Pandemic-scale disease and pest outbreaks sicken and kill people, livestock, and crops with alarming frequency.

The 2020 Global Agricultural Productivity Report (GAP Report) from the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences explores the impact of disease and pest outbreaks on agricultural productivity, food security and nutrition, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability.

For this virtual GAP Report Launch, we will travel to Kenya, Burkina Faso, India, Peru, and the U.S. to hear from agricultural producers and researchers on the front lines of battling the pandemic-scale outbreaks threatening our agriculture systems.

We will reveal the updated the Global Agricultural Productivity Index™ (GAP Index™), and discuss its implications for the resilience of our food and agriculture systems.

Finally, we will discuss the critical importance of breaking barriers to productivity growth and resilience, including gender and racial discrimination, and how to build trust through partnership.

SPEAKERS

Farmers

Hellen Waweru, Smallholder Dairy Farmer, Kenya

PJ Haynie, Haynie Farms, Virginia, and Chair, National Black Growers Council

Chad Leman, Leman Farms, Eureka, Illinois

Farmers from Krishi Jyoti/Mosaic Villages Project, India, Sehgal Foundation and The Mosaic Company Foundation

Farmers from Soutenir l’Exploitation Famaliales pour Lancer l’Elevage des Volailles et Valoriser l’Economie Rurale, Burkina Faso, Tanager

Experts

Christi Dixon, Agriculture Engagement and Advocacy Manager, Bayer Crop Science

Alberto Salas and Elisa Salas, Agronomists, International Potato Center (CIP)

Frederic Beudot, Global Portfolio Leader – Biologicals, Corteva Agriscience

Krystal Montesdeoca, Data Scientist, John Deere

Special Guests

Dr. Cyril Clarke, Executive Vice President and Provost, Virginia Tech

Jewel Bronaugh, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Dr. Ray McKinnie, Dean and 1890 Administrator, Virginia State University College of Agriculture

The 2020 GAP Report Launch is proud to be an official side event of the Borlaug Dialogue/World Food Prize.

Watch the live event just before the opening session of the 2020 Borlaug Dialogue:

Monday, October 12th

8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (Central)/9:00 AM – 9:45 AM (Eastern)

On our website GlobalAgriculturalProductivity.org

The webcast will also be available in Spanish, Kiswahili, Hindi, and French.

Register for the webcast and to participate in the live chat.