Kansas State University

K-State to host Global Food Systems conference, lecture Oct. 7

Submitted by Pat Melgares

Registration is open for a half-day conference in the K-State Alumni Center featuring former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns.

The Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems conference, slated for Oct. 7, is being held for the first-time ever to commemorate the 10th year of the Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems lecture, which will be held that evening.

There is no cost to attend the conference, but those interested should register online at k-state.edu/research/global-food/events/lecture-series.

The Nebraska-born Johanns, who served as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 2004 to 2007 and U.S. Senator from 2009 to 2015, kicks off the afternoon program with the talk, "Fair Trade — A pathway to ensure access to affordable food."

The program also includes a talk by Craig Gundersen, the Snee Family Endowed Chair at the Baylor University Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, whose research concentrates on the causes and consequences of food insecurity in the world.

Also on Oct. 7, scientist Peer Ederer will deliver the annual Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems lecture in McCain Auditorium. Admission is free, but interested persons are encouraged to arrive early to secure seating.

Ederer, founder of an international company named GOALSciences, will deliver a talk titled "Scientific Evidence Behind the Role of Livestock and Meat Production in a Global Society."

The full agenda for the afternoon conference and the evening lecture is available online.

Noted agricultural economist and industry consultant Nevil Speer will moderate the afternoon sessions with Johanns and Gunderson, as well as the evening lecture with Ederer. Audience questions will be encouraged.

K-State established the Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems lecture series to provide science-based education about world food issues. The series allows students, faculty, staff and Kansas citizens to interact with U.S. and international food industry leaders on topics of current interest.