Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg (by Food Tank) 547. SNAP Recipients Sue USDA, Researchers Tackle Avian Flu in Livestock, and a Conversation with Emily Rees on Feeding a Growing World Amid a Widening Productivity Gap
Mar 19, 2026
Emily Rees, President and CEO of CropLife International, leads plant science advocacy and innovation. She discusses the global productivity gap and why scaling precision agriculture matters. Conversation covers integrated pest management, women and youth in farming, impacts of USAID changes on R&D, and the role of intellectual property and digital tools in sustainable crop protection.
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Farmers Need Direct Voice In Policy
- Farmers must be present and heard directly in international policy fora for fair outcomes.
- Rees says organizations like the Global Farmer Network and World Farmers Organization help ensure direct farmer representation.
Women Driving Agricultural Leadership And Adoption
- Women are increasingly leading major agricultural associations and driving collaborative solutions.
- Rees highlights women leaders and the example of Nigerian farmer Patience Koku as early adopters boosting yields and resilience.
Shift Toward Local Ownership Of R&D
- The closure of programs like USAID shifts momentum toward local ownership of agricultural R&D.
- Rees says trends already favored African institutions leading innovation, and the change may accelerate local capacity building.