Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems Conference & Lecture Series
The Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems Conference & Lecture Series aims to provide science-based education about the global food system. Programming allows university students, faculty, staff, and Kansas citizens to interact with U.S. and international food industry leaders. Kansas State University and Gardiner Angus Ranch initiated the lecture in 2015.
New in 2024 and in addition to the Gardiner Lecture, The Gardiner Global Food Systems Conference will bring world-class, thought-provoking discussion to the public space. This half-day conference will feature addresses delivered by Former US Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and Dr. Craig Gundersen, Snee Family Endowed Chair at the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty.
The conference will take place at the K-State Alumni Center from noon to 4 p.m. and the evening lecture at McCain Auditorium on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan, Kansas.
2024 Gardiner Conference Speakers
Mike Johanns
Mike Johanns has a uniquebackgroundacquired through more than 30 years of service at virtually every level of government, in both the legislative and executive branches. Johanns served as Governor of Nebraska from 1999-2005, balancing a $2.6 billion state budget while providing property tax relief. As the 28th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Johanns directed 18 agencies employing 90,000 staff worldwide and managed a $93 billion budget. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008, Johanns served in the 111th-113th Congresses as a member of the following committees: Appropriations, Agriculture, Banking, Commerce, Environment & Public Works, Indian Affairs and Veterans’ Affairs (varied by Congress). Recognized worldwide as a leader in agriculture and development, he has successfully led large and complex organizations. His bipartisan approach has earned the respect of colleagues and constituents across the political spectrum.
Dr. Craig Gundersen
Craig Gundersen is the Snee Family Endowed Chair at the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty (BCHP) and a Professor in the Department of Economics at Baylor University. He is also the lead researcher on Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap project, a Round Table Fellow of the Farm Foundation, and a Faculty Affiliate of the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) at the University of Notre Dame. His research concentrates on the causes and consequences of food insecurity and on the evaluation of food assistance programs, with an emphasis on SNAP. Gundersen is a Fellow of the Agricultural and Applied Economic Association (AAEA).
2024 Gardiner Lecture Speaker – Peer Ederer
Peer Ederer is founder and director of GOALSciences, the Global Observatory of Accurate Livestock Sciences, which has the mission to research and communicate scientific evidence about the role of animals in the global food system. He has an MBA degree from Harvard University, a PhD in financial economics and holds an adjunct professorship for innovation studies. He has extensive experience in strategy advisory to private companies and public bodies in the global food system and is a frequent presenter on related topics. He has been engaged in scientific research in cooperation with globally leading universities from around the world and is a member of the Scientific Council of the World Farmers Organisation.
Past lectures:
- Greg Doud, vice president of global situational awareness and chief economist at Aimpoint Research, as well as incoming CEO and president of the National Milk Producers Federation
- Beth Ford, president and CEO of Land O' Lakes, Inc.
- Frank Mitloehner, professor and air quality extension specialist, University of California, Davis
- Dennis Dimick, National Geographic magazine
- Sara Menker, founder and CEO of Gro Intelligence
- Jason Clay, Senior Vice President for Markets and Food at World Wildlife Fund
- Jay Famiglietti is a hydrologist and professor of earth system science and of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California
- Greg Page, Executive Chairman, Cargill
- Robert Fraley, Monsanto Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
- Steve Hunt, former CEO of U.S. Premium Beef