Commercial Agriculture in Tropical Environments
Third Annual International Food Security Symposium
Monday, April 3 – Tuesday, April 4, 2017
ACES Library, Information, and Alumni Center
The tropics contain some of the most important biomes for managing a variety of environmental challenges from
biodiversity to climate change. But at the same time, agricultural expansion in South America shows that the tropics
can be highly productive in terms of grain production. Additionally, agricultural intensification holds promise to reduce
poverty and malnutrition among the many rural poor residing in tropical zones. This symposium addresses the complex tradeoffs between environmental stewardship and agricultural intensification in the tropics.
***Special Notes***
The Journal of Tropical Conservation Science (www.tropicalconservationscience.org)
Will Publish a Special Issue on the Symposium
This Symposium Will be Webcast to a Global Audience
Monday, April 3rd
4:00-5:00 pm Opening Remarks – Heritage Room
Dean Kimberlee Kidwell, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
Keynote Lecture – Heritage Room
Dr. Pedro Sanchez, Research Professor of Tropical Soils, University of Florida
5:00-6:00 pm Reception – Heritage Room
Tuesday, April 4th
8:30-9:00 am Registration and Coffee, Tea, and Pastries – Heritage Room
9:00-10:30 am Session 1 – Current Status and Trends: Agricultural Intensification in Tropical Environments – Monsanto Room
Moderator: Dr. Michael Coe, Woods Hole Research Center
Speakers: Dr. Peter Goldsmith, Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois
The Economics of Tropical Soybean
Dr. Stephanie Spera, Geography, Dartmouth College
Quantifying Two Decades of Expansion of Commercial Tropical Agriculture in Brazil
Dr. Cheryl Palm, Institute for Sustainable Food Systems, University of Florida
Agricultural Intensification in Africa: Implications for the Environment and Livelihoods
Dr. Kaiyu Guan, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois
Resilience and Adaptability of Tropical Commercial Crops Under Changing Climate
Dr. Daniel Miller and Pushpendra Rana, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois
Crops vs. Trees: Analyzing the Social-Ecological Effects of Farmer Decision-Making in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa
Commercial Agriculture in Tropical Environments (continued)
10:30-12:00 pm Session 2 – Soil and Water – Monsanto Room
Moderator: Dr. Jeffrey Brawn, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois
Speakers: Dr. Katherine Tully, Plant Sciences & Landscape Agriculture, University of Maryland
Fate of Nitrogen and Controls of Nitrogen Loss Under Intensifying African Maize
Cultivation
Dr. Chris Neill, Woods Hole Research Center
Changes to Water Resources and Water Quality Associated with the Expansion and Intensification of Amazon Commercial Agriculture
Dr. Jeremy Guest, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois
Local Environmental Contamination Can Diminish Health and Nutritional Gains from Intensified Agriculture
Dr. Ximing Cai, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois
Food-Energy-Water Nexus: Opportunities for the Tropics
Dr. Hope Michelson, Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois
Small Farmer Agricultural Productivity: Soils, Supply Chains, and Commercial Prospects
12:00-1:30 pm Lunch – Heritage Room (Lunch by previous registration only)
Speaker: Mark Edge, Director of Collaborations for Developing Countries, Monsanto Company
An Industry Perspective
1:30-2:30 pm Session 3 – Tropical Agriculture and the Environment: Europe’s Role – Monsanto Room
Moderator: Bryan Endres, European Union Center, University of Illinois
Speakers: Dr. David Laborde, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Land Use Changes and International Trade: Lessons Learned From the European Biofuel Mandates
Dr. Luca Salvatici, Department of Economics, Università degli studi Roma Tre
Agricultural Trade Impacts of EU Policies
2:30-4:00 pm Session 4 – Biodiversity and Climate Change – Monsanto Room
Moderator: Dr. Alex Winter-Nelson, ACES Office of International Programs, University of Illinois
Speakers: Dr. Michael Coe, Woods Hole Research Center
Direct Climate Impacts of Commercial Agricultural Expansion
Dr. Avery Cohn, Fletcher School, Tufts University
Environmental Constraints on Increased Agricultural Production in the Brazilian Amazon
Dr. Jeffrey Brawn, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois
Ecological and Biodiversity Implications of Agricultural Development at Tropical Latitudes
Dr. Paulo Brando, Woods Hole Research Center
Role of Fire and Biodiversity in Brazil's Expanding Amazon Commercial Agricultural Landscape
Commercial Agriculture in Tropical Environments (continued)
4:00-5:00 pm Reactions, Final Thoughts and Opportunities for Collaborative Research –
Monsanto Room
Moderator: Dr. Peter Goldsmith, Soybean Innovation Lab, University of Illinois
Speakers: Dr. Robert A. Easter, President Emeritus
Dean Emeritus, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
Professor Emeritus, Animal Sciences
University of Illinois
Dr. Montague Demment, Vice President of International Programs, Association of Public
and Land-grant Universities (APLU)
Dr. Robert Jones, Chancellor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dr. Mark Edge, Director of Collaborations for Developing Countries, Monsanto Company
5:00-5:15 pm Closing Remarks – Monsanto Room
Dean Kimberlee Kidwell, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
5:15-6:15 pm Reception – Heritage Room