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