Virtual Workshop: Tackling Climate Change Challenges with Agriculture Technology and Innovation

January 18, 2023-January 19, 2023
8:00 am - 11:00 am

Virtual (GMT+8)

Singapore, Singapore

This two-day workshop created a collaborative space that allowed stakeholders in various roles from APEC economies to obtain, share, and develop knowledge needed for accelerating the rate of agricultural technology innovation and its implementation in order to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture. The virtual seminar supported the implementation of the Food Security Roadmap Towards 2030 through its focus on digitalization and innovative technologies.

Project Objectives

Led by experts, this activity facilitated discussion and strengthened APEC member economies’ knowledge of technologies and tools to mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture. The project’s objectives were:

Facilitate the exchange of information and cooperation between APEC member economies at the nexus of climate change and agriculture.
Support supply chain resilience and enhance economic prosperity within the APEC region.
Emphasize the importance of providing education and access to climate-smart innovation and technologies for groups with untapped economic potential, including women, youth, and indigenous peoples.

Agenda

Day One: Earth Observations for Climate Smart Agriculture

January 18, 2023

8:00 am

Welcoming Remarks

Mr. William Hohenstein
Director, Office of Energy and Environmental Policy, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States

8:10 am

Observation and Modes to Predict the Interaction Between Climate and Food Systems through the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project

Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig
Senior Research Scientist, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies & 2022 World Food Prize Laureate, United States

International Collaborations for Climate Smart Agriculture

8:35 am

Digital Tools of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases

15 min seminar, 5 min Q&A

Dr. Harry Clark
Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Council and Director, New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Center, New Zealand

8:55 am

Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate (Aim for Climate)

15 min seminar, 5 min Q&A

Ms. Jaime Adams
Senior Policy Advisor for Climate, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States

9:15 am

ASEAN Climate Resilience Network

Dr. Margaret C. Yoovantana
Head of Multilateral and International Organization Collaborations, International Agricultural Affairs Group, Planning and Technical Division, Department of Agriculture, Thailand

9:35 am

Q&A on International Collaborations for Climate Smart Agriculture

10:05 am

Tea Break

Example of Earth Observation for Climate Smart Agriculture from APEC Member Economies

10:15 am

Smart Farming Solutions in South Korea

Dr. Minyoung Kim
Researcher, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, The Republic of Korea

10:35 am

Connecting Earth Observations with New Breeding Technologies

Mr. Niles Cole
Economic Officer, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Office of Agricultural Policy, U.S. Department of State, United States

10:55 am

Closing Remarks

Dr. Rachel Melnick
Senior Manager – Scientific Programs, Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI), United States

Day Two: Phenomics to Genomics – Remote Sensing & Innovative Breeding Technologies to Address Climate Change

January 19, 2023

8:00 am

Opening Remarks

Dr. Su-San Chang
Lead Shepherd of the Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Singapore

8:05 am

Crop Breeding for a Changing Climate: Integrating Phenomics and Genomics with Bioinformatics

Dr. David Edwards
Professor, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia

8:25 am

SLICK Cattle: Opportunities to Use Genome Editing in Animals to Adapt to and Mitigate Climate Change

Dr. Tad Sonstegard
Chief Executive Officer, Acceligen, United States

8:45 am

Feed Improvement and Additives for Reducing GHG Emissions from Livestock

Dr. Roger Hegarty
Professor, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Australia

9:05 am

Panel Discussion – Q&A with Speakers

9:35 am

Tea Break

9:45 am

Advances in Potato Breeding to Address Climate Change

Dr. Thiago Mendes
Head of the Sub-Saharan Africa Breeding Program, International Potato Center, Kenya