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Registration is open for the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) 2026 Annual Conference. This year’s event will be held in Arlington, Virginia (Washington, DC area) from Thursday, June 4th to Friday, June 5th.
Now, more than ever, it is essential for our community to come together—exchanging ideas, strengthening partnerships, and preparing for the future of food systems and rural development in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Held during the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the 2026 conference will highlight the vital role women farmers play in driving progress across market systems, climate resilience, nutrition, livelihoods, and community stability. The program will also address shifts in foreign assistance, emerging financing models, and new partnerships shaping the future of global agriculture and development. With dedicated programming focused on careers, connections, and navigating professional transitions, the conference will provide practical guidance, peer learning, and networking opportunities for participants at every career stage. |
Theme: “Women Farmers. Food Systems. The Future of Global Development.”
📅 Dates: Thursday, June 4th – Friday, June 5th, 2026
📍 Location: Hilton Garden Inn Courthouse/Plaza, 1333 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201
Student Registration (In-Person): For current students attending in person - $75.00
Job Transition Registration (In-Person): For individuals currently seeking new employment opportunities, in-person attendance - $75.00
Professional Registration (In-Person): For professionals attending in person - $150.00
Virtual Attendance: Attend the conference virtually (50% of in-person price) - $75.00
Institutional Sponsor: Institutional Sponsorship includes three registrations and additional publicity via the program/proceedings and a booth option. After completing your registration, please email ([email protected]) the three names - $500.00
Theme: “Women Farmers. Food Systems. The Future of Global Development.”
📅 Dates: Thursday, June 4th – Friday, June 5th, 2026
📍 Location: Hilton Garden Inn Courthouse/Plaza, 1333 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201
Student Registration (In-Person): For current students attending in person - $75.00
Job Transition Registration (In-Person): For individuals currently seeking new employment opportunities, in-person attendance - $75.00
Professional Registration (In-Person): For professionals attending in person - $150.00
Virtual Attendance: Attend the conference virtually (50% of in-person price) - $75.00
Institutional Sponsor: Institutional Sponsorship includes three registrations and additional publicity via the program/proceedings and a booth option. After completing your registration, please email ([email protected]) the three names - $500.00
Both Thursday and Friday:
Check in and coffee reception: 8-9am
Welcome & Opening Keynote: to start promptly at 9am
Wrap up programming: 5:30pm
Thursday: AIARD Reception: 5:30-7pm
Friday: No host gathering: 5:30-7pm
Program
Wednesday, June 3rd: Future Leaders Forum Immersion Day
The opening day of AIARD 2026 focuses on the essential role women farmers play in building resilient, inclusive, and future-ready food systems. Marking the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the day brings together practitioners, researchers, private sector leaders, policymakers, and development professionals to explore how women are shaping agriculture, markets, nutrition, resilience, and community wellbeing worldwide. Programming throughout the day examines both the barriers women continue to face and the innovative approaches already driving change across food systems and rural development.
Day 1 Highlights Include:
Opening Keynote: Women Farmers, Food Systems, & the Future of Global Development: The conference opens with reflections on the changing international development landscape and the importance of women farmers in shaping resilient food systems and inclusive economic growth. The keynote frames the conference theme while highlighting locally led solutions, leadership, and the future of global agriculture and development.
Women in Farming, Markets, Trade and Financing: A Look at Barriers and Successful Models: This panel explores the role of women across agricultural supply chains, from production and financing to trade and retail markets. Discussions focus on public-private partnerships, investment models, agricultural markets, and the professional journeys of women leaders working across international agriculture and food systems.
Women Farmers Shaping Agrifood Systems: A Case Exchange: This interactive practitioner exchange examines how women influence agrifood systems as farmers, entrepreneurs, processors, organizers, and community leaders. Through grounded case examples and facilitated discussion, participants will explore what enables durable and locally rooted change across food systems, nutrition, governance, and livelihoods.
AIARD Awards Ceremony: AIARD will recognize leaders and emerging professionals who have demonstrated exceptional service, leadership, research, education, and global engagement in support of international agriculture and rural development.
Lightning Talks: A series of short presentations highlighting emerging ideas, innovative programs, research insights, and practitioner perspectives related to international agriculture, food systems, resilience, and rural development.
Poster Presentations: Participants will engage with poster presenters showcasing academic research, field-based learning, and innovative approaches across agriculture, food security, nutrition, climate resilience, markets, and development practice.
Evening Reception: The evening reception formally launches AIARD’s recognition of the International Year of the Woman Farmer through brief reflections and community conversation centered on women farmer voices and leadership. The reception also creates space for networking, reconnection, membership engagement, and opportunities to deepen involvement within the AIARD community.
Friday, June 5th: Future Focused for Everyone: Careers, Connections, and the Next Chapter
Day Two of AIARD 2026 focuses on navigating a rapidly evolving international development landscape and preparing for the future of global agriculture and food systems work. Through policy dialogue, career exploration, coaching, and community-building, participants will examine how shifts in funding, partnerships, geopolitics, and institutions are reshaping the sector and creating new opportunities for leadership and impact. Designed for professionals at every career stage, the day blends strategic conversations with practical skill-building, networking, and career support.
Day 2 Highlights Include:
Opening Keynote: Reflections from Day 1 & Transitions into Day 2: The day begins with reflections on the technical discussions from Day One and a transition toward conversations focused on professional development, leadership, adaptation, and resilience in a changing development landscape. The keynote will explore how individuals and organizations can navigate uncertainty while continuing to advance meaningful work across international agriculture and rural development.
From Policy to Practice: How Global Policy Shifts Are Reshaping Food Systems and Development: This policy-focused discussion examines how changes in global development models, funding priorities, and geopolitical dynamics are influencing food security, resilience, partnerships, markets, and development practice worldwide. Participants will explore where policy commitments are translating into meaningful impact, where implementation gaps remain, and what stronger coordination across governments, donors, NGOs, coalitions, and the private sector could look like moving forward.
Morning Concurrent Sessions: Navigating What’s Next: Participants may choose among three interactive career and professional development tracks tailored to different career stages and transition needs.
The New Development Landscape: Navigating Change, Finding Opportunity: This candid discussion explores how major shifts across the international development sector, including the dismantling of USAID and the contraction of U.S. foreign assistance, are reshaping institutions, partnerships, funding models, and implementation approaches. Speakers will reflect on how organizations and professionals are adapting, where new opportunities are emerging, and what the future may hold for international agriculture and development work.
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions: Practical Career Support: Building on the morning discussions, the afternoon sessions provide hands-on coaching, peer engagement, and practical career support.
Additional Networking and Community Engagement: The day concludes with continued opportunities for informal networking, mentorship, reconnection, and community-building among AIARD members, Future Leaders Forum participants, and conference attendees
Why Attend AIARD 2026?
Whether you are an emerging professional, seasoned practitioner, researcher, policymaker, or organizational leader, AIARD 2026 offers space to connect, learn, and help shape what comes next for the international agriculture and rural development community.
- Dedicated experience for the 2026 Future Leaders Forum cohort
- Visits to key institutions in the Washington, DC area shaping international agriculture and rural development
- Networking dinner connecting fellows with AIARD members and mentors
The opening day of AIARD 2026 focuses on the essential role women farmers play in building resilient, inclusive, and future-ready food systems. Marking the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the day brings together practitioners, researchers, private sector leaders, policymakers, and development professionals to explore how women are shaping agriculture, markets, nutrition, resilience, and community wellbeing worldwide. Programming throughout the day examines both the barriers women continue to face and the innovative approaches already driving change across food systems and rural development.
Day 1 Highlights Include:
Opening Keynote: Women Farmers, Food Systems, & the Future of Global Development: The conference opens with reflections on the changing international development landscape and the importance of women farmers in shaping resilient food systems and inclusive economic growth. The keynote frames the conference theme while highlighting locally led solutions, leadership, and the future of global agriculture and development.
Women in Farming, Markets, Trade and Financing: A Look at Barriers and Successful Models: This panel explores the role of women across agricultural supply chains, from production and financing to trade and retail markets. Discussions focus on public-private partnerships, investment models, agricultural markets, and the professional journeys of women leaders working across international agriculture and food systems.
Women Farmers Shaping Agrifood Systems: A Case Exchange: This interactive practitioner exchange examines how women influence agrifood systems as farmers, entrepreneurs, processors, organizers, and community leaders. Through grounded case examples and facilitated discussion, participants will explore what enables durable and locally rooted change across food systems, nutrition, governance, and livelihoods.
AIARD Awards Ceremony: AIARD will recognize leaders and emerging professionals who have demonstrated exceptional service, leadership, research, education, and global engagement in support of international agriculture and rural development.
Lightning Talks: A series of short presentations highlighting emerging ideas, innovative programs, research insights, and practitioner perspectives related to international agriculture, food systems, resilience, and rural development.
Poster Presentations: Participants will engage with poster presenters showcasing academic research, field-based learning, and innovative approaches across agriculture, food security, nutrition, climate resilience, markets, and development practice.
Evening Reception: The evening reception formally launches AIARD’s recognition of the International Year of the Woman Farmer through brief reflections and community conversation centered on women farmer voices and leadership. The reception also creates space for networking, reconnection, membership engagement, and opportunities to deepen involvement within the AIARD community.
Friday, June 5th: Future Focused for Everyone: Careers, Connections, and the Next Chapter
Day Two of AIARD 2026 focuses on navigating a rapidly evolving international development landscape and preparing for the future of global agriculture and food systems work. Through policy dialogue, career exploration, coaching, and community-building, participants will examine how shifts in funding, partnerships, geopolitics, and institutions are reshaping the sector and creating new opportunities for leadership and impact. Designed for professionals at every career stage, the day blends strategic conversations with practical skill-building, networking, and career support.
Day 2 Highlights Include:
Opening Keynote: Reflections from Day 1 & Transitions into Day 2: The day begins with reflections on the technical discussions from Day One and a transition toward conversations focused on professional development, leadership, adaptation, and resilience in a changing development landscape. The keynote will explore how individuals and organizations can navigate uncertainty while continuing to advance meaningful work across international agriculture and rural development.
From Policy to Practice: How Global Policy Shifts Are Reshaping Food Systems and Development: This policy-focused discussion examines how changes in global development models, funding priorities, and geopolitical dynamics are influencing food security, resilience, partnerships, markets, and development practice worldwide. Participants will explore where policy commitments are translating into meaningful impact, where implementation gaps remain, and what stronger coordination across governments, donors, NGOs, coalitions, and the private sector could look like moving forward.
Morning Concurrent Sessions: Navigating What’s Next: Participants may choose among three interactive career and professional development tracks tailored to different career stages and transition needs.
- Track A: Early Career / Future Leaders Forum: Launching Your Career in a Changing Development Landscape: Focused on students and emerging professionals exploring career pathways across international agriculture, food systems, policy, research, and development practice.
- Track B: Mid-Career / Pivot: Pivot Pathways: Translating Development Experience Across Sectors: Designed for professionals navigating career transitions and exploring how development experience can translate across nonprofits, government, academia, philanthropy, consulting, and the private sector.
- Track C: Job Seekers / Active Search: Career Coaching Lab: Networking, Resumes, and Job Search Strategy: An interactive coaching and networking space focused on resume support, career positioning, interview preparation, networking strategy, and practical job search guidance.
The New Development Landscape: Navigating Change, Finding Opportunity: This candid discussion explores how major shifts across the international development sector, including the dismantling of USAID and the contraction of U.S. foreign assistance, are reshaping institutions, partnerships, funding models, and implementation approaches. Speakers will reflect on how organizations and professionals are adapting, where new opportunities are emerging, and what the future may hold for international agriculture and development work.
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions: Practical Career Support: Building on the morning discussions, the afternoon sessions provide hands-on coaching, peer engagement, and practical career support.
- Track A: Early Career / Future Leaders Forum: Career Visioning and Coaching for Emerging Professionals: Focused on career exploration, confidence-building, mentorship, and navigating early-career opportunities within a changing development sector.
- Track B: Mid-Career / Pivot: Repositioning for What’s Next: Coaching for Career Transitions and Sector Pivoting: Designed for professionals exploring new directions, reframing experience, strengthening professional narratives, and preparing for leadership transitions.
- Track C: Job Seekers / Active Search: Never Search Alone: Building Your AIARD Career Support Network: Focused on collaborative job search strategies, peer accountability, networking, and building long-term professional support systems within the AIARD community.
Additional Networking and Community Engagement: The day concludes with continued opportunities for informal networking, mentorship, reconnection, and community-building among AIARD members, Future Leaders Forum participants, and conference attendees
Why Attend AIARD 2026?
Whether you are an emerging professional, seasoned practitioner, researcher, policymaker, or organizational leader, AIARD 2026 offers space to connect, learn, and help shape what comes next for the international agriculture and rural development community.
Conference Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn Courthouse Plaza, 1333 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201
Use this link for booking rooms at AIARD discounted rate. Be sure to change to the dates you want under "Edit stay" in the top right hand corner to book.
Use this link for booking rooms at AIARD discounted rate. Be sure to change to the dates you want under "Edit stay" in the top right hand corner to book.
Future Leaders Forum
Learn more about the Future Leaders Forum, a competitive fellowship for current undergraduate and graduate students to share their work and better prepare to engage in global agriculture.
