Addressing Water Variability and Scarcity: The Role of Agricultural Research

The Environment and Production Technology Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the ILSI Research Foundation are co-organizing the symposium Addressing Water Variability and Scarcity: The Role of Agricultural Research at IFPRI’s headquarters in Washington, DC.

Presentations will focus on new technologies that are being developed and/or applied to mitigate the impacts of water stress on agricultural productivity, as well as the enabling policy environment that is needed to ensure that water-related research and development efforts are effectively deployed and scaled up.

Welcome and Introductions

• Claudia Ringler, Deputy Director of Environment and Production Technology Division, IFPRI
• Morven McLean, Executive Director, International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Research Foundation

Setting the Context

• Mark Rosegrant, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI

An Overview of Promising Technologies for Improved On-Farm Management of Water

• Biniam Iyob, Water and Irrigation Advisor, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

What Can Precision Agriculture Offer to Small Holder Farmers?

• David Schimmelpfennig, Agricultural Economist, United States Drug Administration Economic Research Service (USDA ERS)

Novel Approaches to Breeding for Resilience in Water Stressed Environments

• Todd Mockler, Member of Geraldine and Robert Virgil Distinguished Investigator, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Creating Enabling Environments for Achieving Innovations in Water Management in Agricultural Production Systems

• Rémi Trier, Senior Water Resources and Irrigation Specialist, The World Bank Group

The New Agricultural Research Revolution, Water, and the Future of Public Sector Research

• Mark Giordano, Professor, Georgetown University

Panel Discussion with Presenters Q&A

• Claudia Ringler, Deputy Director of Environment and Production Technology Division, IFPRI (Moderator)

Summary Remarks

• Josette Lewis, Director of Agricultural Affairs, Almond Board of California