51st Annual Conference and 2015 Future Leaders Forum
May 31-June 2, 2015
Program
Fostering Innovation in International Agriculture and Rural Development
To access PDFs of the presentations, please click on the names of the presenters
To access PDFs of the presentations, please click on the names of the presenters
This year’s Conference theme “Fostering Innovation in International Agriculture and Rural Development” grew out of ideas and recommendations of AIARD members who participated in roundtable discussions during the 2014 Conference and via the subsequent on-line forum.
Keynote speakers:
We will be welcoming Dr. Robert L Thompson, Visiting Scholar, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies;Senior Fellow, global agricultural development & food security, Chicago Council on Global Affairs; and Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Policy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Conference Schedule
Sunday, May 31
6:30 pm: Registration and Welcome Reception
Monday, June 1
8:30-8:45 President’s Address/Conference Charge-Deanna Behring, AIARD Presidnet
8:45-9:00 Introduction of Future Leaders
9:00-10:00 Welcoming Keynote Address by "The New Geopolitics of Food: What Role International Agricultural Development?" by Robert L. Thompson, Visiting Scholar, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies; Senior Fellow, global agricultural development & food security, Chicago Council on Global Affairs; and Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Policy, University of Illinois
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:30 Session 1: Innovative Models for International Agricultural Research and Education: Fostering South-South Collaboration and International Research and Education Networks
This panel of experts will share recent examples of collaboration mechanisms among agricultural research and education institutions in developing regions and in building global networks of researchers and educators of agricultural science.
Moderator: Sonny Ramaswamy, Director USDA National Institute of Food & Agriculture
Panelists:
11:30-11:45 Break
11:45-1:00 Session 2: Innovative Models for International Rural Extension Incorporating New Technology
This session will address new approaches to rural extension that incorporate current information technology and other appropriate technologies and will provide examples from international development projects. Public and private sector extension models will be examined that focus on broad rural livelihoods, not just production, but processing, marketing, energy, etc.
Moderator: Dr. Paul McNamara, Director, Modernizing Extension & Advisory Services (MEAS) and University of Illinois
Panelists:
1:00-2:30 Lunch
Luncheon Address on “Institutions Matter in Agriculture and Rural Development”, Gebisa Ejeta, World Food Prize recipient, Distinguished Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics and International Agriculture, Purdue University
2:30-4:00 Session 3: Organizational Innovation in AIARD
This session will include an introductory food security policy and legislative update, followed by roundtable discussions on AIARD organizational innovation.
Food Security Policy/Legislative Update: Emmy Simmons , Co-Chair, AGree: Transforming Food and Ag Policy, Meridian Institute, former USAID Assistant Administrator for Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade
Roundtable discussions will be facilitated by Future Leaders from different years and will focus on ideas regarding potential improvements of AIARD's structure and practices.Board member Kateryna Schroeder will summarize results of member survey on organizational issues, then roundtable discussions will be facilitated by Future Leaders from different years and will focus on ideas regarding potential improvements of AIARD's structure and practices. The document prepared based on these roundtable consultations with participants will serve as a guideline for future organizational change of AIARD.
Twitter will be used to engage AIARD members unable to attend. Be sure to follow @AIARDorg and #AIARD51.
Facilitators: Amanda Crump, Patrick Freeze, Ariel Rivers, Sarah Sahlaney and 2015 FLF Fellows.
4:00-4:15 Break
4:15-5:00 Session 4: Motivating the Membership
In this session, Dr. Robert Thompson will summarize the day’s discussion and refine the charge to the membership.
5:30 Reception including Future Leaders Poster Exhibit on Innovation in International Agriculture and Rural Development or their own research
7:00 President’s Award Dinner with speaker on “Innovation in Family Farming: an FAO Perspective”, Terri Raney, Senior Economist, Editor, The State of Food and Agriculture, UN Food and Agriculture Organization
Tuesday, June 2
8:30-9:00 Summary of First Day and Tee-Up of Second Day: Deanna Behring and Dick Rortvedt
9:00-10:10 Session 5: Lightning Talks: Innovation in Comprehensive Rural Development
Lightning Talks are a fast-paced, highly energetic delivery style. Lightning Talks are 5-minute presentations, with exactly 20 PowerPoint slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds. When one presentation ends, the next one begins. Presenters will then facilitate round table discussions with attendees for more in-depth discussion.
Moderators: Samantha Alvis, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and Tom Gill, Pennsylvania State University
Panelist
10:25-11:10 Roundtable Discussions
Breakout table discussions facilitated by speakers from Lightning Talk Session
11:30-12:00 Future Leaders Forum Report
12:00-12:15 Conference Summary: President Elect William Meyers
12:15-1:15 Lunch
1:15-3:00 Business Meeting
3:00 Adjourn
Wednesday, June 3
International Ag Week Reception
5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 3
FHI 360 Academy Hall
1825 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009
On June 3, please join over 200 of your peers in agriculture, technology, and development at a very special reception.
We will be celebrating the first ever International Agriculture Week, which combines the AIARD 51st Annual Conference, the MEAS Symposium 2015, and ICTforAg, with hands-on demos of cool technology, drink in hand.
Keynote speakers:
We will be welcoming Dr. Robert L Thompson, Visiting Scholar, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies;Senior Fellow, global agricultural development & food security, Chicago Council on Global Affairs; and Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Policy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Conference Schedule
Sunday, May 31
6:30 pm: Registration and Welcome Reception
Monday, June 1
8:30-8:45 President’s Address/Conference Charge-Deanna Behring, AIARD Presidnet
8:45-9:00 Introduction of Future Leaders
9:00-10:00 Welcoming Keynote Address by "The New Geopolitics of Food: What Role International Agricultural Development?" by Robert L. Thompson, Visiting Scholar, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies; Senior Fellow, global agricultural development & food security, Chicago Council on Global Affairs; and Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Policy, University of Illinois
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:30 Session 1: Innovative Models for International Agricultural Research and Education: Fostering South-South Collaboration and International Research and Education Networks
This panel of experts will share recent examples of collaboration mechanisms among agricultural research and education institutions in developing regions and in building global networks of researchers and educators of agricultural science.
Moderator: Sonny Ramaswamy, Director USDA National Institute of Food & Agriculture
Panelists:
- Miley Gonzalez, Deputy Director General, Center for Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education (CATIE), Turrialba, Costa Rica “The Changing Landscape:
South-South Cooperation for Development”
A case study for sharing knowledge, technology, scientific research and resources from Central America to West Africa, a three-way partnership with FAO, CATIE, and the government of Equatorial Guinea
- Marilyn Pifer, Director, Capacity Building Programs, CRDF Global, Arlington, VA
"A Center model for building collaboration networks”
Multidisciplinary university-based research centers provide a focal point for exchanges and collaboration for both students and their mentors. - Siela Maximova, Research Professor, Horticulture,Pennsylvania State University
“Success in International Collaboration in Science: Research on Tropical Plants at PSU”Lessons from the International Cocoa Genome Sequencing Consortium and the role of permanent funding for international tree crops research.
11:30-11:45 Break
11:45-1:00 Session 2: Innovative Models for International Rural Extension Incorporating New Technology
This session will address new approaches to rural extension that incorporate current information technology and other appropriate technologies and will provide examples from international development projects. Public and private sector extension models will be examined that focus on broad rural livelihoods, not just production, but processing, marketing, energy, etc.
Moderator: Dr. Paul McNamara, Director, Modernizing Extension & Advisory Services (MEAS) and University of Illinois
Panelists:
- Dr. Suiyigheh Joyous Tata, MEAS Post-doctoral researcher, will discuss an innovative training partnership using CRS Smart Skills training and CRS Farmbook ICT tools to increase capacity of district-level staff in Kenya.
- Aldo Noseda,(Slides Courtesy of Monsanto Company – All Rights Reserved”) IT Vice President for Global Commercial, Monsanto. In 2010 Monsanto launched a service to connect 12,000 Indian farmers, free of charge, with an agriculture advisor via a toll-free number. Services have expanded to help farmers sell their crops and are now available in seven languages, across 16 Indian states and eight crops supporting more than three million farmers in rural India.
- Priscila Henriquez, Specialist in Management of Technology and Innovation / Executive Secretary for PROCINORTE & FONTAGRO, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), will speak on rural livelihood extension for farmers in Guatemala, focusing on off-farm activities, processing, and marketing.
1:00-2:30 Lunch
Luncheon Address on “Institutions Matter in Agriculture and Rural Development”, Gebisa Ejeta, World Food Prize recipient, Distinguished Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics and International Agriculture, Purdue University
2:30-4:00 Session 3: Organizational Innovation in AIARD
This session will include an introductory food security policy and legislative update, followed by roundtable discussions on AIARD organizational innovation.
Food Security Policy/Legislative Update: Emmy Simmons , Co-Chair, AGree: Transforming Food and Ag Policy, Meridian Institute, former USAID Assistant Administrator for Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade
Roundtable discussions will be facilitated by Future Leaders from different years and will focus on ideas regarding potential improvements of AIARD's structure and practices.Board member Kateryna Schroeder will summarize results of member survey on organizational issues, then roundtable discussions will be facilitated by Future Leaders from different years and will focus on ideas regarding potential improvements of AIARD's structure and practices. The document prepared based on these roundtable consultations with participants will serve as a guideline for future organizational change of AIARD.
Twitter will be used to engage AIARD members unable to attend. Be sure to follow @AIARDorg and #AIARD51.
Facilitators: Amanda Crump, Patrick Freeze, Ariel Rivers, Sarah Sahlaney and 2015 FLF Fellows.
4:00-4:15 Break
4:15-5:00 Session 4: Motivating the Membership
In this session, Dr. Robert Thompson will summarize the day’s discussion and refine the charge to the membership.
5:30 Reception including Future Leaders Poster Exhibit on Innovation in International Agriculture and Rural Development or their own research
7:00 President’s Award Dinner with speaker on “Innovation in Family Farming: an FAO Perspective”, Terri Raney, Senior Economist, Editor, The State of Food and Agriculture, UN Food and Agriculture Organization
Tuesday, June 2
8:30-9:00 Summary of First Day and Tee-Up of Second Day: Deanna Behring and Dick Rortvedt
9:00-10:10 Session 5: Lightning Talks: Innovation in Comprehensive Rural Development
Lightning Talks are a fast-paced, highly energetic delivery style. Lightning Talks are 5-minute presentations, with exactly 20 PowerPoint slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds. When one presentation ends, the next one begins. Presenters will then facilitate round table discussions with attendees for more in-depth discussion.
Moderators: Samantha Alvis, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and Tom Gill, Pennsylvania State University
Panelist
- Phillip Steffen, James Hochschwender, USAID/BFS, “AID's Legacy in Agricultural Development - One of Continual Innovation”
- Tom Crawford, Global Agronomy, LLC, “Fertilizer in Mozambique”
- Peter Marks, Seed Programs International, “4 Interesting Vegetable-Growing Projects”
- Barbara Ekwall, UN Food & Agriculture Organization, “Climate Smart Agriculture: Easy”
- Florence Reed, Sustainable Harvest International, “Agroecology Saving Families, Forests & the Climate”
- Robert Ryan-Silva, DAI, “Leveraging the Maker Movement for International Development”
- Bob Rabatsky, Feed the Future Partnering for Innovation, “From the Lab to the Field: How to Commercialize Technology for Smallholder Farmers”
- Robert Anyang, Chemonics, “Engaging Youth in Agriculture through ICT and the ‘Middle of the Chain’"
- Ariel Rivers, Pennsylvania State University, “Penn State's International Ag Dual-Title Program: Building Interdisciplinary Networks and Training Professionals of the Future”
- Amanda Crump, Horticulture Innovation Lab, “Lessons Learned from Engaging Graduate Students in Short-term Development Projects”
10:25-11:10 Roundtable Discussions
Breakout table discussions facilitated by speakers from Lightning Talk Session
11:30-12:00 Future Leaders Forum Report
12:00-12:15 Conference Summary: President Elect William Meyers
12:15-1:15 Lunch
1:15-3:00 Business Meeting
3:00 Adjourn
Wednesday, June 3
International Ag Week Reception
5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 3
FHI 360 Academy Hall
1825 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009
On June 3, please join over 200 of your peers in agriculture, technology, and development at a very special reception.
We will be celebrating the first ever International Agriculture Week, which combines the AIARD 51st Annual Conference, the MEAS Symposium 2015, and ICTforAg, with hands-on demos of cool technology, drink in hand.
- AIARD will foster innovation in international agriculture and rural development
- MEAS will deliberate on roles for the future of extension and advisory services
- ICTforAg will explore the future of ICT and smallholder farmers
.
