Annual Conference 2013
"Feeding the Future in a Changing Climate"
49th Annual Conference and
2013 Future Leaders Forum
June 2-4, 2013
Program
"The lack of action on climate change not only risks putting prosperity out of reach of millions of people in the developing world, it threatens to roll back decades of sustainable development."
~"Turn Down the Heat," World Bank Report, 2012
The overwhelming consensus in the international scientific community is that climate change is real, it is happening now, and it will get considerably worse in the coming decades. Human activities have contributed significantly to this phenomenon...and it is people that now must demonstrate the political will, ingenuity, and cooperation needed to deal with this pending crisis. Agriculture, rural development, and food security for millions will be impacted by global changes affecting a broad range of natural resources that our food systems rely upon. Experts predict that vulnerable populations in developing countries, those already struggling to become food secure, will be the ones most adversely affected by these environmental changes.
At this year's 49th Annual Conference, AIARD will explore the latest scientific evidence surrounding climate change and its potential impact on agricultural systems, learn about innovative approaches to mitigate and adapt to these changes, and discuss what our role should be in educating the public and influencing policymakers.
Sunday, June 2
6:30 p.m.
Sunday Evening Reception and Early Registration
Monday, June 3
"Climate change is an unprecedented threat to the food security of hundreds of millions of people who depend on small-scale agriculture for their livelihoods...areas currently suffering from food insecurity are expected to experience disproportionately negative effects."
~ Commission on Sustainable Agriculture & Climate Change, 2011
7:30 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m.
Welcome and Program Overview
Chuck Chopak, AIARD President and Mike McGirr, AIARD President-Elect
8:45 a.m.
Climate Change and Global Food Security: Current and Potential Impacts
Moderator: William Hohenstein, Director, Climate Change Program
Presenters:
10:30 a.m.
Break
11:00 a.m.
Moderated Discussion: Food Security Implications for the World's Most Vulnerable
11:45 a.m.
Introduction of the Future Leaders Forum Scholars
Robert Haggerty, University of Idaho, AIARD Past President
12:15pm
Lunch
Julie Howard, Chief Scientist, Bureau for Food Security and Sr. Advisor to the Administrator for Research, Extension, and Education, U.S. Agency for International Development: "Cutting-Edge Science & Technology to Feed the Future"
Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services (MEAS) Summer Institute participants: "Climate Change, Rural Communities and the Smallholder Farmer -- Perspectives from the Field"
Effective climate-smart practices already exist and could be implemented in developing country agriculture systems." ~ FAO, 2010
1:30 p.m.
Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change: Current Approaches Worldwide
Moderator: Margaret Zeigler, Global Harvest Initiative
Presenters:
3:00 p.m.
Break
3:30 p.m.
Case Studies from Latin America
Moderator: Richard Rortvedt, Washington, DC Representative for the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE)
Presenters:
5:00 p.m.
Adjourn
6:00 p.m.
President's Reception
6:30 p.m.
Dinner and Awards Presentation: Recognizing Career Achievements
Chuck Chopak, AIARD President
Albert Ayeni, Rutgers University, AIARD Awards Committee Chair
Tuesday, June 4
"The lack of action on climate change not only risks putting prosperity out of reach of millions of people in the developing world, it threatens to roll back decades of sustainable development."
~ Foreword to 2012 World Bank Report, "Turn Down the Heat"
7:30 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m.
Educating, Communicating and Influencing Policy: An Urgent Call to Action
Moderator/Presenter: Brent Simpson, Associate Professor, Michigan State University; Deputy Director, Modernizing Extension and Advisory Service (MEAS): "Climate Change, Food Security and the New Normal"
Presenters:
10:00 a.m.
Break
10:15 a.m.
Educating, Communicating and Influencing Policy (continued)
Presenters:
11:00 a.m.
Facilitated Discussion: Addressing the Climate Change Challenge: What Can We Do?
11:30 a.m.
Reflections from Future Leader Forum participants
11:50 a.m.
Closing Comments
Deanna Behring, AIARD Vice-President
12 noon
Lunch and AIARD Business Meeting and Future Leaders Forum Scholars Begin Program
~"Turn Down the Heat," World Bank Report, 2012
The overwhelming consensus in the international scientific community is that climate change is real, it is happening now, and it will get considerably worse in the coming decades. Human activities have contributed significantly to this phenomenon...and it is people that now must demonstrate the political will, ingenuity, and cooperation needed to deal with this pending crisis. Agriculture, rural development, and food security for millions will be impacted by global changes affecting a broad range of natural resources that our food systems rely upon. Experts predict that vulnerable populations in developing countries, those already struggling to become food secure, will be the ones most adversely affected by these environmental changes.
At this year's 49th Annual Conference, AIARD will explore the latest scientific evidence surrounding climate change and its potential impact on agricultural systems, learn about innovative approaches to mitigate and adapt to these changes, and discuss what our role should be in educating the public and influencing policymakers.
Sunday, June 2
6:30 p.m.
Sunday Evening Reception and Early Registration
Monday, June 3
"Climate change is an unprecedented threat to the food security of hundreds of millions of people who depend on small-scale agriculture for their livelihoods...areas currently suffering from food insecurity are expected to experience disproportionately negative effects."
~ Commission on Sustainable Agriculture & Climate Change, 2011
7:30 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m.
Welcome and Program Overview
Chuck Chopak, AIARD President and Mike McGirr, AIARD President-Elect
8:45 a.m.
Climate Change and Global Food Security: Current and Potential Impacts
Moderator: William Hohenstein, Director, Climate Change Program
Presenters:
- David Lobell, Associate Professor & Associate Director, Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University: (How) Should Climate Trends Affect Decisions in Agricultural Development"
- Alex De Pinto, Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI):"Food Security Threats from Climate Change: An Overview"
- Tingju Zhu, Research Fellow, IFPRI: "Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources and Agricultural Production: A Global Perspective"
10:30 a.m.
Break
11:00 a.m.
Moderated Discussion: Food Security Implications for the World's Most Vulnerable
11:45 a.m.
Introduction of the Future Leaders Forum Scholars
Robert Haggerty, University of Idaho, AIARD Past President
12:15pm
Lunch
Julie Howard, Chief Scientist, Bureau for Food Security and Sr. Advisor to the Administrator for Research, Extension, and Education, U.S. Agency for International Development: "Cutting-Edge Science & Technology to Feed the Future"
Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services (MEAS) Summer Institute participants: "Climate Change, Rural Communities and the Smallholder Farmer -- Perspectives from the Field"
Effective climate-smart practices already exist and could be implemented in developing country agriculture systems." ~ FAO, 2010
1:30 p.m.
Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change: Current Approaches Worldwide
Moderator: Margaret Zeigler, Global Harvest Initiative
Presenters:
- John Furlow, Climate Change Specialist, U.S. Agency for International Development:"USAID Support for Smallholder Farmers Impacted by Climate Change"
- Keith Forbes, Senior Climate Change Advisor, DAI: "Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security in the Lower Mekong Basin"
- Zwide Dexter Jere, Managing Director, Total Land Care (Malawi): "Building Community Resilience to Climate Change in Eastern and Southern Africa"
3:00 p.m.
Break
3:30 p.m.
Case Studies from Latin America
Moderator: Richard Rortvedt, Washington, DC Representative for the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE)
Presenters:
- Sanford Eigenbrode, Professor, Entomology, University of Idaho: "Interdisciplinary Graduate Education: CATIE/University of Idaho Partnership"
- Bastiaan Louman, Leader, Climate Change and Watershed Management Program, CATIE (Costa Rica): "Climate Smart Territories: a Platform for Institutional Collaboration in Research and Development"
- Corinne Valdivia, Associate Professor, Dept. of Agriculture and Applied Economics, University of Missouri: "Collaborating with Rural Communities to Adapt to Climate Change in the Andes"
5:00 p.m.
Adjourn
6:00 p.m.
President's Reception
6:30 p.m.
Dinner and Awards Presentation: Recognizing Career Achievements
Chuck Chopak, AIARD President
Albert Ayeni, Rutgers University, AIARD Awards Committee Chair
Tuesday, June 4
"The lack of action on climate change not only risks putting prosperity out of reach of millions of people in the developing world, it threatens to roll back decades of sustainable development."
~ Foreword to 2012 World Bank Report, "Turn Down the Heat"
7:30 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m.
Educating, Communicating and Influencing Policy: An Urgent Call to Action
Moderator/Presenter: Brent Simpson, Associate Professor, Michigan State University; Deputy Director, Modernizing Extension and Advisory Service (MEAS): "Climate Change, Food Security and the New Normal"
Presenters:
- Ed Maibach, Director, Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University: "Climate Change in the American Mind"
- Krista Zimmerman, Senior Policy Advisor, Lutheran World Relief: "Turning Up the Heat: Talking Climate with Diverse Audiences"
10:00 a.m.
Break
10:15 a.m.
Educating, Communicating and Influencing Policy (continued)
Presenters:
- Ana Bucher, Climate Change Adaptation Specialist, World Bank: "Climate Change Information for Climate-Smart Planning"
- Seth Shames, Senior Manager, EcoAgriculture Partners: "Achieving Climate-Smart Agricultural Landscapes"
11:00 a.m.
Facilitated Discussion: Addressing the Climate Change Challenge: What Can We Do?
11:30 a.m.
Reflections from Future Leader Forum participants
11:50 a.m.
Closing Comments
Deanna Behring, AIARD Vice-President
12 noon
Lunch and AIARD Business Meeting and Future Leaders Forum Scholars Begin Program