Responsive Agriculture Forum
Responsive Agriculture Forum: The Solution to Creating a Healthier Future
Leading experts, researchers and industry representatives will join thought-provoking conversations as we collectively shape the future of the Responsive Agriculture hub at the IHA.
Welcome Dinner (registration now closed): April 6, 2025 | 5 p.m.
The Doug Pitcock ’49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, College Station, TX
Responsive Agriculture Forum: April 7, 2025 (World Health Day)
The Shirley & Joe Swinbank ’74 AgriLife Center, College Station, TX
Responsive Agriculture Forum Agenda
April 7, 2025
8 – 8:30 a.m.
8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
9:30 – 11 a.m.
11 – 11:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
1 – 2 p.m.
2 – 3:40 p.m.
3:40 – 4 p.m.
4 – 4:30 p.m.
4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Registration
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Thematic Panel One: Horticulture, Floriculture and Ornamental Plants
Coffee Break
Thematic Panel Two: Row Crops (Cotton, Soy, Wheat, Sorghum, Maize)
Lunch
Thematic Panel Three: Animal Protein, Animal Production, Aquaculture and Proteins
Coffee Break
Closing Remarks and Next Steps
Adjournment and Informal Networking (sponsored by the
Texas A&M University Department of Horticultural Sciences)
Panelist Information
Panel 1 – Horticulture including floriculture and ornamental plants
Industry Panel Moderator: Luis Ribera, Ph.D. | Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University | Director, Center for North American Studies
- Amy Graham | President and CEO, Texas Nursery & Landscape Association
- Dante Galeazzi | President and CEO, Texas International Produce Association
- Steve Kenfield |Managing Partner, Encore Fresh Resources
Research Panel Moderator: Amit Dhingra, Ph.D. | Professor and Department Head, Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University
- Bhimu Patil, Ph.D. | Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University | Director, Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center at Texas A&M University
- Charlie Hall, Ph.D. | Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University and holder of the Ellison Endowed Chair in International Floriculture
- Jay Maddock, Ph.D., FAAHB | Regents Professor in the Texas A&M University School of Public Health | Director, Center for Health & Nature
- Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, Ph.D. | Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University
- Beth Racine, DrPH | Director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center at El Paso and Associate Department Head for AgriLife Extension in the Texas A&M University Department of Nutrition
Panel 2 – Row crops
Industry Panel Moderator: Katie Lewis, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Soil Fertility and Chemistry in the Texas A&M University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
- Susan Jaconis, Ph.D., | Director, Agriculture & Environmental Research at Cotton Incorporated
- Michelle Braun, Ph.D. | Director of Partnerships at Soy Nutrition Institute (SNI) Global
- Matt Schueller | Director, Marketing Insights and Analytics at Ardent Mills
Research Panel Moderator: Amir Ibrahim, Ph.D. | Associate Director and Chief Scientific Officer at Texas A&M AgriLife Research
- Tim Paape, Ph.D. | Research Geneticist at the United States Department of Agriculture ’s Agricultural Research Service, USDA-ARS
- Keerti Rathore, Ph.D. | Professor and Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant biotechnologist in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
- Bill Rooney, Ph.D. | Regents Professor at the Texas A&M University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences | Borlaug-Monsanto Chair in International Crop Improvement, AgriLife Faculty Fellow
- Juan Landivar, Ph.D. | Center Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Corpus Christi
Panel 3 – Animal protein, animal production, aquaculture and proteins
Industry Panel Moderator: Stephen Cisneros, Ph.D. | Executive Associate Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research
- Shalene McNeil, Ph.D., R.D. | Executive Director for Nutrition Research, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association industry
- Lance Lacefield | Head of Operations for the Small Bird Debone business unit
- Mark Kubecka | President of the Texas Aquaculture Association and Business Manager for Homegrown Seafoods
Research Panel Moderator: Audrey P. McElroy, Ph.D. | Professor and Head in the Texas A&M University Department of Poultry Science | Intestinal Health & Nutrition, Barbara J. and William M. “Bill” Huffman ’53 Chair in Poultry Science
- Steve Smith, Ph.D. | Regents Professor in the Texas A&M University Department of Animal Science | Texas A&M AgriLife, Research Senior Faculty Fellow, Meat Science
- Guoyao Wu, Ph.D. | University Distinguished Professor of Animal Nutrition in the Texas A&M University Department of Animal Science | University Faculty Fellow | Texas A&M AgriLife Research Faculty Fellow
- Rhonda Miller, Ph.D. | Professor of Meat Science in the Texas A&M University Department of Animal Science | Texas A&M AgriLife Research Faculty Fellow
- Delbert M. Gatlin, Ph.D. | Regents Professor in the Texas A&M University Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology | Texas A&M AgriLife Research Senior Faculty Fellow
For more information, please contact Marco Palma or Sandra Perez.