By Kay Ledbetter
In a time of increased competition for limited natural resources, evolving social preferences, expanding global markets and climate uncertainty, the agriculture industry needs to be talking about how it will feed 9 billion people by 2050.
Navigating Agriculture through the Water-Energy-Food Nexus is a symposium designed to do that, according to David Smith, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program specialist in College Station.
The event will be held Nov. 19 at the Omni Austin Hotel Southpark, 4140 Governors Row, Austin.
The program is aimed at AgriLife Extension educators, technical service providers, regulatory agencies, academic institutions, agricultural commodity groups, producers and agricultural science teachers, Smith said.
Some questions to be addressed include: What are the linkages between water, energy, and food systems? What are the interdependencies and tradeoffs that will influence future policy and sustainability of agriculture? How does the water-energy-food nexus function from local to regional scales and can it be a useful tool for future planning? Is agriculture prepared to manage risks from climate variability and does it have a voice in climate change policy?
“This will be a unique opportunity to hear from a distinguished panel of experts as they discuss these and other issues facing agriculture and the rural communities that support this vital industry,” Smith said.
Registration is limited and will open Aug. 15 at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/Nexus.
This event is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-NIFA project “Animal Agriculture in a Changing Climate” led by Smith and Dr. Saqib Mukhtar, former AgriLife Extension engineer and associate head of the Texas A&M University department of biological and agricultural engineering. Mukhtar recently became the associate dean and agriculture program leader at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, Florida.
Topics and speakers on the program will be:
– Water-energy-food nexus – Applications for agriculture communities, Dr. Rabi Mohtar, endowed professor with the Texas A&M department of biological and agricultural engineering, College Station.
– Water supply and demand – Trends and challenges for the Southwest, Dr. Robert Mace, Texas Water Development Board deputy executive director, College Station.
– Value of water to agricultural communities, Jason Coleman, High Plains Water District general manager, Lubbock.
– The shale boom – Impacts for agriculture production and producers, Dr. Thomas Tunstall, The University of Texas at San Antonio Institute for Economic Development research director, San Antonio.
– The future of renewable energy and agriculture, Dr. Wendell Porter, University of Florida agricultural and biological engineering department lecturer, Gainesville, Florida.
– Global market impacts and implications for local farms and ranches, Dr. James Richardson, Regents Professor and co-director of the Agriculture and Food Policy Center, Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M, College Station.
– Innovation and technology applications for agriculture production, Dr. Reza Ehsani, University of Florida Citrus Research and Education Center agricultural and biological engineering associate professor, Gainesville, Florida.
– Turning climate change into opportunities for agricultural producers, Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas state climatologist, College Station.
– Policy alternatives for promoting sustainable agriculture, Steven Rhines, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation vice president, general counsel and director of public affairs, Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Click here to see more...