Setting the Table for a Hotter, Flatter, More Crowded Earth
| Date/Time: | Friday, 17 Oct 2014 from 3:10 pm to 5:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Location: | 127 Curtiss Hall |
| Cost: | Free |
| Phone: | 515-294-1823 |
| Channel: | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences |
| Categories: | Lectures |
| Actions: | Download iCal/vCal | Email Reminder |
Abstract
Considering that by 2050 the global population will exceed 9 billion people, the question we need to address is, in the context of changing climate and diminishing land and water resources, are we prepared to feed, clothe, and shelter everyone one on Earth without wreaking havoc on the environment? It has been estimated that we will need to increase food production from anywhere between 50 and 70 percent or even double food production from today.
Biography
Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy was appointed to serve as director of the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) on May 7, 2012. He currently oversees NIFA awards funds for a wide range of extramural research, education, and extension projects that address the needs of farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers.
Dr. Ramaswamy has served as dean of Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences and director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station before joining NIFA. He was also the associate dean of the Purdue University College of Agriculture from 2006 to 2009, where he directed the university's agricultural research programs. In 1997 to 2006, Dr. Ramaswamy was head of Kansas State University's Department of Entomology where he held the title of Distinguished Professor and was named the Presidential Outstanding Department Head in 2002. He has received a Bachelor of Science in agriculture and a Master of Science in entomology from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India, and his doctorate in entomology from Rutgers University.