Perspectives in Global Development Seminar Series

Showcasing innovative approaches to development with experts from around the globe

The Perspectives in Global Development seminars are held Wednesdays from 12:20-1:10 p.m. eastern time during the semester in 175 Warren Hall. The series is presented in a hybrid format with some speakers on campus and others appearing via Zoom. Students, faculty and the general public are welcome to attend.

The series is co-sponsored by the Department of Global Development, the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, and the School of Integrative Plant Science as part of courses GDEV 4961, AEM 4961, NTRES 4961, GDEV 6960, AEM 6960, and NTRES 6960.

Spring 2024 Seminars

Join us in 175 Warren Hall or Zoom on Wednesdays at 12:20pm ET.

Fall 2023 Seminars

Seminar archive

Did you miss a seminar? Watch the recordings of global experts who shared their perspective on international development.

Spring 2023 series

Megatrends Shaping African Food Systems with Ed Mabaya, Cornell Global Development
Building Agricultural Research Ecosystems: FONTAGRO Case Study with Eugenia Saini, Regional Fund for Agricultural Technology (FONTAGRO)
Balancing Environmental Protection and Economic Development: Perspectives from the Global South with a panel of Humphrey Fellows in Cornell Global Development
Balancing Conservation and Development in Rural New York – the Role of the Finger Lakes Land Trust with Andy Zepp, Finger Lakes Land Trust
Improving US Farm Viability by Tackling the Organic Waste Problem with Jacob Fox, Regenerative Systems Consultant
What’s Public About Public Services? with David McDonald, Queen’s University, Canada
Circular Bionutrient Economy for AgriFood System Transition with Chuan Liao, Cornell Global Development
Africa’s Inclusive Transformation for People & the Planet with Wanjira Mathai, World Resources Institute (WRI)
Transforming Food Systems: Aquatic Foods for Nourishing People and Planet, Global Development Distinguished Speaker with Shakuntala Thilsted, recipient of the 2021 World Food Prize (Talk Title and link forthcoming)
Socio-Eco Benefits of Collective Rice Certification in the D.R. with Frederick Payton and Michael Cox, AgroFrontera

Fall 2022 series

Integrative Modelling for Sustainable Land-Use Futures with Alexander Popp, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
From Kibera to the World with Jacky Oyugi, Human Needs Project
Hope Over Fate: Fazle Hasan Abed and the Science of Ending Global Poverty with Scott MacMillan, BRAC US
Fighting Malnutrition and Poor Residue Management with the Use of a Wonderful Insect: Hermetia illucens (L.) with Jesus Orozco, Zamorano University
Transformation of Food Systems: Aquatic Foods for Nourishing People and Planet with Shakuntala Thilsted, 2021 World Food Prize recipient
Public Policy to Support Landscape and Seascape Partnerships: Meeting Sustainable Development Goals through Collaborative Territorial Action with Sara Scherr, EcoAgriculture Partners
A Role for HBCUs in Global Food Security with Olga Bolden-Tiller, Tuskegee University
Global Climate Emergency. Road from Glasgow to Sharm el-Sheikh with Barbara Botos, Hungary
U.S. Rural Population Health in the Context of Drug Overdoses, COVID-19, and Longer-Term Mortality Trends with Shannon Monnat, Syracuse University
Universities and Peace: The Role of Higher Education and Peace Pedagogies in Peacebuilding, Resistance and Citizenship with Larisa Kasumagic-Kafedzic, Visiting Fellow at Cornell University
Measuring the Sustainability of Food Production Systems: Exploring the Solution Space with Kyle Davis, University of Delaware
Achieving Food and Nutritional Security in the Era of Climate Change, a Humphrey Fellows panel discussion

Spring 2022 series

Building back better: Rebuilding educational opportunity after the COVID-19 pandemic with Fernando Reimers, Ford Foundation Professor of the Practice, Harvard University
How farming can employ Africa's young workforce and help build peace: Lessons from Babban Gona with Kola Masha, Babban Gona
Multi-Generational photovoices of changing traditional farming systems in Bali: Perspectives from the UNESCO cultural landscape with Wiwik Dharmiasi, PhD Student, Dala Institute and University of Hawaii
Understanding farmer protests in India with Sudha Narayanan, Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Tackling global inequalities in innovation and entrepreneurship with Tim Hart, Entrepreneurship & Accelerator programme leader, Oxentia
Climate resilience for the poorest three billion with V. Ram Ramanathan, Distinguished Research Professor of climate sustainability, University of California at San Diego, and Cornell Climate Solutions Scholar, Cornell University
What is the leading agricultural research for development organization doing to help farmers adapt to climate change? with Bram Govaerts, Director General, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
Circular food systems: towards human and planetary health with Hannah Van Zanten, Associate Professor at Farming Systems Ecology group, Wageningen University, and Visiting Professor, Cornell University
Distinguished Speaker Series: Transforming Global Food Systems After COVID-19 with Johan Swinnen, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and Global Director, Systems Transformation Science Group at CGIAR
Food for all: International organizations and the transformation of agriculture with Uma Lele, Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi
Turning the tide: a decade of opportunities with Jared Bosire, Programme Manager, UNEP Nairobi Convention
Reaching women in the workplace: improving the sexual and reproductive health and family planning outcomes of young women working in the ready-made garment sector in South and Southeast Asia with Ashish Bajracharya, Deputy Director for Country Strategy, International Programs Division at the Population Council, and Regional Representative for South and East Asia

Fall 2021 series

Regenerating rainforests by listening to communities with Devika Agge, Health in Harmony
Leadership, governance and strategies for advancing the policies and actions for equitable development with Melanie Stansbury, U.S. Congress
Transforming food systems for global sustainable development with Mario Herrero, Cornell Global Development
Reimagining solutions to gender inequality with Jemimah Njuki, IFPRI Africa
Perspectives on the role of the private sector in global development with Sara Boettiger, Bayer (recording unavailable)
Can biofortified sweetpotato meaningfully contribute to food system transformation? with Jan Low, International Potato Center
The development diplomat: Working across borders, boardrooms, and bureaucracies to end poverty with Fatema Sumar, Millennium Corporation
Pathways to an anti-racist and regenerative environmentalism in an age of intersecting crises with Prakash Kaswah, University of Connecticut (recording unavailable)
Successes and challenges in sustainable coastal fisheries management in the Philippines with John Edgar, USAID
Can we have it all? Considering the trade-offs in achieving both human & planetary health with Jessica Fanzo, Johns Hopkins University

Spring 2021 series

Community approach to strengthening smallholder farmers' position, power and contribution within agricultural value chains with Ariana Constant, Clinton Development Initiative
Gender equity & social inclusion among community forest groups in the mid-hills of Nepal: Who benefits? with Leala Rosen, Wildlife Conservation Society
Acceleration of the African agricultural transformation: key role of private sector actors with Atsuko Toda, African Development Bank
COVID-19 in traditional farming communities in Pakistan: Challenges and adaptations with Sameena Nazir, PODA-Pakistan
Creating climate resilient incomes for the ultra-poor farmers in India with Sathya Raghu, Kheyti
Findings: How are farmers using digital services in low- and middle-income countries? with Jaron Porciello, Cornell University
Food entrepreneurs in Africa: scaling resilient agriculture businesses with Ndidi Nwuneli, Sahel Consulting
How the unimaginable can be achieved in African agribusiness with Debisi Araba, member of the Malabo Montpellier Panel
An age of rising inequality? No, but yes with Ravi Kanbur, Cornell University
Alternatives to extractivism in Ecuador's Choco cloud forest with Carlos Larrea, Universidad Andina Simon Bolivar

Fall 2020 series

From Sustainable Forest Management to Forest Landscape Restoration: Analysis of Two Participatory Approaches with Carol Colfer, Adjunct Professor, Cornell Southeast Asia Program
Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA): Why is it needed in developing countries? with John Recha, Participatory Action Research Specialist, CGIAR Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
Using Integrated Landscape Management to Scale Agroforestry: Examples from Ecuador with Louise Buck, Senior Extension Associate, Department of Natural Resources and Program Lead, Collaborative Management, EcoAgriculture Partners
Incorporating Stakeholder Input in the Development of Croatia’s National Agricultural and Rural Development Strategy, 2020-2030 with David Lee, Professor, Dyson School and Global Development; Philip Van der Celen & Svetlana Edmeades, World Bank; Nikša Tkalec, Assistant to Minister of Agriculture of Croatia at Special Committee on Agriculture, European Union
Integrated Innovation System Programs: A No Regret Investment for a +Covid World? with Bram Govaerts, Interim Deputy Director General, Director of the Integrated Development Program, Representative for the Americas and Mexico Country Representative, CIMMYT. AD White Professor at Large – Cornell University
Transforming Parastatal Systems and Enhancing Agricultural and Water Productivity: Multi-Sectoral Experiences from Tamil Nadu, India with Vibhu Nayer, IAS Officer and Project Director, Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water Resources Management Project. Government of Tamil Nadu, India
Large-scale Renewable Energy in New York: Issues of Governance, Community Participation, and Benefit Sharing with David Kay, Senior Extension Associate, Department of Global Development, Cornell University
Getting Improved Seed to Smallholder Farmers: Findings from The African Seed Access Index with Ed Mabaya, Senior Research Associate, Department of Global Development, Cornell
COVID-19, development and environment: New social contracts for the economic recovery process with Maxwell Gomera, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Program in Rwanda
Financing the growth of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises as a necessary precondition for sustainable agri-food system transformation: Perspectives from the African Development Bank with Andrew Mude, Division Manager, African Development Bank