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, in July 2015. Prior to her FSA appointment, she served as Dean of the College of Agriculture at Virginia State University (VSU) with oversight of Extension, Research and Academic Programs. Previously she was the Associate Administrator for Extension Programs and a 4-H Extension Specialist.
In spring 2019, Dr. Bronaugh launched the Virginia Farmer Stress Task Force to raise awareness and coordinate resources to address farmer stress and mental health challenges in Virginia. In the fall of 2020, she helped establish the Virginia Food Access Investment Fund and Program, the first statewide program of its kind to address food access within historically marginalized communities.
Dr. Bronaugh received her Ph.D. in Career and Technical Education from Virginia Tech. She is passionate about the advancement of youth leadership in agriculture. Dr. Bronaugh is from Petersburg, Virginia. She is married to Cleavon, a retired United States Army Veteran.
Dr. Canisius Kanangire is the Executive Director at AATF. He previously was the
Executive Secretary of the African Ministers’ Council on Water. He has held other positions including, Executive Secretary of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission; Regional Manager for Capacity Building and Head of Strategic Planning and Management at the Nile Basin Initiative; Lecturer and Dean – Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rwanda.
He holds a PhD and MSc in Aquatic Sciences from the University of Namur (Belgium), a Degree in Biology majoring in Environmental Sciences, and an Undergraduate Certificate in Biology and Chemistry from the “Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Bukavu.
Ally Okeyo Mwai is Principal Scientist in the ILRI’s Global Livestock Genetics- Live Gene Research Program. Okeyo is a quantitative geneticist with over 30 years of experience in practical design and implementation of livestock improvement programs in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia regions. Okeyo has in the past led ILRI’s Breeding strategies Research, specifically focusing on development and implementation projects, covering a wide range of research areas including, characterization and genetic diversity of indigenous tropical livestock; their improved utilization, as well as development and application of assisted reproductive technologies in dairy cattle. Prior to joining ILRI, he was head of the Animal Breeding and Genetics Section at the Department of Animal Production, University of Nairobi and Coordinator of Small Ruminant Research Program at the then Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research organization. Okeyo has and holds several national and international advisory board positions. He is currently leading the development of ILRI led dairy cattle genetic gain development and research programs in eastern Africa region. Okeyo has published extensively (authored and co-authored more than 150 scientific journal and conference papers), and has held several scientific editorials, and national and international advisory board positions. Okeyo holds MSc Animal Science (Animal Genetics) from University of California, Davis and a PhD in Animal Breeding and Genetics from University of Nairobi.
Nancy W. Mungai is a professor of soil science with research interests in biological nitrogen fixation in grain legumes, biological agricultural inputs, and relevance of soil-based approaches for adaptation & mitigation to climate change. She has successfully coordinated twelve research projects and several student internship programs. Nancy is currently involved in a project titled “Transforming African Agricultural Universities to meaningfully to contribute to Africa’s growth and development (TAGDev) a partnership of Egerton university with Gulu University funded by Mastercard Foundation through RUFORUM. The project has supported over 110 undergraduate and 110 postgraduate students to pursue various agricultural related disciplines including agronomy, horticulture, agribusiness and food nutrition and security. TAGDev has piloted an innovative model for agricultural training that facilitates agricultural students to work closely with rural communities to foster food system transformation. Community action research approaches have been at the center of TAGDev project implementation.
Nancy is also a member of a research consortium lead by Michigan State University dubbed “Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Rural Economic Transformation (SAIRET+)” that is developing longer term proposal to support increased agricultural productivity through sustainable fertilizer use in Africa.
Nancy has supervised over 20 graduate students and has published 72 publications in internationally refereed and peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings and technical reports.
Administratively, Nancy is the Ag. Director in charge of Research and Extension at Egerton University since March 2020. Previously she served as the Director in charge of undergraduate studies and field attachment programs for 9 years.
Dr. Jason Grant is the W.G. Wysor Professor of Agriculture and Director of the Center for Agricultural Trade at Virginia Tech. Dr. Grant joined the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics in 2007, after completing his Ph.D. at Purdue University. Dr. Grant has built an internationally recognized program in agricultural markets and trade at Virginia Tech, which includes planning and developing the annual Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade through a partnership with four other State agencies across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Grant is passionate about teaching students to be “job ready” and thinking “globally” as they enter careers in agricultural industries. His research investigates key trends in global markets shaping U.S. commodity production and export, including the impacts of trade disputes, retaliatory trade actions, SPS issues, Codex food safety standards, competitive regionalism, and adaptation to extreme climate events. He has previously served as guest editor of Choices, leading a team of USDA policymakers and academics to assess the economic impacts of the 2018/19 trade dispute and retaliatory trade actions impacting U.S. agriculture. In 2021, this work was recognized by the American Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) for the profession’s outstanding Choices article award for outreach contribution. In 2020, he was the recipient of USDA’s Bruce Gardner Award for outstanding contributions by an outside Economist shaping U.S. government programs and policies, and has previously been the recipient of the AAEA’s Honorable Mention award for Outstanding Journal Article; the European Agricultural Economics Association’s Quality of Policy Contribution Award for his work on international trade agreements; and the 2018 APEX award from Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural Economics which recognizes outstanding contributions by an alumni. Dr. Grant currently serves as associate editor of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.
Florah joined Farm Input Promotions Africa (FIPS) just after college, in 2013 as a monitoring and evaluation officer.
After two years, she was promoted to lead training, which included development of training curriculums and deploying the curriculum to farmers and trainers of trainers.
Florah has also coordinated programs within FIPS such as youth work and potato work.
Currently, she leads the partnership development work that includes developing new relationships, developing ideas for funding, and maintaining existing relationships, among other roles.
Folu serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Hello Tractor, responsible for shaping, executing and measuring the organization’s growth strategy and operations. Prior to joining Hello Tractor in 2019, Folu served as Senior Manager at Accenture focused on defining and implementing large-scale transformational process improvement solutions, primarily within the financial services sector. Folu’s experience extends to driving agricultural systems change at the NEPAD Business Foundation, specifically within the continental agriculture program (CAADP). Folu holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Cape Town (specializing in Leadership and Doing Business in Africa) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis. Folu’s professional interests lie at the intersection of macroeconomic growth, impact entrepreneurial empowerment, strategic organizational alignment, and technology-led social innovations.
Tim Njagi is a seasoned Development Economist with a wealth of 15 years of experience in the fields of development planning, policy implementation and research. He holds a PhD in Development Economics and Master’s Degree in International Development from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan.
He has experience working in the public sector having worked with the National Treasury and Planning in Kenya and is currently a Fellow with Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development of Egerton University.
His current research focus is on farm productivity, technology adoption, irrigation, governance, resilience and impact evaluation., irrigation, credit, governance, land issues, and resilience, where he has a number of publications.
He is also a member of the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE), African Association of Agricultural Economics (AAAE), African Evaluation Association (AfREA), Evaluation Society of Kenya (ESK), and the Institute of Economic Affairs (EIA) in Kenya.
He aspires to make a significant contribution towards addressing food insecurity and poverty in developing countries.
Isaac Kibwage is currently the Vice-Chancellor of Egerton University. He has variously initiated and/or guided development and implementation of the strategic plan for 2018-2023 and policies of the University.
Isaac Kibwage is on leave of absence from the University of Nairobi where he serves as a Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry in the School of Pharmacy. He has published widely in his discipline.
During May 2007- May 2017, Isaac Kibwage served as the Principal of College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi where he was the Academic Research, Financial and Administrative head of the college. The College comprises the Schools of; Medicine, Pharmacy, Dental Siences, Nursing Sciences and Public Health, the University of Nairobi Institute of Tropical and Infectious Dieases, KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, the East Africa Kidney Institute and the Centre for HIV/Aids Research and Prevention. He was responsible for all research activities at the College ensuring compliance to project objectives and prudent utilization of resources per approved budgets. Isaac Kibwage handled College responsibilities and guided its expansion and excellent performance culminating in it being awarded a Shield as ”Center of Excellence in the Health Sciences” by the East African Community in 2014. Further, research funding grew about four times and the College had a continuous level of ‘Excellent performance’ in performance contracting amongst the six colleges of the University.
Isaac Kibwage has held various positions in the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya including the Chairmanship for a period of 6 years. He has broad experience in the pharmaceutical regulatory systems locally and internationally, and specifically in the quality control and quality assurance of medicines. Due to his commitment and exemplary pharmaceutical services, Isaac Kibwage was awarded the “Head of State Commendation“ and the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya conferred on him the title of “Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya.”
Nassib Mugwanya is Manager of Global Partnerships – Agriculture Engagement & Activation at Bayer and leads the smallholder farmer engagement within the Global Stakeholders Affairs & Strategy Partnerships team. Prior to joining Bayer, Nassib worked with the National Agricultural Research Organization in Uganda, where he spent most of his time in educational and outreach engagements on biotechnology among smallholder farmers. Nassib has a background in agriculture, with a doctorate in agricultural extension and education from North Carolina State University, and a BSc and MSc in agriculture and extension education from Makerere University-Kampala.
Humphrey joined DuPont Pioneer in 2015 as a Marketing Leader for Eastern Southern Central Africa Region. In 2016, he was appointed the Commercial leader for Kenya responsible for the Pioneer and Pannar Seed brands.
In 2017, he was appointed to his current role as Country Leader/Director for Corteva Agriscience Kenya and Greatlakes Countries (Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi & DRC).
Prior to joining Pioneer, Humphrey worked at Syngenta AG for 10 years in various roles; Business Manager for Smallholder Segment, Marketing Manager Strategy and planning, Area Sales Manager amongst other roles.
Education Background:
Masters Business Administration (Strategic Management), The University of Nairobi.
Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture, Egerton University.
Benson Mutuku is development and humanitarian professional with over 13 years of experience working with INGOs, NGOs, the private sector, and government institutions. Benson has extensive experience in programmatic design, implementation, and technical advising of gender programs in Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, Financial Inclusion & Economic Empowerment, Policy and Advocacy, and Education and Health. Benson has spearheaded and provided technical expertise in multi-country projects in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Djibouti, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Burundi, Zambia, Somalia, Ghana and Uganda. Benson has worked on various policy related initiatives and research activities. He is experienced in monitoring and evaluation hence providing oversight for a program’s planning, evaluation, knowledge management and monitoring. Benson is a seasoned trainer both at the community level as well as at the policy level, having engaged in capacity building processes across the country and beyond. Benson has basic French speaking skills. Benson is passionate about gender transformation at the local, national, regional, and other spheres of influence.
Tony Fernandes became Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Trade Policy and Negotiations in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs in March 2022, after having served as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary since August 2021.
Prior to that, Tony was Director of the Multilateral Trade Affairs Office in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.
Previously, Tony was Director for Regional Affairs in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs and Director for Africa and Middle East Programs in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. He also served in the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Diplomatic Readiness Task Force, and the Operations Center. His overseas assignments include positions in Turkey, Nigeria, Russia, Canada, and China.
Tony joined the Foreign Service in 1997 and is a member of the Senior Foreign Service.
He holds a B.A. from Boston College, a J.D. from the University of Minnesota School of Law, and a Master’s in National Security Strategy from the National War College.
Karen Hulebak is a consultant working primarily on Codex Alimentarius matters. She has 20+ years of experience with Codex, having chaired the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene for 7 years, served as Vice Chair of the Commission for two terms (2005-2008) and as Chairperson of the Commission for two terms (2008-2011). Prior to her election as Codex Chairperson, she served as USDA/FSIS Chief Scientist, and as Assistant Administrator for the FSIS Office of Public Health Science. She has an Sc.D. in toxicology from the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health.
Ann Steensland leads the GAP Report Initiative for CALS Global at the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. In this role, she serves as the lead author of the Global Agricultural Productivity Report, or GAP Report, an annual analysis of global progress toward productive sustainable food and agricultural systems. Her research areas include sustainable approaches for increasing the productivity of small-scale agriculture, improving livelihoods for small-scale farmers, and connecting small-scale and emerging farmers to markets. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Ms. Steensland was the Deputy Director of the Global Harvest Initiative and the Chief of Staff of the Alliance to End Hunger. Ms. Steensland has a B.A. in International Relations and an M.A. in African History. She was awarded the Lawrence Levine Prize for her M.A. thesis exploring racial, political, and environmental aspects of the commercialization of agriculture in South Africa.
Jim Gaffney is a general development officer in the Center for Agricultural Led Growth at USAID. an experienced professional in the seed and crop protection industry with a passion for developing strategy and for designing and driving collaborations to build scientific capacity and encourage appropriate regulatory policy. Prior to joining USAID, Dr. Gaffney worked at Corteva Agriscience for 10 years as Global Regulatory Strategy Lead. He has a strong personal commitment to enable technology for the benefit of farmers and society, with a deep and current understanding of the public and private sectors and for donor organization needs and opportunities. At Corteva, he developed global regulatory approval strategies by working closely with program leadership teams, regulatory science, and researchers to drive aggressive and predictable timelines to product advancement. Dr. Gaffney maintains a passion for agricultural development in Africa, borne from his days as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon, Central Africa, and as a former farm kid. His family raised corn, soybeans, and hogs in southwest Minnesota.
Siboniso “Boni” Moyo is deputy director general for research and development at the International Livestock Research Institute. Between 2015 and 2016, she was program leader of ILRI’s animal science for sustainable productivity program. From 2006−2014, Dr. Moyo was ILRI’s regional representative in Southern Africa. She has 25 years’ experience conducting livestock research and development in Zimbabwe and southern Africa. Her fields of specialization include breed performance evaluation, livestock production systems, livestock research and management, and partnership development. Dr. Moyo has an MSc in animal husbandry from the Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow and a PhD in animal science from the University of Pretoria. Before joining ILRI she was National Director for Livestock Production and Development in Zimbabwe (2002–2005).
Jehiel Oliver is the founder and CEO of Hello Tractor, an innovative shared-economy platform that makes tractor usage affordable to marginalized farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Mr. Oliver is responsible for the overall management of the Hello Tractor team, strategy, and partnerships. Prior to Hello Tractor, Jehiel founded Aya Consulting, a boutique development. At Aya he worked in over ten countries, including conflict zones. Through his work in agriculture and rural markets, Mr. Oliver recognized a real need for low-income (majority women) farmers to access affordable farm machinery, leading him to found Hello Tractor. In addition to his duties at Hello Tractor, Mr. Oliver also served on the board of H4H, Inc., an impact investment fund providing mortgage reinsurance for South African communities affected by HIV/AIDS. He also serves as board treasurer of Shared Interest, a loan guarantee fund for agriculture and financial sector development in sub-Saharan Africa. Mr. Oliver began his career in the U.S. investment banking and private equity industries.
Yield and total factor productivity are ratios of outputs to inputs, but they are not the same, and the distinction matters.
Yield measures output per unit of a single input, for example, the amount of crops grown on a hectare of land. Yields can increase through productivity growth, but they can also increase by applying more inputs, called input intensification. Therefore, an increase in yield may or may not represent improvements in sustainability.
Total factor productivity captures the interaction between multiple agricultural inputs and outputs. (Ortiz-Bobea et al., 2021) TFP growth indicates that more farmers generate more crops, livestock, and aquaculture products with the same amount or less land, labor, fertilizer, feed, machinery, and livestock. As a result, TFP is a powerful metric for evaluating and monitoring the sustainability of agricultural systems.